WAVE GLIDERS FOR SPILL RESEARCH ... BP's deployed a new device to monitor water quality in response to the Gulf oil spill. The Wave Glider is controlled by satellite, is powered by the sun and moves by wave action - no motor, no fuel, no propeller. Sensors send a steady stream of data regarding the water's quality in a particular location, within the month marine mammal recording capabilities will be added to track the vocality of whales in the area. The developers, Liquid Robotics, say this is a big step for ongoing research activity.
DOMESTICS GET A JUMP ... Chrysler is finally catching up to General Motors and Ford in the race for 'most fuel efficient domestic car' category. MultiAir, the company's newest technology, claims to increase fuel economy by a whopping 25 percent. For gearheads, here's the breakdown: in a conventional engine, a camshaft opens and closes the valves that bring air into the engine. They make the same movement all the time, even at low engine speeds, when less air is required. The MultiAir system is different because it electronically determines the most efficient way to open and close the valves, depending on road conditions and necessary power, allowing the car to run more efficiently at all speeds. It also increases the engine's torque by 15 percent. This photo shows the position of red solenoids that push oil into actuators to open and close air-intake valves.
GAS, ER, CHARGE N' GO ... The first ever public access charging station for electric vehicles opened in Nashville Friday. The unit is wireless, talks to the internet. So if you're in your electric vehicle, you're running low on juice, your GPS will tell you where the next unit is, it'll tell you if it's being used. You'll have many options to go around town and charge your vehicle when you need to. EV Charge America, the creators, say the stations will be popping up all over the country in the next year.
MIT CAN CLEAN IT UP ... Researchers at MIT have created a conveyor belt–like device that they claim could clean up oil slicks far more efficiently than anything used at the Deepwater Horizon site. In fact, a fleet of 5,000 Seaswarm devices could clean a spill the size of the one at the Deepwater site in one month, researchers estimate. Too good to be true? I've included the video at the bottom, check it out.
OREGANO SOLVES FART ISSUE ... Yep. Researchers at Penn State have spent nearly 6 years trying to develop a natural, viable solution to the globe's methane problem - specifically for cows, not Uncle Mark. And they've found that introducing and oregano-based supplement to their diet greatly reduces the amount of methane produced as a by-product during the fermentation process of digestion. Even better, the cows started producing more milk - methane production uses energy, without the wasted energy, the cows naturally produce more milk. Researchers also assure there's been no negative side affects on the animals.
ANOTHER REASON TO PICNIC ... Designers at The Three Blind Ants have just made it a little bit easier, a little bit more fun and a little eco-friendlier with the Boxsal. Basically a fashionable cardboard box with enough room to fit a bottle of wine, snacks, sandwiches and more, and the whole kit is reusable until you decide to compost it. Each kit contains 1 picnic box, 4 compostable trays, 4 compostable large bowls, 4 compostable small bowls, 4 compostable sets of cutlery, 4 compostable cups, 8 recycled napkins and 1 compostable trash bag. According to their web site, everything takes around 180 days to biodegrade. All Boxsals are available for $35 and would make for very unique gifts that will likely remind the recipient how great it is to get outdoors on occasion. They also have a cool blog with green tips, tasty recipes and ideas for making your next picnic a full-blown event! http://www.boxsal.com/
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