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LeopoldS

Wired and Shrewd, Young Egyptians Guide Revolt - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...10youth.html

technology politics

shared by LeopoldS on 10 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • LeopoldS on 10 Feb 11
     
    nice account how some tech savvyness helps in these situations
LeopoldS

YouTube - 7 digital trends at Davos 2011 [World Economic Forum talk] - 3 views

www.youtube.com/watch

technology INF

shared by LeopoldS on 27 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • dejanpetkow on 28 Jan 11
     
    I like the iToilet. In Japan this technology is used since many years, even on public places. In this sense, the electrified toilet is a trend only in western countries.
Dario Izzo

Proposed mission to Jupiter system achieves milestone - 1 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...110204205538.htm

life MAD

shared by Dario Izzo on 11 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Dario Izzo on 11 Feb 11
     
    Understanding life is the scientific focus of the next Europa/Ganimede mission!
  • LeopoldS on 12 Feb 11
     
    the objective is rather the study of "emergence of habitable worlds", which of course includes understanding of life and what habitability is ...
  • LeopoldS on 12 Feb 11
LeopoldS

BBC News - Robovie PC robot wins marathon in Osaka, Japan - 2 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-asia-pacific-12589607

technology robotics AI NRG

shared by LeopoldS on 28 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • LeopoldS on 28 Feb 11
     
    not very impressive if this is the best of robotics ... or only a promotion tournament?
Francesco Biscani

Eco - "Writings: IBM vs. Mac" - 5 views

www.themodernword.com/...eco_mac_vs_pc.html

inf

shared by Francesco Biscani on 07 Mar 11 - Cached
LeopoldS and Ma Ru liked it
  • The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant.
  • Francesco Biscani on 07 Mar 11
     
    An amusing opinion piece by Italian writer Umberto Eco.
  • LeopoldS on 07 Mar 11
     
    read this first time 10 years ago - but always nice to re-read indeed ...
Nicholas Lan

Global Farming futures - 2 views

www.bis.gov.uk/...reports-and-publications

agriculture climate change

shared by Nicholas Lan on 22 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Nicholas Lan on 22 Mar 11
     
    forecasting to 2050 wouldn't recommend the executive summary but the collection of reports seems to be quite comprehensive across a range of relevant areas "The Project has involved around 400 leading experts and stakeholders from about 35 countries across the world. Drawing upon over 100 peer-reviewed evidence paper commissioned by the Project which can be accessed in full here (hyperlink). "
Isabelle DB

the World Wide Web for robots - 4 views

www.roboearth.org

technology WWW learning AI

shared by Isabelle DB on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Isabelle DB on 10 Mar 11
     
    Will they need humans anymore?
  • LeopoldS on 12 Mar 11
     
    the coordinators of this FP7 are in Eindhoven ... might be nice to check where they are at one of their next consortium conferences: next one apparently in July but no date given. Guido: could you check?
Luís F. Simões

Shell energy scenarios to 2050 - 6 views

www.shell.com/...shell_energy_scenarios_2050

energy future forecast politics economy climate_change

shared by Luís F. Simões on 09 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Luís F. Simões on 09 Mar 11
     
    just in case you were feeling happy and optimistic
  • ...7 more comments...
  • Francesco Biscani on 09 Mar 11
     
    An energy scenario published by an oil company? Allow me to be sceptical...
  • Joris _ on 10 Mar 11
     
    Indeed, Shell is an energy company, not just oil, for some time now ... The two scenarii are, in their approach, dependant of economic and political situation, which is right now impossible to forecast. Reference to Kyoto is surprising, almost out-dated! But overall, I find it rather optimistic at some stages, and probably the timeline (p37-39) is unlikely with recent events.
  • Luís F. Simões on 10 Mar 11
     
    the report was published in 2008, which explains the reference to Kyoto, as the follow-up to it was much more uncertain at that point. The Blueprint scenario is indeed optimistic, but also quite unlikely I'd say. I don't see humanity suddenly becoming so wise and coordinated. Sadly, I see something closer to the Scramble scenario as much more likely to occur.
  • LeopoldS on 12 Mar 11
     
    not an oil company??? please have a look at the percentage of their revenues coming from oil and gas and then compare this with all their other energy activities together and you will see very quickly that it is only window dressing ... they are an oil and gas company ... and nothing more
  • Joris _ on 14 Mar 11
     
    not JUST oil. From a description: "Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies." Of course revenues coming from oil are the biggest, the investment turnover on other energy sources is small for now. Knowing that most of their revenues is from an expendable source, to guarantee their future, they invest elsewhere. They have invested >1b$ in renewable energy, including biofuels. They had the largest wind power business among so-called "oil" companies. Oil only defines what they do "best". As a comparison, some time ago, Apple were selling only computers and now they sell phones. But I would not say Apple is just a phone company.
  • LeopoldS on 14 Mar 11
     
    window dressing only ... e.g. Net cash from operating activities (pre-tax) in 2008: 70 Billion$ net income in 2008: 26 Billion revenues in 2008: 88 Billion Their investments and revenues in renewables don't even show up in their annual financial reports since probably they are under the heading of "marketing" which is already 1.7 Billion $ ... this is what they report on their investments: Capital investment, portfolio actions and business development Capital investment in 2009 was $24 billion. This represents a 26% decrease from 2008, which included over $8 billion in acquisitions, primarily relating to Duvernay Oil Corp. Capital investment included exploration expenditure of $4.5 billion (2008: $11.0 billion). In Abu Dhabi, Shell signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to extend the GASCO joint venture for a further 20 years. In Australia, Shell and its partners took the final investment decision (FID) for the Gorgon LNG project (Shell share 25%). Gorgon will supply global gas markets to at least 2050, with a capacity of 15 million tonnes (100% basis) of LNG per year and a major carbon capture and storage scheme. Shell has announced a front-end engineering and design study for a floating LNG (FLNG) project, with the potential to deploy these facilities at the Prelude offshore gas discovery in Australia (Shell share 100%). In Australia, Shell confirmed that it has accepted Woodside Petroleum Ltd.'s entitlement offer of new shares at a total cost of $0.8 billion, maintaining its 34.27% share in the company; $0.4 billion was paid in 2009 with the remainder paid in 2010. In Bolivia and Brazil, Shell sold its share in a gas pipeline and in a thermoelectric power plant and its related assets for a total of around $100 million. In Canada, the Government of Alberta and the national government jointly announced their intent to contribute $0.8 billion of funding towards the Quest carbon capture and sequestration project. Quest, which is at the f
  • Joris _ on 14 Mar 11
     
    thanks for the info :) They still have their 50% share in the wind farm in Noordzee (you can see it from ESTEC on a clear day). Look for Shell International Renewables, other subsidiaries and joint-ventures. I guess, the report is about the oil branch. http://sustainabilityreport.shell.com/2009/servicepages/downloads/files/all_shell_sr09.pdf http://www.noordzeewind.nl/
  • LeopoldS on 16 Mar 11
     
    no - its about Shell globally - all Shell .. these participations are just peanuts please read the intro of the CEO in the pdf you linked to: he does not even mention renewables! their entire sustainability strategy is about oil and gas - just making it (look) nicer and environmentally friendlier
  • Joris _ on 16 Mar 11
     
    Fair enough, for me even peanuts are worthy and I am not able to judge. Not all big-profit companies, like Shell, are evil :( Look in the pdf what is in the upstream and downstream you mentionned above. Non-shell sources for examples and more objectivity: http://www.nuon.com/company/Innovative-projects/noordzeewind.jsp http://www.e-energymarket.com/news/single-news/article/ferrari-tops-bahrain-gp-using-shell-biofuel.html thanks.
Ma Ru

P vs NP - 2 views

www.newscientist.com/...at-could-change-the-world.html

science INF

shared by Ma Ru on 08 Jun 11 - No Cached
  • Ma Ru on 08 Jun 11
     
    For non-computer scientists who ever wondered what is this thing that computer scientists keep babbling about after a few beers (apart from MtG)... Relatively correctly explained in this article.
Ma Ru

Russian cargo rocket crashes - 1 views

edition.cnn.com/...index.html

space news crash Russia ATV

shared by Ma Ru on 24 Aug 11 - No Cached
  • Ma Ru on 24 Aug 11
     
    So... basically they are the only guys who now do human spaceflight?
  • Joris _ on 26 Aug 11
     
    and 2nd failed launch for Russian in 10 days. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/proton-m-launches-russias-ekspress-am4-communications-satellite/ although this one is a giant space debris stuck on the GTO.
  • Ma Ru on 01 Sep 11
     
    ESA's article on the consequences for ISS: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM6GJUTTRG_index_0.html What is not clear is if the rocket that failed is the same variant as used in manned missions. [Edit] According to this article: http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=3&id=268437 "The first and second stages of the Soyuz-FG space rocket used for manned launches differ from those of the Soyuz-U, but the third stage [the one that failed - MR] is identical in both rockets". Thus the stay of astronauts currently at ISS may prolong a little bit.
Christos Ampatzis

Academic publishers make Murdoch look like a socialist - 4 views

www.guardian.co.uk/...c-publishers-murdoch-socialist

science

shared by Christos Ampatzis on 02 Sep 11 - No Cached
  • Christos Ampatzis on 02 Sep 11
     
    Who are the most ruthless capitalists in the western world? Whose monopolistic practices make Walmart look like a corner shop and Rupert Murdoch a socialist? You won't guess the answer in a month of Sundays. While there are plenty of candidates, my vote goes not to the banks, the oil companies or the health insurers, but - wait for it - to academic publishers.
  • LeopoldS on 11 Sep 11
     
    fully agree ... "But an analysis by Deutsche Bank reaches different conclusions. "We believe the publisher adds relatively little value to the publishing process … if the process really were as complex, costly and value-added as the publishers protest that it is, 40% margins wouldn't be available." Far from assisting the dissemination of research, the big publishers impede it, as their long turnaround times can delay the release of findings by a year or more." very nice also: "Government bodies, with a few exceptions, have failed to confront them. The National Institutes of Health in the US oblige anyone taking their grants to put their papers in an open-access archive. But Research Councils UK, whose statement on public access is a masterpiece of meaningless waffle, relies on "the assumption that publishers will maintain the spirit of their current policies". You bet they will. In the short term, governments should refer the academic publishers to their competition watchdogs, and insist that all papers arising from publicly funded research are placed in a free public database. In the longer term, they should work with researchers to cut out the middleman altogether, creating - along the lines proposed by Björn Brembs of Berlin's Freie Universität - a single global archive of academic literature and data. Peer-review would be overseen by an independent body. It could be funded by the library budgets which are currently being diverted into the hands of privateers. The knowledge monopoly is as unwarranted and anachronistic as the corn laws. Let's throw off these parasitic overlords and liberate the research that belongs to us."
  • Christos Ampatzis on 12 Sep 11
     
    It is a really great article and the first time I read something in this direction. FULLY AGREE as well. Problem is I have not much encouraging to report from the Brussels region...
Juxi Leitner

Rocket company tests world's most powerful ion engine - space - 05 October 2009 - New Scientist - 2 views

www.newscientist.com/...-most-powerful-ion-engine.html

technology phy propulsion ion engine

shared by Juxi Leitner on 06 Oct 09 - Cached
  • On Wednesday, it ran its VX-200 engine at 201 kilowatts in a vacuum chamber in Houston, passing the 200-kilowatt mark for the first time.
LeopoldS

Tilera Corporation - 2 views

tilera.com/...press_release_091026.php

INF gadget computing

shared by LeopoldS on 26 Oct 09 - Cached
  • LeopoldS on 26 Oct 09
     
    who wants 100 cores ... future of PAGMO?
  • ...2 more comments...
  • Francesco Biscani on 27 Oct 09
     
    Well nVidia provides 10.000 "cores" in a single rack on thei Teslas...
  • LeopoldS on 27 Oct 09
     
    remember that you were recommending its purchase already some time ago ... still strong reasons to do so?
  • Francesco Biscani on 27 Oct 09
     
    The problem with this flurry of activity today regarding multicore architectures is that it is really unclear which one will be the winner in the long run. Never understimate the power of inertia, especially in the software industry (after all, people are still programming in COBOL and Fortran today). For instance, NVIDIA gives you the Teslas with 10000 cores, but then you have to rewrite extensive parts of your code in order to take advantage of this. Is this an investment worth undertaking? Difficult to say, it would certainly be if the whole software world moves into that direction (which is not happening - yet?). But then you have other approaches coming out, suche as the Cell processor by IBM (the one on the PS3) which has really impressive floating point performance and, of course, a completely different programming model. The nice thing about this Tilera processor seems to be that it is a general-purpose processor, which may not require extensive re-engineering of existing code (but I'm really hypothesizing, since the thechincal details are not very abundant on their website).
  • Ma Ru on 27 Oct 09
     
    Moreover PaGMO computation model is more towards systems with distributed memory, and not with shared memory (i.e. multi-core). In the latter, at certain point the memory access becomes the bottleneck.
Francesco Biscani

Robot Armada Might Scale New Worlds - 1 views

www.sciencedaily.com/...091027195507.htm

ai

shared by Francesco Biscani on 28 Oct 09 - Cached
  • We are departing from traditional approaches of a single robotic spacecraft with no redundancy that is Earth-commanded to one that allows for having multiple, expendable low-cost robots that can command themselves or other robots at various locations at the same time.
LeopoldS

World Bank Initiates Carbon Footprint Analysis | Worldwatch Institute - 0 views

www.worldwatch.org/...6209

sustainability carbon CO2 politics

shared by LeopoldS on 03 Aug 09 - Cached
  • LeopoldS on 03 Aug 09
     
    good small step in the right direction :-)
LeopoldS

The Smart List: 12 Shocking Ideas That Could Change the World - 0 views

www.wired.com/...ff_smartlist

ideas

shared by LeopoldS on 22 Sep 09 - Cached
  • LeopoldS on 22 Sep 09
     
    interesting list!
Christos Ampatzis

Forest a Desert, Cool the World -- Inman 2009 (914): 2 -- ScienceNOW - 0 views

sciencenow.sciencemag.org/...2

shared by Christos Ampatzis on 21 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Christos Ampatzis on 21 Sep 09
     
    Hurry up if you want Solar Power generated from the Sahara desert! Others think different
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