WhisperSystems creates a "suicide pill" for phones

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/28/whispersystems_creates_suicide_pill_for_phones/ / develop development developer developers Arab Spring create created encrypt encrypted communication comms communications app Android crafting craft geofenced self-destruct wipe erase phone based location WhisperSystems.org Zones app, release released Google Play keep backups data smart phone smartphone phone cell mobile smart phone smartphone founded Moxie Marlinspike WhisperSystems prominent prominence announcement announced TextSecure text SMS Redphone voice encryption apps app Egypt support anti-government protests downfall former Hosni Mubarak regime acquired Twitter software released open source dot-org domain Zones developer Rhodey Orbits The Register Zones public release publishing Google Play Store device-wipe capability find my phone feature set feature-set external Web service internal capabilities phone location awareness lock lost phone unlock found delete deleting call history contacts SMS messages authentication password location updates Audio alarm Battery level alert Super lock device swipe unlock swipe-unlocked Super unlock reverses reverse Super-lock Clear call history Clear contacts Factory Reset geofenced define zones map assign a range of actions arrested dangerous border crossing /

Tesla Model S electric vehicle USA trans-continental trip

Tesla Model S, road grime, Supercharger station
Credit: Tam on Tesla Motors Forum

A Tesla Model S electric vehicle has today, completed an east-to-west crossing of the United States. Fuel cost to the drivers was zero, using the barely-complete Tesla Supercharger network.

"Barely-complete", in that speeds had to be restricted early in the trip to stretch range, & not all of the Supercharger stations were completed when the journey began, but came on line in time to allow the trip to continue. Coverage by the driver (myfastlady@aol.com) & others at:

http://www.teslamotors.com/forum/forums/heading-cross-country

Earlier post from Green Car Reports:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1089907_tesla-electric-car-cross-country-trip-underway-with-eta-today

Update: Image at the top of this item now loading correctly. Apologies if any of the links above are broken. Can't check them at the moment because the Tesla web site is being updated. What do you suppose that could be about?/ lithium ion lithium-ion LiIon battery charge recharge range 2013 Tesla Model S traveling cross-country electric car vehicle EV plan planning time slow 265 miles EPA rated EPA-rated range 60 85 kWh cross-country network cross country free to use free-to-use Supercharger fast-charge stations trip Model S owner voyage update updates appearing Tesla Motors forum trip two drivers father daughter team this weekend start began begin started Kentucky driver John New York Jill setting off set Tuesday driven west headed north Minnesota headed west once more meandered south-west Wyoming Colorado Utah New Mexico Arizona existing Supercharger network descriptions forum thread path traces current Supercharger map cross country some of the distances required slower driving extreme cold heavy snow northern states range Los Angeles final stop Arizona Southern California Tesla /

Protect your phone from water (video)

Credit: Liquipel/Jailbreak Nation

http://www.jailbreaknation.com/liquidpel-coating-waterproofs-your-iphone-without-a-case

Just before you send off you phone to be waterproofed, be aware that there are limits to what Liquipel can do. This video is from someone who found out the hard way:



An Aqualife waterproof case might be a better bet:

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/aqualife-waterproof-iphone-case#more-25944

If you don't have an iPhone, check out the universal model:


Credit: Case Logic

http://shop.pinewayasia.com/Universal-Mobile-Phone-Waterproof-Case-CL-unvaqu-bl.htm/ gadget gadgets CES new technology Liquidpel invisible coating waterproof totally waterproofs iPhone drop worry dropping toilet water leak service post transport send away ship iPhone Liquidpel apply applied apply 2 days device in your hands shipping cost costs expense totally waterproof caution internal coating disassemble disassembled possibly void the warranty mist fog penetrate gas droplet H2O /

How to tap the sun’s energy through heat as well as light

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are not able to convert all of the photons which fall upon them into electricity. Only a limited range of frequencies can be utilized. MIT researchers are investigating a two layer solution in which an upper layer heated by incident light re-emits the energy in the infra-red range to a second layer tuned to this frequency.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2014/how-to-tap-the-suns-energy-through-heat-as-well-as-light-0119.html / new approach harvesting harvest solar energy develop development developed MIT researchers research researching improved improve efficiency sun light sunlight heat high temperature high-temperature material infrared radiation collect collector collected conventional photovoltaic cell technique easy easier store energy later use researchers improve improves performance take advantage wavelength photon wavelengths Sun sunlight light paper published journal Nature Nanotechnology graduate student Andrej Lenert associate professor mechanical engineering Evelyn Wang physics professor Marin Soljačić principal research scientist Ivan Celanović conventional silicon-based solar cell take advantage photons photon Wang convert converting energy photon electricity photons photon’s energy level match characteristic photovoltaic PV material bandgap silicon bandgap responds many wavelengths light respond wavelength wave address limitation team inserted two layer two-layer absorber-emitter absorber emitter absorb emit device novel materials material carbon nanotubes photonic crystal between sunlight PV cell intermediate material collects collect energy broad spectrum sunlight heating up process heats up glow glows red hot emit emits light particular wavelength tune tuned match bandgap PV cell mounted nearby solar-thermal solar thermal photovoltaic improved efficiency /

An insider's story of the global attack on climate science

Climate change deniers are an alliance of contrarians, vested interests & those in denial who just don't want to face the responsibilities inherent in climate change. One more example:

http://theconversation.com/an-insiders-story-of-the-global-attack-on-climate-science-21972

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchants_of_Doubt / recent headline failed doubters trust taxpayers six-figure loss six figure loss secretly funded secretly-funded climate denial deny denier harassment harass scientists science scientist tying-up valuable government resources New Zealand familiar story scientist colleagues around the world who to believe global warming greenhouse green house gas climate change New Zealand fight climate data ongoing war against evidence-based science evidence based number crunching controversy produced seven station 6 7 seven-station New Zealand temperature series 7SS monitor historic temperature trends vary variation variations Auckland south Dunedin southern New Zealand NZ Meteorological Service revise revised homogenisation homogenisation approach temperature records more accurate adjusting adjust adjustment temperature gauges moved move new sites site 1928 Wellington’s Wellington temperature gauge relocate relocated nner suburb near sea level into the hills at Kelburn where higher cooler location recorded cool temperatures temperature city before statistical analysis work out how much Wellington’s temperature gone up or down city’s temperature records began 1862 change gauge being moved uphill examine re-examining NZ temperatures controversy controversial uncontroversial government-owned government owned research organisation National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research updated seven stations across the country Auckland Dunedin 1909 2008 warming trend 0.91 degrees Celcius heat heated New Zealand Climate Science Coalition global climate change denial group International Climate Science Coalition contact contacting explanation of the science determined conspiracy shonky claims attack science MP free market ACT New Zealand party Rodney Hide claim claimed NZ Parliament February 2010 NIWA raw data official temperature graph shows no warming NIWA shifted the bulk of the temperature record pre-1950 pre 1950 post downwards bulk of data post-1950 upwards produce sharply rising trend argument for warming result adjust adjustment adjustments data which can’t be justified checked Mr Hide’s attack continued more than 80 parliamentary questions NIWA between science minister asked NIWA re-examine temperature record methodology reviewed endorsed Australian Bureau of Meteorology warming trend of 0.91 degrees High Court Justice Geoffrey Venning delivered a 49-page ruling NZCSET challenges against NIWA NZCSET Trustee Terry Dunleavy’s lack of scientific expertise tediously lengthy particularly unsuited taxpayers foot the bill appeal withdrawn at the last minute NIWA $NZ89,000 in costs from the original case plus further costs from the appeal /

Firestorm

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

18 January 2003 a major fire hit Canberra, Australia. Four lives lost, over 490 injured, plus over 500 homes destroyed & other property damage. But this was something more than just a fire: there was severe wind damage; a police car was picked up & dumped in a storm water drain; plus the fire spread faster than was predicted by the literature.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Catalyst programme takes a look:

/ fire firestorm Canberra ACT Australian Capital Territory Canberra bushfires brushfire fire 2003 several deaths fatalities 490 injured injuries severe damage outskirts Canberra Australian capital city 18–22 January 2003 70% pastures, forests pine plantations nature parks severely damaged most renowned Mount Stromlo astronomical astronomy Observatory destroyed burn burning week around the edges ACT fire flame smoke fires entered suburbs Canberra 18 January 2003next ten hours four people died death fatality 500 homes were destroyed severely damaged significant relief reconstruction effort bush fire brigade emergency services On 8 January 2003 lightning strikes started 4 fires in close proximity to Canberra. Despite their proximity and very small initial sizes, low intensity and low rate of spread these fires were not extinguished or contained by emergency services personnel. Subsequent inquiries into the bushfires including the Roche report, the McLeod inquiry and the Coroners Report identified poor management of the initial response as a key contributor to the disaster that unfolded on 18 January 2003 13 January helicopter water bombing bomber waterbombing fires forests west Canberra crashed crash Bendora Dam one person pilot injured ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope Chief Fire Officer Peter Lucas-Smith reviewing review fires nearby Snowy Hydro SouthCare helicopter pilot Southcare chopper cautiously positioned aircraft Stanhope Lucas-Smith paramedic board dive dam rescue injured pilot helicopter pilot later received awards bravery Emergency Services Bureau ESB released final media release format content clues overlooked assessment risk Canberra faced bush fire bushfire logistical support staging areas relocated Bulls Head Orroral Valley far outside urban Canberra North Curtin District Playing Fields far inside urban Canberra major retreat fire fighters imminent danger to the city /

Sugar powered bio-battery has ten times the energy density of lithium — Your phone may soon run on enzymes

Credit: Virginia Tech

http://mobile.extremetech.com/latest/103553-sugar-powered-biobattery-has-10-times-the-energy-storage-of-lithium-your-smartphone-might-soon-run-on-enzymes / sugar sucrose glucose dextrose fructose maltose enzyme enzyme sugar sugars carbohydrate coke glycemic index load insulin electricity sugar high durability enzymatic pathway energy ATP adenosine triphosphate molecules energy density pathway LiIon lithium ion lithium-ion Virginia Tech /