Although solar energy is still a midget among U.S. energy sources, its rapid growth from a small base is beginning to make some of the big players nervous. Regulated utilities in a number of states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho and Louisiana—have started to complain about the various benefits for photovoltaics (PV), says Mac Gunther, in a article appearing on Yale's environment360 website.

Although solar energy is still a midget among U.S. energy sources, its rapid growth from a small base is beginning to make some of the big players nervous. Regulated utilities in a number of states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho and Louisiana—have started to complain about the various benefits for photovoltaics (PV), says Mac Gunther, in a article appearing on Yale's environment360 website. 

Interesting enough, in Portugal the "Micro produção" allows anyone to generate renewable  energy and feed in to the grid and the price of the energy generated at home is more than twice the price of the energy we pay from the grid operators. There is a defined process for this. See http://www.edpsu.pt/pt/PRE/Microproducao/Pages/ligacaoRede.aspx
In many cases, the grid users with local micro solar production in the end of the month receive from the operator money in the end of the month. Usually everyone sells all energy locally produced and buys from the operator the energy they need. It is a good business specially in summer months.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/green-tech/solar/solar-counterrevolution/?utm_source=energywise&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=092513

Interesting article on renewable energy. Der Spiegel, Germany's leading weekly news magazine, reports this week that Germany's aggressive renewables program "has come with a hefty price tag for consumers," especially the poor.

Interesting article on renewable energy. Der Spiegel, Germany's leading weekly news magazine, reports this week that Germany's aggressive renewables program "has come with a hefty price tag for consumers," especially the poor. 
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/policy/germany-could-face-electricity-customer-revolt

3D printing possibilities. On the way to singularity?

3D printing possibilities. On the way to singularity?

Originally shared by David Fuchs

Sophisticated cybernetic implants have been a science fiction staple for some time now. Assume cybernetic implants were affordable and painless, would you get an implant that enhanced your vision or hearing?

see also
http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=18963
#3dprinting   #cyborg  
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130811-tiny-3d-printed-mems-membranes-could-make-cybernetic-implants-a-reality.html

3D printing opens new possibilities to designers.

3D printing opens new possibilities to designers.

Originally shared by designboom

the first rise in #3Dprinting came in 2009 after s. scott crump's patented method of additive printing ended. find out why we're on the verge of another 3D printing boom and what that will mean for the future of design: http://www.designboom.com/technology/3d-printing-patents-expiring-in-2014-will-see-market-erupt/

#technews #design #futuretech

Interesting report on Solar PV...

Interesting report on Solar PV...

Originally shared by David Fuchs

This does not bode well for the energy utilities. When a bank as influential and capable as Deutsche Bank says "three-quarters of the world’s market will be “sustainable” for solar within 18 months, meaning they can operate with little or no subsidy"  it should have the energy utilities shaking in their boots. 
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/02/solar-pv-about-to-enter-third-growth-phase-deutsche-bank/

Interesting Graphics. Our neibourhood is full of old dead stars....

Interesting Graphics. Our neibourhood is full of old dead stars....

Originally shared by Astro Trails

This is a really useful visual aid produced by www.space.com looking at our nearest stars - with distances, categories and spectral information.

This guy knows how to ride a bike....

This guy knows how to ride a bike....

Originally shared by Todd Tuinier

Amazing video +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmJtYaUTa0&feature=share

Interesting competition between Robots. Sort of Olympics by DARPA.

Interesting competition between Robots. Sort of Olympics by DARPA.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/darpa-vrc-challenge-results-heres-who-gets-an-atlas-humanoid/?utm_source=roboticsnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=070913

Interesting hybrid wind/current generator.

Interesting hybrid wind/current generator.

Originally shared by ****

World's first hybrid wind/current generator could generate double the power

Combining a three-bladed Darrieus turbine on top, a Savonius turbine underneath, and a generator in between, the SKWID power generation concept is claimed to be the world's first hybrid system "capable of maximizing the harvesting of ocean energy from wind and current".

The SKWID, from the Japanese company Mitsui Ocean Development & Engineering Company (MODEC), is designed to capitalize on the energy potential available both in the winds above the ocean, and in the currents flowing beneath the waves. The device uses an omnidirectional Darrieus wind turbine sitting 47 meters above the sea on one end of a vertical shaft, with a different type of omnidirectional turbine design, a 15 meter diameter Savonius, spinning at the other end under the surface.

The Darrieus wind turbine efficiently harnesses the ocean wind :

The omnidirectional Darrieus turbine rotates regardless of the wind direction. Due to the location of the generator, the system has excellent stability with a low center of gravity, as well as excellent maintainability with easy access. The Darrieus’ rectangular swept area catches twice as much wind when compared to the circular swept area of typical onshore wind turbines of the same diameter and is therefore capable of delivering twice as much power from a single installation - far more power from the same wind farm area

The Savonius current turbine harnesses the current :

The split-cylinder-shaped buckets of the Savonius current turbine can harness any weak current and will rotate in one direction regardless of current direction. This turbine is insensitive to marine growth on the buckets and is harmless to the marine ecosystem, as it rotates slowly at the speed of the current. - MODEC

The floating unit is said to be stable and self-righting, thanks to a gimbal-like support structure that isolates the generator unit from the motion of the waves, as well as the underwater turbine acting as a ballast or keel. According to CBS News, a prototype SKWID unit will be deployed off the coast of Japan this fall

Reference : treehugger.com/wind-technology/worlds-first-floating-windcurrent-hybrid-generator.html

Video Link : cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57584292/worlds-first-wind-wave-power-system-to-be-installed-off-japanese-coast/

Interesting article on 3D printing.

Interesting article on 3D printing.
http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/07/04/additive-manufacturing-and-industrial-tooling-part-1/

A promissing tech that can make solar energy a competitor to conventional energy generating technologies.

A promissing tech that can make solar energy a competitor to conventional energy generating technologies.

Originally shared by Yes! Knowledge

New Ultra Thin Solar Solar Cells Are 1000 Times More Powerful

The general drive in the solar energy technology industry has been towards the development of higher solar cell efficiencies and lowered manufacturing costs. That’s exactly what new research from MIT is suggesting — that the development of extremely thin, lightweight solar cells has the potential to completely revolutionize the industry.

Such extremely thin and lightweight solar cells have the potential to greatly surpass “any substance other than reactor-grade uranium” with regard to the energy produced per pound of material.

Read More: http://bit.ly/127PqVn

#science   #sciencesunday

Well, some evolution here....

Well, some evolution here....

Originally shared by Electronic Frontier Foundation

The German Parliament recently eliminated software patents and urged all of Europe to follow.
https://eff.org/r.b7VP

Interesting discussion on the introduction of printing technology in building industry

Interesting discussion on the introduction of printing technology in building industry

Originally shared by Industry Tap

The Printer That Can Print A 2,500 Square Foot House In 20 Hours ➜ http://www.industrytap.com/the-printer-that-can-print-a-house-in-20-hours/9056

Interesting article. Great illustration from our galaxy

Interesting article. Great illustration from our galaxy

Originally shared by Stellar Eyes

Kepler's Search Area.

Kepler is studying over 150,000 stars in our neighborhood of our galaxy in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations. Most of these stars will be somewhere between 500 and 3,000 light years from our Solar System. The Kepler team has now identified 503 additional planet candidates in this small region of the sky. The telescope uses the transit method which involves observing repeated transit of planets in front of their stars, which causes a slight reduction in the star's apparent magnitude.

Although the Kepler spacecraft remains in its Point Rest State, scientist and citizens still have years of data to sift through.

-See more at: http://stellareyes.com/component/k2/item/29-kepler-finds-503-new-exo-planet-candidates.html#sthash.WkSTXcLu.dpuf

Nice simple tech idea.

Nice simple tech idea.

Originally shared by The Economist

Kone, a Finnish liftmaker, announced that it has devised a system that should be able to raise an elevator a kilometre (3,300 feet) or more. Since the effectiveness of lifts is one of the main constraints on the height of buildings, Kone’s technology could result in buildings truly worthy of the name “skyscraper” http://econ.st/196PsTk

Excellent article about the human genome. In the future we may be able to mold human behaviour (to the better i hope).

Excellent article about the human genome. In the future we may be able to mold human behaviour (to the better i hope).
http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/13-grandmas-experiences-leave-epigenetic-mark-on-your-genes#.Ub4PZk6UGq8.google_plusone_share

Self healing materials is an interesting research and could open doors in space exploration.

Self healing materials is an interesting research and could open doors in space exploration.

Originally shared by Gary Ray R

Did Skin for the Terminator Just Get Invented? "Self-Healing Microvascular System"

I thought the post that Zaine Ridling made about self healing materials that use microcapsules that had contained a healing agent before rupturing. Upon rupture, the healing agent spread via capillary action into the fracture, where it encountered catalyst that had also been embedded into the polymer matrix.
was interesting. And then Tomo Owa commented about another self healing material. 
This one uses microvascular networks and was conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois.  This stuff is modeled on human skin.  In fact this could be the first model of skin for the Terminator. ;-)
Kidding aside this is an amazing material.  It will repair itself more than once. While the repeated self-healing of a microvascular system is a tremendous step over the microcapsule healing system, there are still areas for improvement. The repeated healing of a crack in a coating using a microvascular network is not limitless --- it is restricted by the finite supply of catalyst in the coating. While the fluid delivered through the network continues to fill the crack, access to the reactive catalyst in the crack plane decreases with each healing event.

The image below is the test rig for the material, using a four point beam.

Thanks to both Tomo and Zaine for sharing this fascinating research.

http://autonomic.beckman.illinois.edu/network_background.html

Interesting ideia. It would be probably difficult for the hackers to break in....

Interesting ideia. It would be probably difficult for the hackers to break in....

Originally shared by The Hacker News

Israeli Scientists develop advanced biological computer http://thehackernews.com/2013/05/israeli-scientists-develop-advanced.html #Security #Infosec

Hard to beat this guy...

Hard to beat this guy...

Originally shared by Evgeny Tchebotarev

Luck.

The great cook in the future will be a printer...

The great cook in the future will be a printer...

Originally shared by The Verge

NASA is funding a 3D food printer, and it'll start with pizza http://bit.ly/11UNuGm

This is an high tech byke. Great design

This is an high tech byke. Great design

Originally shared by SCOTT Sports

Check out the World Champ's new ride. Sebastian Kienle's World Champion Edition Plasma Premium.

This is a great idea. A byke you build yourself.

This is a great idea. A byke you build yourself.
http://www.coolhunting.com/design/the-sandwichbike.php

To cope with the variation in the power output of wind turbines has been a big challenge for power operators. This GE idea seems good and may help to stabilize the output power.

To cope with the variation in the power output of wind turbines has been a big challenge for power operators. This GE idea seems good and may help to stabilize the output power.

MIT Technology Review: Wind Turbines, Battery Included, Can Keep Power Supplies Stable. http://goo.gl/mag/kCPoNWa
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/514331/wind-turbines-battery-included-can-keep-power-supplies-stable/

Another good ride on my Scot with strong gusty winds and lots of sand on the tracks. Nice views...

Another good ride on my Scot with strong gusty winds and lots of sand on the tracks. Nice views...
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/188241935/126899
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/188241935/126899

Excellent reading. Worth reading the text following the link.

Excellent reading. Worth reading the text following the link.

Originally shared by Fraser Cain

Why We'll Never Meet Aliens?

In a long essay, Paul Tyma makes the case that we'll never meet aliens. And his conclusion is that we'll never meet aliens because once they've developed the technology to travel the great distances between stars, the trip will be meaningless.

I think there's a lot of validity to this argument. We anthropomorphize aliens based on our current state of technology. We imagine aliens flying around in their alien spaceships, sipping their alien coffees, perusing alien laptops. "We come in peace."

But you have to comprehend the compounding effect of exponential technological advancement. iPhones didn't exist 5 years ago, now we consider smartphones a commodity. Once an alien has the ability to travel from star to star, they'll probably just be getting their robots to do the work for them - in fact, they'll probably be indistinguishable from robots themselves.

Once you're far enough along that technology curve, it all just comes down to energy. What's the most efficient way to get more energy? Traveling to other stars probably isn't it.

Stars provide energy, and planets give you a place to stand on. But they come with tricky gravity fields, that aliens might decide just aren't worth the effort to vist. 

Anyway, read Paul's essay. It makes a compelling answer to the Fermi Paradox.

http://paultyma.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/why-well-never-meet-aliens.html

This technology applied to solar cells, may be a game changer in zero energy buildings. Something to follow...

This technology applied to solar cells, may be a game changer in zero energy buildings. Something to follow...

Originally shared by David Fuchs

First we see the ability to print graphene, now in this article a day later, we have the ability to print organic transistors. Very neat stuff.

see also
https://plus.google.com/u/0/108971911025874242115/posts/MTJQp9tv2ar
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201205371/abstract;jsessionid=F10862E905A3B2BDDACB9D3D932E9043.d04t03

#transistors   #organictransistor   #biocomputer  Gerd Moe-Behrens 
http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/newsid=30200.php

Very good reading. Agile engineering techniques applied to start ups.

Very good reading. Agile engineering techniques applied to start ups.

Originally shared by Harvard Business Review

75% of start-ups fail. But the "lean" start-up movement is changing everything for those looking to start a business.

Read serial entrepreneur Steve Blank's faster, smarter methodology for launching companies that may make business plans obsolete:
http://hbr.org/2013/05/why-the-lean-start-up-changes-everything/ar/1

Curiosity rover has been working on Mars and interesting findings on how Mars atmosphere has evolved is coming up to light.

Curiosity rover has been working on Mars and interesting findings on how Mars atmosphere has evolved is coming up to light.
http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1461

Hydrogen fuel is a tech to follow. German car makers are investing in this tech and it could replace the petrol in autos in some years

Hydrogen fuel is a tech to follow. German car makers are investing in this tech and it could replace the petrol in autos in some years

Originally shared by David Fuchs

Hydrogen production game changer?

#Hydrogen  
http://www.kurzweilai.net/breakthrough-in-hydrogen-fuel-production-could-revolutionize-alternative-energy-market

Nice view from mars... the Opportunity Rover has done a spin drive. Its a panoramic view.

Nice view from mars... the Opportunity Rover has done a spin drive. Its a panoramic view.
http://panoramas.dk/mars/greeley-haven.html

Originally shared by Astronomy Picture of the Day (APoD)

Originally shared by Astronomy Picture of the Day (APoD)

X-rays from Supernova Remnant SN 1006
Image Credit: NASA/CXC/P. Frank Winkler (Middlebury College)
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130423.html

What looks like a puff-ball is surely the remains of the brightest supernova in recorded human history. In 1006 AD, it was recorded as lighting up the nighttime skies above areas now known as China, Egypt, Iraq, Italy, Japan, and Switzerland. The expanding debris cloud from the stellar explosion, found in the southerly constellation the Wolf (Lupus), still puts on a cosmic light show across the electromagnetic spectrum. In fact, the above image results from three colors of X-rays taken by the orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory. Now known as the SN 1006 supernova remnant, the debris cloud appears to be about 60 light-years across and is understood to represent the remains of a white dwarf star. Part of a binary star system, the compact white dwarf gradually captured material from its companion star. The buildup in mass finally triggered a thermonuclear explosion that destroyed the dwarf star. Because the distance to the supernova remnant is about 7,000 light-years, that explosion actually happened 7,000 years before the light reached Earth in 1006. Shockwaves in the remnant accelerate particles to extreme energies and are thought to be a source of the mysterious cosmic rays.

Interesting idea. The discussing below in the Engadget page regarding the world water situation regards not only this technology but most of other technologies that uses water for cooling or other proposes such as Nuclear power plants.

Interesting idea. The discussing below in the Engadget page regarding the world water situation regards not only this technology but most of other technologies that uses water for cooling or other proposes such as Nuclear power plants.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/ibm-alliance-solar-collector-concentrates-power-of-2k-suns/

This is a nice infographics of a star lifecycle.

This is a nice infographics of a star lifecycle.

Originally shared by Brad Snowder

Very interesting discussion on an issue that is relevant in the manufacturing area. The MIT article is worth reading.

Very interesting discussion on an issue that is relevant in the manufacturing area. The MIT article is worth reading.

Originally shared by David Fuchs

MIT's technology review had an article this week, will robots create new jobs when they take over existing ones. The answer to that question is a full on an emphatic no. The robot shown below is named Baxter, manufactured by rethink robotics. Baxter is a human safe robot that moves at slow speed so as to not injure humans. Baxter is programmable by showing him objects and what needs to be done with those objects. No programming is required.

Given the CAD files, software, hardware, and wiring diagrams of Baxter he can be redesigned so that he can manufactured copies of himself. With the ability to download and upload manufacturing processes from one robot to another, it would allow you to train a single robot, then  transfer that knowledge to robots on other assembly lines doing the same job.

See Also
http://www.technologyreview.com/view/513761/will-robots-create-new-jobs-when-they-take-over-existing-ones/
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/429248/this-robot-could-transform-manufacturing/
http://www.rethinkrobotics.com/

#robotics   #artificialintelligence   #baxter  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OIxWMTrGl8

Africa and Asia are moving forward.... probably the migration flows will change slowly, specially between Europe and Africa.

Africa and Asia are moving forward.... probably the migration flows will change slowly, specially between Europe and Africa.

Originally shared by The Economist

Daily chart: Outlook for economic growth in the West is bleak, according to the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook, released on April 16th. Worldwide output is expected to grow at just over 3% in 2013, but rich countries will lag behind, expanding at 1.2%. Growth in emerging markets, by contrast, will exceed 5%, with Asia and sub-Saharan Africa motoring along at 7% and 5.6% respectively. View chart on GDP growth forecasts for 2013http://econ.st/17Jr0aV

Aos poucos vamos conhecendo a vizinhança do nosso planeta.

Aos poucos vamos conhecendo a vizinhança do nosso planeta.

Originally shared by Roberto Teixeira

Telescópio acha planetas de tamanho similar ao da Terra em zona habitável

Cientistas descobriram dois planetas de tamanho similar à Terra e que ficam na chamada "zona habitável" ao redor de uma estrela. A descoberta, divulgada nesta quinta-feira em artigo na revista Science, pode ser uma das mais - ou a mais - importante do telescópio Kepler.

A zona habitável é aquela na qual o calor de uma estrela é suficiente para manter água em estado líquido e a presença de outros elementos necessários à vida como conhecemos, como dióxido de carbono e nitrogênio - ou seja, em situação similar à da Terra. Contudo, os cientistas alertam que isso não significa que o planeta é habitável - já que as condições dependem de diversos fatores, principalmente da composição da atmosfera.

O telescópio descobriu um sistema com cinco planetas que orbitam a estrela, chamada de Kepler-62. Suas massas variam de "meia-Terra" ao dobro daquela do nosso planeta. O "ano" desses corpos (ou seja, o tempo que demoram para dar uma volta ao redor de sua estrela) varia entre seis dias na Terra (o que indica um local muito próximo de seu sol e, portanto, muito quente) e nove meses - no planeta mais afastado descoberto, chamado de Kepler-62f. Este e o Kepler-62e são os dois que estão na zona habitável e eles têm 1,61 e 1,41 vez o tamanho da Terra, respectivamente.


O observatório espacial já vasculhou mais de 100 mil estrelas e descobriu diversos planetas - mais de 100 com tamanho inferior à nossa Lua. O telescópio já encontrou outros planetas em zonas habitáveis antes, mas, segundo a Science, não se sabe o tamanho deles, apenas sua massa mínima.

Para a pesquisadora Sara Seager, do Instituto de Tecnologia de Massachusetts (MIT), a descoberta é importante, mas a missão "não diz 'é habitável, vamos lá ver'. As estrelas do Kepler são muito fracas; a quantidade de informação será muito pequena para demonstrar habitabilidade."

Segundo a Science, para caracterizar exoplanetas potencialmente habitáveis, os astrônomos precisam de estrelas mais próximas e mais brilhantes. O Satélite de Pesquisa de Trânsito de Exoplanetas (Tess, na sigla em inglês), aprovado neste mês pela Nasa - a agência espacial americana - e programado para ser lançado em 2017, pode encontrar esses sistemas mais brilhantes.

http://noticias.terra.com.br/ciencia/espaco/telescopio-acha-planetas-de-tamanho-similar-ao-da-terra-em-zona-habitavel,78d2e49dc4a1e310VgnVCM4000009bcceb0aRCRD.html

http://www.universetoday.com/101489/kepler-team-finds-system-with-two-potentially-habitable-planets/

Looks good on road bikes (not for BTTs).

Looks good on road bikes (not for BTTs).

Originally shared by Mashable , Inc

If you ride your bike at night, you know all about the challenges of staying visible. To improve this situation, a startup has a solution that incorporates LED lighting directly on the bike wheels: http://on.mash.to/14qextQ

What do you think about these built-in bike wheel lights?

This is a nice one.

This is a nice one.

Originally shared by Armando Ferreira

Best floor mat.

#geek
http://www.meninos.us/products.php?product=Draw-to-Unlock-Doormat

Why make it simple if you can make it complicated.... and expensive

Why make it simple if you can make it complicated.... and expensive

Originally shared by TECHNICS


The Bavarian Electric Touring Bicycle

In case you ride a bike so as to not pedal manually, then this is the perfect touring bike for you. With this price tag ( $10.000 ), you may just thrown on a yellow jersey and feel like Lance Armstrong for an hour. Assembled from the finest components available, this is the German-engineered bicycle designed for distance touring. The 48-volt Lithium-Ion battery integrates with the 250-watt motor for a maximum speed of 17 mph, providing a 125-mile range on a single charge.  The battery can recharge 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes.

15 super expensive Gifts & Gadgets for the very rich ► goo.gl/0muCT

This one is close to my place....

This one is close to my place....

Originally shared by Greenpeace International

A new record for a European country!

New figures show that during the first quarter of the year about three quarters of the electricity consumed in Portugal came from renewable sources. Check the awesome news here: http://goo.gl/p7EfX

The Energy [R]evolution is possible!

Picture via 350.org

#renewableenergy   #renewables   #energyrevolution

Now that's pratical....

Now that's pratical....

Originally shared by Elisa T

Interesting...

thanks, imgur http://imgur.com/gallery/kSeRtdH

A first step... it could be interesting if they crack up a generic translation algorithm...

A first step... it could be interesting if they crack up a generic translation algorithm...

Brain scans can 'read our dreams' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22031074
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22031074

Amazing the size difference. See also http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/VY_Canis_Majoris

Amazing the size difference. See also http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/VY_Canis_Majoris


Originally shared by Aleandra Hrdlicia

Nice toy for the TV...

Nice toy for the TV...

Originally shared by Linux News Here

#Android #Jelly-Bean with an external Wi-Fi antenna

Other than an external Wi-Fi antenna, the device also boasts 2 GB of RAM and a Rockchip RK3066 dual-core processor. All told, you can purchase this little Android TV stick for about $70 via Geekbuying. Besides the above-mentioned features, the device offers users a USB port for easily hooking a keyboard and mouse, along with a microSD card slot for storage expansion.

http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/70720-android-jelly-bean-with-an-external-wi-fi-antenna

Great for vacations....

Great for vacations....

Originally shared by Claudia Queen

Interesting Design!!!  If u like this plz share

Find interesting and amazing posts at ► http://interestingstrangefacts.com

Some more great photos from Trey Ratcliff.

Some more great photos from Trey Ratcliff.

Originally shared by Trey Ratcliff

San Francisco in Full Rez - 6728x4726

I'm loving the new ability in Google+ to upload full-rez photos automatically via that new checkbox!  I've updated my old article at http://goo.gl/3AFkw with the new steps.    

Originally shared by Rhys Taylor

Originally shared by Rhys Taylor

Infographic : Galaxy Size Comparison Chart

The size of various galaxies compared to one another. For more information visit : http://astrorhysy.blogspot.com/2013/04/infographic-galaxy-size-comparison-chart.html

A second chart is also available featuring IC 1101, the largest known galaxy. This is so completely dwarfs the other galaxies that it needs a very high resolution : http://zoom.it/qbvd

Interesting. I wonder what is outside the cup. Interesting to see that most is dark energy.

Interesting. I wonder what is outside the cup. Interesting to see that most is dark energy.

Originally shared by Andrij “Andrew” Harasewych

Analysis of data from the European Space Agency’s Planck mission has found out some pretty cool new things about our universe, including:

- It's older than we believed, at about 13.81 billion years.
- It's expanding more slowly than we expected.
- It's made up of 4.9 percent normal matter, 26.8 percent dark matter, and 68.3 percent dark energy.
- And finally, that it's a tiny bit lopsided.

Read more here: http://slate.me/Yci6Bi

via fb.me/scienceisseriouslyawesome

That is a scooter i would ride....

That is a scooter i would ride....

Originally shared by Green Car Reports

Electric scooters, bare-bones transportation? Not this crazy KTM concept.

More -> bit.ly/13GOaPP

Moving a step closer to singularity... A microbe making fuel from CO2 in the air. This discovery opens up a few doors in several directions.

Moving a step closer to singularity... A microbe making fuel from CO2 in the air. This discovery opens up a few doors in several directions.
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/new-microbe-makes-fuel-from-co2-in-the-air

Nice ideia. Could not fly in December to the north pole though.

Nice ideia. Could not fly in December to the north pole though.

Originally shared by Universe Today

Solar Powered Plane to Fly Across the US

On May 1, the world’s first solar-powered plane will take off from Moffett Field in Mountain View, California — the home of NASA’s Ames Research Center – and fly across the US to New York. Even though the Solar Impulse plane could probably fly non-stop, day and night with no fuel, instead it will make several stops in US cities such as Phoenix, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. This would be a kind of “get to know you” tour for the US while the founders of Solar Impulse, Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard and and pilot Andre Borschberg, want to spread their message of sustainability and technology.

Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/101093/solar-powered-plane-to-fly-across-the-us/

Sailing the sun waves....

Sailing the sun waves....
http://singularityhub.com/2013/03/25/nasa-to-launch-13000-square-foot-kapton-solar-sail-in-2014/

This gives us an idea on how small we are in the universe.

This gives us an idea on how small we are in the universe.

Originally shared by Jason Wells

You Are Here
Really get your bearings.

Interesting presentation on fractal brain theory. It is a 2 hours presentation. If you are interested in artificial intelligence you will like this.

Interesting presentation on fractal brain theory. It is a 2 hours presentation. If you are interested in artificial intelligence you will like this.

Originally shared by ****

The Fractal Brain Theory.
The best & longest lecture on neuroscience that I've watched in a long while.

This is a great presentation by Wai H. Tsang, in which he discusses his fractal brain theory and the unification of neuroscience with psychology. Wai comes across as both likable and incredibly knowledgeable throughout the entire piece, as he presents the emergence of a unifying and definitive Fractal Theory of Brain and Mind. A huge and mysterious gap in human understanding can finally be filled . . . and explains that the brain is a fractal computing architecture and reveals an elegant way of understanding the brain's structure and operation, showing the same basic fundamental structure and process, being repeated at all scales and all places in the brain. Something that leading brain researchers and artificial intelligence experts have only so far been able to hint at, are demonstrated clearly in this cutting edge talk . . . and show that behind the mind numbing myriad complexity of the brain lies a stunningly beautiful and elegant simplicity. We are even treated to how this might enable genuine Artificial Intelligences. 

I originally found the video here on Google+ and it sat in my Watch Later list for quite a while before I watched it. I'd intended to re-share the original Daniel Estrada post where I thought I'd found it but I seem to be mistaken about Daniel sharing it, and a search revealed both Alex Lightman and Brad Acker had also shared it so in the end I'm not sure where I originally saw it!

As can be seen, at nearly 2 hours this is a long video - although very watchable and engaging throughout in my opinion - and I watched it over two sessions on consecutive days. I think the first 90 minutes are compelling and certainly stimulating; Wai expertly (and accessibly) weaves together many concepts, phenomena, and data into a unified whole that is enjoyable to imbibe and get your head around. During the last 30 minutes the discussion rockets into the nature of consciousness and the Universe and was something that I found harder to follow; whereas I found the first 90 minutes pretty convincing, I found the final 30 minutes less so (Wai admits that it is pretty "out-there"). 

I remain open-minded to the consciousness theory and look forward to watching the talk again some time. From a functional perspective the effect of such a theory on the likely development of genuine AIs and intimate BCIs are something that I find particularly exciting. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axaH4HFzA24

Great painting

Great painting

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Great photos from Trey Ratcliff

Great photos from Trey Ratcliff

Originally shared by Trey Ratcliff

Want New Photos for your Cover?  Here's 100+ Hi-Res Freebies!

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BTW, I have a 2nd album with 1000 photos in it that I was unable to share because of a (Bug #500?)... maybe this will be fixed soon.  Anyway, you can see that album at https://plus.google.com/photos/105237212888595777019/albums/5623042490481885105