I’ve long thought that solar panels need to be used all over in order to alleviate strain on an energy grid, and now that seems to be happening. Solatec has created a kit that you can put on a Toyota Prius to charge it while the car is sitting in the sun.
It can improve the milage up to 10% according to Toyota. The company is still testing the product, but I hope to see solar panels integrated into all cars.
Scientists have discovered a way that allows solar power cells to be sprayed on to most any surface and produce power even on a cloudy day!
The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun’s invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology.
This is a huge advancement; yeah for renewable resources!
Segway Scooter inventor Dean Kamen is at it again. But this time instead of helping those in rich countries to get off of their feet, he wants to help poor countries get back on their feet!
He’s developed two washing-machine sized devices: one that filters 1000 litres of water per day; and one that continually produces a kilowatt of energy, powered by cow dung.
Kamen has partnered with Iqbal Quadir, of Bangladeshi company Grameen Phone (see our previous coverage of Grameen Bank). Their business model encourages entrepreneurs in developing nations to offer power and water as services to local populations.
CNN.com has the full story.
If there was a wine and cheese social for global charters, then the Responsible Care Global Charter would act distinctly different from the others. It would probably hang out by the punch bowl and make idle conversation, friendly but clearly not part of the crowd. Thats because the Responsible Care Global Charter contains several principles geared toward the long-term improvement of risk assessment, risk management, and information on products and their safe handling. In the area of social responsibility, the charter calls for increased dialogue with chemical industry stakeholders.
The global chemical association (ICCA) presented the RCGC at the recent United Nations’ International Conference on Chemicals Management in Dubai. The charter summarizes the new tenets of the global chemical industry’s Responsible Care initiative, which was launched in 1985 to promote continuous improvement in health, safety and environmental performance. Companies from 52 countries have committed themselves to Responsible Care via their national member associations, and recently Bayer and BASF signed the charter.
Scientists exploring in New Guinea have discovered dozens of previously unknown plant and animal species. Near the Foja mountain range in a remote jungle area of New Guinea, the researchers found twenty new species of frogs, four new butterflies, five plant species, a tree kangaroo that was thought to be on the brink of extinction, and spectacular birds.
More expeditions are planned to the remote jungle, and scientists are optimistic about discovering even more species.