Bad news, kids…we’re approaching ‘peak helium.’ This rare gas is obtained as a by-product of the petroleum industry, and thanks to huge stockpiles this country set aside after WWI, supply has been plentiful. However, those helium reserves are dwindling as demand exceeds production…once gone, expect prices to skyrocket faster than, well, a helium filled balloon. The days of cheap helium party balloons are numbered…enjoy it while you can! On the more serious side, this gas is incredibly useful for extreme refrigeration needed in many science and medical applications, so the impact will be far-reaching. Read more over at the Guardian.
Is sugar toxic?
Would you consider sugar toxic? I didn’t used to, but the more I read about it, the more I’m convinced. A recent segment on 60 minutes helped explain this more, check out the article here or a brief follow-up video below.
eBike concept
When I saw this eBike concept from Frog Design, my initial reaction was, look at all that wasted space in the middle section where a larger battery could reside. It’s a trap I fall into sometimes…trying to optimize any design for function and performance, while ignoring what is perhaps the most important element of any product design.
Emotion.
That center void in the bike concept? It looks cool and creates flowing curves, further enhanced through the use of materials, colors, and illumination (check out some of the other pictures for that). The emotional attachment between a consumer and the product is absolutely critical. Not to say that technical performance isn’t, but you can’t have one without the other. Apple’s iPads and iPhones are great examples of that, where the form factor and graphical user interface create a welcoming experience for the user and ultimately a very successful product.
With the miniaturization of technology, more and more emphasis will be placed on the emotional side of design. I mean, who wouldn’t want to own a lightcycle if given the chance!
FDA decides to not prohibit the use of BPA
Despite numerous scientific studies involving health concerns with the chemical BPA, the FDA announced that they’ll basically be doing nothing about it – business as usual for now, though they’ll keep monitoring it. So, we continue to lag behind the rest of the civilized world when it comes to food safety, but that’s really no surprise. It’s also worth noting that this announcement from the FDA was in response to a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council forty one months ago! Not only is the FDA ignoring this health concern, but they’re dragging their heals and stalling as long as possible (the FDA’s announcement was in response to a lawsuit forcing a response).
Cloak VPN for iOS
I’ve started using Cloak VPN for my various iOS devices and laptops. It’s pretty cool so far…incredibly easy to set up and, well, it just works (and is free for a limited use account). I’ll report back once I’ve had a chance to test it out on various other wifi networks. If you’re not sure why a VPN matters, well, you better watch this video. While it highlights just one particular piece of software, there are many ways that other users of the same wireless network can eavesdrop on your network activity. With easy VPN solutions out there, there’s really no reason not to do this!