It's amazing that cities right here in the U.S. are struggling for water while other cities show disregard for the for the protection of their own water. People can't treat water as an endless resource any more.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/us/as-californias-drought-deepens-a-sense-of-dread-grows.html?hpw&rref=us
NORDEN, Calif. - 'Cattle ranchers have had to sell portions of their herd for lack of water. Sacramento and other municipalities have imposed severe water restrictions. Wildfires broke out this week in forests that are usually too wet to ignite. Ski resorts that normally open in December are still closed; at one here in the Sierra Nevada that is open, a bear wandered onto a slope full of skiers last week, apparently not hibernating because of the balmy weather.'
This article talks about the recent freeze that has struck the US, but contrary to the previous article that I posted on the Polar Vortex, this article suggests that the recent temperatures shouldn't be used in the argument of climate change at all. Instead of focusing on this one example, the article looks at warming trends during winter throughout the US, and shows some interesting results.
Researchers at Stanford University have created the first peel-and-stick solar cells. These cells are flexible, can be attached to a variety of surfaces (windows, business cards, clothing), and most importantly they can be produced using conventional, industry-standard facilities and materials. Furthermore, it should be possible to use Stanford's new process to create peel-and-stick computer chips and LCD displays.
Toilets, as most of us know them, haven't changed much since the 1800s--they use a lot of water, and require an infrastructure that many communities can't afford. Ira Flatow and guests look at the problem of access to sanitation, and how engineers are making toilets better.
Loyola University of Chicago has developed a really cool process to help cut down on eutrophication and the use of water. It involves the use of fish, which supply nutrients to plants in the form of their waste. The plants clean the water for the fish while getting nutrients at the same time.
A little bit more of an American perspective on the recent results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), but a universal truth for the countries involved, "PISA scores are an economic indicator: rising scores are a good sign that a country's economy will grow as well."
I have a friend who came to the United States from Sweden in hopes of studying here to get a better education, but based off of the chart in the article Sweden and the US have very similar scores. So my friend Kristoffer is basically coming all the way over here to get the same education for a much higher price. I wonder what US schools offer that really draw international students despite the steep tuition.
One man is using technology to literally bring education to the doorsteps of rural homes. This article shows how technology can be used in the classroom in ways other than iPads and overhead projectors in the classroom.
The World Factbook, produced for US policymakers and coordinated throughout the US Intelligence Community, marshals facts on every country, dependency, and geographic entity in the world. We share this information with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the truth underpins the functioning of free societies.
Reminds me of an app you can download that tricks users into thinking that leaving their phone in the sun will charge it. Nice to see there is actually a phone now that charges using heat.
Analysis of the bill by the American Farmland Trust. Their description of themselves: "For more than 30 years, American Farmland Trust has been working to save the land that sustains us by protecting America's farm and ranch land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices and ensuring an economically sustainable future for farmers and ranchers."