Comments

FreeWi11

Gadgets

A More Efficient Hybrid

By Annemarie Conte and Esther Haynes Posted on 9.8.2008 14 Comments
One of the first things Eric Mattessich discovered in engineering school was that the typical internal combustion engine blows about 70 percent of the energy it creates straight out of the tailpipe in the form of heat. So, he wondered, could he adapt the kind of heat-recapturing mechanisms used to make powerplants more efficient to work on hybrid cars? “The technology has been around since the 1900s,” he points out. “It’s just that no one has put it into such a small package before.”

9.5.2008 at 07:14pm - Comment by FreeWi11

Why not just use a regular turbocharger to power a say, tinnier high-efficient 1 liter engine (or better yet, a diesel sincce they all use turbos) to produce more power, but less emissions than a larger n/a engine. So thats one step of reusing thermal energy, another step you mentioned is steam power, which I'm also quite fascinated about applying it on modern vehicles too. Just somehow connect that to a water sprayer by the exhaust turbine part to produce flash steam which will lead into a container to hold all the press. for later use. So its kinda like a gasoline/electric hybrid sans electricity for steam power! Imagine a Stanley Steamer with a gas engine! But I guess you can make electricity by spinning a turbine, but its less efficient due to the energy transformation from mechanical energy to electricity to chemical storage(which also why batt. gets hot)and back to mechanical again. High HP small gas engine w/ steam assist, is a more elegant solution.
Science

Small Ways to Fix a Big Problem

By Posted on 8.11.2008 10 Comments
It’s easy to feel deflated by the ever-growing raft of ecological problems out there. According to a recent MIT report, even if I were the most frugal of consumers—say a monk or a hobo—as an American, I’d still emit more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the average global citizen. That's partly because the U.S. infrastructure that we all enjoy (police, roads, hospitals) is an inevitable part of our per-capita contribution. Think globally, act locally?

8.13.2008 at 12:12am - Comment by FreeWi11

"• Skip the bacon cheeseburger. Eat farmed fish and poultry instead of beef and pork." - I really dunno if this is really help reduce harm to the environment at all. Farmed fish is worser than raised cattle and pigs in those super big ranches. The farmed fish gotta get fed somehow, and the only way to do it is fishing more food from the ocean than just catching them in the open waters. Plus like cattle or any types of farmed animals to worry about is diseases which can quickly spread in close quarters. So this argument doesn't really provide a better solution. I say, just eat less than you would normally do, and try to eat locally most of the time. That would reduce resources on feeding cattle, and less cattle to raise by demand... in simple broad terms. and to counter the comment from monkey buttons: I've read articles and seen on tele about how cattle ranchers argue to the local government to permit them to hunt wolves and other potential predators in order to protect their cattle. But I wonder if using sheep dogs to protect cattle from wolves a better both sides solution to this problem? It seems like a good idea. Sheep dogs just only herd sheep, they also act as guard dogs from any outside hostiles, even wolves. If I was a wolf, I rather get an easy meal elsewhere than deal with pissed off man's favorite companion.
Cars

Supercar Sunblock

By Posted on 4.2.2008 5 Comments
After spending $100,000 on a car, you dont expect the lightweight carbon-fiber trim to turn yellow and peel in the sun. But thats the downside for carbon fiber with clear-coat (instead of colored) paint, as GM found when testing materials for the 2004 Corvette Z06 Commemorative Edition. So the company redesigned the clear coat and the epoxy resin binding the carbon fibers in the roof and trim of the 2009 Corvette ZR1.

4.3.2008 at 05:34pm - Comment by FreeWi11

Why can't GM do this more often? Make use of their engineers and designers to come together and create something innovative to contribute to the auto world, and oh yeah, build cars people really proud of owning. For all the GM lovers out there, chin up; the light has shown through!
Entertainment & Gaming

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

By Posted on 2.27.2008 39 Comments
Everybody's favorite dead-pan teacher and game show host, Ben Stein, is the face of a new documentary to be released this April called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". It's ostensibly a movie about attacks on freedom of speech in today's hostile climate among scientists in academia, but on closer inspection it really seems to be a thinly veiled screed for Intelligent Design.

Article Rating:

2.28.2008 at 03:37am - Comment by FreeWi11

On, "What's wrong with presenting opposing theories?" A theory needs substantial evidence or evidence to explain some aspect of the natural world backed up by experimentation and test to verify if it have some truth to it. Intelligent Design doesn't have any experimentation or observations in the natural world done to argue its case. Its just arguing for arguments sake. This doesn't mean it should become a scientific theory. Otherwise, I'll be studying astrology and craniometry in college.
Entertainment & Gaming

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

By Posted on 2.27.2008 39 Comments
Everybody's favorite dead-pan teacher and game show host, Ben Stein, is the face of a new documentary to be released this April called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". It's ostensibly a movie about attacks on freedom of speech in today's hostile climate among scientists in academia, but on closer inspection it really seems to be a thinly veiled screed for Intelligent Design.

Article Rating:

2.28.2008 at 03:22am - Comment by FreeWi11

Well we seem to establish the definition of evolution is, "...Evolution = changes develop gradually in response to environmental factors..." by dinsy. And Intelligent Design is, "a creator purposely designed biological processes." So how does this "Intelligent Designer" create living things? How come we dont see new creatures just "poof" right in front of us? I think that will be the day when evolution is busted. Until then, evolution shall be taught in public schools. Any other theories that based on Judeo-Christian's book of Genesis with a fancy legal name attach to it, shall done in respective place of worship or private homes. Remember people, separation of church and state. But who's to say evolution is "Someone's" grand scheme of things. Life is dynamic, it always changes. If Intelligent Design were true, how do we explain genetic mutations found in all living things, farm animals/ plants and dogs, which the latter is done by selective breeding over a period of time to create a totally new animal/plant/pet to suit it needs. So far, I haven't heard of any archeologist digging up a pekingese that dates back to the beginning of time. Since we're (Man) creating new species in cattles, wheats, and dogs.... can we also be called Creators... err... I mean Designers too? Or is this blasphemy? Oh wait its not, because we're discussing Intelligent Design: a scientific theory, and not religion; of course. Also wanna plugin a NOVA special on this case too. I saw it aired on PBS and it discuss about the recent event where textbooks for ID were distributed and taught in public class in somewhere. And then it became a Federal court case. I got bad memory, but if someone can can find it, watch it. Its quite riveting, like Law and Order: Religion vs.Evolution!