Is this the next Toyota Prius? — leaked images

Credit: Julien JODRY/Twitter

If these images prove to be genuine, it looks like Toyota still doesn’t understand the impact of wheel height on efficiency.

Although it resembles the Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle in that respect


Credit: Green Car Reports

Claimed fuel consumption of 2.5 l/100km is extraordinary.

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/61892/toyota-prius-images-and-specs-for-all-new-model-leaked / Toyota’s all-new Prius hybrid range Tokyo Motor Show images may given the game away Japanese carmaker next generation next-gen Prius Toyota Taiwanese website Autonet published images reportedly scanned from official Toyota literature new Prius’ technical specifications green hero fuel consumption report claims official figure 2.5 l/100km 2.5 litres per 100 kilometres kilometers improved improve improvement fuel petrol gas gasoline gasolene current model of 1.4 l/100km based on its Australian figure 36 percent fuel consumption new plug-in hybrid PHEV version 1.42 l/100km all-electric range up to 50km Toyota two-tier approach styling next Prius PHEV version syling take cues new Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell Prius grow in size weight will drop power output 1.8 litre four-cylinder petrol engine 78kW constantly variable transmission CVT automatic development develop hybrid powertrain /

Pluto — best image to-date from NASA’s New Horizons

Credit: NASA

And there is more to come — the image above was taken on 07 July 2015, from just under 8 million kilometres — NASA’s New Horizons is getting closer to Pluto — closest approach will be at 11:50 UTC on Tuesday, July 14, 2015.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-horizons-a-heart-from-pluto-as-flyby-begins

But — why is this necessary? Hubble can get detailed views of distant galaxies — why not Pluto?
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/02141014-hubble-galaxy-pluto.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.au/ / New Horizons interplanetary space probe launched NASA's New Frontiers program Applied Physics Laboratory Southwest Research Institute Alan Stern spacecraft launched study Pluto moons Kuiper Belt performing flybys Pluto system Kuiper Belt Objects KBOs New Horizons project Pluto 350 project Alan Stern Fran Bagenal Pluto Underground 1990 lightweight cost-effective spacecraft flyby Pluto construction several delays launch site New Horizons launched January 19, 2006, Cape Canaveral Earth-and-solar-escape trajectory Earth-relative speed 16.26 kilometers per second58,536 km/h; 36,373 mph record highest launch speed of a human-made object from Earth brief encounter asteroid 132524 APL New Horizons Jupiter closest approach Jupiter flyby gravity assist New Horizons speed velocity general test returning data about its atmosphere moons magnetosphere post-Jupiter voyage hibernation mode preserve on-board systems brief annual checkouts first flyby of Pluto on July 14, 2015 /

How to send SMS messages from any desktop or laptop computer

Credit: NDTV

Not something I’d want to do every day, but it is occasionally useful, & a laptop keyboard is a lot easier to use than anything on a phone.

http://www.howtogeek.com/221476/how-to-send-sms-messages-from-any-pc-or-mac/

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/features/how-to-make-calls-send-and-receive-sms-from-your-computer-using-an-android-phone-654766 / type out text messages smartphone laptop desktop PC full-size keyboard send text messages directly from your PC access to cellular service use some of these tools send SMS messages directly to a phone number cell mobile phone iPhone Mac Apple iPhone Windows PC built-in SMS-message Apple Macintosh Mac iPhone Android phone Continuity Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite enable it on iPhone opening Settings app tapping Messages activating Text Message Forwarding to your Mac work automatically same Apple ID to log into both your iPhone and Mac open Messages app Mac synced history of text messages from iPhone reply from your Mac send entirely new messages from the Messages app text messages synced to iPhone uses iPhone’s text-messaging service cellular carrier charges for texts pay that fee for the messages you send Android phone MightyText app install Android phone sign in to MightyText web app web browser on your computer running Windows Mac OS X Linux Chrome OS view send your phone’s text messages browser extensions AirDroid app Android Messages Mac works entirely through your phone computer gateway to your phone sending and receiving text messages cost cellular carrier charges text messages people based in the USA Google Voice free Google Voice new phone number primary phone number Google Voice service supported by Google sign in to Google Voice website send receive text messages phone number calls text messages automatically forwarded primary phone number sending text messages placing phone calls to numbers US and Canada completely free Google Voice send text messages Skype Skype send text messages Skype desktop app available worldwide Microsoft charge for this service send text messages from Skype pay for credit won’t sync text-message app on your smartphone Email-to-SMS Gateways cellular carriers email-to-SMS gateways email phone number gateway under 160 characters websites send text messages free trustworthy email address spam Airdroid 3 send and receive text messages transfer files computer Web client software download AirDroid Android phone create an account show notifications computer AirDroid Notification Mirror service Android messages app AirDroid phone dialer /

Increasing lifespan & healthspan through diet

Life extension by substantial caloric restriction in a large number of organisms, including yeast, nematodes, fruit flies & rhesus monkeys has a history reaching back to the 1930s.¹

If living longer appeals to you, but a starvation diet doesn’t, there may be hope. Dr. Samantha Solon-Biet at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, has demonstrated in mice, that similar results can be achieved with a low-protein-high-carbohydrate diet. No reduction in overall caloric intake is required, apart from that consistent with normal weight control.

Transcript & podcast of an interview with Dr. Norman Swan at:

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/increasing-lifespan-healthspan-through-diet/6511294
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¹ “Caloric Restriction” http://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/lifestyle-longevity/caloric-restriction/Page-01 / LPHC diets improve metabolic health LPHC diet mice metabolic benefits 40% caloric restriction without any actual caloric intake reduction Health Report ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation low carb diets increase longevity low carbs restricting total calorie intake improves health prolongs life span total calories proteins carbohydrates fats reduce calories 30% 40% live longer no evidence in humans lifespan health span reducing calorie intake improve insulin sensitivity lower blood glucose improve lipid profiles in humans Cell Reports much extra lifespan calorie restriction 30% increase in lifespan significant in reasonable health proteins carbohydrates fats interaction macronutrients total calories fat in isolation protein in isolation carbohydrates in isolation all interact together compared low calorie diet macronutrient diet larger mouse study published Health Report 25 different diets energy density calorically restricted free access to food balance protein carbohydrate main driver of health span lifespan low calorie diet compare two nutritional interventions known to improve health and lifespan traditional caloric restriction low protein high carbohydrate diet caloric restriction mice metabolic benefits obesity loading up on carbohydrates carbohydrates increase risk of heart disease eat doughnut cake sugar balance healthy carbohydrates not sugar processed highly refined carbohydrates complex carbohydrates primary carbohydrate wheat starch very little sucrose diet fat fat was fixed 20% modern Western diet is about 40% fat low fat equivalent increased lifespan health span put on weight low protein high carb diet had better health a bit fatter compared to the high protein mice Brad Pitt abdomen washboard six pack thin thighs research researcher evidence low protein diets beneficial for humans paper published Cell Metabolism low protein diets reduce risk of cancers death in people over 65 evidence CSIRO diet inhibits appetite mouse researcher extrapolate to humans diet moderate protein intake low to moderate 15% protein high quality protein high quality carbohydrates low amount of fat thick T-bone steak small fish steak living longer little bit of extra body fat beneficial for survival extra energy stores Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing metabolic syndrome diseases quality of proteins carbohydrates proteins branched-chain amino acids branched-chain amino acids building blocks of proteins branched-chain amino acids turn on specific metabolic pathways leucine isoleucine valine animal proteins very high in branched-chain amino acids manipulating in mice ratios of branched-chain amino acids diet fish meat high in fish reduce intake relative to healthy carbohydrates agriculture adjust amino acids Mediterranean diet very low in red meat lots of vegetables good fats healthy carbohydrates /

Building a better wind turbine

8 mega Watt prototype in Østerild, Denmark, February 2014
Credit: Vestas/RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Wind turbines have a number factors limiting their performance:
● Loaded lever arms — “don’t load a lever arm at 90 degrees”, is a fundamental principle of engineering. Wind turbines do exactly that. As a result, wind turbines require up to 700 tons of steel for the tower, to stop it from bending, & up to 4,000 tons of concrete to stop it from being levered out of the ground. Substantially as a result of this, as of Febraury 2014, the most powerful wind turbine in the world was a prototype, capable of generating 8 megaWatts.¹
● Forces in a lever arm increase with length — this restricts towers to a height of 150 metres.
● In general, wind velocity increases with altitude.
● Wind power increases as the cube of velocity — e.g. if the the velocity of the wind doubles, power increases 2³ = 8 times.
● There’s a lot more wind energy up there, but towers just can’t reach it.
● Subject to wind damage.²

Attaching wind turbines to drones promises to overcome all of these difficulties:
http://www.techthefuture.com/technology/the-trillion-dollar-drone/

Conventional drones also have a future in visual inspections of tower wind turbines

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¹ “Meet The New World's Biggest Wind Turbine“ http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2014/02/meet-the-new-worlds-biggest-wind-turbine.html

² “Who, what, why: What happens to wind turbines in a storm?” http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-24706238 / searchkeys /

Nissan Leaf to get 200 km range by August

Nissan Leaf long range prototype
Credit: Nissan/ Green Car Reports

200 mile electric vehicles are promised by a range of car manufacturers in the next few years. Tesla, General Motors, BMW & Porsche among them. LG Chem & other battery manufacturers are working toward similar goals.

Nissan has something more immediate: a 200 km version of its Leaf EV in August of this year. And there’s more in the works.

http://www.electric-vehiclenews.com/2015/06/nissan-leaf-to-get-200-km-range-by.html

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1098963_2016-nissan-leaf-range-to-top-100-miles-august-launch-possible-report / Nissan midcycle mid-cycle update August deliver big increase Leaf's driving range Leaf improvements increasing battery capacity current 24-kilowatt-hour power pack battery pack 30 kWh increase boost range 200 km 125 miles CEO Carlos Ghosn future EV steps plans annual shareholders meeting Tuesday June 23 Nissan developing lighter thinner cheaper battery enable driving ranges comparable gasoline petrol vehicles near future Nissan displayed display Leaf equipped prototype next-generation electric drivetrain technology under development being tested achieves range more than 500 kilometers 310 miles Ghosn goal next-generation battery eliminate range anxiety providing enough cushion people owners complete daily drive return home with ample charge video simulation car charging up range more than 310 miles ending the day drivable range 160 miles in reserve next-generation battery interim upgrade flagship green car completion move forward Ghosn /

Solar Impulse 2 lands in Hawaii

Credit: AFP/Solar Impulse/Jean Revillard/Australian Broadcasting Corporation

After flying 7,200km across the Pacific from Nagoya, Japan over 5 days & nights, Solar Impulse 2 landed in Hawaii at 05:55 local time (15:55 GMT Friday 03 July). Solar energy, captured from solar cells on the aircraft, powered the entire journey.

Backstory: http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/solar-impulse-2-leaves-nagoya-japan-for.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33383521

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-04/solar-impulse-arrives-in-hawaii-completing-historic-flight/6594742 / Swiss pilot pilots first ever attempt fly around the world propelled the Sun André Borschberg compatriot Bertrand Piccard take turns piloting single seater seat Solar Impulse 2 21,747 miles 35,000 km kilometre 12 legs including gruelling five- to six-day stints across the Atlantic Pacific oceans entire journey will take five months Borschberg took the controls takeoff take off take-off Al-Bateen executive airport Abu Dhabi early on Monday first destination Muscat in Oman pilots roughly 250 hours each inside narrow cockpit no oxygen temperature control temperatures outside range between -40 degrees C to 40°C degrees Celsius falling asleep flight need constant attention Piccard Borschberg survive 20-minute naps every two to four hours pilots will practise yoga stave off the physical discomfort remaining confined seat for days at a time Borschberg biggest challenge maintaining concentration Piccard psychiatrist team 1999 first circumnavigated globe non-stop balloon taught techniques of self-hypnosis meditation maintain concentration time duration in the present moment the only way is to be present almost a spiritual experience entire journey circumnavigating Earth in a family car aircraft weighs the same as a Volvo sedan comparable speeds SI2 top speed 87m/h 140km/h pilots conserve battery power limiting plane half cockpit only slightly larger average car contain life support systems food oxygen supplies reclining pilot’s seat triples bed chair toilet fly both day and night no fuel powered by 17,000 solar panels set on its wings wider Boeing 747’s fuselage 633kg bank of lithium batteries quarter weight store energy run motors overnight journey early days intercontinental flight enormous speed range jet engines Qantas fly Kangaroo Route Sydney to London hopping Darwin Singapore Kolkata Karachi Cairo Tripoli en route Borschberg success Solar Impulse project first solar-powered plane fly through the night first to fly between two continents primitive step toward zero-carbon jumbo combustion fossil fuels dominated powered flight 19th century dirigible aviation burns the most carbon per passenger per kilometre of any mode of mass-transport and, despite efforts to limit emissions, remains the fastest growing anthropogenic source of greenhouse gases sector climate change toughest major emissions source to decarbonise solar flight seeks remains decades away Wright Brothers Charles Lindbergh deputy editor Aerospace magazine Bill Read solar flight commercial flights solar cells generate power fly Solar Impulse fly using solar power constructed very light weight light-weight lightweight huge wingspan solar cell technology power source aircraft advances project real-world uses today fly Sun day and night build an aircraft extremely energy efficient technologies energy efficiency used in your home your car appliances four motors power aircraft generate heat energy efficiency single cheapest way reduce carbon emissions across the world technologies challenge energy environment pollution natural resources /