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3DTOPO

Science

NASA Scientists Say Martian Meteorite May Have Brought Life to Earth

By Jeremy Hsu Posted on 11.25.2009 9 Comments
Martians may have already landed on Earth, at least in ancient microbial form. The same NASA team that discovered the controversial Allen Hills meteorite has shared new data that points to a biological origin for structures within the Martian rock, Spaceflight Now reports. NASA headquarters plans to officially address the new findings within days.

11.25.2009 at 11:11pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

Cookiees453: obviously ardas1968 was kidding. Not only was that evident by the use of sarcasm, ardas1968 gave one not intelligent enough to understand sarcasm at least two obvious clues: (1) the use of a smiley face and (2) the use of the acronym "LOL". Geeezzz - lighten up a little!
Science

World's First Osmotic Power Plant Goes Live in Norway

By Clay Dillow Posted on 11.24.2009 10 Comments
When it comes to harnessing the energy potential of the oceans, the Norwegians have no problem starting small. The world's first osmotic power plant opened today in Tofte, Norway, utilizing the properties of salty seawater to generate a whopping 4 kilowatts of electricity for the grid, or about enough to power a coffee maker. But the Norwegian company running the project, Statkraft, is a glass-half-full kind of company, claiming that eventually osmotic plants could draw half of Europe's electricity from the saltiness of the sea.

11.25.2009 at 07:03pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

Blaxpear: Agreed! I actually would put the lighting requirements down to around 100 watts with compact fluorescent quickly becoming the new standard (that could be five 20 watt bulbs). That would free about as much power as you would need to run a more typical coffee machine then the so-called author has. I think incandescent lights are either illegal or soon to be illegal. Note too that microwaves, refrigerators and AC units typically run intermittently most of the time - which is taking up 2500 watts (more than half) of your list. Also most AC units are only used seasonally.
Science

World's First Osmotic Power Plant Goes Live in Norway

By Clay Dillow Posted on 11.24.2009 10 Comments
When it comes to harnessing the energy potential of the oceans, the Norwegians have no problem starting small. The world's first osmotic power plant opened today in Tofte, Norway, utilizing the properties of salty seawater to generate a whopping 4 kilowatts of electricity for the grid, or about enough to power a coffee maker. But the Norwegian company running the project, Statkraft, is a glass-half-full kind of company, claiming that eventually osmotic plants could draw half of Europe's electricity from the saltiness of the sea.

11.24.2009 at 11:47pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

4KW coffee maker? That must be one serious coffee maker! That equates to a 5.333 horsepower coffee machine! My entire house uses less than 4 KW (typically between 2 and 2 KW)! I think a better comparison would be it is enough power to run a house - slightly more accurate.
DIY

Video: Make a Metal Bowl with a Tree Stump and a Mallet

By Vin Marshall Posted on 11.10.2009 7 Comments
Take a piece of tissue paper. Support the edges and press down on the center to form a bowl. The ripples that will form are extra material with nowhere to go. Now imagine the tissue was metal and you see one of the essential difficulties of putting compound curves (as opposed to a simple curve, aka a fold) into sheet metal when you need a little impression and don't have a stamping machine handy. But if you know exactly where and how to hit, you can do it with nothing more than a mallet and a tree stump.

11.10.2009 at 02:04pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

@Thumper_DS: I don't - maybe because some people such as myself find it interesting? Perhaps you should go back to your video games or TV.
Technology

Space Hotel Reportedly On Track for 2012 Opening, Already Has Paying Guests

By Jeremy Hsu Posted on 11.4.2009 17 Comments
Anyone with a cool $4 million and change might consider doing what 43 other people have done, and sign up for an orbital space vacation in 2012 with Galactic Suite Space Resort. The Barcelona-based company plans to open the first space hotel if all goes according to plan.

11.6.2009 at 12:35pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

@V3RTIGO With any adventure there is no "guarantee" your saftey. For example, if someone dies on an expedition climbing Mt. Everest, what good would the guarantee be if one is dead?!?! Or sailing around the world, or a hot hair balloon flight, or a small aircraft, or a car, or skiing, etc., etc., etc. If you want to be guaranteed to be safe, you better not leave your couch. Wait - even then there is no guarantee you will be safe - a meteor can strike you dead on your couch. When your time has come, you will die - no way around it. So while some activity is more risk than others, they may also offer greater rewards than less risky activity (eg sitting on your couch)...
Technology

LHC Reawakens, Sending Proton Beams Running at the Speed of Light

By Amina Elahi Posted on 10.26.2009 12 Comments
Over the weekend, Cern ran particle beams through the Large Hadron Collider for the first time since it was shut down last September. After a helium leak caused magnets to overheat, operations at the LHC were suspended for cleanup and repairs. After tests on October 23 and 25, scientists hope to have the LHC running again in full by November.

10.27.2009 at 05:44pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

That's true - I meant to say "take more ENERGY than is available". The faster matter travels, the more mass it contains, which in turn requires exponentially more energy to go faster. To make matter actually go at the speed of light (in a vacuum), it would take more energy than is available in the entire observable universe.
Technology

LHC Reawakens, Sending Proton Beams Running at the Speed of Light

By Amina Elahi Posted on 10.26.2009 12 Comments
Over the weekend, Cern ran particle beams through the Large Hadron Collider for the first time since it was shut down last September. After a helium leak caused magnets to overheat, operations at the LHC were suspended for cleanup and repairs. After tests on October 23 and 25, scientists hope to have the LHC running again in full by November.

10.26.2009 at 10:13pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

I never said I hated PopSci; so I am not sure how you came up with that. I just think that reporting the truth is better than reporting something that sounds more spectacular than the truth. It is theoretically impossible to make matter go the speed of light. It would take more matter than is available in the observable universe to make a single proton go the speed of light. PopSci, with Sci being for Science should know that. BTW: I think you meant "you do" instead of "yeah do", and "there articles" should be "their articles".
Technology

LHC Reawakens, Sending Proton Beams Running at the Speed of Light

By Amina Elahi Posted on 10.26.2009 12 Comments
Over the weekend, Cern ran particle beams through the Large Hadron Collider for the first time since it was shut down last September. After a helium leak caused magnets to overheat, operations at the LHC were suspended for cleanup and repairs. After tests on October 23 and 25, scientists hope to have the LHC running again in full by November.

10.26.2009 at 04:51pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

Should state "nearly the speed of light". Popsci; making stuff up as usual.
Technology

Video: Sony's Prototype 360-Degree Display Shows Off 3-D Image

By Stuart Fox Posted on 10.22.2009 9 Comments
While the first 3-D television sets may start shipping as early as next year, they don't represent true three dimensional images. The televisions require 3-D glasses to work, and only present an image when viewed head on.

10.23.2009 at 12:46am - Comment by 3DTOPO

One other thing, the first sentence "While the first 3-D television sets may start shipping as early as next year" is also false! 3D-ready televisions have been shipping for at least a couple years now! They are already in living rooms, waiting for the most part 3D content! The glasses are extra, but they have been selling those for years as well. Come on PopSci, this is just downright irresponsible reporting.
Technology

Video: Sony's Prototype 360-Degree Display Shows Off 3-D Image

By Stuart Fox Posted on 10.22.2009 9 Comments
While the first 3-D television sets may start shipping as early as next year, they don't represent true three dimensional images. The televisions require 3-D glasses to work, and only present an image when viewed head on.

10.22.2009 at 09:04pm - Comment by 3DTOPO

Sorry, but this is hardly the "first ever truly 3-D display". The US Government had a larger version that looked very similar but with higher resolution about 20 years ago!!! Just google "holographic display" and you will see countless prior inventions that are very similar. Does anyone check facts here, or do they just report what they think will get the most hits?