Yet another example of ingenuity of our species. We’re faced with these emission issues. Perhaps you’ve heard of them? The challenge is that one of the key cost issues associated with new technology is the price of implementation. One of the main reasons coal power is so cheap is because of existing infrastructure. Therefore what can we do to deal with this whole CO2 thing from prevalent cheap fuel source?
Apparently, one solution is to use algae. We all know plants consume CO2 (I think). It’s part of photosynthesis. But apparently an advantage of algae is its quick rate of growth. So, on top of turning CO2 to oxygen, algae can then be harvested for oil themselves! That’s right, you’d squeeze down those buggers and extract the oil. And with a bit of processing you’ll have yourself some bio-fuel from your CO2 waste. Pretty neat huh?
There’s a catch, of course. Algae systems like this aren’t a cheap fuel source ($18-$30 per gallon). Of course you’re removing CO2, which is going to cost something anyway. In addition, the shear amount of algae needed to treat the emissions from a large power plant is pretty massive (5 to 6 thousand acres of ponds). But it’s a neat science, ecology, and engineering problem isn’t it?
One of the current challenges is to pinpoint the type of algae that would be a good candidate to harvest. With about 50,000 species, I can see some synthetic ecology taking place here. Perhaps we can develop an algae strain specifically to yield higher oil or to consume more CO2?
Matt told me about Mint.com a month or two ago, and after several I-will-check-it-outs I finally managed to mosey my way there. What I found was a site that was the perfect tool for analyzing my fragile financial situation as funds dwindle amidst a fumbling economy. Mint lets you pull data from your bank accounts, credit cards and investments so that you can see trends on what you spend your money on. In my case, a lot of take-out. It not only shows you where your cashflow is headed, but how much people elsewhere spend on the same things.
For example, you can look at how many people ate-out compared to you in your state for a given month. I say this because apparently I bucked the trend of eating IN compared to other Carolinians once news of the stock market tanking became widespread in November. It literally dropped by an average of 100 dollars across S.C.
If you pull transactions from your bank account into Mint, it will automatically do a lot of the legwork in categorizing purchases it recognizes as food, auto repairs, entertainment, etc. So right away you can really see a pie-chart breakdown of where your paycheck’s going from month to month. If something isn’t recognized as a particular type of transaction, you can always categorize it manually using one of Mint’s suggestions or create your own.
I’m fairly certain that Mint will inevitably result in my accounts being drained and credit ruined by the web hackers but until that time, it’s a pretty way to look at how poor you are (becoming).
I’ve decided to start a new series of posts related to my shock and amazement in the things we are capable of doing in science. This entry came about as I caught up on one of my favorite podcasts, the NPR Show Science Friday with Ira Flatow.
So, there is this competition known as iGem. It takes place every year (for the past five years) at MIT’s campus. It stands for the Genetically Engineered Machine competition. That’s right. It’s what you think. Students tweak the genetics of simple organisms (like e.coli or yeast) to make it perform a certain functions.
We can do that?!? Apparently so. Students modify the DNA of these organisms and make them perform various functions. For example. One group developed a modified form of e.coli that could float around a persons body, glowing green when it detected cancer cells. Ohh did I mention that it also modified the e.coli so that it wouldn’t cause harm or trigger the human immune defenses? Future modification could allow for these little engineered bugs to act as agents in delivering drugs to targeted areas, and could be the new direction of medical treatments. Another team created a modified e.coli microorganism that would glow green in the presence of certain environmental contaminants. This could be a new simplified way for people to detect poisonous chemicals in drinking water perhaps…
I was amazed at hearing these stories, but also a little frightened. What if something went wrong? What if instead of helping people they were used as a mechanism to harm people? All of these are issues that will be discussed in the emerging field of Synthetic Biology. Essentially this is the combination of chemistry and biology into the realm of engineering. Engineering organisms to produce a desired product or react a certain way. We’ve kind of been doing this for years, mating the best of creatures, or cross-pollinating the best of plants. It’s just now we’re able to get down to the level of the actual DNA, structurally changing the way organisms function. Playing God if you will. It’s both powerful and creepy. I’m sure we’ll hear more of this in the future.
You know you’re old when you find yourself reading Remember Whens on 16-bit gaming consoles. Ars Technica has put together a little write-up on the Sega Genesis, or the console that your rich friend got for Christmas. Which you later found to be just fine since the only good games on the system were sports games, and hey, you hate sports games. Well, maybe that’s not entirely fair. The Genesis provided a home to some wicked awesome sleeper hits–remember Gaiares? What about Toejam and Earl? Okay that was an easy one. Herzog Zwei? That’s worth some YouTube luv:
Ars covers the gamut from the console’s inception to the missteps Sega made to bring its hardware business to a close. It’s a fun read for old farts and young turds alike. As an aside, I really like Ars’s Opposable Thumbs gaming blog. Its content and format resemble Next Generation magazine, before it ditched the quasi-hardcovers.
You made history tonight… and not because of who won, and the colour of his skin, or the promises he’s made… or the agenda he keeps. I know many differ on the issue of social change, or financial direction… you differ on war and peace and you differ on religion, sexual orientation and political policies… but you cannot argue that what being an American is really about, was displayed today, in both victory and defeat… and as of today you are without a doubt, a country ready to overcome anything, to stand up again and say… we are The United States of America… we are united… and we will prevail.
“This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.”
I admire you for it, and I am prevlidged to be your neighbour.
It’s official. I love this game. You know what though, as much as I enjoyed the Story Levels, the beautiful graphics, and the wonderful sound what really sold me on Little Big Planet was the user generated content.
The LBP servers have been somewhat sporadic since the game’s release and they’re certainly still not perfect. The occasional awkward lag in multiplayer is fairly common. However, these sorts of issues will be remedied in time–the cost of NOT fixing them is far too great.
I say this because last night was my first completely engrossing experience in LBP. I’d beaten all the levels in small bursts. They were very fun but what kept me going was the fact that in each level I’m unlocking new tools and equipment that I can use in my own user-created levels. What’s amazing is that the actual levels included in the game are completely replicable using the level creator tools. It’s as if I was taking notes in all the pre-made worlds I was visiting. Notes that I would use when creating my masterpiece–but first things first!
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This has got to be the most simultaneously funny and tragic video I’ve seen in a long while. I believe these are the original actors from the first Wassup commercial, and they do a good job of covering the bases of crappy issues we’re facing as a nation. The ending is great for people who want some flippin’ Change.
As winter approaches here on Earth, it’s approaching Mars as well… only difference is summer on Mars won’t be back until May 2010. I know what you’re thinking… you’re thinking “sw0rdfish… I don’t live on Mars, why would I care?”.
The answer is simple… The Mars Phoenix. That’s why! He’s going to be up there FOREVER, and he’ll be alone, cold and frozen!!! I’ve been following the little guy on Twitter for awhile now, and today I was greeted with this… ( read bottom to top… cuz that’s the way the tweets came in )
Now I just picture this poor little Wall-E type creature, freezing away on Mars for the next 15 months… I get all sad… kinda misty and like… poor little Mars Phoenix. Do you feel it? Do you feel bad for him? Well that’s stupid… it’s a hunk of freaking metal. Grow a pair sw0rdfish.
Lame title, I know. It’s just that I have this trait, a quirk if you will, where I like citing statistics. “Two out of every three people eat broccoli and don’t enjoy it.” Is that true? Who knows. I just made it up. But doesn’t that make you sound knowledgeable? I guess it’s my inner Cliff Clavin.
The topic of statistics with regards to polling is fascinating to me. Even before I read this article where superstar statistician Nate Silver statistically determined that Obama was around 96% likely to win the election, I was amazed with the whole process.
Silver gained his fame in accurately predicting the outcome of the 2005 world series, and then re-established himself by getting within 70 votes in the 1700 electoral votes in the outcome of Super Tuesday. Is he simply clairvoyant? Well, perhaps, but it looks like he prefers the cold comfort of a bunch of numbers.
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Gamasutra, a site covering the business side of the gaming industry, reported on a study by The NPD Group that published a few statistics about the buying habits of frequent (read: hardcore) gamers. In particular, 11% of the 562 games in the study own a game they haven’t torn the shrink wrap off of. I’m certainly guilty with my mint copy of Odin Sphere on the bookshelf.
The study also notes that 54% of us either trade the games in (presumably to a no-good dirty Gamestop shop) or sell it (eBay ftw?). 24 percent will merely give a game away when we no longer want it, or perhaps go through a kind of crisis of hobby which results in the culling of every game you ever owned. I digress.
