Posts Tagged ‘science’
A flying car? — yep! It’s real! And no chitty-chitty-bang-bang either!
September 6th, 2010
Posted in General Blog, Pictures
The FAA approved the Terrafugia Flying Car, which look pretty awesome! It will be available next year, and as long as you have a pilot’s license and $194K, you’re good to go!
The test prototype has been flying for about a year, but plane-maker Terrafugia will unveil its production-class plane next month at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual convention in Oshkosh, Wisc.
The Transition drives like a car, uses normal high-octane gasoline, has front-wheel-drive and even comes with airbags. Its fuel economy is about 30 miles per gallon. But unlike your Prius, it can unfold its wings and fly. You’ll only need a one-third of a mile strip for a runway, meaning you could conceivably use your own street. It is powered by a rear propeller and flies about 115 miles per hour.
Okay,… Hmm…. I think that for the price, I would want more than 30 mpg, but that it take regular gas — to be able to get to work … oh in about 4 minutes!… that might be worth thinking about it more when the price comes down $150K to a more affordable price.
Hottest Golfer in Calif! – Golf bogey sends sparks flying… literally!
September 1st, 2010
Posted in General Blog, Pictures
Burning up the golf score card!
Over the weekend, a golfer’s routine swing in the rough at the Shady Canyon Golf Course in Irvine, Calif., struck a rock. Not so different from the way you play, right? Only this time, the impact caused a spark, and the spark set off a blaze that eventually covered 25 acres, according to the Steven Buck, General Manager of Shady Canyon Golf Course, and required the efforts of 150 Orange County firefighters, writes the Associated Press.
Wow. And I felt bad the time I shanked a ball through the window of a house too close to the fairway. That was nothing compared to this!
The golfer’s name is being withheld, which is probably for the best, and no charges are going to be filed. Fortunately, it all could have been much worse. As it was, the blaze required both helicopters and on-the-ground crews.
The conditions were ripe for a blaze, with dry brush from a recent heat wave just waiting for the right spark. Like, say, one caused by metal on rock.
Read more at Yahoo Sports News.
Video: Marty McFly & Ke$ha mash-up video… Nice!
July 15th, 2010
Posted in General Blog, Video Clips
I am not so much a KEI$HA fan – in fact, I can’t say I’ve heard much of her music; Personally, I only listen to Power FM, CDs, or Talk Radio (KLIF or KSKY).
But I do say that I enjoy the geeky side in me that enjoy the classic Back to the Future movies. I don’t know, but watching this video just made me happy. Enjoy!
“Ke$ha’s annoyingly catchy ‘Tik Tok’ won’t die, thanks in part to clever mash-ups like the Star Trek one and this “Tik Tok to the Future.” Set to scenes from 80s flick fave Back to the Future, the pop ditty gives a fresh perspective on the residents of fictional Hill Valley.”
First Hybrid cars, now Nissan’s Leaf electric car (100 miles/charge),… and next Wind Powered Cars? Really?
July 2nd, 2010
Posted in Video Clips
In a new dual commercial for both the Nissan Leaf and Apple’s iAd mobile advertising program, a soothing voiceover (that sounds a bit like a new age massage therapist) demonstrates the latest trend in content-advertising hybrids.
This car was debuted late 2009 and already has many pre-orders. The car will go about 100 miles on a single charge. (Not perfect for my commute to work – nor my pocketbook, but it should work for many people!)… This is a great idea that has been around and used for years, but Nissan is making the bold step of mass producing the car. The cost will run you about $32 K, but there are tax benefits from the US federal government of up to $7500.
But could we one day have wind powered cars? that is even better than electric!
Despite modern forecasting techniques, wind remains a fickle element. It’s seasonal, dependent on storms and highly variable. Can we really count on wind to deliver steady, reliable energy for our cars?
It is possible that wind could become one part of a portfolio of alternative energy resources that could someday replace more traditional coal, natural gas and oil electricity plants. Keep reading to find out why wind can’t power a national fleet of cars, but may work well as one tool in a larger toolbox of energy sources waiting to make the United States a greener and more fuel-efficient country.
See the full story on wind-powered car technology at HowStuffWorks.com.
Interesting Science: Could forced mutations kill the flu?… NICE!
June 21st, 2010
Posted in General Blog
New research suggests that the flu’s secret formula for effectively evolving within and between species appears to be a balancing act—producing enough mutations to spread and adapt to its environment but not so many that they lead to its demise.
“This research presents an attractive strategy for tackling the flu—making the influenza virus kill itself by amplifying the number of mutations made beyond the desired level, which is lethal for the virus,” says Baek Kim, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester and lead study author…
“(The) team has developed some very important new methodology for studying the function of the flu polymerase that could easily result in the development of new antivirals or other methods to control influenza,” says John Treanor, chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at Rochester.
Full story at Futurity.
(Video) Kitten born with 2 faces… what??
June 18th, 2010
Posted in General Blog, Video Clips
A kitten born in West Virginia shocked local veterinarians when it entered the world with two faces—like two distinct faces, not like the Batman villain. Vets haven’t pinpointed an exact diagnosis, but say the adorable kitty is either a conjoined twin or suffering from a protein synthesis that caused the mutation.
See the short AP News video below on the story: