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Aug 27, 2018
Global race for transformative molten salt nuclear includes Bill Gates and China
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: government, nuclear energy
Unlike Nuclear fusion which has never had net generation of power, molten salt nuclear fission power had 2.5 megawatts of net power generation from a US nuclear prototype back in the 1960s. The US government had major work on molten salt nuclear reactors form the 1950s through the 1970s.
There is now a multi-billion race from many US companies and China and Canada and European countries to develop molten salt nuclear power.
Aug 27, 2018
This bright blue dye is found in fabric. Could it also power batteries?
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: energy, habitats
A sapphire-colored dye called methylene blue is a common ingredient in wastewater from textile mills.
But University at Buffalo scientists think it may be possible to give this industrial pollutant a second life. In a new study, they show that the dye, when dissolved in water, is good at storing and releasing energy on cue.
Continue reading “This bright blue dye is found in fabric. Could it also power batteries?” »
Aug 27, 2018
How Long Would it Take to Cruise the Solar System?
Posted by Michael Lance in category: space
There’s no doubt traveling the solar system would be an amazing experience, but how long would it take?
Aug 27, 2018
Study Shows Telomerase Gene Therapy Does Not Increase Cancer Risk
Posted by Steve Hill in categories: biotech/medical, life extension
Researchers have demonstrated that telomerase gene therapy does not increase the risk of cancer, even in strains of mice that are particularly susceptible to cancer [1].
A tale of telomeres
Short telomeres trigger cellular senescence and are thought to be one of the primary hallmarks of aging, which has led to various researchers seeking ways to restore the telomeres in order to prevent cells from dying and to encourage division and tissue regeneration. We won’t go over the basics of telomeres and how they influence aging here, but if you would like to learn more, check out our telomeres article, which explains it all.
Aug 27, 2018
This New Supplement Could Change the Way You Age
Posted by Bill Kemp in category: health
Elysium Health has released a new supplement called Basis which can help keep your body healthy as you age. According to a double-blind, placebo controlled study, the supplement increases your body’s levels of NAD+, which support important activities within our cells and contributes to our health.
Aug 27, 2018
Tesla’s Semi truck is traveling cross-country ‘alone’
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: Elon Musk, sustainability, transportation
Tesla’s Semi truck has already made some city-to-city trips, but how does it fare on cross-country jaunts — you know, what it’ll be doing when it enters service? Just fine, if you ask Elon Musk. In response to an Electrek piece on the Semi’s latest visit (to Arkansas trucking behemoth J.B. Hunt), the CEO noted that the Semi has been traveling thousands of miles entirely by itself, using the existing Supercharger network. The only necessary help is an “extension cord” to help the truck plug in. To be exact, it’s a system of cords that plugs into multiple stations at once to top up the Semi’s giant battery before the company’s Megachargers come online.
That solo travel is likely meant in part to reassure customers (including J.B. Hunt) that the Semi is already capable of handling long-distance trips without escorts. However, it does leave a few open questions. How long does it take to top up using Superchargers, and how likely is it that drivers could rely on them when Megachargers aren’t available? While it’s easy for a Tesla-operated truck to cross the US using the existing framework, it’d be another matter with thousands of third-party trucks in service. This is a significant step toward the Semi hitting the road in earnest, but there are many more steps to go.
Continue reading “Tesla’s Semi truck is traveling cross-country ‘alone’” »
Aug 27, 2018
We Are Merging With Robots. That’s a Good Thing
Posted by Steve Nichols in category: robotics/AI
https://paper.li/e-1437691924#/
The old boundaries of the human self are being blurred by technology. The risks are real, but the potential is astounding.
Aug 27, 2018
Tidal energy turbine company is showing good results
Posted by Bill Kemp in categories: energy, engineering
Scotrenewables Tidal Power, a Scottish engineering company, is focused on an energy source they call “tidal energy generation.” A video promoting their solution: They have plenty to show for their efforts, namely, the world’s most powerful operational tidal turbine, the SR2000 2MW.
A reduction in manufacturing and installation costs plus simple, quick and low cost maintenance strategies will be key to success.
Continue reading “Tidal energy turbine company is showing good results” »
Aug 27, 2018
Expert meet at new UN-hosted talks about ‘killer robots’
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: futurism, robotics/AI
GENEVA (AP) — Experts from scores of countries are meeting to discuss ways to define and deal with “killer robots” — futuristic weapons systems that could conduct war without human intervention.
The weeklong gathering is the second this year at U.N. offices in Geneva to focus on such lethal autonomous weapons systems and explore ways of possibly regulating them, among other issues.
Some top advocacy groups say governments and militaries should be prevented from developing such systems, which have sparked fears and led some critics to envisage harrowing scenarios about their use.