Flowing water on the surface of Mars

NASA has announced new evidence of liquid water flowing on the surface of Mars. Why is this important? Because life as we understand it on Earth, requires liquid water. Places with liquid water, therefore, are the best place to search for signs of past or present life on Mars.

Note that the water discovered is not pure water. It is in fact, so salty, that it’s freezing point is lowered so that it can continue to flow at temperatures significantly below 0^oC.

So, little green men? No, but just possibly, little green slime.



http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/28/9408645/nasa-mars-water-flow-discovery-proof

http://www.wsj.com/articles/trickles-of-salt-water-may-flow-on-mars-1443452400?mod=WSJ_TechWSJD_moreTopStories / first direct evidence of a long-suspected theory liquid water exists on the surface of Mars planet's warmer seasons new research published Nature Geosciences new spectral data NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MRO spacecraft studies planet from orbit orbiter analyzed chemistry dark streaks appear and disappear seasonally Martian surface analysis confirms streaks formed briny salty water flowing downhill Mars NASA major Mars mystery Red Planet liquid water surface researchers know known water exists ice form Mars confirmed water liquid state space agency first study suggest liquid water present Mars scientists theorized Mars large ocean Mars Curiosity rover liquid water exists just underneath Martian surface discovery water Mars planetary scientists Alfred McEwen planetary geologist Planetary Image Research Laboratory studies discovered water on Mars direct evidence liquid water than most study confirms NASA has long suspected flowing liquid water dark streaks observed on Mars recurring slope lineae first observed MRO spacecraft lines blackish narrow less than 16 feet across warmer seasons streaks grow thicker longer fade shrink Mars colder dark narrow streaks recurring slope lineae walls Garni crater on Mars NASA JPL University of Arizona scientists water salt streaks temperatures right liquid water study author Lujendra Ojha graduate student Georgia Tech average temperature Mars frigid -80 degrees Fahrenheit summer day near equator temperature 70 degrees Fahrenheit warm enough liquid water filled perchlorates salt flow downhill planet's sloping geological features water perchlorates brine solution much lower freezing point than pure water liquid state temperatures grow colder leftover salt deposits briny flows direct evidence liquid water MRO's imaging spectrometer researchers chemical makeup recurring slope lineae visible-infrared spectrometer determine composition of minerals observing them in different light wavelengths dark streaks composed of hydrated salts molecular water crystal structure water /

Electric end to Mattara hill climb

Brett Sutherland will be competing in the Mattara Hill Climb in the electric Radical SR8. Here seen at Wakefield Park, Goulburn NSW.
Credit: Electric Vehicle News

Mattara is Newcastle’s city festival (that's Newcastle on Hunter, NSW, not Newcastle on Tyne, England). Part of the festival is the Matara Hill Climb, held in the scenic King Edward Park. Hill climbs were first held at King Edward Park in 1951. In 1957, a government ban called a halt. At the time, governments around the world were banning motor sport events as a result of the accident at Le Mans in 1955¹ & the de Portago accident at the 1957 Mille Miglia². Switzerland did not lift its motor racing ban until 2007³.
​
In Newcastle, the King Edward Park event was reborn as part of the 1963 Matara Festival.

Next week's Mattara Hill Climb will be the last at King Edward Park. Roads through the park are being re-designed & will no longer be suitable.

The last event will also be the first to include electric vehicles.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3383816/electric-end-to-mattara-hill-climb/

Brett Sutherland's electric Radical SR8 at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek, John Bowe driving

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¹ Le Mans, accident 1955





² "Alfonso de Portago", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_de_Portago

³ "Switzerland lifts ban on motor racing", https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Switzerland_lifts_ban_on_motor_racing / Brett Sutherland battery electric vehicle BEV EV electric race car electric cars in next week Mattara Hill Climb last King Edward Park Tesla Roadster owned by Matt Higgins Mattara Hill Climb last power up King Edward Park two electric cars scenic course ending an era with future hill climb organiser Rob Rowe Novocastrian Brett Sutherland battery powered Radical SR8 won two races against petrol powered NSW SuperSports State Championship astounding acceleration electric cars major advantage hill climb event braking are weighed down with batteries electric pioneer will be a road registered Tesla Roadster compete event long weekend October roads paths King Edward Park hill-climb event first competition 1951 1957 government motor sport 1963 Mattara Hill Climb held every October long weekend historic hill climb winning cars Newcastle MG Car Club moving future events new course Ringwood near Raymond Terrace electric cars Smart City Initiative forum free public event City Hall encourage discussion technology innovation smart city Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes /

Tesla Supercharger opens in Goulburn, NSW

Long distance road trips for Model S owners just became easier. The Goulburn Supercharger station is now open. pic.twitter.com/ilPeGoZP0E

— Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) September 17, 2015

Tesla has plans for a Supercharger network from Melbourne to north of Newcastle this year, & north of Brisbane in 2016. / battery charge recharge electric vehicle battery BEV EV LiIon lithium ion cell travellers car park resides panel solar grid newly constructed car port electric revolution charging stations electric cars petrol bowsers driving longer distances electric cars the way of the future electric vehicle EV new car sales figures demand for electric cars, Australia big infrastructure investment technology American electric car company Tesla 16 high-powered supercharger stations between Melbourne Brisbane 2016 stations Tesla customer travel supercharger network exceeding 140 stations established luxury brands BMW local electric market rollout free electric charging stations build it and they will come Tesla spokesman Heath Walker supercharger network hotel partnerships high powered wall units motles hotels single three phase Darling Hotel in Sydney Marriot Melbourne range anxiety high purchase prices infrastructure charging at home barrier 40 amps of power home house charge overnight up to 500km of range next morning forward thinking Elon Musk design range car charging station free for public use /

Tesla in talks with other automakers about sharing Supercharger network

Credit: Teslarati

Imagine it is 2017. As promised, General Motors has the 200-mile-range, sub $US40,000 Bolt pure electric vehicle (EV) for sale¹, & Tesla has its Model 3 with similar range & price.

For long distance travel, Tesla has its Supercharger network, free to use for the life of the vehicle².

GM has — a marketing problem.

Tesla’s Model S & Model 3 are only half of the solution to sustainable personal transportation. The Supercharger network is the other half.

Other fast chargers exist, but their availability is patchy, some are only available to paid subscribers & all are slower than Teslas’s Superchargers.

In 2017, which would you buy, a GM Bolt with a partly pay-to-use, relatively slow, patchwork of chargers, or a Tesla Model 3 with an integrated, free-to-use, Supercharger network?

Other manufacturers with plans for 200-mile-range EVs, in similar time frames, take note.

Tesla has offered to make its Supercharger network available to other manufacturers in the past & is apparently in discussions at the moment.

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/elon-musk-tesla-is-in-talks-with-other-automakers-about-sharing-the-supercharger-network/
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¹ “GM 200-mile-range electric vehicle”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/gm-200-mile-range-electric-vehicle.html

² “More about the third generation Tesla electric vehicle”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/more-about-third-generation-tesla.html / Competing fast charging standards electric road trips Tesla Tesla’s vast Supercharger network used by other automakers EV remove roadblock Elon Musk recent press conference Germany Supercharger network walled garden intended available other manufacturers requirements cars take the power output Superchargers pay proportion usage system in talks manufacturers general philosophy Tesla accelerate advent electric cars Electric cars key sustainable future transition away from fossil fuels world’s leader in solar power Germany generates solar energy supply outstrips demand sold to neighboring countries solutions solution more electric cars absorb buffer power stationary storage Power Wall Powerwall /

New global data suggests air pollution kills 10 million people per year

Credit: Casual Science

Pollution & other environmental problems are typically evaluated in terms of the natural systems. More recently, some scientists have looked at its direct influence on human mortality:

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/09/new-global-data-suggest-air-pollution-kills-10-million-people-per-year/

Recently, an International Monetary Fund working paper said something similar, while quantifying it in monetary terms:

http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/fossil-fuel-subsidies.html / scientists global atmospheric chemistry satellite data understanding global spread of air pollutants seven emission source categories urban rural environments more realistic prediction health effects very high concentrations particulate pollutants main contributors air pollution ozone fine particulate matter particles diameter less than 2.5μm air pollution developing diseases air quality monitoring particulate matter different countries building a more global perspective dying pollution affect an individual's health air quality guidelines national regulatory policies World Health Organization exposure response functions mass particles toxicity chemical differences chemical composition pollutants toxicity mortality rates researchers enhanced toxicity carbon-containing carbonaceous fine particulate matter five times more toxic inorganic particles chemistry health impacts fine particulate matter particle pollutants strokes cerebrovascular disease heart attacks ischemic heart disease analysis ozone related mortality revealed people dying prematurely deaths per year indoor air pollution solid fuels coal scientists areas of high air pollution globally air pollution hotspots large cities India China air pollution top causes of death more deaths India premature deaths air pollution Southeast Asia premature mortality rate global mortality air pollution energy small sources heating cooking waste disposal diesel generators premature deaths globally Asia toxicity heart disease aerosols toxicity level global air pollution mortality heart disease agriculture global premature deaths agriculture leading pollution source contributing mortality Europe Russia Turkey Korea Japan USA pollution-driven premature deaths European nations agricultural pollution ammonia fertilizers domesticated animals atmosphere chemical reactions air quality dust dirt northern Africa Middle East Central China air pollution mortality premature deaths power generation by fossil fuel fired plants toxic chemicals SO2 NOx power plant emissions USA Russia Korea Turkey mortality industry iron steel chemical pulp and paper food solvent manufacturing sectors oil refineries fuel production cars automobiles air pollution /

KEYKLIP — key holder with carabiner

Slim in your pocket, jingle free, attaches to a belt loop if you prefer.



Built in bottle opener too.

KEYKLIP is a kickstarter project. As of this writing there are still a few left at $25:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2129772055/keyklip-carabiner-keyholder-clip / key organizer clutter free elegant practical solution carrying keys smart key holder carabiner clip KEYKLIP little tool keep keys organized neat fits in all pockets clip on to your belt loop carabiner clip solid anodized aluminum key holder functional everyday every day carry EDC sleek minimal gets the job done bottle opener adding keys KEYCLIP easy fast screw them on tight coin thumb extender key fob slot slim profile improved steel hardware will not fail most rugged uses built in bottle opener clip pockets standard rubber spacers set of extenders rubber spacers washers rotate smoothly without loosing the screws assembly easy car key remote design first production run raising funding manufacturing packaging logistics leading professional manufacturer construct assemble keyholder not our first rodeo production KEYKLIP end of the funding period 50 days finish manufacturing to packaging fulfillment packaging shipping pledge rewards campaign /

BYD 200 mile electric car

Thriev (pronounced “thrive”) is “UK's First All-Electric Chauffeured Service”. They are importing BYD e6 crossover electric vehicles into Britain, for their Thriev consumer “Chauffeured Service” & for supply to other similar services.

BYD’s e6 190 mile range has just been upgraded to 240 miles. Battery capacity is "around 70 kWh" .

Robert Llewellyn test drives for Fully Charged:


Thriev Web site:
http://www.thriev.com/ / electric vehicle EV battery charge recharge LiIon lithium ion BYD build your dreams electric bus second life battery storage manufacturer vehicle to grid vehicle-to-grid charge at work charge at night off peak cents per mile time of use sustainable mini cab taxi hire car public hire vehicle PHV /