technology-and-philosophy
Every New U.S. Power Project That Went Online in September Was Either Wind or Solar
In September, not a single new fossil fueled power plant was brought online. No coal, no natural gas. No new carbon-spewers. Instead, we saw five brand new wind farms bring 300 megawatts of capacity online, and 18 new solar installations that clocked...
With Booming Profits, Facebook Tells Doubters to Eat Crow
From zero to hero, the freshly minted public company just had its best day ever, beating estimates with its third quarter earnings report sending its stock price soaring over 20 percent to heights not reached since July. Much of the hoopla hung on the...
It's Official: Bipartisan Drone Warfare is Here to Stay
There was perhaps no issue raised in this week's presidential debate that the two candidates agreed on more fully than drone warfare. Both are steadfast in their agreement that it's a good idea to use unmanned drones to kill people across the world...
Scientists Call for a Moratorium on All New Fossil Fuel Power
No new fossil fuel power plants. No new coal-fired plants, no new natural gas plants. Nuclear power plants? None of those, either. That's the big ask of a letter three high-profile scientists have published in Nature Materials; they want a...
Matternet: A Vast Network of Delivery Drones Will One Day Transport Our Stuff
Andreas Raptopoulos wants drones to deliver our stuff. As the founder of Matternet, he hopes to build networks for "micro-transportation" that will allow unmanned aerial vehicles to ferry all sorts of goods across long distances, especially in places...
What Couldn't You Do With This Hybrid ATV-Jet Ski?
If a Jet Ski and an all-terrain vehicle had a baby, it would be the "Quadski":http://www.gibbssports.com/quadski. The amphibious vehicle, which sports a BMW engine, was originally designed for the military in 2006, but you can ride one home in November...
With the iPad Mini, Tim Cook Has Rebuilt Apple in His Image
“Make no mistake about it. This is the year for Windows,” Steve Ballmer "said in New York in September":http://www.forbes.com/sites/connieguglielmo/2012/09/05/microsofts-ballmer-touts-the-year-for-windows-says-its-greatest-opportunity-for-developers...
India Is About to Start Building Its Thorium-Fueled Nuclear Power Plant
Motherboard has given "the thorium dream":http://motherboard.vice.com/2011/11/9/motherboard-tv-the-thorium-dream and its fervent band of disciples a long hard look. The jury is still out on whether this alternative brand of nuclear power is feasible...
How Coal Trumps Climate in Washington
For the first time since 1984, a presidential debate has concluded in the United States without the words 'climate change' even once gracing the candidates' lips. That's insane. The problem has, you know, gotten dramatically worse over the last quarter...
The Insane Alien Balloon Animals of Jason Hackenwerth
In the hands of Jason Hackenwerth, balloons become car-sized anemones and quivering beasts. They become deep sea ugly sculptures in museums and exhibitions; they become pulsating and head-turning curiosities in public. Mr. Hackenwerth's work has showed...
Congratulations, America. You Believe in Climate Change Again
Congratulations, America. You have finally rejoined the rest of the world in generally agreeing that an accumulation of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere is causing the globe to warm. Yes, America believes in climate change again. It only took a...
Should Trolling Be Illegal?
Nobody likes Internet trolls. These faceless bullies get a kick out of lurking around forums or comment threads waiting for some unsuspecting user to say the wrong thing only so they can pounce on them and rain down insults. The topics been in the news...