Biotech is really hitting its stride as far as rapid progress – and grabbing headlines – is concerned. New Scientist takes a look at the work of Craig Venter – the tycoon who recently attempted to patent a ‘minimal genome’ – who claims his team have passed an important milestone in the journey towards creating entirely synthetic bacteria … and at his competitors, who believe that Venter’s
project isn’t creating genuine synthetic life at all.
World’s largest nuclear explosion video
Big freaking boom. It’s small blurry video, but the incredible massiveness of it all is still amazing. The plume rises above the cloud layer.
Plug In Hybrids For Autopia
Ford Motor Company and the power company Southern California Edison are teaming up to develop plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. What’s the big deal about plug-in hybrids? It turns out that demand for power drops at night, when plug-in vehicles are most likely to be charging. Most electric grids already have enough excess capacity at night to handle a fleet of plug-ins, which means that shifting to plug-in hybrids can cause an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, especially as utility companies shift to renewable energy sources. This is one of Lester Brown’s favorite ways of saving the world, as described in Plan B 2.0. (One of the most optimistic assessments of humanity’s potential I’ve read.) [engadget]
Nanosphere self-cleaning clothes
Lou Anders passes long this link to a company that builds ‘NanoSphere’ finishing technology that makes for self-cleaning surfaces. On clothes.
The money shot is of honey being washed off fabric with some water and neither substance remaining. There’s a ketchup stain on my current favorite shirt, so color me intrigued.
Low energy, affordable housing
Glenn Reynolds links to an interesting article about ‘zero energy’ homes, or at least homes that use somewhat less than a quarter of the same energy the average US house does. They’re being built by Habitat for Humanity and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Unlike some past low energy homes, they’re no more expensive or visually different than other standard looking homes. I can’t imagine I’m the only interested in a house that ends up knocking 80% off my gas and electric bill.