10 Steps to a better brain

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http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9968-top-10-steps-to-a-better-brain.html?full=true#.Uw_IvtDZW2c / smart drugs food for thought Mozart effect gainful employment memory marvels sleep on it body and mind nuns on a run attention seeking positive feedback brainy education improve expand improve your mind boost boosting mental faculties studying hard reclusive book worm tricks techniques habits change changes lifestyle diet behaviour flex grey matter bestbrain cells age old mean worsening memory slower reactions fuzzy thinking age 40, honest notice noticing changes mental abilities beginning gradual decline dementia reverse slow mask cognitive enhancement on the market others on the way best-known modafinil licensed treat narcolepsy condition suddenly fall asleep notable effects health healthy people awake alert jitteriness bad concentration amphetamine amphetamines caffeine coffee produce sleep deprived sleep-deprived people perform even better well-rested unmedicated medicated sleep the normal 8 hours, and then pull a few more all-nighters with no ill effects ritalin attention deficit disorder ADD superior concentration exam exams pharmaceutical pipeline promising compounds drugs nicotinic receptors smokers exploit exploited drugs drug cannabinoid augment memory major side effects cognitive enhancers Daniele Piomelli University of California Irvine UCI study studying the body's cannabinoid system making memories less emotionally charged post-traumatic stress disorder memory unwanted effects Gary Lynch concern invent invention inventor ampakines, class of drugs how memory encoded how strong a memory trace is essence of learning rules optimise optimum optimised evolution improve improvement hidden downsides penalty disadvantge sleep-deprived preliminary studies dietary supplement industry supplementation eat eating breakfast glucose studies skipping breakfast reduce reduction reduces performance school work calories beans on toast Barbara Stewart University of Ulster UK high protein high-protein beans fibre high-fibre diet improved cognition wholemeal toast Marmite yeast extract B vitamins lunch is omelette salad choline neurotransmitter acetylcholine research researchers Boston University healthy young adults drug scopolamine block blocks acetylcholine receptors brain remember word pairs Alzheimer's disease study studies suggest boost boosting dietary intake slow age related age-related memory loss salad packed antioxidants beta-carotene vitamin vitamins C E age ageing brain damage damaging free radicals Dwight Tapp diet high in antioxidants improved cognitive skills yogurt alert stress stresses amino acid tyrosine production neurotransmitters dopamine noradrenalin study studies US military deplete depleted stress supplement supplementing intake improve alertness memory snack mid-afternoon maintain glucose levels avoid junk food highly processed cakes pastries biscuits contain trans-fatty acids implicate implicated serious mental disorders dyslexia ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder autism hard evidence Society for Neuroscience San Diego, California junk food rat maze remember solutions solve solved damage mediated triglyceride cholesterol performance memory tasks improved improve improvement brains brain 60 per cent fat omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid DHA fish brain food feed lubricate developing brain DHA dementia studies published amyloid plaques disease high-DHA diet strawberries blueberries fruit fruits improved coordination concentration short-term memory music thinking Mozart improved mathematical spatial reasoning rats ran mazes faster accurately Mozart piano sonata stimulate activity genes nerve cell nerve-cell signalling brain mental faculties feel better relax relaxation relaxed stimulate stimulation stimulated stimulus story performance boost music lessons drama lessons instruction IQ scores Rauscher spatial reasoning tests computer lessons exercise mental skills delicate precise finger movements listen listening pitch rhythm emotional dimension mental boost young children mental problem-solving abilities spatial skills memory verbal reasoning genetics working memory general intelligence short-term information storage system workbench solving mental problems calculate intermediate steps answer information general intelligence Torkel Klingberg Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden neural systems grow in response to training functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI MRI brain scans brain activity working-memory training programme tasks cognitive abilities /

Psychobiotics: How gut bacteria mess with your mind

There are more bacterial cells in & on your body than there are human cells! Ten times as many, according to one estimate.¹ Bacteria are much smaller than the cells of your body, so bacteria have much less mass & take up much less space.

Now it appears they have psychoactive effects as well:

http://forums.thechaniproject.com/topic/6743-psychobiotics-how-gut-bacteria-mess-with-your-mind/
__________

¹ Scientific American: “Humans Carry More Bacterial Cells than Human Ones”, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-humans-carry-more-bacterial-cells-than-human-ones/

/ influence gut bacteria emotion feeling feeling emotions felt stomach bug gut bacteria positive positively influence mood behaviour raising possibility new ways neurobehavioural disorders depression obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD obsessive compulsive disorder acquire intestinal microbes immediately after birth live important symbiotic relationship bacteria gut cells body mass weight mind brain bacteria vast array of genes produce producing hundreds thousands of chemicals influence your brain bacteria produce same molecules brain signalling dopamine serotonin gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA brain predominantly made of fats produced metabolic activity of bacteria absence gut bacteria brain structure function are altered mice reared raised germ-free germ free environment no exposure to bacteria alterations memory emotional state behaviour show autistic patterns of behaviour focus focusing inanimate objects other mice behavioural change driven alteration alterations underlying brain chemistry example dramatic changes in serotonin transmission changes key molecules brain derived brain-derived neurotrophic factor fundamental role forming new synapses probiotics health benefit Russian biologist Élie Metchnikoff region Bulgaria consumed fermented food live longer psychobiotics mental health benefit mental-health benefit California Institute of Technology Pasadena bacterium Bacteroides fragilis behavioural gastrointestinal deficits mouse model of autism Bifidobacterium infantis animal model of depression gut bacteria influence the brain mechanism mechanisms bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus dairy products potent anti-anxiety effects animals works changing expression GABA receptors brain changes mediated vagus nerve connects brain gut nerve severed no effect anxiety GABA receptors psychobiotic treatment L. rhamnosus alleviate OCD obsessive compulsive disorder behaviours behaviour GABA receptors brain synthesise release GABA evidence gut bacteria brain altering alter immune system manufacture of short-chain fatty acids short chain fatty acids /

Netflix "Drone To Home" spoof of Amazon's flying drone delivery idea (video)

Maybe-serious drone delivery ideas from Amazon & another in Australia were reported on these pages previously. / Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos correspondent Charlie Rose 60 Minutes interview mystery room Amazon offices revealed secret R&D project Octocopter drone drones fly packages directly to your doorstep in 30 minutes audacious plan Bezos says requires more safety testing FAA Federal Aviation Administration approvals delivery-by-drone Amazon Prime Air available customers 4 to 5 four five years Charlie Rose story Amazon PR team octocopters octocopter pick up packages small yellow buckets Amazon’s fulfillment centers whiz through air deliver items individual customers 30 minutes hit the buy button online Amazon.com octocopter package delivery safe safety safely deliver text book books Sydney Australia University students student bookshop book shop /

Australian car-share service GoGet is working on a self-driving car with University of New South Wales

Credit: GoGet/Gizmodo Australia

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/02/aussie-car-share-service-goget-is-working-on-a-self-driving-car/ / Australia Australian big country city cities urban suburban sub-urban car sharing services big urban centres owning a car doesn’t really make sense future car sharing services service GoGet self driving self-driving car research project Toyota Yaris hatchback named Ethel outfitted self driving self-driving sensor tech study roads road how human drivers treat their cars car details autonomy autonomous car against the law in Australia car with no driver Australian motoring car sharing fleet project undertaken partnership partner partnering partnered UNSW University of New South Wales autonomous cars car reality campus /

Cost of renewable energy — the news is good

Durabilty of wind turbines has been queried. Suggestion being, that they are unreliable, so maintenance costs & so, ultimately, the cost of the electicity they produce, is high. A recent study says otherwise:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1090506_long-lived-clean-power-wind-turbines-last-25-years-study-says

Good news for solar too:

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=afd7d419b8ad8bf6117ea1def&id=5c736bc48c&e=19c9911ba4 / photo voltaic photovoltaic PV renewable green non-renewable finite resource windmill wind mill blade clean energy wind power solar reliable source electricity durability durable investment turbines generator generators replace repalcement new study Imperial College Business School London 25 years upgraded upgrade replace replaced reseaarch researchers survey surveyed onshore wind farm United Kingdom U.K. local wind speed data NASA Illinois Wind Farm NASA data compare comparison compared wind speed recorded turbines at each farm formula calculate how wear and tear affected affect machine machines machines' output crunch crunching the numbers researchers research researcher concluded conclude conclusion expected lifespan of 25 years upgrades upgrade needed study found oldest wind turbines produce three quarters three-quarters of their original output 19 years in operation equates similar performance electricity generating generation electricity-generating gas turbines new research also refutes refute previous claim average electric power electricity output wind turbines decrease decreases decreasing one third after 10 years conclusion wind turbines operate for long periods of time major repairs replacement newer designs design authors author study investment wind farms farm wind generated generate generation wind-generated power reduce environmental impact electric cars cleaner clean energy source plug-in plug in carbon footprint cars car electric vehicle EV Honda wind turbines turbine energy Marysville Ohio plant vehicle production greener sustainable renewable energy alternate alternative /

Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone announced at MWC Barcelona (video)

Credit: Samsung/Boy Genius Report

• 3GB RAM
• 2,800 mAh battery
• 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with 0.3 second autofocus(!), selective focus & realtime HDR
• 2-megapixel front-facing camera
• 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display
• 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
• 2.5GHz quad-core processor
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• faster downloads
• water & dust resistant to IP67 standard
• fingerprint scanner
• S Health 3.0 fitness app including pedometer, diet records, exercise records & heart rate monitor
• range of colours



More, including slide show:

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/samsung-reveals-galaxy-s5-with-fingerprint-scanner-heartrate-monitor-20140225-33dnj.html

Bad news: won't be available until 11 April 2014. / Mobile World Congress Samsung fans take taken the wraps off Galaxy S5 surprises specifications specs phone go design perspective Samsung same winning formula Galaxy S III Galaxy S4 new device home button designed design designer maximize screen real estate Samsung’s gorgeous display technology water resistant water-resistant feature features fingerprint scanner similar Apple iPhone 5s four different colors color colour colours charcoal Black shimmery White electric Blue copper Gold S Health 3.0 fitness related fitness-related software personal fitness tracker user users monitor manage behavior additional tools pedometer diet exercise records new built in built-in heart rate monitor pricing price device announced press release /

Wheelchair-bound woman walks again with a 3D printed exoskeleton (video)

One more area where the prototyping & micro-scale manufacture capability of 3D printing will make unique devices possible & economically feasible.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/02/wheelchair-bound-woman-walks-again-with-a-3d-printed-exoskeleton/ / technology health fitness 1992 Amanda Boxtel suffered skiing accident paralysed from the waist down doctors doctor never walk again world world’s first 3D printed exoskeleton ability climb out of her wheelchair walk once again Ekso-Suit fully bespoke 3D Systems data full body scan print custom designed design tailor tailored custom-tailored pieces fit exactly Amanda’s body mechanical components EksoBionics provide automation allowing safe safely use her legs pair of canes waking stick sticks walk around 3D scanning print printer printing technologies make making Amanda’s exoskeleton Scott Summit senior director for functional design 3D Systems 3D-printed parts bumping into bony prominences abrasion abrasions sense of touch sensation in her legs tiny skin injuries can become dangerously infected before they’re found comfortable fit isn’t just a nicety safety necessity exoskeletons 3D printing print individualized fit technology test testing tester exoskeleton design help paralysed patients patient walk again EksoBionics test pilots designer designing design process courage courageous robot-assisted robot assisted /

Methane leaks undercut the climate benefits of natural gas

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/524776/methane-leaks-undercut-the-climate-benefits-of-natural-gas/ / State of the Union Address President Obama government support natural gas powered trucks reduce reducing foreign oil consumption reconsider new report published Science magazine switch switching diesel methane natural gas truck trucks increased increase greenhouse gas emissions fugitive report growing debate about whether natural gas good for the environment burn burning release releases CO2 half carbon dioxide burning coal methane main component natural gas powerful greenhouse gas leaks leak pipe pipes well wells offsets offset climate benefits burn burning fossil fuels fuel leaking leaked policy policies promote promoting shift to natural gas climate perspective research researching researchers methane leaks burning coal new study analyze analysis analyzing 20 years data conclude conclusion concluded EPA Environmental Protection Agency estimate estimated estimation underestimated amount of methane leakage conclude conclusion concludes burn burning natural gas better burn burning coal increase increased higher rate leaks leak leakage burn burning natural gas substitute substitution diesel truck trucks burning diesel considerable considerably cleaner clean burning coal saving savings burning natural gas increased methane levels leaks new study definitive leaks relatively few pieces of faulty equipment /

What if climate change is just a hoax?

Credit: Peter Sinclair

More at:
https://climatecrocks.com/ / Politicians discussing global warming – when it is important to appear to be doing something climate change global warming greenhouse gas CO2 carbon dioxide methane carbon monoxide greenhouse effect fossil fuel fossil carbon heatwave weather heat wave flood rising sea level rise greenhouse green house gas carbon dioxide CO2 anthropomorphic anthropocene global warming climate change climatologist anthropogenic human methane CH4 /

External battery for your MacBook

CHUGPLUG external battery for MacBook
Credit: Lenmar Enterprises/The Gadgeteer

External battery for your MacBook — for a very long time, the only choice has been the HyperJuice:

http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice/External-Battery-for-MacBook-iPad-iPhone-USB/

Until now — CHUGPLUG external battery for MacBook, with 65 Watt hours capacity.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/02/17/prevent-your-macbook-from-becoming-one-of-the-walking-dead/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGadgeteer+%28The+Gadgeteer%29&_m=3n.002i.653.bg0ao004ub.ulh

Almost — when I checked their Web site, it was, "coming soon".

http://www.lenmar.com/chugplug / CHUGPLUG external battery worry running out power traveling CHUGPLUG design designer designed 45 60 Watt 45W 60W newer MacBooks up to 4 extra hours power 11 inch 13 inch 11″ MacBook Air extra hours 13″ MacBook Air MacBook Pro weigh weighs 1.1 pounds accepts 100 240 100-240VAC 1.2A 50-60Hz AC power outputs 120-250V DC power fit between MacBook’s MagSafe power adapter power cord charge internal lithium-polymer battery 2 hours power laptop  Lenmar Enterprises $159.99 /

More industry giants joining the battery development effort

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) which are practical for the vast majority of daily use exist. Examples are the Mitsubishi iMieve & Nissan Leaf. For the small proportion of longer journeys, there is a workable solution: Tesla Model S. The only problem is that the shear number of cells required for a long range BEV is expensive. In every other respect, all of the problems of a long range BEV have been solved. And this is in no way a marginal solution: the Tesla Model S is the best car Consumer Reports has ever tested.

Essentially, the range problem is reduced to getting approximately the same amount of energy as in a Model S into a BEV for substantially less money. Elon Musk has said that the Model E mass market car available, "Hopefully 2016, but I would say no later than 2017," will have a battery cost 30 to 40% less per killowatt hour than the Model S.

Now a joint venture from Bosch, GS Yuasa, & Mitsubishi is making a major development effort:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1090405_three-lithium-ion-giants-join-to-build-better-electric-car-battery / three large global companies Bosch GS Yuasa Mitsubishi announcement announce announced joint venture improve develop develper development next generation battery cell batteries cell electric vehicles vehicle EV double energy capacity electric cars mass market mass-market held back existing battery technology majority of journeys most drivers limit limitation limit limited battery technologies increase increased increasing capacity energy density greater capacity battery pack packs of equivalent size offer significant increase range smaller lighter pack Green Car Congress Charged EVs twice as efficient /

Climate Council: heatwaves are getting hotter & more frequent

In Australia, since 1950, maximum & minimum temperatures have increased by 0.9°C, & the number of record hot days has more than doubled.

In 2003 & 2010, Europe experienced the hottest summers in at least 500 years.

Significant climate events have probably been happening in your part of the world too.

http://theconversation.com/climate-council-heatwaves-are-getting-hotter-and-more-frequent-23253?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+18+February+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+18+February+2014+CID_b7ec3850216321c19018d26ee98bdf1c&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Climate%20Council%20heatwaves%20are%20getting%20hotter%20and%20more%20frequent / heatwaves important climate-related climate related risks risk Australia Australians silent killers fatality fatalities death deaths natural disaster significant impacts infrastructure agriculture biodiversity climate warm heatwave heatwaves becoming hotter longer more frequent increasing frequency extreme heat Melbourne Australian Open tennis tournament record breaking record-breaking heat Queensland summer reminds remind reminds risks heatwaves hotangry summer summer’s heat long longer term longer-term trend hotter weather heatwaves on the rise Climate Council’s council latest report Heatwaves Hotter Longer More Often climate change widespread impacts increased deaths reduced workplace productivity damage infrastructure transport electricity systems mortality heat sensitive heat-sensitive plants animals stress on agricultural systems record hot days heatwaves increase further limiting future increase heatwave activity urgent deep cuts greenhouse-gas greenhouse gas emissions annual number record hot days double doubled maximum minimum temperatures increased 0.9°C frequency record hot days frequency record cold days hot hottest area-averaged area averaged national maximum temperature recorded 40.3°C 7 January 2013 extreme temperature records broken every state territory 2012 2013 2012/2013 summer lengthening longer heatwave season heatwave event much earlier intensity heatwaves temperature hottest day peak of the heatwave increasing summer record breaking record-breaking extreme heatwaves heat wave hot weather record high European heatwave July August 2003 France Switzerland 2010 more intense widespread heatwave Eastern Europe western Russia Belarus Estonia Latvia Lithuania Climate Council crowdfunded body Australian climate change global warming Heatwave Report /

Is Gmail sucking the life out of your Android's battery?

Credit: The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/02/16/julies-gadget-diary-is-gmail-sucking-the-life-out-of-your-android-smartphone/ / quick tip Android users user Android smartphone always warm to the touch your battery life taken a nose dive Samsung Galaxy S3 primary phone feel warm heavy light use not used it in hours day out of a charge custom ROM Carbon just learned to deal with it Samsung Galaxy Note 2 main phone started having same issues some digging around source of the problem – Gmail stand alone app problems with the Gmail app problems gets stuck refreshing check for new messages problem both phones ignore refreshing problem main thing drain quicker your phone’s battery settings Settings > Battery list apps app processes how much battery they are consuming Gmail app was using 84% of my battery turn off Gmail syncing account settings Settings > Accounts > Google solve problem temporarily Application managerSettings > Application Manager > Gmail Force stop Turn off buttons button disable Gmail app remove it from your apps list access your mail stock email app OS Android operating system third party email clients browse /

Facebook’s "look back" is marketing in disguise

Credit: Facebook/The Conversation

Summary: Remember the adage, "If its free, you are the product."

http://theconversation.com/facebooks-look-back-is-marketing-in-disguise-23090?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+17+February+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+17+February+2014+CID_c73eb26cd970c65a616777a6e36be7aa&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Facebooks%20look%20back%20is%20marketing%20in%20disguise / look back Facebook movie cry laugh your wacky life video videos new feature available Facebook users develop development developed celebrate social network 10th anniversary program photo photograph photos activity Facebook feed create one minute one-minute movie accompanyment accompanied music emotional involvement emotionally involved example examples clever contemporary technique marketers build loyalty decline declining brands brand marketing scholars promotional tool cocreation co-creation toolbox subtle techniques marketers buy products support their brands new tactic designed design designer normalise normalisation normal normalize normalization idea consum consumer consuming blur the lines between editorial content and advertising information entertainment multiple marketing channelstouch points online media product placement ingame inngame in-game advertising sponsorshipcultural camouflage normalising essentially commercial activity under the radar marketing techniques /

Anonymous browsing in a box for $49

Credit: Safeplug/Cloud Engines Inc/Funky Space Monkey

Be aware, though, that this device can only do so much: Flash & other plugins can still leak data, & anything typed or sent on line can impact privacy.

http://www.funkyspacemonkey.com/safeplug-safe-secure-anonymous-web-browsing-device

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/521676/online-anonymity-in-a-box-for-49/ / cheap device Safeplug makes it easy use Tor anonymity network home anonymity tools tool Tor easier easy to use online disguise connect connecting small box your Internet router anonymize Web surfing Tor privacy tool used activists criminals USA U.S.A. U.S. United States of America intelligence obscure traces trace online activities repackage repackaged mass market device launched launch consumers consumer route home Internet connection Tor network block most online ads advertisement advertizement advertise advertize add ad mass amrket mass-market product Jed Putterman chief product officer PogoPlug develop development developer developed Safeplug cloud storage backup home use family friendly family-friendly protection download downloading bundle software new Web browser each device use anonymously anonymous home Internet router Internet connected Internet-connected device Tor Safeplug proxy server computers network go-between access Internet device built in built-in advertising blocker disabled by default Putterman device appeal to families ISPs ISP online companies company ad networks IP address identity identity online activityreveal a person’s location track tracking link online activity behavioral profiles advertising purposes NSA surveillance encryption Mehmet Güneş assistant professor University of Nevada Reno anonymity tools obscure adjust online behavior unlinkability from source to destination anonymity leak identifying information Flash plug-in plug in plugin media add-ons add on add ons addon addons information type or send disable disabling disabled browser plug-ins slow down Web traffic secure /

10 great Android apps that do amazing things the iPhone can’t

Credit: Tasker/Crafty Apps EU/Boy Genius Report

Apple has a policy of tightly controlling its iOS user experience. This includes the range of settings available to the user, relatively limited capabilities available to third party apps & a tightly curated app store.

Google on the other hand, has a more open arrangement for its Android OS.

While both approaches have their strengths, it is true that there are some things that Android apps can do that iOS apps can not. Here are 10 examples:

http://bgr.com/2014/02/06/top-5-android-apps-vs-iphone/

http://bgr.com/2014/02/14/top-10-android-apps-vs-iphone-part-2/ / Apple’s Apple mobile platform iPhone iPad iOS smart phone smartphone smart-phone devicethird party third-party apps app limit limited limitations approach mobile software ecosystem Android apps Google Google’s open approach advantage advantages post awesome capabilities iOS app store developers developer applications below Event Flow Calendar Widget lock screen, but two of the most elegant and intelligent solutions I’ve found thus far are Event Flow Calendar Widget and DashClock Widget option two options busy people calendar calendars appointment appointments styling options configurations configuration my your agenda miss appointment handset handset’s display list upcoming appointments dates date time times weather forcast forecasts each day clutter lock screen home screen widget options option Google’s Google app store capabilities capability customise customize customisation customization options option DashClock Widget Aviate Tasker AirDroid Cover Swype keyboard change Profile Scheduler Android Stocks Tape Widget Smart Launcher /

First non-flammable lithium ion battery will stop your smartphone from exploding

Lithium ion (LiIon) batteries used in our phones, tablets & laptops as well as larger applications like power tools are flammable. LiIons are flammable because their electrolytes are composed of a lithium salt dissolved in a flammable organic solvent. Obvious solution is a non-flammable organic solvent. Easier said than done. But such a non-flammable organic solvent has been identified, & testing is proceeding.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/176527-first-nonflammable-lithium-ion-battery-will-stop-your-smartphone-car-and-plane-from-exploding

Having said all of the above, the LiIon cells at present used in electic vehicles (EVs) have a significantly different chemistry than that used in most other devices, including phones, tablets & laptops. Most importantly, LiIons used in EVs are much less flammable. / lithium-ion lithium ion lithiumion battery batteries most important modern technology grievous flaw highly flammable puncture lithium-ion battery charge discharge improperly pretty bad fire explosive explosion Boeing 787 Dreamliner grounded 2013 lithium-ion battery packs electrical fires mid-flight mid flight midflight explode exploding smartphone batteries research researchers researching University of North Carolina Chapel Hill say built nonflammable lithium-ion battery LIB incendiary explosive pressure seal sealed pressurized pressurised electrolyte charge-carrying charge carrying liquid between positive negative +ve -ve electrodes flammable lithium salt dissolved organic solvent solvents highly flammable manufactured very high level of quality penetrate pierce penetrated pierced Tesla Model S battery pack impale impaled burst into flames thermal runaway occurs thermal runaway /

Dyson promises a general purpose domestic robot

Husqvarna robot lawn mower.
Credit: Husqvarna

Although there have been a number of attempts at a domestic robot, the only ones which have achieved any degree of practical success have been robot vacuum cleaners & lawn mowers:

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/domestic-robots-get-carpeted-in-dirt-test-20130831-2sxf3.html

http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/household/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/robot-vacuum-reviews.aspx

Now Dyson is entering the field. First will be another robot vacuum cleaner, but Dyson is promising a general purpose automaton too:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/a-robot-in-every-home-dyson-enters-race-to-provide-advanced-household-androids-for-all-9117372.html / robot robota automaton mow clean cleaner suck suction dirt fluff power electric charge recharge battery LiIon lithium ion nickel metal hydride cadmium nicad brush sweep clean dust pet hair /

IPhone 6 with flux capacitor — This will change everything (video)

Credit: Additif S/YouTube / iPhone 6 iOS phone smartphone screen size large screen diagonal video parody joke humor humour comody Apple time travel change the past back to the future /

Coming developments for the Tesla Models S, X, E & the Supercharger fast charging network (video)

Transcript: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/26861-Elon-and-JB-speak-in-Oslo-Feb-1st-2014-1000-CET-%284AM-EST%29/page4?p=568100#post568100

Tesla's Model S is very popular in Norway. 527 units delivered in November 2013 alone, in a country with a population of just over 5 million. Elon Musk & Tesla CTO JB Straubel spoke to a group of Norwegian Tesla owners recently & revealed some interesting future plans. See video or transcript of the event above (hint: video is 1.5 hours & audio not sharp — read the transcript), but some of the interesting details included:

･ Battery swapping will be trialed between San Francisco & Los Angeles. If it proves popular, it will be expanded. Tesla's expectation is that as charging improves, battery swapping will become superfluous.

･ AWD will be a future option on the Model S, using a separate motor for the front wheels. Range will be unaffected!

･ Improved seats are under development for the Model S. Retrofitting to existing vehicles will be available.

･ Existing Supercharger quick charging stations are 90 or 120 kilowatts. Upgrades to 135 kW are coming.

･ Model S offsets the carbon emissions produced in its manufacture in less than 10,000 miles of driving.

･ Battery cost for the Model E ("mass market car" planned for 2016 or 2017) will be 30 to 40% less per killowatt hour than the S.

･ Model X — Falcon Doors will be in the producton vehicle — all wheel drive using separate motors for the front & back wheels — energy consumption will be approximately 10% higher than in the S due to greater frontal area & mass.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1090225_elon-musk-talks-tesla-model-x-details-model-s-upgrades-at-europe-qa-sessions / Tesla Motors car electric vehicle EV cars car future plans owners owner fan fans Q & A session Tesla CEO Elon Musk company company's Chief Technical Officer CTO JB Straubel Model S Model X electric SUV mass-market Model E sedan Tesla Model X all-electric crossover SUV 4 wheel drive Falcon Doors Model X wheelbase Model S cd dc lower drag coefficient increased frontal area, the total drag will be higher. Combined with a slightly heavier weight the Model X energy consumption 10 percent higher range production Model X double hinged double-hinged doors sensor sensors adjust opening sequence all-wheel drive separate electric drive motor rear front wheels future upgrades improved front seats more comfortable modified spring force cushion retrofit retrofitted carbon footprint manufacturing process internal study process manufacture battery cost Model E of 30 to 40 percent less per kilowatt-hour price target $30,000 $40,000 cost reduction giga-factory Tesla Model E batteries battery lithium ion LiIon Oslo Norway Tesla Motors Club transcript /

Smartphones make you tired & unproductive

At the moment, the picture is still unclear, but the risks seem to include:

• Smart phone use seems to constitute the biggest risk.

• All Web connected electronic devices contitute a risk, so avoid tablets, laptops & desktops too.

• Everyone needs a break from work at the end of the day.

It may be that the entire problem is essentially unrelated to the technology as such. A work phone, or other device, may simply be a tether which keeps the employee "at work", even after hours. YouTube on a work device out of hours may be OK. An email from the boss at 9 pm with a new task, or query, isn't.

http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/02/06/smartphones-make-you-tired-and-unproductive-study-says/ / productive day at work tomorrow smartphone tonight reading send sending work email evening harder hard decent night’s sleep new research findings exhaust exhausts workers working worker work morning disengage disengaged next afternoon knowledge workers job jobs monitor monitoring Android iPhones notes boss after office day respond responding responded colleagues colleague all hours less effective research reseaarching researchers University of Florida Michigan State University University of Washington scholars conducted two studies worker worker's workers’ night time night-time nighttime technology habits sleep duration quality energy workplace engagement mid high level manager managers mid- to high-level managers morning use used 9:00 pm night how many hours they slept rate their agreement statements like drained lot effort concentrate on something afternoon assess statements work engagement today work working forget forgot prior studies have shown staying focused focus direct resisting distractions distracted effort interfere interferes with sleep takes a toll next day sleep quality fewer hours of sleep subject subjects report reported depleted reserves of self-control self control morning exhaustion book Sleeping With Your Smartphone Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow study studied executives Boston Consulting Group disconnect more excited about their work felt more satisfied satisfaction professional personal lives more collaborative efficient electronic device affects sleep quantity focus the following day especially draining always on always-on Christopher M. Barnes assistant professor management University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business co-author paper screen so close face faces prepare for sleep particular threshold affect sleep habits researchers research researching phone smartphone smart phone respond responses response Barnes change managers manager manage messages toning down expectations response time /

Would you like a hand?

Credit: Suck/The Gadgeteer

Looks like a bit of fun: a Mickey's hand stylus on your pencil, pen or marker. Another piece of good news is that when I looked at the Suck web site, they were priced at £UK5 ($US8.20, $A9.16), rather than the $US35 indicated in the linked article.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/02/06/not-to-put-too-fine-a-point-on-it/ / styli stylus Suck UK company name design designed fine line fine-line, precision drawing Touch Point Stylus Pencil Topper Mickey Mouse Mouse’s hand slide fit slides end practically stick like stick-like object pen pencil marker stylus capacitive screen capacitive-screen smart phone smartphone tablet Mickey Mouse phone smart phone smartphone tablet /

Toyota prepares solid state batteries for the 2020s

Lithium ion batteries are state-of-the-art for electric vehicles. Energy density is around 300 Watt hours (Wh) per litre. At this density, cramming enough energy into a vehicle creates design problems.

Toyota claims an energy density of 400 Wh per litre for its existing solid-state batteries. By 2025, they predict energy density between 600 & 700 Wh.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140127/OEM06/301279980/toyota-preps-solid-state-batteries-for-20s / solid state Tokyo Toyota Motor Corp. corporation major advances develop development developing smaller more powerful solid-state solid state batteries battery next generation next-generation power pack power-pack succeed lithium ion battery technology litium-ion LiIon twice the energy density drive power electric vehicles more than 300 miles single charge enter production early 2020s top engineers company 20s manage managed five fold fivefold increase power output experiment experimental liter solid-state managing Soichiro Okudaira conference current coin-sized cell lab laboratory stage Toyota technology cars early 2020s Hideki Iba general manager Japanese carmaker's battery research division developments at Automotive World annual engineering engineer technical conference Tokyo more compact higher power output energy density liquid electrolyte nickel-metal hydride lithium ion batteries solid ceramic polymer electrolyte more compact stable molded more flexible shapes better packaging electric vehicle EV hybrid vehicle vehicles increase increased performance EV-mode driving lithium air batteries power output lithium cathode react interacts with oxygen less material lighter packaging /

Samsung Galaxy S5 — What can we expect?

Two things we can be sure of: more memory & faster processor.

How much RAM? Either 3GB (as in the Note 3) or 4GB.

When? Maybe as early as this month or March.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2014/02/07/samsung-galaxy-s5-release-date-not-to-expect/#!uMXQe

http://www.techradar.com/au/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s5-what-we-want-to-see-1146930 / Samsung Galaxy S5 release date news rumor rumors flat flexible metal plastic smartphone smart phone cell mobile trawl trawling Web Samsung's fifth generation iteration flagship phone overview name prefix handset spin offs off top products product MWC 2014 launch release date price big smartphone manufacturers manufacturer annual product cycles now predict launch headline headlining products product rumors launch forward MWC 2014 Unpacked 5 price tag SamMobile aluminium chassis curved display metal polycarbonate metal jacket designer desinging design look feel chassis frame rumor supplier suppliers metallic phone carbon-fibre carbon fibre launch launched 64 bit 64-bit CPU A7 processor ARM executive chip CPU display sharp sharper human eye can detect color improved colour performance refresh rate video animation QHD Quad-HD benchmark test WQHD screen tech AMOLED panels panel flagship handsets technology LCD panel handset Android OS operating system Android 4.4 KitKat TouchWiz interface screenshot screenshots screen shot handset hand set Google Now home screen homescreen TouchWiz overlay Air Gestures hover multiple fingers screen perform action actions digit Tizen variants design patent application physical home button curved flexible camera fingerprint finger print retina scanner retinal scanning unlock iris recognition technology battery improved battery life /

Answer a call through the cover of this iPhone case

Credit: Moshi/The Gadgeteer

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/02/04/you-can-answer-your-phone-through-the-cover-of-this-iphone-case/ / Sensecover case iPhone 5 5s 5/5S Moshi answer your phone without even opening cover hybrid leatherette front cover embedded proprietary SensArray pads slide answer call phone smart phone smartphone without opening cover also openings front allow check time phone earpiece through cover back phone protect protected polycarbonate shell buttons ports left open easy use magnetic clasp keeps front cover closed protect screen protected color colour colors colours Brushed Titanium Steel Black finish front cover cases available $US45 dollars US $45.00 /

PVs more efficient, durable, reliable & effective

Credit: indiegogo

Photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation: fabulous idea! Free energy from the Sun!

Unfortunately, there are a few inefficiencies & limitations:

1. Photovoltaics are made largely of very pure silicon. Manufacture requires large inputs of energy, & the resulting PVs are expensive.

2. For greatest efficiency, PVs need to be perpendicular to the Sun. Because of the movment of the Earth, for fixed PVs, this only happens briefly, once per day.

Problem 2 can be solved by a two-axis tracking system which allows PVs to always face the Sun. New problems this creates are expense, complexity, reliability problems with the mechanism, & susceptability to wind damage.


Credit: Solar Choice

Rawlemon has a different approach: collect sunlight with a large spherical lens, concentrating the light onto a very small (& so less expensive) PV, thus minimizing problem 1, above.


Credit: indiegogo

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the Earth goes right on moving, so the PV has to move so that it remains in the concentrated sunlight. Moving a centimetre square PV is very much easier than moving a meter square (or larger) one. As a result, the mechanism is less expensive & virtually immune to wind damage. In any case, it is protected from wind by the large spherical lens above it.

Potentially, a problem with the Rawlemon system is heat. PVs become less efficient as they heat up. In conventional PV system, this effect is reduced, somewhat, by the large size of the collector. On the other hand, there is plenty of air space below the Rawlemon collector, facilitating heat dissipation.

At the momemt, you can sign up for a demonstration-scale version that will keep your phone charged for $99 on indiegogo.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rawlemon-solar-devices

http://www.gizmag.com/rawlemon-spherical-solar-energy-generators/30453/ / noble cause harnessing harness clean renewable energy Sun solar panels esthetic aesthetically uninspiring start up start-up Rawlemon change undeniably beautiful concentrated photovoltaic CPV PV technology Andre Broessel German architect inspired daughtter daughter’s toy marbles Rawlemon design spherical lens concentrate sunlight small photovoltaic photo voltaic panel dual-axis pivot mount track tracks apparent movement Sun Sol designer transparent sphere collect concentrate diffuse light traditional devices cannot can not providing provide efficiency boost deploy deployed used far more locations than their flat fixed counterparts claimed concentrate concentrating concentration Sun’s light one area Rawlemon design reduces solar cell surface 1 percent traditional panel range of devices market 10-cm 3.9-in 3.9 in inch Beta.ey S phone charger currently subject Indiegogo campaign funds raised earmarked product produce produced production certification cerify Beta.ey S charger charge compatible mobile cell smart smatphone phone USB 2.0 charging port battery storage capacity of 27.5 Whr Bet.ey S Special Edition Beta.ey XL designed charging tablets Rawlemon larger devices device portfolio 100-cm 39.4-in Beta.ray 1.0 generate 1.1 kWh a day per day run power laptop for about two days 1.8 kWh battery cell largest device in the Rawlemon range is the 180-cm (70.1-in) Beta.ray 1.8 that will generate up to 3.4 kWh a day, enough to run your laptop for almost a week 5.4 kWh battery Beta.ray 1.0 1.8 feature water-filled acrylic-polymer water filled acrylic polimer lenses solid lens generate thermal energy Rawlemon developing system Microtrack same technology install installed building skin produce energy during the day multimedia display at night Beta.ey release later this year Beta.ray Rawlemon Microtrack system bring to market design designer designing beauty stack up more effective efficient efficiency flat PVs PV concentrator designs design water-filled water filled spheres sphere heavy massive Rawlemon video pitch /

Cryptography breakthrough could make software unhackable

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/02/cryptography-breakthrough/ / graduate student Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT Amit Sahaizero-knowledge proof mathematical protocol convincing convince someone something is true without revealing details true Sahai counterintuitive concept daring notion possible mask inner workings proof computer program programme figure out how it worked Quanta Magazine edit editor editorially independent division Simons Foundation SimonsFoundation.org mission enhance public understanding science cover covering research developments trend trends maths mathematics physical life sciences obfuscation obfuscating develop development developing developed rigorous mathematical framework concept create created unassailable obfuscation scheme commercial software companies engineered various techniques gable garbled garbling computer program hard harder understand perform performing same function hack hacking hacked hackers defeat defeated every attempt commercial obfuscatorsspeed bump computing computer science professor University of California Los Angeles UCLA attack attacking attacked attacker unlock secret secrets hidden software secure program obfuscation would be useful for many applications protect protecting software patches patch obscuring workings chip chips read encrypted DVDs DVD encrypt encrypting software controlling military drones create autonomous autonomousely your bank balance dropped passwords password secrets secret program agent into computing wild onto untrusted computers Sahai captured enemy interrogated disassemble disassembled but it couldn’t be forced to reveal your secrets Sahai pondered program obfuscation colleague colleagues potential far surpassed specific applications program obfuscator created problem problems driven cryptography problem problems conduct secure interactions Internet connection know trust program obfuscator powerful tool finding plausible constructions any cryptographic task Yuval Ishai Technion Haifa Israel obfuscation’s power computer scientists colleagues impossible too powerful to exist earliest research findings confirmation confirm co-authors posted paper Cryptology ePrint Archive demonstrating demonstrate candidate protocol indistinguishability obfuscation Brent Waters University of Texas Austin paper arcane form obfuscation power cryptographers cryptographer cryptography serious positive result universal obfuscator Boaz Barak Microsoft Research Cambridge, Massachusets cryptography community Leonard Schulman California Institute of Technology Pasadena plausible construction is huge powerful exist /

Renault Kwid comes with RC drone (video)

Credit: Renault/AutoBlog

Why would you want a deployable drone on top of your SUV? Renault suggests it could save fuel by finding parking spots, or checking for traffic problems up ahead.

Maybe ... just dont expect to see it in production soon.



http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and-reviews/car-news/renault_kwid_comes_with_rc_drone_81820_20140206/ motor show concepts concept extreme accessories Renault altitude elevation height airspace level French brand Kwid crossover SUV 4 four wheel drive all wheel drive SUV off-road off road crossover sport utility vehicle concept launched launch India India's Auto Salon remote-control spy drone launch launches launched dock back vehicle's roof mission missions find parking spaces space scout for traffic problems aerial holiday snaps load loading your social media updates quadricopter drone operate control controlled operated tablet cabin passenger controls control fly pre-programmed modes use using GPS monitor path position rugged-looking Kwid crossover three door 3 three-door hatch offset seat seats seating positions three two passengers flanking the driver two-tone elastic strap-design seating Renault inspired bird birds nests nest drone option future Renaults show attraction onboard satnav /

Check your infra-red remote using your mobile (cell) phone

Push the button, TV doesn't respond. Replace the batteries. Still doesn't work. Is it the TV? The remote?

Pointing the remote towards yourself & pushing a button won't tell you anything because the human eye isn't sensitive to the infra-red emitted by your remote. But a digital camera is. Any digital camera will do, but the forward-facing camera in a phone (or tablet) is easiest. Do it like this:

• Open the camera app on your phone.
• Switch to the forward facing camera.
• Put the phone on a table, screen up.
• Point the remote at the screen & press any button.

If the remote is working, the LED will be seen to flicker on the phone screen. It will look similar to what you can see in the video:

/ infra red infrared infra-red remote test check troubleshoot trouble shoot trouble-shoot repair digital camera battery batteries standard remote controls send signal signals home theatre gear using beam infrared light sensor hardware picks up detect detects eye human beam smartphone’s camera remote phone check remote needs fresh batteries new replace replacement camera app front facing front facing front-facing camera point remote the camera press any button remote /

Electric vehicles — will they bring down the grid?

Concerns have been raised that charging electric vehicles will place unprecedented loads on the electric grid, leading to instability, brown-outs or even outright failure. However, as indicated in the articles linked below, just the reverse may be true:

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/new-study-controlled-charging-helps-manage-grid-fluctuations-and-reduces-costs/

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1047023_no-electric-vehicles-wont-bring-down-the-u-s-power-grid

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/the-smarter-grid/how-green-is-my-plugin

In the interim, I charge at night, when due to the inflexibility of coal fired electricity, there is substantial over-capacity on the grid. Thereby, I capture for later use, electricity which could otherwise be lost. / EV electric vehicles interaction electrical grid EVs drive up electricity prices charged peak demand new study published journal Applied Energy Carnegie Mellon University researchers research control controlled charging PHEV PHEVs battery LiIon lithium ion cell reduce cost costs integrating electrical system BEV shift loads later night cheaper power plants are available Professor Paulina Jaramillo study study’s authors author controlled charging manage fluctuations fluctuation renewable energy sources wind solar power change output wind changes blow blows clouds pass by cheap cheaper charge electric vehicle fill up petrol gasoline vehicle Professor Jeremy Michalek allowing grid operators control electric vehicle charging speed reduce costs additional savings $70 per vehicle each year system systems expect new power plant construction systems wind power solar energy electricity power PV photovoltaic controlled charging vehicle to grid vehicle-to-grid V2G technology vehicle vehicles vehicle’s battery sometimes feeds power back the grid delayed charging vehicle charges off peak off-peak hours take advantage of time-of-use time of use TOU pricing plan controlled charging varies vary charge charging rate help grid manage fluctuations generation especially important systems wind power fastest growing electricity sources system wind penetration capacity expansion market for V2G arbitrage potential limited participation reduced reduce battery increase increasing total energy processed by the battery controlled charging extend battery life by lowering average charge rates rate heat generation controlled charging take advantage high levels wind generation /

Energy storage market set to explode

http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/31/energy-storage-market-set-explode/ / energy storage energy research researchers company companies market research firm IHS energy storage market annual installation 6 gigawatts GW 2017 initial base instal installation installed IHS report largest market grid connected grid-connected energy storage installations instal installed installation projects capacity additions Germany Japan top markets energy storage market Zinc-air batteries Zinc-iron redox flow batteries Liquid-metal batteries energy storage installations lithium ion lithium-ion batteries battery battery experts grid-connected energy storage market total over 40 GW installation installation 2022 /

Within a few years, a self-powered robot could be mowing your lawn

Prototype
Credit: Melissa Cannarozzi/GigaOm

Mowing grass requires energy. Some mowers use energy supplied by the user. Given a choice, most of us use some sort of motor to supply as much of the energy as possible.

So, put in a lot of energy to drive the process & at the end have a pile of unwanted grass clippings.

Tech startup EcoMow Technologies was inspired by the realization, that grass can burn, & so potentially, be a source of energy to drive the mower. Grass doesn't burn well as such, so EcoMow plans to gasify the grass as a first step.

Despite what what is written in the linked article, the grass won't actually be burned. Rather, it will be heated in the absence of air to release a combustible gas, a process called gasification. Gas produced in this way can be used to drive an internal combustion engine. Gasification can also produce gas from coal or wood chips.

http://gigaom.com/2014/01/31/within-a-few-years-a-self-powered-robot-could-be-mowing-your-lawn/

More about gasification
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasification / EcoMow powers itself power energy electricity grass harvests creator creat creators barriers entering enter consumer market develop developing development model World War II fuel rations rationing Europeans alternative means power cars burned wood chips as fuel George Mason University graduate student Jason Force technology grass pellets wood chips chip system lawn mower lawn mower power grass harvest harvested self guiding guide self-guiding self guided vacuum cleaner Roomba now self-guided self-guiding EcoMow Technologies mechanical chemical engineering test testing tested consumers consumer inverstor investors developing software robot complex complicated big challenge EcoMow too risky safer product safety safe run over pets children street cause accident $2 million development cycle consumer customer consumer customers another product larger mower harvest hay fields fuel pellets sold sophisticated guidance system chemist chemistry consumer model found support among investors production produce prototype consumer mower small model designed /