A movie adaptation of the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is coming to HBO in May! Check out the trailer below!
Investing in chaotic times
The stock market got a little wonky there for a bit though has settled down…but it provided me with a good reminder to have patience and not panic. If I had bailed when the market tanked, I’d have missed this latest recovery! It’s important to not let little blips throw you off.
Using graphene to filter and desalinate saltwater
As the global population increases and water supplies become less predictable due to global warming, finding sources of clean drinking water becomes even more critical. Just ask residents of Cape Town, which expects to run out of water around April 12nd! The obvious solution is to desalinate ocean water, but that’s a very energy-intensive process. Well, researchers in Australia found a way to use a graphene film to act as a filter; its structure allows water molecules to pass through but blocks larger contaminant particles. Most membrane filters get clogged up quickly, but this one keeps working even as it gets coated in contaminants. It’s nowhere near a commercial product yet, but is a promising solution to a growing global concern.
(more at FastCompany)
The end of the road for the internal combustion automobile engine
The days of gas-powered cars are numbered. Sure, electric cars are cool and promising and are gaining in popularity worldwide, but an announcement by Volvo really helps make clear the powertrain of the future. As reported by MotorAuthority, Volvo is no longer working on any next generation gasoline powered engines. This doesn’t mean they’ll stop SELLING them any time soon…the current generation can last quite some time, I’m sure. But they’re looking ahead, and they apparently don’t see the profit in developing new gas engines, not with the rise of electrics. A big step, really, and one I expect other car companies will emulate. Or…maybe it’s just a publicity stunt? Volvo is owned by Chinese company Geely…so are they making this announcement for the eco-friendly news benefit, while actually planning to switch to Geely engines in the future if electrics haven’t reached the point needed by then?
Also in electric vehicle news…delivery company DHL did the math on Tesla’s new semi truck, and figured they’d break even on it in less than two years, compared to a conventional diesel truck. For large companies that are willing to invest in capital equipment like this, switching their short/mid range fleets to electric is really a no-brainer! It’s only a matter of time, too, before trucks like the Tesla are suitable for long-haul trucking.
Extinction nears for right whales
The news is bleak for North Atlantic right whales, a critically endangered species with only around 400 left. After a year which saw 18 known deaths (most of which are due to getting tangled up in fishing gear), there have been no new calves sighted this year, worsening an already downward trend in births. That kind of math doesn’t bode well for the future of this species.
The Boston Globe has a longer article on this if you’re interested.