Important Innovations

    D AILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane BMW's SLEEK SHOOTING BRAKE CONCEPT CAR                                                       Source:  BMW German luxury automaker BMW just unveiled a stunning shooting brake concept car that is likely to go into production Called the Concept Touring Concept & just unveiled in Italy, the 2-door, very sleek concept is being called one of the most provocative prototypes in recent years This is a shooting brake design with a rear hatch, prominent rear fenders & a very long roof - experts say that just about everything concerning the design of this car is different  Interior is plush with dual-tone leather, 2-seats, driver-oriented cockpit & plenty of cargo space Turbocharged, 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine 8-speed automatic transmission 340 hp which makes it powerful Automotive experts say th

  Startling Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life                                                     Source: Stock Images Devastating Impact of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Global Maritime Environment The fate of nearly all marine species - up to 90% - could be at a high or critical risk of extinction by the end of the century unless the rate of greenhouse gas emissions is reduced.  If greenhouse gas emissions remain unchanged, the impact on marine life, marine ecosystems and the global environment will be catastrophic.  The startling threat that Climate Change is now having on 25,000 marine species has just been documented in a new scientific study and published in the publication "Nature Climate Change".  Bottomline:  if the world continues with "business as usual" with greenhouse gas emissions, 90% of all marine species will be at high to critical risk of extinction by 2100.  That would undoubtedly have a cascading, destructive impact on the overall global envi

Greenland's Ice Melt 60% More Than Expected by 2100 Source:  Greenland Not So Subtle Signs from Nature A new research study by scientists at the University of Liege Belgium demonstrates that the effects of Climate Change on the ice melt in Greenland and the Arctic are far worse than previously predicted.  The scientific team used revised climate models that they say are far more accurate.  They found that the Greenland ice melt by 2100 will be 60% more than expected.  Greenland's ice sheet is the second largest in the world.  Rising water levels from the melt will have very serious consequences. Messages of Accelerating Climate Change From Nature Should the Greenland ice sheet completely melt, the scientists say that would cause sea levels to rise 23 feet.  The study says the Netherlands would be completely under water, Denmark would be a lot smaller and some cities in the Atlantic coastal regions of the US could be submerged.  The scientists add there are many signs from natur

Telepresence: Next Best Thing to Being There Source:  Thunderbird School of Global Management Telepresence Robot Graduation New National Science Foundation Research A new study by the National Science Foundation has found that telepresence robots help students, who are learning remotely, feel more a part of the classroom.  COVID-19 has forced millions of students out of the classroom and into remote, distance learning classes.  The National Science Foundation finding is an important one and underscores another important role for telepresence robots to play: assisting and optimizing distance learning. Learning Formats The National Science Foundation, joined by researchers at Oregon State University, examined student experiences in three different circumstances:  in-class learning, learning remotely through a telepresence robot and distance learning by calling into class, livestreaming or recorded class sessions. Remote, Robotic Learning The clear preference of the 18

New Research Shows a Big Problem Source:  Temple University Campus Unhealthy Young American s Researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia have just released a stunning report about hunger on US college campuses.  It's a big problem.  The Temple University survey has demonstrated that 50% of students at more than 100 colleges and universities in the US can't afford to eat a balanced meal.  35% of the students are skipping meals entirely because they don't have enough money to pay for them. Food Insecurity In the US, 13% of the population are food insecure, meaning they can't afford to maintain a well-balanced, nutritious diet and in many cases go to bed hungry.  Recent surveys now indicate the number of college students going hungry is three times that.  The college population is particularly vulnerable because many are spending all of their available money on bills associated with school.  And, because of their class schedules, they can't maintain a f

Does Heredity Influence Dog Ownership? Source:  Stock Image New British-Swedish Research Concludes Yes The scientists studied the dog ownership patterns of more than 35,000 pairs of twins.  They concluded that genetic variations explained more than half of the differences in dog ownership.  So owning a dog or not appears to be in your genes.  For a news blog on this new research, go to Important Innovations Collection: Heredity and Dog Ownership : New Swedish-British Scientific Research Source:  Stock Image Owning a Dog is in Your Genes This is fascinating and very substantive ...

Natural Compound in Broccoli Suppresses Cancer Source:  Stock Image New Research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Scientists in Boston have documented that a natural compound found in broccoli inactivates a gene that is known to play a major role in the development of cancer.  Their findings, just published in the journal Science, could lead to a potential new approach to the prevention and treatment of cancer.  For a news blog on this important medical research finding, go to Important Innovations Collection: Broccoli Compound Suppresses Cancer : Potential New Approach to Cancer Prevention & Treatment Source:  Stock Image of Broccoli New Research from Beth Israel Deaconess ...

Environmental Wake-Up Call: New Scientific Discovery in Remote Pyrenees Mountains Source: Stock Image of Pyrenees Mountains Plastic Particles Inhalable in the Air Plastic particles found in the Pyrenees Mountains suggest they are now travelling in the air.  Scientists from the Ecolab in France and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland have found them in the air in a very remote area of the Pyrenees Mountain between France and Spain.  It suggests that plastic is not just polluting the ocean but also the air we breathe. Microplastics Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic waste, produced when plastics breakdown.  Many of the fragments found by the scientists were small enough to be inhaled.  Very few people live in the remote mountainous area that they focused on indicating that the microplastics blew in with the wind from a populated area 60 miles away. Findings and  Conclusion for the Environment Over a five month period, the scientists found 365 pieces o

Readying for Hypersonic Takeoffs Source:  Image of Hypersonic Vehicle Mach 5 Air Flow and Turbulence An intensive research effort is underway to make hypersonic and supersonic travel faster, safer, quieter and more efficient.  It's being led by a team of aeronautical engineers at the University of  Buffalo.  They are using high performance computing to understand and 3D simulate the air flow around aircraft travelling at Mach 5+.  That's very important because of the turbulence high speed travel generates for the vehicle.  Their research could lead to a new class of aircraft designs.  For a news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: Moving to Hypersonic Speeds : Understanding Air Flows Around Hypersonic and Supersonic Vehicles Source:  University of Buffalo 3D computer simulation of turbulence at ...