Cool! WAVESTAR creates electricity from ocean waves

"The Wavestar machine draws energy from wave power with floats that rise and fall with the up and down motion of waves. The floats are attached by arms to a platform that stands on legs secured to the sea floor.

The motion of the floats is transferred via hydraulics into the rotation of a generator, producing electricity."


Read the story and see the video on WAVESTAR ENERGY's page.

A solar cell that loves raindrops

"Rain is normally a solar energy cell's worst nightmare, but a team of Chinese scientists could make it a tremendous ally. They've developed a solar cell with an atom-thick graphene layer that harvests energy from raindrops, making it useful even on the gloomiest days.

Water actually sticks to the graphene, creating a sort of natural capacitor -- the sharp difference in energy between the graphene's electrons and the water's ions produces electricity."


Read the story on Science News Journal

Michigan State University has invented transparent solar panels! Cool!

Think of the possibilities! Building windows that generate power, cell phones that recharge themselves.... These solar panels allow regular light through but react to UV. Thus they are completely transparent but still generate electricity.

Congrats to the researchers at Michigan State University.

To view the video just click on the Scientific Curiosities FB link HERE

Magnusmode technology helps people with autism

Nadia and her brother Troy

Magnusnusmode (a company started by Nadia Hamilton) developed MagnusCards  "a mobile app designed to support people in the real world.

Created by the dedicated Magnusmode team and tested in collaboration with Autism organizations across North America, MagnusCards is now an expansive library of life skills that fit in the palm of your hand. People all around the world are using and creating MagnusCards to help them live with greater independence, inclusion and freedom."

Check out their WEBSITE

How to get paid for every step we take

"Bitwalking dollars will be earned by walking, unlike other digital currencies such as Bitcoins that are "mined" by computers.

A phone application counts and verifies users' steps, with walkers earning approximately 1 BW$ for about 10,000 steps (about five miles).
Initially, users will be given the chance to spend what they earn in an online store, or trade them for cash.

The founders of the project, Nissan Bahar and Franky Imbesi have attracted more than $10m (£6.6m) of initial funding from mainly Japanese investors to help launch the currency and create the bank that verifies steps and any transfers."

Read the story on BBC News

How to store electricity in underwater balloons

"A Toronto company is about to launch the world’s first underwater compressed air electricity storage system – a technology that could add to the range of storage options and help renewable power gain wider acceptance.

Hydrostor Inc. will formally put the system into service on Wednesday. It is hooked up with the electrical grid through the local power distributor, Toronto Hydro, which will test how well it stores electricity over the next two years.

The system uses electricity to compress air in a building on Toronto Island, just off the city’s downtown. The air is then pumped through a pipe into six large balloons anchored on the lake bed about three kilometres offshore, 60 metres below the surface. The weight of water keeps the balloons pressurized."

Read the story in the Globe and Mail

Are robots dangerous to we humans?

Great lecture by York University Professor Michael R. M. Jenkin P.Eng. B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. titled "I, for One, Welcome our New Robot Overlords."

Despite the title of his presentation Dr. Jenkin says,  "Robots are more our underlings than our overlords," and he is confident that hierarchy will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Interestingly, on that line of thinking..... Daniel H. Wilson, New York Times best selling author, television host and robotics engineer... adds....

"We humans have a love-hate relationship with our technology. We love each new advance and we hate how fast our world is changing... The robots really embody that love-hate relationship we have with technology."

Yuck! We are all surrounded by a constant cloud of our own germs

Interesting!

Each of us are surrounded by a cloud of millions of our own bacteria, viruses, and fungi says scientists at the University of Oregon.

The cloud is so unique that instruments can tell us apart just by 'smelling' our cloud. Not only that but those same instruments can also tell who has walked through an enclosed space, like a room.

Read the story on Peerj

Salt water powered lamp

"The two came up with a lamp that works for up to eight hours at a time on one glass of water and two teaspoons of salt. Charging phones will likely require more water and salt. The metal electrodes have to be replaced twice a year.

The Mijenos have started their own company, called Sustainable Alternative Lightning, and have been finding support from start-up incubators from East Asia and organizations like USAID. A prototype for the lamp should be out by the end of the year."