Charles Sturt University is an institute of higher learning with nine campuses spread over a thousand kilometres in regional New South Wales & Victoria in Australia. On Tuesday 26 July, 2016 the organisation was certified as Carbon Neutral under the National Carbon Offset Standard – Carbon Neutral Program, which is administered by the Federal Department of the Environment.
Measures taken include more efficient lighting & air conditioning, generation of solar electricity + purchase & onsite generation of offsets. A particular problem for such a widely dispersed organisation is energy required for travel between campuses.
When interviewed, Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said that the carbon neutral programme was saving the university a lot of money.
Charles Sturt University http://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/business-and-commerce/australias-first-and-only-carbon-neutral-university/ Charles Sturt University first Australia declared carbon neutral Charles Sturt University slashed environmental footprint first Australia declared carbon neutral university status reducing emissions buying offsets nine campuses New South Wales Victoria $1 million contract lower energy use installed solar panels new buildings bought carbon credits projects Australia and overseas CSU Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann being carbon neutral saving university a lot of money managing to offset additional costs university must set an example challenge need to engage with species important universities show leadership Professor Vann university biggest challenges declared carbon neutral distance staff travel between campuses effort pay-offs pay off pay-off payoff major source of emissions vehicle fleet driving between campuses major thrust more energy efficient vehicles challenge working many years lot of work worth it 26 organisations country given the status modelling good practice we have to engage with species dealing with our emissions footprint graduate learning objectives students are environmentally conscious thinking about these issues raise awareness student population /
Britain has put its new Hinkley Point nuclear power plant1 on hold. Vested interests are vocal,2,3 but nuclear prices continue to rise, (never on time, never on budget) – while renewables keep getting cheaper.
3The Guardian: “Hinkley Point: China warns UK not to drive away investors”, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/01/china-warns-uk-over-suspicious-approach-to-hinkley-point-deal/ UK Tories Conservatives Conservative Party nuclear folly wind solar cheapest decision UK’s Tory government hold approval world’s biggest single energy investment Hinkley C nuclear plant concerns potential role Chinese state companies realisation new nuclear horrendously expensive boondoggle cost wind solar falling cost of nuclear little surprise anyone involved energy markets nuclear industry supporters news new data previously unheralded National Audit Office report United Kingdon Great Britain England government cost wind solar half new nuclear 2025 nuclear renewable technologies more expensive nuclear cost Hinkley built expects renewables cheaper option Hinkley Point nuclear project blown out costs relies significant government guarantees subsidies tariff pay built tariff rises with inflation 35-year contract more than double price 2050 cost wind solar fall energy department forecasts levelised cost electricity wind solar decreased since 2010 cost forecast for gas has not changed nuclear has increased detailed energy department findings assessment important Australia facing major decisions generation fleet next decade UK has decided end coal-fired generation last two months amount solar production beaten coal production smitten new nuclear evident folly project blown out in cost falling price wholesale electricity lifetime subsidy Bridget Woodman University of Exeter accommodating Hinkley UK government redesign electricity market every major policy design Hinkley Point C government stepped back from the brink UK government head National Grid called for a complete rethink about the nature of energy systems idea of baseload power is already outdated from a consumer’s point of view baseload solar on rooftop heat pump baseload electrons free at the margin industry based on meeting demand extraordinary amount of capital tied up unusual set of circumstances ensure supply at any moment turned on its head experts David Elmes head Warwick Business School Global Energy Research Network megaprojects solution new mix between smaller and larger considering consumption as well as supply more decentralised central industries companies institutions government departments important implications for Australia, whose official energy blue-print, apart from ignoring climate change fascination nuclear energy large centralised power plants coal generators push-back decentralised energy emerging cheaper cleaner alternative current business models extend life assets conservative politicians smaller distributed energy smartest way forward solar Australia cheapest technology storage smart technology alternative centralised gold-plated networks account half consumer electricity bills recent price surge gas concentration of market power transferred this cost wholesale electricity prices South Australia distributed energy increasingly attractive option competition South Australia at the forefront Australia proposes to move forward dabbled nuclear power suffered forces powerful oligopoly consumers are being burnt by retailers long-term vision for the future trap of power system security euphemism for the status quo meeting of state and federal energy ministers /
Professor Emilia Morosan, of the physics departmen at Rice University, discovered the extraordinary hardness of this titanium-gold alloy, largely by accident. She was testing the alloy for its magnetic properties. Part of the testing required that the alloy sample be ground into a fine powder – which proved to be impossible.
Titanium & gold are both unusually well tolerated by the body (biocompatible), which makes them suitable for implants. This new alloy appears to be even more biocompatible. Combined with its extreme hardness, it is likely to be ideal for applications such as hip replacements.
Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/25/extra-strong-titanium-gold-alloy// chance discovery physics lab Rice University ultra-hard material titanium knee hip replacements scientists melting gold titanium mix non-toxic metal four times harder than titanium more durable longer lasting medical implants Professor Emilia Morosan professor physics Rice University experiments magnetic material nonmagnetic elements titanium-gold mix one-to-one ratio team's process developing new compounds grind it up into powder X-rayed X-ray identify composition structure purity grind up titanium-gold diamond-coated mortar and pestle grind it up series of tests hard compound alloy titanium-gold compounds alloy three parts titanium to one part gold formed at high temperature preparing compound high temperatures creates purely crystalline form beta version alloy four times hardness of titanium researchers compound impressive properties high temperature cooked material prepared at lower temperatures atoms arrange themselves cubic structure alpha form titanium-3-gold hardness similar regular titanium assessed hardness materials alpha arrangement of atoms Beta titanium-3 gold three four times harder steel four times harder than pure titanium currently being used dental implants replacement joints researchers material use medical implants titanium and gold more biocompatible materials testing showed titanium-3-gold more biocompatible wear-resistant pure titanium team exploring treating with chemicals even harder /
Superbook with processing power & storage attached Credit: Andromium Inc./Kickstarter
Your phone has a lot of processing power (4 or 8 cores now common) & storage, (32 GB & above common + option of 128 GB microSD). Actually, the biggest limit to phone productivity is the small screen & keyboard.
Superbook leverages the strengths of an Android OTG phone, & overcomes its productivity shortcomings, by adding an 11.6 inch 768p screen (1080p $30 option), keyboard, 10 hour battery, plus USB-C & Micro-B sockets. Full size USB-A allows connection of additional storage, mouse &/or USB hub.
Funding on Kickstarter has passed $1 million, at this time.
Most of the expensive parts of a laptop are provided by the phone, so you can still get a Superbook for as little as $US99.
Trusted Reviews http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/the-superbook-turns-your-phone-into-a-laptop/ smartphones incredibly powerful run productivity apps games size input displays power Andromium new Superbook Android smartphone 11.6-inch screen full-size keyboard trackpad Andromium leverage power smartphone processing grunt laptop 4G smartphone engine laptop PC crowdfunding campaign Andromium fully-functioning phone-based workstation phone funding goals peripherals cables laptop shell connects Android smartphone single USB cable Superbook laptop 11.6 inch LCD display 1,366 x 768 resolution full-size keyboard built in trackpad Superbook phone supports USB-OTG running Android 5.0 USB-C MicroUSB cable built in battery charging connected phone over ten hours of work Andromium OS app enables desktop OS-like features mouse cursor keyboard shortcuts full-screen operation Play Store apps full compatibility Microsoft Office suite upgrade your smartphone updating your computer project Kickstarter goal most basic Superbook pack gold laptop USB-OTG cable wall adapter $99 pledge level Superbook blue or gold universal smartphone mount screen-edge wall charger shipping should start in February 2017 /
Ocean Exploration Trust research ship E/V Nautilus has discovered an animal, which has the appearance of a purple blob, in the Arguello Canyon (1,000 metres, 3,281 feet), off the coast of California.
Despite the suggestion in the video, a scientific name of Blobus purplus, is unlikely to be adopted.
/ mysterious purple blob found ocean floor strange creature found deep California ocean mystery purple blob what the heck is this thing scientists research ship E/V Nautilus discovered something strange bottom ocean small purple blob retrieved recovered remotely operated vehicle trying to figure out what it is purple blob found deep in Arguello Canyon Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off California creature stumped our scientists onboard team video crew discovered purple blob Nautilus scientists surprise episode Mystery Science Theater dark purple blob Blobus purplus scientist researcher /
If you don’t have one of the phones listed above, Android has something for you too. After a spam (or other unwanted) phone call:
● go into the Logs screen of the phone app
● select the unwanted phone call
● select the menu icon ( ≡ or ⋮ )
● select Add to Auto reject list
● press back
● menu icon ( ≡ or ⋮ )
● Settings
● Call
● Call rejection
● Auto reject mode
Auto reject numbers 🔘
/ new spam-blocking spam blocking feature Google integrated default app Android devices Google taking action against spam callers new version phone app Android devices identifies block spammers phone app update Google’s Google separate core phone features OS operating system updates Nexus smartphones Android One devices Nexus 6P Nexus 5X new spam-blocking feature extension Google’s caller ID system helps identify businesses stored your address book phone app checks incoming call numbers database flags spammers big red banner spam caller identified user option permanently block number whitelist false positives first time apps scan incoming calls help users avoid answering spam calls first time Google integrated default app Android devices third-party apps Truecaller available Android iOS iPhone users limited iOS’s locked-down call screeners next version iPhone operating system iOS 10 release iPhone 5 or newer include new caller ID extension system spam alerts Android iPhone iOS OS operating system /
Massoud Hassani’s wind-powered landmine sweeper, funded on Kickstarter in 2013, on display at the Museum of Modern Art, New York Credit: Rene van der Hulst/Massoud Hassani/Museum of Modern Art, New York
“There are 100 million land mines worldwide. Every day, 10 innocent civilians are killed or maimed by these explosives.” – Massoud Hassani
Conventional demining operations pose a major risk to the people carrying out the process. Partly for this reason, demining is slow & expensive. In many places, landmines prevent farming & other land use, for long periods after conflict has ended, further impoverishing populations whose lives have already been blighted by war.
Born in Afghanistan, Massoud Hassani, learned at an early age, about the dangers of landmines. In 2013, he placed his first mine detonator on Kickstarter. Now he is back with the Mine Kafon Drone, which he claims is 20 times faster, 200 times cheaper, & eliminates the risks of traditional demining methods.
2013 Mine Kafon on Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/massoudhassani/mine-kafon/description/ Mine Kafon Drone airborne demining system developed clear all land mines around the world less than 10 years Kickstarter Mine Kafon Drone unmanned airborne demining system uses three step process map detect detonate land mines landmines land mine landmine Mine Kafon Drone 20 times faster currently available technologies Mine Kafon Drone MKD innovative solution land mine landmine removal providing reliable demining system delivers accurate updates information mine clearing operations Mine Kafon drone Queen Maxima Singularity U expo Eindhoven the Netherlands Mine Kafon Drone flies fly dangerous areas map detect detonate landmines from a safe distance drone works autonomously equipped three separate interchangeable robotic extensions three methodologies combined MKD up to 20 times faster traditional demining technologies safer 200 times cheaper mapping drone flies over the whole field aerial 3D mapping system identify dangerous areas GPS way points detection robotic metal detecting arm MKD hovers above ground 4 cm detect mines detected mine geotagged operator's system construct map known mine locations destroying MKD Mine Kafon Drone attached robotic gripping arm places small detonator every detected mine land mine landmine detonated safe distance timer detonation land mines landmines more than 60 countries significant risk communities across globe victims mostly civilians children women elderly tens of thousands of innocent people killed every year many more injured horrific reminder current technologies clearing detecting land mines 1100 years established processes slow dangerous expensive solve the problem in our lifetime MKD crucial advantages demining organisations completely casualty free reduced cost traditional methods modular system enhanced addition sensors tools MKD perform wide variety of tasks map area demining operation information decision-making processes on-going operations planning demining procedures easier scanning process information gathered at-risk areas demining begins data operation collected analysed structured systematic way land mines landmines explosives growing up Kabul Qasaba Afghanistan Massoud Mahmud Hassani Mine Kafon Drone project horrors land mines develop a solution safe smart solution detect clear land mines first successful Kickstarter campaign 2013 backed 4200 backers Mine Kafon Foundation founded Mine Kafon Foundation research and development R&D organisation based the Netherlands raising awareness giving lectures developing new approaches fight land mines landmines crowdsourced engineers designers collaborate volunteer humanitarian project developed several working prototypes Mine Kafon Drone performed tests Dutch Ministry of Defense defence experts demining Mine Kafon Drone pilot study showcasing MKD’s capabilities development production Mine Kafon Drone governments UN NGO MKD works reliable unmanned demining system test different weather conditions environments tests finalize details batch production Mine Kafon Drones save thousands of lives civilians access agriculture water resources education freedom play outdoor sports cannot move freely for fear of mines liberate affected countries Mine Kafon Drone /
