CCTVs are taking a step closer to the science fiction idea of the Minority Report with a predictive system being installed in a British city for the first time.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081127/tuk-sci-fi-film-cctv-predicts-crime-45dbed5.html
Sort of…
At least the basic question of why we don’t get all our energy from the sun.
The math is simple: Solar power electricity generation has been doubling every 2 years for the last 20 years. Now, according to Ray Kurzweil, we are only 8 ‘doublings’ away from 100%.
But where are we going to store all the energy?
http://www.labnews.co.uk/laboratory_article.php/3819/2/energy-storage-a-boost-for-renewables
Giddy up!
A new twist on the old paradox. The people at Element Four have developed a way of turning air into water by collecting condensation. They say their gadget, the Watermill, can collect enough water to supply a family of six. It will be released at the Wired store in NYC on November 21.
http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/watermill-turns-air-into-water-nyc-debut.html
In US Congressional news, Henry Waxman (D-California) has defeated John Dingell (D-Michigan) for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee:
Waxman is considered more liberal on issues like climate change, energy and business regulation, and potentially more aggressive on healthcare. Dingell, the longest-serving House lawmaker, is close to the auto industry and autoworkers.
This is a huge deal. Dingell has been the chair of Energy and Commerce, one of the most powerful committees in the House, for 28 years. From that position, he’s dragged his feet on automobile fuel efficiency standards and pushed a climate change bill that wouldn’t start reducing emissions until 2030. Waxman, on the other hand, is from California:
…a state that has for years led the nation in pursuing higher CAFE standards, better emissions control, etc. All things of particular concern in metropolitan areas of California, where auto emissions have been a serious problem for years, but considered anathema in auto manufacturing-dependent Michigan…
In all honesty, I didn’t think Waxman had a chance. Are you sure its not Christmas yet?
A new product for an old idea, the memristor is a 37-year old concept finally coming to fruition. With the potential for replacing RAM, flash drives and even hard drives, these little units have huge potential. Per my usual posts, it is based a another piece of Mother Nature’s ingenuity, this time the human brain. Of course, it was a human brain that awarded that title, so…
http://www.shapingtomorrow.com/nav-frameset.cfm?hl=http://tech.msn.com/products/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=12391140
Filed under: Uncategorized
From Think Progress:
“In a landmark action, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s final decision-making board has ruled that all new and proposed coal-fired power plants [in the United States] must have their carbon dioxide emissions regulated.”
One step at a time, everybody…
Filed under: Uncategorized
Recent research has drawn more conclusions related to the healing power of copper. While an important discovery in the use of a natural, abundant material, humans are already introducing more copper into the biosphere than it can naturally process. Just a thought before we start mass producing copper toilet seats.
http://www.psfk.com/2008/10/copper-helps-kill-harmful-super-bugs.html
To all who choose, or were chosen, to contribute to this blog, I would like to give you a short outline of my vision for it. Inspired by a ‘Weak Signals’ blog of my former employer, I hope for this to be a collaborative effort of all involved to find and post the most interesting and potentially impacting stories, articles, etc. for society. These stories will have potentailly broad applications for the economy, society, and/or the environment. These articles are meant to serve as a resource for futurists, systems-thinkers, and anyone with an interest in the rapidly changing world around them. Welcome and thanks for your contribution.
