Life expectancy: Country vs. City

You may have read in these pages, in July 2013, about lower life expectancy in country areas of the United States.

Something similar happens in Australia too:

http://theconversation.com/unravelling-why-geography-is-australias-biggest-silent-killer-23238?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+13+March+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+13+March+2014+CID_3ee2d53f04d8b9b06fcc1d2f5e13ef2f&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Unravelling%20why%20geography%20is%20Australias%20biggest%20silent%20killer / Lesley Barclay
Professor of Rural Health University of Sydney big city dangerous place worry they might get murdered being killed on purpose more likely in town according to new research researcher study rare compared die dying in an accident more likely die unexpectedly countryside United States of America US USA U.S. U.S.A. cars guns firearms fire arms drugs causing majority injury deaths US Dr Sage Myers University of Pennsylvania risk of homicide higher big cities risk unintentional injury death 40 percent higher most rural areas most urban overall rate unintentional injury dwarfs risk homicide rate unintentional injury more than 15 times homicide among the entire population results massive study directed most common causes of injury death motor vehicle crashes leading to 27.61 deaths per 100,000 people in most rural areas and 10.58 per 100,000 in most urban areas risk firearm related firearm-related death difference across rural urban rural-urban spectrum entire population whole age subgroups studied firearm-related deaths found significantly higher rural areas children people 45 years and older people 20 to 44 risk firearm-related death significantly lower rural areas mean streets not so mean risk being run over wrapping your motor around tree telegraph pole mean compared open road country possibility probability likely get shot countryside too accident suicide opposed person most likely to shoot an American is himself more most likely die in a car crash fall accidental poisoning intentionally kill himself awful dangers posed computer equipment fearful engine of death the hot tub Annals of Emergency Medicine National Health Performance Authority life expectancy at birth avoidable deaths death population avoidable deaths death metro areas area regional hubs rural places years of completed education lower incomes income disability smoke drink alcohol risky degrees degree access Internet mobile phones /

VW researching new battery chemistry that could quadruple range

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/vw-researching-new-battery-chemistry-that-could-quadruple-range/ / LiIon lithium ion battery cell charge recharge range Volkswagen bench test testing new battery chemistry store 80 kWh energy similar volume eGolf 26.5 kWh battery pack VW board member Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser Geneva Auto Salon Auto Show test tested lithium-ion batteries cell supplier Sanyo capacities develop developing developer under development technology power package lithium-air EV electric vehicle second car maximum performance fuel cell /

Formula 1 – major revisions for 2014 (video)

Red Bull 2014 F1 car — notice the lower nose
Credit: Red Bull

This weekend, the first Formula One race for 2014 will be held in Melbourne Australia. Major revisions to the cars for 2014:

● 1.6 litre 90 degree V6
● turbocharged
● restricted to 15,000 rpm
● tightened regs for crankshaft design, including 3 pin crank — purpose, aparently, is to restrict R&D in this area, & ultimately, cost
● 8 speed semi automatic gearbox — restricted to one set of ratios plus one change through the season without penalty
● individual engines must last for at least 4,000 km (2,485 miles) — 2013 engines had to last for just 2,000 km (1,242 miles)
● lower nose & other body changes to increase safety & reduce downforce
● an additional Energy Recovery System (ERS), turns waste heat energy in the exhaust into electricity, which is available to power the vehicle
● KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) is retained & will be renamed ERS-K

http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/f1/stories/1331638258301/new-f1-rules

http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2014/3/15534.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Formula_One_season#Regulation_changes / capture captures waste heat exhaust turbocharger electrical device Heat Motor Generator Unit waste heat stored electrical charge Kinetic Motor Generator Unit drive train drivers electronic braking devices brake bias gear ratios circuiteight gear ratios first race of the season Grand Prix grid penalty /

How wind helps Antarctic sea ice grow, even as the Arctic melts

Credit: Mark Brandon/Flickr/The Conversation

Both the atmosphere & the oceans are heat engines. I.e. heat from the Sun provides energy to drive winds in the atmosphere & currents in the ocean. By these means, heat is redistributed around the globe. E.g., the climate of Western & Northern Europe is warmer than it would otherwise be, due to the North Atlantic drift, one of the branches of the Gulf Stream.

In the Antarctic, winds, intensified by global warming, are driving an expansion in sea ice:

http://theconversation.com/how-wind-helps-antarctic-sea-ice-grow-even-as-the-arctic-melts-24209?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+13+March+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+13+March+2014+CID_3ee2d53f04d8b9b06fcc1d2f5e13ef2f&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=How%20wind%20helps%20Antarctic%20sea%20ice%20grow%20even%20as%20the%20Arctic%20melts / global warming climate change greenhouse effect green house CO2 carbon dioxide gas strong winds climate change hole in the ozone layer steady increase in Antarctic sea ice Arctic shrink ice coverage released Hobart yesterday Position Analysis report Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre co-operative confusion polar differences driver drive driving frozen seawater surface ocean cools cool cooling freeze freezing Southern Ocean sea ice cover surround surrounding surrounds Antarctic continent Dr Jan Lieser marine glaciologist Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems centre researchers physical driver wind warmer atmosphere increases convection greater wind speeds Southern Ocean stronger westerlies sea ice is growing more ice coverage ice factory Professor Ian Simmonds climate scientist University of Melbourne School of Earth Sciences new resource El Nino Australian rainfall Dr Sharon Stammerjohn University of Colorado impact marine life seasonal change summer minimum winter maximum ecosystem rate of change /

Life with Tesla's Model S: One year & 15,000 miles later

Credit: Car And Driver

Consumer Reports says its the best car they've ever tested, & continues to say so after a year of ownership.

David Noland of Green Car Reports has had a similar experience:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1090685_life-with-tesla-model-s-one-year-and-15000-miles-later / LiIon lithium ion battery charge EV electric vehicle range year Tesla Model S ownership mile miles tire tyre tyres tires impressed mild irritations car Ratings road test road-test score 99 100 point 100-point scale highest rated highest-rated extended test tested last five years accolades highest ever highest-ever marks mark owner satisfaction latest annual auto survey reliable average reliability score based experiences 637 CR subscribers good early production niche luxury vehicle California start-up start u company Tesla’s thoroughly rewarding driving experience rocket rocketlike launch feel supreme quietness overlook drawback drawbacks notable quirks have emerged range cruise cruising range Tesla’s major drawing draw cards top spec top-spec 85 kWh version 300 mile 300-mile range charged normally maximum max range manufacturer company maker advice advises 225 miles electric vehicle EV EVs 245 EPA calculated electric car indicated range drops drop freezing weather cabin heat remaining miles remaining-miles calculator display displays software update Model S Teslas vampire losses off charger for 24 hours Supercharger stations 30 minutes reduce range anxiety commuter car Updates via cloud software updates road debris penetrated battery pack from below ride height highway speeds road debris /

Robert Llewellyn talks to the Merseyside Skeptics Society about electric cars (video)

Robert Llewellyn (Fully Charged, Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge) gave an entertaining talk to the Merseyside Skeptics Society. Generous coverage of a diverse range of topics, including:

● parallels between the behaviour of climate deniers & patients given a terminal diagnosis (in the Kubler-Ross model, denial, anger, bargaining, depression & acceptance);
● Top Gear test of the Tesla Roadster;
● New York Times test of the Tesla Model S; &
● the fossil fuel industry funded researcher who discovered that the Nissan Leaf electric motor contains 90 kg of copper (a little like the TARDIS it has more mass on the inside than the outside).

Note: 1 hour 52 minutes running time. No video, as such, just audio with a series of stills from the night, so download size is less than you might expect.

/ electric vehicle EV car auto automobile charge recharge LiIon lithium ion lithium-ion battery BEV Tesla Model S Roadster Sport Nissan Leaf Mitsubishi iMieve Toyota Prius hybrid miles per gallon fuel consumption petrol General Motors Chevrolet Volt Opel Vauxhaul Ampera Fully Charged Scrap Heap Challenge war drove around in circles cold weather range /

Solar pushing electricity costs down in Australia (infographic)

Credit: Australian Solar Council / PV photovoltaic solar hot water renewable energy sustainable green cost price expense photo voltaic photovoltaic PV renewable green non-renewable finite resource clean energy solar reliable source electricity average electric power electricity investment generated generate generation power reduce environmental impact cleaner clean energy source carbon footprint energy greener sustainable renewable energy alternate alternative /