Technology

Solar Roadways

by Action Advisor on May 15, 2012

What if roads and parking lots were solar, fuelling enough energy from the sun to power nearby communities as well as electric vehicles?

Co-inventors/founders of Solar Roadways Scott and Julie Brusaw, have the answer.

This video from Focus Forward Films explores how the world is being reshaped by solar roads, bionic eyes, honour codes, and one legendary drum machine.

Join the conversation and tweet #SOLARROADWAY to have your tweet featured on the Focus Forward website.

Learn about the infinite solutions of Solar Roadways or follow them on Twitter.

Check out more films in the Focus Forward series on Vimeo.

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Anatomy of a Protest

by Action Advisor on May 7, 2012

Using Twitter to monitor news also offers people a tool for mobilising public gatherings and capturing events as visual information.

Applications that provide this kind of visual data are not new, take for instance Ushahidi a free open-source software, first developed in early 2008 to map reports of violence in Kenya after post-election fallout. But Twitter has trending power and a platform universally recognised around the world – now managing over 465 million accounts.

In this article by John Nelson, Twitter coverage is integrated into a visual graph that offers insight into the anatomy of an event as it trends in space and time.

An analytical reference sourcing data from a huge resource of Twitter users (supporters, detractors and everybody in between) to examine behavioural aspects, influence and impact of large-scale movements like the example illustrated here of March’s Mayday protest in Manhattan.

The visual coordination of three dimensions of data: location, time, and topic, provides an up-to-the-second profile of a social event as it forms, moves, and dissipates. A catalyst for geospatial awareness with valuable application for understanding and interpreting the organic nature of social phenomena so as to anticipate events before they happen!

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Science Snapshot

by Action Advisor on April 7, 2012

The latest Insights and Discoveries from the World of Science.

Climate Change insights from Antarctica

The covariation of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and temperature in Antarctic ice-core records suggests a close link between CO2 and climate during the Pleistocene ice ages. The role and relative importance of CO2 in producing these climate changes remains unclear, however, in part because the ice-core deuterium record reflects local rather than global temperature. Read the full article.

Gigantic Feathered Dinosaur Discovered in China

Direct evidence for the presence of extensively feathered gigantic dinosaurs are offering new insights into early feather evolution. Read the full article.

This story is also covered by National Geographic. Read their article.

Searching for a Cure

Antibodypedia is a free resource that helps you find the right antibody for the right application. Independent, with data curated with the assistance of an international advisory board, Antibodypedialets you:

• Search for antibodies that have proved themselves effective for specific applications
• Discover published research employing particular antibodies
• Submit antibody validation data from your own experiments

Exploring the Titanic

Filmmaker and explorer James Cameron heads a commemorative line-up of premiere documentaries from National Geographic about the biggest, most technologically advanced ship of its time, the R.M.S. Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, one hundred years ago – on April 15th.

The special two-night Titanic Event airs on the National Geographic Channel starts Sunday, April 8th at 8:00 pm ET/PT. Check your local listings for times in other regions.

Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron takes viewers on the ultimate forensic investigation of how an unsinkable ship sank on that April day.

Save the Titanic with Bob Ballard retraces the steps of the people who set sail on that fateful journey.

You also will find a number of Titanic-related online special features this month, such as full episodes of past National Geographic Titanic videos like Secrets of the Titanic and Rebuilding Titanic. Plus, new extra-sharp underwater photos of the remaining wreckage, special online games, and fascinating new historical and scientific information. In addition National Geographic have included materials especially for children and teachers.

Lastly, be sure to pick-up a copy of this month’s National Geographic magazine which features the “Unseen Titanic” and uses new technologies to reveal the most intimate images of this famous wreck.

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Congratulations ‘Cameron’

by Action Advisor on March 27, 2012

Reminiscent of the ‘age of discovery’ when explorers took to the sea in hopes of discovering new lands – today the adventure continues with James Cameron‘s successful ‘solo-sub’ journey to the deepest point of the ocean ‘Marina Trench’.

A quest of research and endeavour that marks a new dawn in discovery and sets the precedent for further exploration of the deep. This historical event reflects years of planning, engineering genius and an unrivalled spirit for adventure – as Cameron (aged 57) underwent months of physical preparation ‘yoga and running’ to acclimate his body for the confined conditions within the sub, in addition to educating himself on the logistics of navigating the vessel.

Aptly named Deep Challenger, the 12-ton sub performed exceptionally well withstanding pressures equivalent of three SUVs sitting on your toe (according to huffington post) and at speeds ‘faster-than-expected’ as National Geographic reported a 70 minute ascent.

Surpassing the 1960 expedition of equal depth by Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, a U.S. Navy captain which lasted approximately 20 minutes – Cameron spent a little over three hours at a depth of 35,756 feet (more than a mile deeper than Mt. Everest) before he began his return to the surface, according to information provided by the expedition team.

The film director has been an oceanography enthusiast since childhood and has made 72 deep-sea submersible dives. Thirty-three of those dives have been to the wreckage of the Titanic, the subject of his 1997 hit film, which is being released in a 3-D version next month.

Read an in-depth account of this historic event at: National Geographic Daily News

Checkout the Official Website: Deepsea Challenge

Source: Huffington Post

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Birds Eye View

by Action Advisor on March 25, 2012

Peering through the lens at a distant mark high in the canopy, draws bird-watchers to the field as they explore wooded groves and nearby forests – even suburban patches of vegetation can offer a place to observe.

The energy of being amongst nature whilst not to be usurped, can be side-stepped as technology brings a ‘bird’s eye view’ to us.

Thank’s to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology live streaming from the nest makes bird-watching a pastime for all, including those who prefer to explore the world through the web. The advantage of feeds that monitor real-life go beyond convenience, they entice new generations to take interest in nature and overcome practical obstacles such as location, equipment and conditions – allowing anyone to enjoy and learn from observing a variety of birds around the world.

BirdCams current feather in focus is a Red-tailed Hawk nesting on a light pole 80 feet above Cornell University’s athletic fields, where it has been for the past four years. The webcam installed in 2012 provides a window into the lives of these majestic birds as they raise their young amid the bustle of a busy campus.

Meet the Stars of this Reality Show: Big Red and Her Mate!

The female, nicknamed “Big Red” in honor of her alma mater, is slightly larger, with a darker head, nape and throat, and is banded on her right leg. From banding records we know she was banded in nearby Brooktondale, New York, during her first autumn in 2003, making her nearly nine years old.

The male, who does not yet have a nickname, is banded on his left leg. He’s a bit smaller and has golden-tawny feathers on his face and head, and a paler neck than the female. He is at least seven years old and was first banded in 2006 as an adult bird on Judd Falls Road near the Cornell campus.

Resources for the Bird Lover

Learn more about Red-tailed Hawks
Explore NestCams
Watch and learn about Breeding Behaviour
Become a “CamClickr”
Download ‘My Bird World’ App

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