The Neuroscience of Screwing Up

Here is a great article on how things that sometimes appear to be screw-ups and mistakes actually turn out to be the beginnings of breakthroughs. There are countless stories of the seredipity of scientific discoveries. Jonah Leher does a great job describing how science works when creativity and open mindedness prevails.

Surgical Cure for High Blood Pressure

A simple procedure may be able to allow individuals suffering from high blood pressure to chuck the medication after a few weeks. The procedure involves placing some tiny burns on some nerve near the kidneys. I would assume that someone will assess the safety of this by considering that at some time the body might need to send a signal to this nerve as a result of trauma or illness.

The Less You Know, The More Money You Make

Well this explains a lot.

Thorium - The New Green Nuke

How about a nuclear power source that does not produce plutonium (a solution to the non-proliferation problem) and zero risk of a fuel meltdown? The element thorium just might prove to be the ticket. Alvin Weinberg, a former Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was thinking and promoting this idea decades ago. Adm. Rickover and the U.S. Navy got their way and that is how we got locked into the uranium energy cycle with all of its headaches and expense.

Now that we are in the early stages of the 'nuclear renaissance', it might be a great time to consider a thorium energy cycle.

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

It seems that alkalinzing your body with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is recommended for the prevention of the flu and for lessening the symptons of those who contract the flu. A little research will lead to to find a lot of information about the benefits of ingesting alkaline fluids and foods. I would assume that this chemical condition lessens the concentration of free radicals in the body and creates many more favorable biochemical conditions.

Apple's Game Changer, Downloading Now

Last month I upgraded to an Apple iTouch (64 GB). It is an impressive little tool that not only contains my iTunes music library, it lets me have web access with a WiFi signal and allows me to download and use some nifty little programs called Apps. It appears that Apps are a real game changer in the personal electronics business. This is projected to be a major source of income for developers with sales at $0.5B in 2012.

Alternative Medicine Takes a Beating in 2009

It was not a good year for some areas of alternative medicine. Click here for details from LiveScience.com

First View of the UK's Vista Telecope

Click here for a stunning first photo from the new infrared Vista telescope in the UK. Apparently, telescope technology continues to make strides.

Space Walkers Seen With Backyard Telescope

Here is an amazing story of how someone with a 10-inch backyard telescope was able to photograph the International Space Station during a space walk and be able to faintly see the image of Astronaut Joe Acaba.

Techno-Geek Wish List for 2009

Click here to check out the Wired list of 10 office gadgets that actually work. Some items might make for good stocking stuffers.

Solar Energy Showing Promising Signs After Years of Disappointment

After years of over promising and under delivering, the solar Industry is finally starting to show some interesting developments which have the potential to make solar power as cheap as fossil fuel on a cost-per-watt basis within five years.

Getting us to that state, called grid parity, would require solar companies to produce power for around $1 a watt. Is it possible anytime soon?

Many analysts think so and the target date being touted around is 2015. The reason for this fresh optimism is a mixture of technological development and simple economics. Traditional conductive materials make up 40% to 50% of the cost of a finished module. Newer conductive materials (including, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium diselenide) only need to be about one micron thick, so material costs are significantly reduced.

But thin film solar cells are just the beginning. Here are a few more examples of the most cutting-edge and interesting advances in solar energy and the companies behind them.

Solar Energy - from salt. Rice Solar Energy, a spin-off of United Technologies, is planning a solar energy installation in Riverside County, California. Salt - 4.4 million gallons' worth will be stored in a 538-foot tower surrounded by 18,000 mirrors called heliostats. The heliostats will aim light at the tower, subjecting the salt inside to such great temperatures that it melts, which in turn creates steam which then spins the turbine thus creating electricity.

Internet access - from sunlight. Late last year, Meraki, a provider of wireless networking solutions, developed a solar self-powered WiFi device. The Meraki “Solar” uses a solar panel and a solar-charged battery to provide Internet access in hard-to-wire areas. The units can be mounted on roofs or poles or anywhere else that receives sun exposure.

iPhone juice - without an outlet. Anyone who has an iPhone is plagued by the relatively low battery life, but we were recently alerted to a solution in that beacon of invention oddities, the SkyMall catalog. A company called Novothink recently developed the first Apple-approved solar charger for the iPhone. The $70 “Surge” is like an iPhone case, except it has a solar panel on the back. Just snap it on, and you’ll have full access to the iPhone, while you charge. It even comes with a cord so you can hang the iPhone from a backpack or your wrist while outside. It will keep you Twittering all day long.

While all of those devices may be interesting, the first question on the minds of many may be just how close we are to generating all of our householder electricity from solar power. The answer: Closer than you think. One Japanese company, The Seven Ryoju Estate Group Companies, recently announced that it has developed a rooftop unit called the “Eco Sky Roof” that can provide 65 percent of a household’s energy consumption from solar power. The roof works by creating a path of hot air between solar panels and a roof. That heat can be used to generate household heat and hot water, as well as electricity. The first installations are expected in 2010.

If Solar companies can stay the course and deliver on their promises, maybe a world powered by clean energy has a chance of becoming reality.

This article originated from www.OilPrice.com who focus on Fossil Fuels, Alternative Energy, Metals, and Geopolitics. To find out more visit their website at: http://www.oilprice.com

High-Tech Guitar Picks

Who says we don't manufacture things any more in the USA? Here is a local company that makes parts for semiconductors that has diversified it's production into making high quality guitar picks.

32 Bizarre Facts about Thanksgiving

Ok, this is a little late, but here are some interesting facts about our Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Schenk Jewler's Billboard

Back in the day, we did some shopping at Schenck's Jeweler in Chattanooga. They have been raising some eyebrows with their latest billboard. Very creative.

Mr. Bounce

Here is something to do in your spare time: Mr. Bounce

Black Friday Is for Suckers

Interesting post from Farhad Manjoo on the holiday shopping frenzy. I'll try to do a lot of my shopping on-line although sometimes I can get some useful perspective by actually getting a live look at an item. When you consider the time spent plus the fuel needed not to mention the long lines and frustration, much can be done with a minimal amount of stress on your computer.

Cat-Friendly House Design From Japan

Here is something for out in left field, a cat-friendly house design from Japan. I think the best one is the litter box. Actually, it looks more like something from Ikea.

Brain Waves To Operate Electronics by 2020

Intel has a vision of the future that blurs the distinction between organism and machine. How will this affect the evolution of the human species? It is hard to say, but I suspect that it will be an accelerant.

TM Helps Protect The Heart

A study has shown that practicing meditation can help cut the risk of heart attack by half. Years ago I practiced this technique. Not sure why I stopped. Maybe I should start again.

Nuclear Powered Battery Being Tested

How a about a battery that lasts 25 years? Tritium is the key.

Music Improves Brain Function

A study at the Institute for Music and Mind at McMaster University has found that music appears to modify the human brain's auditory cortex. It appears that musical instruments cause a varying modification within the brain. It always seemed intuitively to me that this is for real.

SolarCity is Soaring in California

Lyndon Rive is the CEO and co-founder of SolarCity and has found a way to get solar voltaic systems into homes with a lease-payment electric bill with a savings of 10-15% per month. The company's revenue is growing at 40% this year and is slated to grow by 250% next year. Maybe this the business model that makes the first big breakthrough into the home generated market.

Asteroid Blast Over Indonesia

An asteroid with a diameter of about 10 meters smacked into the Earth's atmosphere over Indonesia on October 8. It detonated and released energy that was equivalent to 50,000 tonos of TNT, which is 3X more powerful that the Hiroshima atomic bomb. No one saw this coming. As if we need something else to worry about.

Spend A Weekend In Knoxville, Tennessee

Per the New Yorker, here are some tips on how to spend a weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tesla Roadster Sets Record at 313 Miles on a Charge

Another good story for the Tesla Roadster with a single charge record of 313 miles set in the Australian outback.

1953 Atomic Energy Cartoon

Click here for the link to a cartoon lesson on nuclear energy that was first made public in 1953. It actually does a reasonably decent job making the concepts understandable. This was done before there was commercial nuclear power production. One interesting part was the mention of the nuclear powered airplane, a dead-ended project which is detailed in Todd Tucker's "Atomic America."

Corn-Ethanol vs Tesla Roadster and CO2

How does an E-85-burning automobile compare to the Tesla Roadster on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions? Autoblog makes a comparison.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Really Need?

Here is a great summary of the latest information on the need for significant vitamin D in our diets. I recommend you spend the time to watch the video. This information is based on medical research and not on someone trying to sell a product.

The 10 Most Brilliant Products of 2009

Here is a Popular Mechanics list of the top 10 most brilliant gadgets, tools, and toys that the consumer can purchase in 2009.

I think the Techcrunch Crunchpad (#1) may be a big hit if they can make enough fast enough.

Photovoltaic Solar Shingles

Dow Chemical Co. has announced its line of DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle which consists of panels that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingles. I think this is a very positive step in the right direction in going mainstream for home owner solar production. Apparently the cost for installation is lower for this compared to that of conventional solar panels.

Bullett Impacts in Super-Slow Motion

This 10-minute video shows the impact of bullets on various targets at 1 million frames per second. It was made by German engineer Werner Mehl who is noted for his work in high-speed photography. His PVM-21 infrared chronograph has an effective speed of 1.5 nano-seconds.

Sending Life into Deep Space

Can life survive in deep space for long periods of time? The Russian Space Program is planning on finding some answers to this question in the next 5 years or so. The plan is to send microbes sealed in something like a puck-like container to Mars' moon Phobos for two weeks and then have it returned to earth.

55th Annual Radiobioassy & Radiochemical Measurement Conf.

A couple of friends of mine (Marty Johnson and Rob Baker) are working hard in San Antonio, TX organizing the 55th Annual Radiobioassay & Radiochemical Conference scheduled to begin Oct. 26. Downtown San Antonio is a great place to visit and the Westin Riverwalk Hotel is fabulous.

Some good places for local eats in San Antonio are Taco Taco which specialized in home made tortillas (closes at 2 pm) and The Cove (serves SOL food - sustainable, organic, local). Both have been featured on the Food Network. For dessert, go to Brindles Awesome Ice Cream on the northwest side. Everything is made on-site with fresh ingredients. This is a one-of-a-kind place.

For some R&R take in some golf at The Quarry Golf Club. I played there in mid-August late on Saturday afternoon (102 deg F.) and loved it. Very unique course and well maintained in a beautiful setting.

Cluebert 10 Most Useful Online Tools

It can turn into a real scavenger hunt to find useful online tools. Here is a list that I found that some may find interesting and maybe even useful.

Audi's e-Tron Is Coming

Audi has introduced it's offering of an electric powered sports car, the e-Tron. It may be on the market by 2012. It has a 42.4-kilowatt-hour liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery with a range of 150 miles. The full recharge time is about 6 hours at 230 volts.

This auto looks to be some competition for the Tesla Roadster.

How 3-D TV Works

Wired magazine has provided a primer on how 3-D television works. Did you know that the Ohio St. vs USC football game was broadcast in 3-D on a closed circuit signal to a select audience back in September? The reports I got were that it was a very impressive demonstration. The technology required the use of special glasses, but I'm not certain if it were the polarized glasses or the electronic ones.

Cartoon of the Day

Monty Python's Flying Circus Turns 40 This Week

October 5 marked the 40th anniversary of Monty Python's Flying Circus TV debut. Here are a couple of clips of the classic sketches "Upper Class Twit of the Year" and "Argument Clinic."

VASIMR Tested at Full Power

Big news from the Ad Astra Rocket Company on their VASIMR engine. They have completed their first full power test in a vacuum chamber in Houston, TX.

The VASIMR engine is slated for use on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013 for the purpose of orbital adjustments to correct for atmospheric drag.

Eventually, this technology could be used to have spacecraft reach Mars in less than 40 days. No doubt this is a game changer when it comes to manned exploration of the solar system and beyond. In the near term, it will save millions in fuel costs since the mass of fuel required to be put into orbit will be significantly reduced for the ISS and other deep space probes.

Massive Texas Wind Farm Operating

Starting last Thursday, a west Texas wind farm began operations with 627 wind turbines on 100,000 acres with a capacity of 781.5 megawatts. That is equivalent to a mid-sized nuclear power unit and provides enough power for about 230,000 homes. This appears to be some competition for the plans of T. Boone Pickens.

HBO Imagine

Here is something new in the world of entertainment. HBO Imagine. This new format tells a story through interconnecting short clips as opposed to a linear format. It also uses different angles. The more clips you watch, the more you unlock clips and clues.

Be sure to "spin" the first clip, titled 'The Affair' to see whats behind the door.

Inside the Apocalyptic Soviet Doomsday Machine

Something right out of Dr. Strangelove: A Soviet Doomsday machine. This is a Cold Ware relic from the mid-1980s and is still operational. Let's hope that some rogue nuclear power doesn't do something to set this thing off.

New Music

Here are a couple of new albums that I got last week and want to share. The first is the latest from Mark Knopfler called Get Lucky. Knopfler is the founder of Dire Straits and is a superb guitarist and song writer and story teller.

The second is the latest from Allen Toussaint, one of the finest musicians out of New Orleans. The Bright Mississippi has contributions from Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau. Nothing but class and craftsmanship here.

Solar Power With Aesthetics - But Still Expensive

Companies are offering solar energy without the use of panels. The trend is going to integrating solar photovoltaic cells integrated into various building materials. This is still a relatively expensive proposition and experts say the industry still needs government incentives. The goal is to have systems that pay for themselves (by selling generated excess power) in five to seven years.

I guess the question is whether this is a more productive way of spending 'stimulus money' and taking the pressure off having to build scores of new power generating plants over the next 20 or so years.

Asteroid Attack: It's a Dangerous Universe

Asteroid defense strategies are being tested. The question is not if, but when? Asteroids have hit this planet countless numbers of times. Most of the larger forms of life have been wiped out at least six times according to the fossil records. Many asteroids are being tracked but there are some that show up with little warning. This article covers some of our contingency plans.

Focus Now on Nuclear Fuel Recycling

Looks like the Yucca Mt. spent nuclear fuel repository is dead in the water and now the focus seems to be shifting to spent fuel recycling. There are a couple of problem issues: 1) there is an abundance of uranium in the world and 2) spent nuclear fuel typically contains a significant quantity of radioactive Tc-99 (half-life of 211,000 years) and a few others in lesser amounts such as Np-237 (half-life of 2.14 million years).

Recycling unburned U-235 is not too difficult. It was done in the 1950s and 1960s. Some of this recycled fuel was re-enriched a the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25) in the 1960s and created a lot of 'new' radioactive contamination from these residual radioisotopes. This has become problematic today as Bechtel-Jacobs LLC attempts to demolish this facility and deal with tons of radioactive debris with significant levels of Tc-99.

There are technical solutions to these problems, but political issues typically rule the day.

Big Year for New Oil Discoveries

It appears for now that the supply side of oil is up and the demand side is down. There have been more than 200 discoveries so far in dozens of countries to the tune of about 10 billion barrels. Low prices could bring about a supply shortage by around 2015.

In the mean time, while this oil cushion is here, we should be working full speed on developing our alternative fuel options instead of waiting for a new crisis to develop.

Holy Grail of the Unconscious

What the revelations of Carl Jung's Red Book is doing to the Jungs and the Jungians.

Amazon.com Keeps Plugging Away in the Retail Market

Amazon.com's growth is shaking up the retail market. They are becoming the world's on-line general store. Their profit is up 36% in 2009 compared to 5% for Wal-Mart. Wall St. loves Amazon.

Auto Crash Test

Click here to view a video of an auto crash test. This involves a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu. Many assume that the older autos made with steel were safer. Doesn't appear to be the case here. It would be interesting to see how a full front crash might differ.

The Davy Crocket Test

Time for Mr. Peabody to crank up the 'Way Back' machine to Cold War of the early 1960s.

In 1962 the Pentagon tested a tactical nuclear weapon, the Davy Crocket. This was a 0.01 kiloton nuclear tipped shell that was to be used on the battlefield by the U.S. Army. This declassified film shows Robert F. Kennedy in attendance of the demonstration exercise representing the POTUS.

Note the decontamination process for soldiers and jeeps at the end of the film. They used brooms. That's comforting.

Electromagnetic Pulse Threat

EMPs may present one of the biggest threats to our nation's infrastructure and economy. If you are living like a caveman, this would not apply.

Facebook Etiquette

Click here for a short movie on Facebook etiquette.

Nitrous Oxide Threat To Atomspheric Ozone

Ok, here is something else to worry about when it comes to our environment. Nitrous oxide is the newest 'bad boy' when it comes to ozone depletion in the Earth's atmosphere. The irony is that the removal of the chlorinated compounds (freon) may actually accelerate the ozone-depletion effects of nitrous oxide.

Large Radiation Dose for Mars Astronauts

There are a whole list of risks involved in a manned trip to Mars and back, but I've always considered that prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation could be the proverbial 'show stopper.' This article from NewScientist gives a good overview.

There are potential work-arounds to this issue. Instead of taking 375 days to get from Earth to Mars, engineers at Ad Astra are working on the VASIMR ion engine that could get you there in 39 days. Testing will be done in the next year or so in earth orbit.

So if the VASIMR ion engine pans out, the radiation exposure issue may be manageable. There are still lots of other hurtles though.

Classic Feynman Physics Lectures

For all you physics nerds, Microsoft has made available on-line some classic physics lectures by Richard Feynman in 1964. They are intended for a general audience and were later published as a book.

Later, other science presentations will be offered and the great thing is that its all free.

Star Trek 2009

We went to the local IMax theater last night to view the new Star Trek movie that was released earlier this year. This was a special two week re-release for IMax theaters across the country. This was well worth the trip. Modern myth telling at its best.

There is also no better venue today than seeing a movie at an IMax. Back in the day in November 1968 I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey at the Cinema 150 in Little Rock. MGM used it's relatively new Super Panavision 70 process that projected a screen aspect ratio of 2.20:1. This theater had 70-mm projectors that used special Dimension-150 lenses and had 4-track surround sound at 4,000 watts. The screen was curved (150 deg. arc) and almost seemed to wrap around the viewers. It was jaw-dropping and mind-blowing. Science fiction was never the same for me from that day forward. As good as home theater is today, nothing can quite compare to the really big screen.

All that being said, if you are a Trek fan, I'm sure you've seen this new 'prequel' to the Star Trek series. If you've not seen it, I give it 4 out of 5 stars and a big thumbs up.

$200/barrel Oil Coming Soon??

Jeff Rubin thinks that just as the economic recovery gets underway, the price for a barrel of oil will move to $200. He correctly forecast $50 oil for 2005 and $100 oil for 2007. Well, he is selling a book so I guess we have to take all this with a grain of sand, but he could be right too.

Nanosolar Has $4 Billion in Contracts

Nanosolar has announced that they now have $4 billion on in contracts and can make a profit selling its products for $1 per watt of a pane's capacity. That is competitive with power sold from fossil fuels world wide.

They expect to build (in a 6-month time frame) municipal solar power plants that will generate from 2 to 20-megawatts for peak power consumption.

It will be interesting to see how they do competing with First Solar.

Dropping Solar Costs May Cause Industry Problems

This sounds crazy, but the dropping cost per watt for solar energy production may kill off 50% of the 200 solar manufacturers in 2011.

I wish that I had paid more attention to economics instead of pure science when I was in school. The two studies go hand in hand and if we lack this understanding, we will have a very bumpy road on the way to energy utopia.

Mixing Solar with Coal to Cut Costs

A Colorado electrical utility and a solar energy company are proposing to integrate solar energy production with a coal burning power plant to dramatically cut the cost of electricity.

They plan to use parabolic mirrors to pre-heat water before it is fed into the boilers where coal is burned to turn water into steam.

This sounds interesting, but I would assume that only plants with adequate space and sunlight can take advantage of this concept.

Jupiter and The Milkyway Galaxy Over the Mediterranean

Here is an awesome photo of the night sky taken in Turkey last month.

For a larger view, click here for the Astronomy Picture of the Day website.

DNA Nanostructures By Design

A breakthrough in the chemistry of DNA was announced today which involved the creation of self-assembled crystalline DNA structures in 3-D. This is considered as "landmark progress" in the quest for designed DNA. There are implications for building structures of biomolecules and components for circuits and electronic devices.

L.A. Times Peeks Into The Future

Will these prognostications turn out to be as wacky as those of the 1950's (for those of us old enough to remember)? I think the space elevator is probably the least likely prediction.

The Future of Electronic Display Screens Looks Bright

Technologies such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and E-Ink are about to change the way we watch our videos and read our books, signs, and documents. How does a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio sound? The downturn in the economy will cause some delay in large screen production since expensive fabrication facilities will need to be built. What we have now will soon be obsolete, but we may not mind having an upgrade.

Eat More Broccoli

A natural substance in broccoli called sulforaphane appears to be an important in protecting arteries from inflammation. Again, here we have another example of the damage caused by inflammation in the human body.

Broccoli has been found to taste bitter only to people with a certain genetic disposition.

A couple of years ago there was an article circulating which recommended that broccoli be steamed on the stove top, not in the microwave. I'll have to see if I can find the name of the substance that was diminished by microwave cooking. Steaming on the stove top actually increases the concentration of this helpful compound.

Looks Great, Less Nutritious?

It is not a great surprise to know that the nutritional content of your fruits and vegetables are much less than they were decades ago. Here is some information on just how much things have changed.

It appears to me that nutritional supplementation is essential for optimum health and wellness. Of course the fly in the ointment is which supplements and how much? We all need some schooling on this issue. There is much to sort out and learn.

3D TV is on it's way to the USA

SONY will lead the charge to produce 3D television for consumers in the USA. But it not only TVs, it also includes compatibility with Vaio laptop PCs, PlayStation3 game consoles and Blu-ray DVD players. The one question everyone will be asking is "will there be another format war like there was with VHS and Betamax or Blu-ray and HD-DVD."

Some Notes on Magnesium and Calcium in Your Diet

Click here for some information on magnesium and calcium in your diet from Gayle Eversole, "the Leaf Lady."

The Mystery of Chernobyl

Two scientific studies on the biosphere around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant lead to different conclusions. Be aware, there are some errors in this article. The author has given the radioactive half-lives of cesium-137 and strontium-90 as 30,000 and 29,000 years, respectively, instead of 30 and 29 years.

The rule of thumb is that after 7 to 10 half-lives, a radioactive species is essentially gone, depending on the amount of initial activity, which in this case, could be significant. In any case, radioisotopes of plutonium will be a concern for many thousands of years.

I found it interesting that one of the studies talks about the importance of antioxidants as a defense from radiation exposure. That certainly makes sense to me.

A Little History of the RAND Corporation

Here is some background on a very influential think tank that has been the darling of the U.S. military and federal government. Just how powerful is this organization? Read here to find out.

Single Molecule Visible For First Time

An IBM research team has produced the first image of a single molecule of pentacene using an atomic force microscope (AFM) to look at chemical bonds. They are interested in the investigation of using molecules for molecular electronics by having molecules function as wires or logic switches. Pretty cool.

Placebos Rock! Really?

Does the medical placebo reveal how powerful the human brain really is? Could it be that a reasonable expectation of getting better is all that is required?

Click here to find out why the drugmakers are desperate to understand what's going on.

Get Your Tickets to Space

Click here to see the ride of a lifetime offered by VirginGalactic. Let's hope they take American Express.

New Clues in the Mass Death of Bees

The large die-off of bees began in 2006 to such an extent that 1/3 of all bee colonies have been affected in the last two years. The results from a new study indicates the source is from a collection of pathogens.

My suspicion is that we are seeing an effect from genetically modified agricultural crops and you can be sure that corporate attorneys will be on high alert to keep liabilities to a minimum.

Bacteria Causes Some Colon Cancers?

A new study indicates that a specific type of bacteria may be the cause of some colon cancers. The bacteria cause affect immune cells which inflame colon tissue which is thought to initiate certain types of cancer.

So here is yet another indication of the toll inflammation takes on our general health. As you have read here before, one of the best ways to reduce and control inflammation is to ingest significant amounts of natural foods that are high in antioxidants.

Apple on 5th Avenue in NYC

There may be a recession (depression) going on, but look how things are going for Apple at its retail store on New York City's 5th Avenue.

Parasites and Disease Becoming a Problem in U.S.

The poor in America are becoming infected with parasitic infections that are usually associated with developing countries. A reported microbiologist says that 'these are diseases that we know are ten-fold more important than swine flu.'

Ultracapacitors Could Boost Hybrid Efficiency

Argonne National Laboratory is studying the use of ultracapacitors to help decrease the size and cost of batteries in hybrid vehicles. Right now the ultracapacitors are expensive because the some of the components are not yet mass produced, but that could change in the near future.

How Smartphones Are Transforming Our Lives

Are smartphones like the iPhone from Apple turning us into us into de facto cyborgs? One thing for sure is that the Apple App Store is making a nice revenue stream for Apple and consumers are becoming hooked on all the cool and useful items offered for just a few dollars. Someday I just might take the plunge myself.

How to Find Free Wi-Fi

From Gizmodo.com: Sadly, 4G isn't here yet and 3G isn't fast enough, so we still rely pretty hard on free Wi-Fi to get our internets out in the world. Buy what if you're not in range of a Starbucks or Panera Bread? (It happens, ocasionally.)

Toxic Soup? Plastics in the Ocean

There are indications that chemicals from the breakdown of plastics in the oceans are making their way into the food chain. There is some uncertainty about the implications, but there is no doubt that all kinds of plastic materials are making their way into our oceans. This is not a good thing.

Update on TVA's Nuclear Power Program

Click here to read a recent article in the Nashville Tennessean on the status of the TVA's nuclear power program.

Game Changing New Battery

Ceramatec in Salt Lake City had developed a deep-storage batter that may finally give the wind and solar energy producers/users something to cheer about.

This battery is a game changer. It can produce 5 kw of electricity for over 4 continuous hours at a maximum temperature of about 90 deg. C AND for about 3 cents per kw/hr compared to 8 cents for power off the grid.

The battery is designed to be able to do a 3,650 daily discharge/recharge cycles over a 10 year period. That is phenomenal!

DNA Based Microchips On The Way From IBM

DNA based microchips may be about 10 years away, but it looks like IBM has already started experiments that could save hundreds of millions of dollars in high-tech manufacturing tools.

This is a merger of ideas that I've been wondering about for several years. IMHO, DNA is essentially organic software anyway. This looks to be some of the most fascinating science of our lifetimes, and that is saying a lot.

Death by Chocolate? Not So Much

A new medical study out of Sweden indicates that consuming chocolate can help ward off death if one has suffered acute myocardial infarction (i.e. heart attack).

"It seems that antioxidants in cocoa are a like candidate" for explaining the life-saving properties, says Kenneth Mukamal, a researcher in Boston and co-author of the study.

No surprise to me at all. One thing they don't explain in this article is about how important the potency of dark chocolate is to the outcomes. Europeans eat more chocolate that North Americans also.

Predictive Texting Negative Side Effects on IQ

More bad news about the consequences of how we are using cell phones. It appears that teenagers are the vulnerable ones on this issue.

7 Billion by 2011

We all need to be paying attention to the demographics that will be shaping our cultures in our lifetimes. Prepare for change you didn't necessarily vote for.

Asteroid Impact Craters on Earth

Think there are only a couple of asteroid impact craters on our planet? Guess again. There are several as can be seen from these NASA photos taken in orbit.

How to Cure Diseases Before They Have Even Evolved

How do you develop therapeutics for unknown viruses, given there will not be time to develop a vaccine after it appears?

The answer could be in a new class of antiviral drugs that should do something seemingly impossible: work against a wide range of existing viruses and also be effective against viruses that have not even evolved yet.

And just as important if not more so, it should be extremely difficult for any virus to become resistant to these drugs.

Click here to read all about this important work.

Are Dogs Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

Well, not exactly. Here is a story that claims that dogs are as intelligent as a 2 year old human. This seems reasonably accurate.

Pam and I sometimes have to spell some words like 'walk' around our Black Lab, Luke. When Pam drives up into our driveway, I tell Luke that she's home. He definitely understands and runs to the door and waits for her to come inside.

He does watch some TV but he is very selective. We have to be careful, since we all know what watching too much TV can do to the brain.

Tesla Motors Finally Turns a Profit

Surprisingly, Tesla Motors has made it's first profit since its founding in 2002. Apparently they have already sold 609 roadsters since production started in March 2008.

No doubt, this year and next will be a big test.

Tennessee Flags at Half Mast

Time to put Flags at half mast. A proud American has passed.

Famous Jack Daniels master distiller dies

Posted: Aug 07, 2009 10:05 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Jimmy Bedford, former master distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery, has died.

The 69-year-old's body was found Friday outside a barn at his farm in Lynchburg, apparently the victim of a heart attack, company officials said.

Bedford had retired in March after spending the last 20 years as master distiller supervising the entire operation at the distillery. He was the promotional face behind the product and was shown in one photo standing behind a Jack Daniel's bottle with his arms folded. He also signed some bottles and storage barrels, and hosted tasting seminars.

64th Anniverary of the Hiroshima Bombing Today

I'm running late in getting today's blog entry posted. Today being the 64th anniversary of dropping the first nuclear weapon used in war is noted. There were a few groups assembled to commemorate and protest the event.

Here is some interesting background on the testing of the first nuclear weapon at the Trinity Site in central New Mexico. The Manhattan Project had quite a bit of scientific momentum in getting to this point. After the successful test, the political and military momentum kicked into high gear to use the weapon to persuade the Japanese government to surrender unconditionally. It worked, but we were left with quite a legacy.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A research team left Sunday on a three week voyage to study this Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the northern Pacific. The debris field is subsurface small pieces of plastic that is difficult to see from the surface or from the air.

It is suspected that this plastic debris field may be causing problems for marine animals. No doubt that a clean-up would be very expensive. Maybe on the order of the ash spill at the Kingston, Tenn. steam plant which may reach to near $1 billion.

DoE Says 'No Loan for You, USEC'

Looks like the Dept. of Energy has denied USEC's application for a loan guarantee for uranium enrichment centrifuge development.

I had been hearing as far back as the fall of 2007 that the USEC project was having difficulties. After reading the comments at the end of Munger's column, it appears they tried to do things on the cheap and the end product was not pleasing to the 'powers that be.'

I wonder what the chatter is like over in Eunic, NM at the URENCO facility?

A Biofuel Process to Replace All Fossil Fuels

Here is the technical and economic breakthrough that, if it can be scaled up to industrial production, can theoretically replace all fossil fuels used for transportation. This bioprocess is competitive with crude oil at $50 a barrel. Is this the 'holy grail' of energy independence? We should know by 2011 or sooner.

Is 'Cash for Clunkers' for Chumps?

Here is an assessment of the federal governments Cash for Clunkers program by ABC News. Apparently there is no government incentive for people to purchase used vehicles that get great gas mileage.

The Next Big Thing in Entertainment

Here is an article on the near future of entertainment technology. Looks like video games will continue to improve in about every way possible. If it were not for sports, TV would be toast.

MIT Working on a Rapid Charge Auto Battery

MIT is working on an automobile batter that can be fully recharged in about 11 minutes. The battery only cost about $80,000 but they think mass production will bring the price down. Let's hope so, but I think projects like this will bear some fruit in the near future.

A Space Program for the Rest of Us

Rand Simberg has written an enlightening article on where he thinks the U.S. space program needs to head. This is well worth the read.

Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz founded Ad Astra Rocket Co. a few years ago to develop and manufacture a ground breaking new rocket engine: the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) which is essentially an electro-magnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion.

It uses radio waves to ionize a propellant and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasms to generate thrust. This all came out of research in nuclear fusion.

Testing is to begin in space in 2012 according to NOVA Science Now. The amazing technology is the breakthrough needed for the exploration of Mars. Instead of a 9 month to 1 year trip the the red planet, the VASMIR can get you there in only 39 days by traveling over 120,000 mph. That is moving on.

In my opinon, without this technology I don't think manned missions to Mars will be practical for hundreds of years. The short duration of the trip will drastically lessen the radiation exposure to the astronauts. Radiation exposure may be one of the most technically challenging factors in a very long trip. This is about as close as any of us will come to 'warp drive' in out lifetimes. Lets hope it becomes a huge success.

High-Fructose Diets Impar Memory

Impaired spacial memory has been observed for test subjects in a study at Georgia State Univ. More bad press about one of the most common cheap food additives that we can all do without. Read your food labels.

Could We Be Wrong About Global Warming?

It appears that not all the natural global warming 55 million years ago can be explained by excess carbon dioxide. The models are being re-evaluated. We really don't know as much as we need to know.

Radiation Protection Drug

Here is an article that describes a new medication that protects people are exposed from lethal doses of radiation.

I'm a little skeptical about this news. It is hard for me to understand how you can use a drug that somehow overcomes biological molecules being ripped apart due to ionizing radiation passing through a cell. Radiation breaks chemical bonds and creates free radicals. You can neutralize free radicals (good example is eating fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants which helps the body repair damaged DNA) in some cases, but it would seem to be difficult to put 'Humpty Dumpty' back together when it comes to dealing with an original molecule other than DNA.

The article doesn't give a lot of detail, but we'll see what shakes out over the next few weeks.

Free Mobile TV Next Year

It appears that some of the major communication companies will have 'free' mobile TV available sometime next year according to Suzanne Choney of MSNBC. I'm very skeptical about the 'free' part.

Apollo Mission Computer - The Rest of the Story

Interesting link from the BBC on the computing technology used for the Apollo moon landings. Today's cellphones have more computing power that that used to get astronauts to the moon and back.

ISS Dumpted in 2016??

It appears that NASA has plans to de-orbit the International Space Station into the Pacific Ocean in 2016. There are no funds in the federal budget to keep it up after 2015.

Makes sense, doesn't it? Spend over $100M, finish the project, then pull the plug.

Total US Fuel Taxes by State

Get a load of this. I'm glad I don't live in California.

Ex-FBI Agent Supports a New 9/11 Investigation

Ex-FBI agent Coleen Rowley (one of three Time Magazine Persons of the Year in 2002) has a very interesting opinion on how the 9/11 investigation was conducted and the impact on the U.S. Constitution. Some will not be happy with her conclusions but I think she is spot on. We all need to have a better understanding of the nature of our government and it's sometimes competing agencies and branches. Checks and balances are there for a reason. We need to hold officials accountable. Of course, it helps if we as citizens get unbiased and correct information. The fly in the ointment is making sure we get ALL of the important information.

SpaceX Falcon 1 Puts Satellite in Oribt

A historical first: a private rocket (SpaceX) puts a Malaysian satellite into orbit today. The near-term plan is to sent a vehicle to deliver materials to the International Space station. The long-term plan is to send humans into orbit. The country needs an alternate method besides using the Russian space program.

How Healthy Is Your Bank?

Click here to find out about the economic health of your bank. You can search by bank name or find you bank by state.

Where Does the Money Go?

The Dept. of Labor's latest survey provides a detailed look into how the average U.S. consumer spends their paycheck.

Stop Poisoning Your Body With 'Food'

Ok, I'm posting this information on nutrition out of belief that the information is accurate. I just wish that I could say that I'm 100% compliant. I'm working on it and recommend that we all work on getting healthier.

Paula Owens (PaulaOwens.com) the author of "The Power Of 4" says avoiding these 10 things will change your body dramatically. Owens has a master's degree in holistic nutrition and a bachelors degree in kinesiology.

She explains what ingredients to avoid and how your body will benefit if you avoid them.

1. HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (HFCS)

HFCS is the number one source of calories for most Americans and causes obesity.

You'll find high-fructose corn syrup in processed food, fast food, sodas, syrup that goes into your Latte, etc.

HFCS is extremely toxic to your liver, increases inflammation, causes obesity, oxidative stress and creates an aggressive insulin response.

2. ALL PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS (TRANS FATS)

Partially hydrogenated oils are found in thousands of processed foods (breakfast cereals, cookies, chips).

Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease and contribute to obesity.

Restaurant food, especially from fast food chains, often serve food loaded with trans fats.

Consequences of a diet high in trans fats include:

* increased inflammation

* decreased immune function

* decreased testosterone

* Arthritis

* Cancer

* Decrease IQ ­ learning disabilities. American IQ has dropped 20 points in the past 20 years.

* Diabetes

* Elevated blood pressure

* Free radical production

* Heart Disease

* Interferes with neurological & visual development of fetus

* Liver damage

* Obesity

* Osteoporosis

* Type II diabetes

3. MSG

Monosodium glutamate is a chemical that has been associated with reproductive disorders, migraine headaches, permanent damage to the endocrine system leading to obesity and other serious disorders. MSG is used in many foods as a taste enhancer. It is linked to reduced fertility.

4. SODIUM NITRATE

This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer, particularly if consumed with aspertame.

5. REFINED SOY

When it comes to soy, much of what we read and hear about comes from the people who market it.

Before you mix up a soy shake, snack on a soy protein bar or pour yourself a glass of soy milk consider this: unfermented, processed soy inhibits the thyroid, is deficient in amino acids, is toxic to infants and shrinks the brain.

There are some redeeming qualities to soy, however these are found primarily in fermented soy products like tempeh, miso, natto and soybean sprouts.

If you want to get some health benefits from soy, stick to these four forms and pass on ALL processed soy milks, tofu, soy burgers, soy ice cream, soy cheese and other soy junk foods that are disguised as health foods.

6. WHITE SUGAR

Sugar is more addictive than cocaine! Sugar has a profound influence on your brain function and your psychological function.

When you consume excess amounts of sugar, your body releases excess amounts of insulin, which in turn causes a drop in your blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia.

In addition, sugar is pro-flammatory damages skin collagen and promotes wrinkles, increases your appetite, depletes your body of B vitamins, causes joint degeneration, ADHD and other behavior disorders, stimulates cholesterol synthesis and weight gain.

7. SODIUM CHLORIDE

Commercial table salt is highly processed and full of aluminum, chemicals and additives which are toxic. Opt for a healthier version such as Bragg's amino acids or Celtic sea salt (light pink, grey or beige color).

8. ASPARTAME, SPLENDA, SWEET N LOW, EQUAL

Aspartame is an artificial, chemical sweetener found in many foods and beverages including desserts, gelatins, protein powder, low calorie foods, drink mixes and sodas.

It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness, migraine headaches, weight gain, increased appetite, bloating, rashes or hallucinations.

Aspartame poisoning mimics symptoms of MS. NutraSweet is in over 7,000 foods!

Side effects:

* Increased heart disease

* Bloating and edema

* Brain seizures

* Cancer

* Cravings

* Headaches

* Predispose you to Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease

* Rashes and hives

* Weight gain ­ results in obesity

9. FOOD COLORINGS (Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 5, 6)

Six food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing.

There is evidence that food coloring and food additives contribute to behavioral problems in children, lead to lower IQ, hyperactivity, ADHD, depression, hormonal dysfunction and cancer.

Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, ice cream candy and baked goods have been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats.

This harmful artificial color causes cancer and changes in brain chemistry. Read the list of ingredients in your child's cough syrup (artificial color).

Green 3 is a potential allergen and has been linked to bladder cancer. Green 3 is added to candy, mint jelly, cereals and beverages.

Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods, cereals and pet food have been linked to allergies and cancer.

Yellow 5 is the most notable artificial color because it causes the most immediate allergic reaction in people sensitive to salicylates such as aspirin.

Yellow 6 has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. Yellow 6 is added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods and candy.

Take home message ­ Stay away from any product listing an ingredient with a color plus a number.

10. PROCESSED/REFINED WHEAT AND GLUTEN

Refined grains are devoid of nutrients, disrupt insulin levels and are highly allergenic for many individuals.

Wheat and gluten have adverse health affects for approximately 80 percent of the population. Gluten is a protein found combined with starch in the endosperm of grains, notably wheat, rye and barley.

Gluten intolerance/sensitivity is severely misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed ­ one estimate says that 97 percent of all sufferers don't know they have the disease due to unfamiliarity with it among U.S. physicians.

Signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance: The ultimate effect of this hidden wear and tear is the slow destruction of the healthy mucosa, or lining tissue of the small intestine causing an autoimmune response that's similar to an allergic reaction.

In some cases there may be symptoms in childhood such as allergies, asthma, anemia, reoccurring infections, a constant upset stomach or milk intolerance.

Other symptoms are nasal and throat mucous, feeling of food sitting in stomach, bloating, gas, diarrhea with periodic constipation, mental fogginess and skin rashes.

In severe cases, as with Celiac disease, there can be seizures, psychosis, violent behavior and withdrawal from self.

Eliminate gluten-products for 3-4 weeks and see how great you feel.

It's important to form a habit of reading the list of ingredients on ALL products!

A Growing Disconnect?

Although I have refrained from posting politically based articles on this blog, I think this piece on the surge in sales of 2 books (Atlas Shrugged and The Road to Serfdom) are noteworthy.

Tornado vs Train: Train Loses!

Are You Ready For Wireless Electricity?

Looks like some folks at MIT have taken a concept from Nicolai Tesla and brought wireless electricity to the marketplace. Everybody stole intellectual property from this poor fellow, even Tom Edison. Tesla died broke and the federal government took possession of most of his documents and equipment.

Did anyone see this in the news over the last couple of years? I certainly missed it.

It this works, it might be a solution to the transmission infrastructure issues of alternative electrical energy generation.

Power to the Peeple

Guess where one of the most energetically favorable sources of hydrogen comes from? Urine. Really. It is being researched today.

Seems we should have plenty of source material. The Port-A-Potty industry can soon diversify.

Nuclear Medicine

Click here to read an article out of Canada on the status of nuclear medicine in the practice of cardiology. Mr. Spears made an error in his reference to technetium-99. The radioisotope actually used is technetium-99m with a 6 hour half-life. Technetium-99 has a 211,100 year half-life. That is a big difference.

"Big Science" at the Bevatron Atom Smasher

The Bevatron atom smasher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is in the process of demolition. It was the most powerful atom smasher in it's day (early 1950s). It has been shut down since 1993 and it sat unused since that time. The demolition process will take a couple of years.

I have been approached by someone about doing some non-destructive assay work on the demolition rubble slated for disposal. The task will run about 3 to 6 months. A gamma-ray spectrometer will be used to quantitate the gamma emitting long-lived radionuclides in the components and construction material. The accelerator created artificial radioactivity (activation products) during it's operation. Although it has been shut down, some residual activities reamain and must be accounted for before disposition of the structure.

July 1: A Television Trifecta

There is a triple anniversary today for the U.S. television industry. The photo in the linked article reminds me of the first color TV I saw in the late 1950s. The show was Bonanza. I was blown away and pestered my dad for the next 6 years to get a color set. We waited until the screens were rectangular and the sets had built-in degaussing. In that day, was furniture.

We lived about 100 miles in all directions from the nearest TV station. Not a problem. My little home town got one of the nation's first cable TV systems in 1964. Before that, the only way that me and my buddies could watch the Three Stooges was to wait for rainy weather and used a motorized to pick up KARK channel 4 in Little Rock. For some reason, rain clouds helped with reception. Must have been reflection of the signal.

Years before this, I can remember watching a Dallas TV station 200 miles away in the mid-50s. What I remember is someone in a white rabbit costume in some kind of Easter show for kids. What My parents bought a TV in 1947 when they lived in Dallas and were quite popular in the small community they moved to in southwest Arkansas in the early 1950s. I wish I had kept that old set. The screen was about 8 inches in diameter.

Is Free The Future?

Malcolm Gladwell has written a review on Chris Anderson's new book, "Free: The Future of a Radical Price" in the New Yorker. Gladwell is the author of "Blink", "The Tipping Point," and "Outliers."

Missing Moon Landing Tapes Found

Most people may not be aware that the original video tapes of the Apollo 11 moon landing EVA with Armstrong and Aldrin were lost several years ago.

You would think that something this important would be treated like a very precious commodity and kept in a safe place.  Somehow these tapes were stored away and the PTB in NASA lost track.

The good news is that these tapes have been found in a storage facility in Perth, Australia.  Just in time for the 40th anniversary of the moon landing.  The report is the video should be much better than what we were shown on live TV.  Let's hope so.

New Enzymes and Biofuel Production

Some guys in Montana have developed a new enzyme to make ethanol more efficiently using waste from corn production. That's all well and good IF we start making car and truck engines that will run efficiently on ethanol/gasoline blends.

It would also be better if this process is used on a broad range of biomass. I do not like the idea of producing food-based biofuel.

One Amazing Rock

I meant to post this back in May, but it got buried and was rediscovered yesterday. Click following link to read the review in Chemical & Engineering News on Tom Zoellner's book "Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World."

Uranium was the first radioactive element to be discovered. Some uranium containing minerals were placed on top of a photographic plate back in 1896 by Henri Becquerel. The world has never been the same since.

The discovery of radioactivity gave us our first real look into the mysterious workings of the atom. Then came the realization of a new source of incredible energy. The plot of the story thickens in the 1930s and 1940s and goes into hyperdrive in the 1950s and 1960s.

This book is not so much about the science as it is about the history of this element 92 and its implications in our world. There are some interesting reviews at Amazon.com.

Kodak Saying "Bye" to Kodachrome

Although I've not shot any Kodachrome slide film in several years, I am sad to learn that Kodak is about to discontinue it's production and processing. It is an amazing film which some qualities that digital photography doesn't seem to be able to nail exactly. It's fine grain and vivid reds and greens are like eye candy.

Celebrating 30 Years of the Sony Walkman

At first, Sony had little understanding of how they were about to change the world with the first personal listening device. Consumers were paying almost $600 (in 2009 dollars) for the Walkman in the beginning. The amazing thing is that you can still buy them.

As a side note, the Philips Company of the Netherlands invented and released the first compact audio-cassette tape in 1962. The actual tape was made by BASF. Norelco Carry-Corder dictation machines were the first devices to use the new cassette tapes in the USA. Philips had no idea of what was about to happen to their new invention.

Fed Loans $450M to Build Tesla Model S

Looks like Tesla Motors will get a loan of $450 million from the Obama administration to build the Model S electric car.  About $100 million will go to the production of the battery packs and drive trains.  There are incentives to have the money paid back by 2022.  The price of the Roadster appears to be down to about about $80,000 which is better than the initial $100,000.  It will be interesting to see what the projected price of the Model S will be.

Coming Clean

Catherine Austin Fitts lays out a path for 'coming clean.' This may not be the ultimate pathway, but it certainly seems to be a good place to start. We can't just sit around waiting for someone else to try to fix this mess we've made for ourselves in this world.