Tesla fires

After the accident in Mexico. Expensive car reduced to a pile of scrap. And the driver walked away unharmed! Make that "ran away", as it has been alleged the driver was drunk. Either way, looks like all those stars for crash safety are justified.
Credit: Axis Of Oversteer

You may remember the report in these pages of a fire in Tesla Model S in Washington State, USA on 01 October 2013. At the time, a little investigation made it clear that too much was being made of a single event in an otherwise exemplary safety record.

Since that time there have been two more fires.

In Mexico, a Model S caught fire after it jumped a curb, smashed several feet of brick wall & hit a tree. Obviously, any car is likely to catch fire after such a series of impacts.

The third instance resembles the first: road debris, penetration of the armoured floor pan leading to a fire.

So, what does this tell us about the safety of the Tesla Model S?

1. After a series of impacts, such as occurred in the Mexico event, any car is at substantial risk of fire. No conclusion can be drawn from a single, extreme event, apart from the the extraordinary crash safety of the Model S, given that the driver was able to leave the scene on foot.

2. Two of the fires have some elements in common: road debris, penetration of the armoured floor pan leading to a fire.

3. All vehicles are at risk from penetration of the floor pan. This includes the fuel tank, oil pan & fuel lines in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

4. To this time, the record of the Model S & other EVs is much better than that of ICE vehicles.

5. No one has been injured in any of these events. Amazingly, that includes the one in Mexico.

Further discussion linked below:

Tesla Fires: What We Know, & What We Need To Find Out

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088281_tesla-fires-what-we-know-and-what-we-need-to-find-out

How Tesla May Beef Up Its Model S Battery Protection System

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088380_how-tesla-may-beef-up-its-model-s-battery-protection-system

Tesla's Elon Musk: "Despite fires, Model S still the safest vehicle."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57612068-76/teslas-musk-despite-fires-model-s-still-safest-vehicle/

Mexico Fire

http://blog.axisofoversteer.com/2013/10/another-tesla-on-fire-after-crash.html / armored Tesla Model S Elon Musk EV electric vehicle lithium ion LiIon battery cell charge recharge energy electricity kWh Volt Watt kiloWatt hour discharge range safety fire petrol fuel first fire October 1 Kent Washington outside Seattle Model S ran over piece road debris later described curved section fell semi trailer semi-trailer Tesla Model S in flames Kent Washington punched 3 inch 3-inch hole quarter inch thick 1/4-inch-thick armor plate protecting battery pack force 25 tons according report Tesla car alerted driver fault pulled over exited exit car car's owner Robert Carlson Tesla investor performed very well extreme test during accident plan plans buy replacement Model S National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration NHTSA release released statement Thursday indicate recent battery fire involving Tesla Model S result of a vehicle safety defect non-compliance with federal safety standards second fire October 18 Mérida city Mexican Yucatán apparently occurred Model S driver jumped curb took out several feet concrete wall hit a tree driver reported drunk under the influence alcohol Jalopnik fled the scene not uncommon in Mexico video of the aftermath here NSFW issued statement saying driver appreciative safety performance car expedite delivery of his next Model S fire generated less controversy driver at fault /

Your Zodiac zign, your health

Credit: Wikimedia/The Atlantic

How close you date of birth is to the middle of winter is positively correlated with intelligence. Less positively, it is also positively correlated with schizophrenia. Neither of these correlations are enormous, but they are there. A range of other characteristics are correlated with birth date, including risk for: multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders, Type 1 diabetes, bipolar disorder, allergies, & how long you will live.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/your-zodiac-sign-your-health/281358/ / contemporary scientists astrology absurd month born conceived affect future life chances neuroscientists Russell G. Foster Till Roenneberg 2008 study 24 different health disorders connected season of birth despite human isolation from season changes temperature food photoperiod insustrialised industrialized nations nation seasons small significant impact born many aspects of health no clear underlying mechanism observed phenomena theory theories range levels level maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy seasonal viral bacterial exposure connection between seasonal birth certain disorders Chris Ciarleglio neuroscientist currently working postdoctoral fellow Brown University methodologybwhy Ciarleglio’s primary research interest team of researchers John Axley Benjamin Strauss Karen Gamble Doug McMahon McMahon Lab Vanderbilt university uncovered most compelling solution theory please hard line hard-line advocates scientific method astrologer astrologers born winter raised heightened higher risk schizophrenia born sunnier months popular knowledge all humans internal clock circadian rhythm regulates sleep wake cycle when to wake up every morning central life functions function cell growth death reproduction functioning function digestive tissue lung lungs heart liver patterns social behavior control controlled biological clock stable genetically calibrated clock environmental factors permanently negative negatively alter season birth McMahon Lab team newborn mice three different environments corresponding different photoperiod year split between light dark spring fall equinox equinoxes summer solstice winter solstice 21 days different photoperiod environments research researching researchers reacted mice adapted change clocks of the winter raised mice extremely labile unstable instability winter raised winter-raised mind study studies correlate correlation various diseases disorders seasons of birth correlation more than 200 studies confirmed results meta study meta-study 2003 accounting 86 million births different parts of the world born winter higher risk schizophrenia summer sunnier months /

The science behind posture & how it affects your brain

Credit: LifeHacker

Posture & body language not only reflect our moods, but affect them as well. Exercise improves mood. Smiling improves mood too. Try it. More at:

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/11/the-science-behind-posture-and-how-it-affects-your-brain/ / confess terrible posture been bad since high school mind eat eating more vegetables post stand sit walk more longer reaching implications mood happiness thought latest studies reveal shake shaking head affect opinion body language closely related posture move body bodies effect effects affect affects how others see us our own moods mood habit habits science sciences scientific research researching researcher overlap surprising posture body language affect thoughts thought think thinking studying study Ohio State University 2003 found that our opinions subconscious subconsciously influenced our physical behaviour behavior behave example examples participant participants participate study nodded agree agreements shook head heads signal disagreement action actions affected opinions opinion study show showed when participant participate participants hugged themselves sometimes able reduce their physical pain Holland Netherlands Dutch behavioural scientist Erik Peper extensive research regularly makes participants participate participant class classes stand up stretch similar reasons exercise has been linked happy happiness three fascinating things that happened once our posture changes example sit up straight more likely remember positive memories think thought something positive according experiment insight skip during breaks can significantly increase energy levels level slow slump slumped walk drain energy study find finding found most affected depression before study energy drained more than others other convinced careful eye posture body language hormones hormone good posture affects affect relationships animal kingdom body language express power expansive postures posture spreading out limb limbs open opening body large body size simple perception large body size Amy Cuddy’s Cuddy famous Ted Talk incredible insights how posture changes change hormone levels level more recent study studies study researchers Columbia Harvard university Universities showed that body language symbolising power actually affect decision making decision-making subconsciously subconscious researcher research researchers measured measure appetite risk participants expansive powerful poses constricted pose poses occupying minimal space keep occupy keeping limbs close to the body powerful poses felt more powerful in control 45% more likely take risky bet study used saliva samples prove expansive postures actually altered participant participants’ participants hormone levels level decreasing cortisol increasing testosterone neuroendocrine profile High T Low C been consistently linked such outcomes disease resistance leader leadership abilities posture mind minds might have thought body our bodies come first alter our posture body language subconsciously influences thinking decision making decision-making no one best posture take advantage proven benefits live healthier happier life where should start know there large amount different areas painful bad posture preventing back strain position measure maintain angle sitting LUMObackbposture sensor wear around your waist develop better posture device watches slouch slouching shifting side vibrates remind sit up straight team doctor data scientist medical advisor advise leaning back leaning-back position workday best posture keep moving /

Zero Motorcycles 2014 — fast & quite (video)

Credit: Solar Business Services

With up to 14.2kWh of lithium ion storage, weight of 201kg, range up to 276km, 0-100kmh 3.3 seconds & top speed of 164kmh this is a very practical & fun motorcycle for a lot of people.

http://solarbusiness.com.au/future-arrived-called-zero/?utm_source=SolarBusinessServices+Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=a43fb0bb7b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_a7913085db-a43fb0bb7b-57986369

Video

http://youtu.be/EiuWOTuGuEU

http://youtu.be/GjfvCxzfR_Y

http://youtu.be/f4BKOz4Fsn8 / lithium ion LiIon battery pack charge recharge regen regenerative braking /

iPhone 6 Specs: 2014 iPhones to have curved 4.7 & 5.5-inch screens

More references to larger screen(s) on the next iPhone(s).

http://bgr.com/2013/11/11/iphone-6-specs-curved-screens/ / Apple iPhone larger display device devices user experience compromises users compromise news organizations analysts testing larger displays various varying sizes next generation next-generation iPhone iOS iPad iPod OS operating system Wall Street Journal testing displays 6 inches Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek iPhone 6 4.8-inch display 4.8 inch inches DisplaySearch DisplaySearch’s David Hsieh 4.7 4.7-inch screen 5.7 5.7-inch screen latest report next generation next-generation iPhone feature 5-inch 1080p display Bloomberg on Sunday claim claimed confirm confirmed launch launching two completely redesigned iPhone models next year feature display measure measures 4.7 inches diagonally diagonal perhaps flagship phablet tablet iPhablet territory 5.5 5.5-inch display 5.7 5.7-inch panel Samsung Samsung’s massive Galaxy Note 3 model models feature display displays covered glass curve curved curves downward at the edges claim new iPhones will use flexible curved displays recent offerings Samsung LG develop development developer developing working pressure sensitive pressure-sensitive screens screen measure amount pressure applied user touch touches new display technology future iPhone models handset handsets Apple plan planned 2014 review iPhone 5s use using month small undersized diminutive tiny iPhone screen smartphone smart phone phone large larger display size increase increasing overall footprint new feature display displays extend side edges devices narrow narrower rival phones accommodate new larger screens screen /

Smartphone cameras tried & tested: the pros & cons of the latest models (video)

Nokia Lumia 1020
Credit: The Guardian

As indicated in the text of the linked article, phone cameras are the most used cameras in the world. Doesn't it follow that they are among, if not the, most important cameras in the world?

iPhone 5S, Sony Xperia Z1, Nokia Lumia 1020 & Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom compared. Most have their strengths: perhaps most obvious, the optical zoom in the Samsung & the 41 megapixel sensor in the Nokia. With 41 megapixels, a 2 x digital zoom still leaves a 10 megapixel image.

As indicated in the text & just watching the video, it's obvious that the author is a talented photographer who knows a lot more about cameras & photography than anyone else I've seen or read reviewing phone cameras.

Definitely worth a look:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/08/smartphone-cameras-tried-and-tested / smartphone smartphones smart phone phones Dan Rubin weigh weight weighing palm smartphone cameras camera iPhone 4 phone camera good enough practical use worldwide surge mobile photography photograph photographs photographer photographers Instagram professional photographer renaissance man digital age working software product design pioneering serious professional approach smartphone photography considers no less rewarding taking pictures Canon 5D Mk II most used cameras world now because photos all being shared seeing more world camera phone right conditions right light framing focus shot big camera rendered point and shoot point-and-shoot cameras almost obsolete threaten threatening DSLR software intelligence Canon Nikon image processing mobile photography take more photographs more we take photographs better photographers doesn't matter what hardware you have important thing learning how to see /

Science tries to count its calories during Jurassic sex

http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/11/weird-science-tries-to-count-its-calories-during-jurassic-sex/ / taking performance monitoring into the bedroom know how much getting out of their exercise use cycling computers pedometer pedometers exercise machines machine read out happening Watt tracking exertion bedroom down calorie calories handful research researching researchers 21 couples agree wear devices track energy used onset foreplay end intercourse partner having have orgasm result sex pretty good exercise comparable compare moderate workout treadmill almost all participants reported sexual activity more pleasant than treadmill exercise Men burned more than women 4.2 kCal/minute 3.1 kCal foreplay likely actual sex was even more energetic energy intensive author authors missed out great opportunity correlate calories kilo calorie burned pleasure all participants rate their own partner partner's apparent enjoyment rating rated exercise experience few exceptions exception more fun than a treadmill rate rating ratings same percentage man men woman women rated pleasure high difference both sexes think men enjoy more result men underestimate their partner partner's enjoyment women overestimate confirmed sex dates Jurassic change changed 165 million years insect insects called froghoppers fossil fossilized the act coitus permanentus earliest confirmed instance sex among insects fossils visible genitalia predate assume organs used purpose genitalia froghoppers apparently stuck evolve evolution evolved froghoppers genitalic genitalia genitals genital symmetry mate mating position remained static over 165 million years /