Green Thinking for the Average Joe » science http://www.ecojoes.com Environmental news, eco-friendly experiments, and green mess Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:07:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Time Lapse Proof of Crazy Ice Loss http://www.ecojoes.com/time-lapse-proof-of-crazy-ice-loss/ http://www.ecojoes.com/time-lapse-proof-of-crazy-ice-loss/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:58:44 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/?p=735
Man, it’s been a busy as heck couple of months. First, I’ve been busy with a brand new job, developing the web software of tomorrow, today.

Second, I just yesterday got back from mi luna de miel. What with that and helping with wedding planning, my life was purty dang busy.

Anyhoo, enough about me. What I bring to you today is a good video from TED Talks showing time lapse proof of extreme ice loss.

James Balog, a photographer, founded the Extreme Ice Survey to capture the changing glaciers by time-lapse photography and video. His goal is to show everyone visual proof of just how fast glaciers are melting.

Without any further ado, I bring to you his talk.

]]> http://www.ecojoes.com/time-lapse-proof-of-crazy-ice-loss/feed/ 1 Alex Chiu Does it again – Perpetual Motion Machine http://www.ecojoes.com/alex-chiu-does-it-again-perpetual-motionmachine/ http://www.ecojoes.com/alex-chiu-does-it-again-perpetual-motionmachine/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:06:48 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/?p=607
the-man-the-myth-the-legendDang!! Back in college, me and some of my friends talked a lot about creating perpetual motion machines, and came up with all kinds of different designs. Eventually we decided it was impossible, and abandoned the idea.

But apparently some people did not give up, and recently the famous Alex Chiu announced that he had built a working perpetual motion machine. The only caveat is that it will not work on Earth — it needs the zero-gravity of outer space.

Still, this should revolutionize everything. Not since his immortality device has such an invention been unveiled to the world. Free, limitless energy should dramatically lower pollution and energy costs, and get rid of the need for gasoline and coal.

Sources:
Alex Chiu, Boy Genius
Rare Interview with Mr. Chiu

]]> http://www.ecojoes.com/alex-chiu-does-it-again-perpetual-motionmachine/feed/ 10 Solar Plane Sets New World Record http://www.ecojoes.com/solar-plane-sets-new-world-record/ http://www.ecojoes.com/solar-plane-sets-new-world-record/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:47:53 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/?p=244
To see the video and read more about the Zephyr-6, head on over to BBC News, and tell them EcoJoes sent you.

Zephyr-6 -- running on moon power??A solar-powered plane flew for a little over 82 hours, shattering its old record. The lightweight plane, known as the Zephyr-6, was flown as a demonstration for U.S. military, which is looking for new ways to provide air support for its ground troops.

Dang, 3 days in the air just from solar power. This might be even better than the solar powered bra. Pretty amazing. If they could somehow make solar-powered passenger planes, we could cut down on air pollution while also reducing our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. It’s a win-win situation.

]]> http://www.ecojoes.com/solar-plane-sets-new-world-record/feed/ 2 Hypercars – Crazy Efficient Cars Presented by Amory Lovins http://www.ecojoes.com/i-need-me-a-hypercar-from-amory-lovins/ http://www.ecojoes.com/i-need-me-a-hypercar-from-amory-lovins/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:42:33 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/i-need-me-a-hypercar-from-amory-lovins/
GETCHO POPCORN LISTO

That’s right, folks, it’s movie time. So sit back, relax, and get ready for some surious learning as Amory Lovins narrates this neato video about Hypercars. All you have to do is click on the picture of Amory; look, here he is now:

Go ahead, click me

Fun Facts about Hypercars

  • Very light weight, very strong (carbon fiber, the same as Formula One race cars)
  • Less wind resistance
  • More efficient electric accessories (A/C, CD player, etc.)
  • Increase fuel efficiency dramatically
  • Windows let in light, but not heat (reducing need for A/C)

Amory says it’s possible we’ll see hypercars on the market within 4 to 5 years. Hopefully my car can hold out that long, then I’ll spring for a crazy efficient hypercar and watch my gas savings pile up.

- credit for the video goes to PBS and Nova

]]> http://www.ecojoes.com/i-need-me-a-hypercar-from-amory-lovins/feed/ 2 Smart Car Sighting in Raleigh http://www.ecojoes.com/smart-car-sighting-in-raleigh/ http://www.ecojoes.com/smart-car-sighting-in-raleigh/#comments Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:15:45 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/smart-car-sighting-in-raleigh/
Last night, me and Tiff were heading home after getting swole at the gym, when much to my surprise a Smart Car drove by. I managed to get an amazing, high-quality photograph of it as it sped by.

Space-Time being bent by the Smart Car

That’s actually how it looked; it is so eco-friendly that it was warping space-time (that’s why the lights look weird, they are being bent). Stephen Hawkings explains this phenomenon in detail in A Briefer History of Time, available at your local public library.

Now, if only I could find this in Raleigh:

]]> http://www.ecojoes.com/smart-car-sighting-in-raleigh/feed/ 0 Map Showing Human Impact on Ocean http://www.ecojoes.com/human-impact-on-ocean-map/ http://www.ecojoes.com/human-impact-on-ocean-map/#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:28:33 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/human-impact-on-ocean-map/
BBC has an interesting article today about people’s impact on the world’s oceans. Give it a looksie.

Ocean impact map

One thing I wish they’d done differently is to say exactly what criteria they used for their ratings. Anyhoo, scientists figure this map will be useful for determining what areas of the ocean most desperately need help. These scientists are now in consideration for the prestigious Eco Hero award.

]]> http://www.ecojoes.com/human-impact-on-ocean-map/feed/ 4 Man-Made Lifeforms: One Step Closer http://www.ecojoes.com/man-made-lifeforms-one-step-closer/ http://www.ecojoes.com/man-made-lifeforms-one-step-closer/#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:52:52 +0000 ecojoe http://www.ecojoes.com/man-made-lifeforms-one-step-closer/
synthetic-dna.gifYesterday, scientists announced that they had successfully achieved a man-made genome by putting together the DNA of one of the simplest bacteria, Mycoplasma genitalium. Many experts hail this as a huge step on the way toward routine genetic synthesis, with many medical and ecological applications.

The last step for the scientists is to take the synthetic genome and successfully insert it into a bacterium where it can take over and produce a viable synthetic cell. If it can do that, then this would mark the first synthetic life-form. How huge would that be?

Genetically altered plants and bacteria could work to clean up pollutants and create fuel for people. They could also be used to treat sewage more effectively, and maybe even used to produce medicines. This is a tremendous leap forward for science, and for humanity; once we can harness the power of genetics, we can vastly improve the world.

True, this technology could also be used for harm, such as creating more powerful bio-weapons, but hopefully the benefits will easily outweigh the negatives. There are so many things this could be used to improve; it’ll be exciting to follow the developments on this story.

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