Important Innovations

 Flying-V:  Fuel Efficient Alternative to Long Haul Jets Source:  The Flying-V  TU Deflt Concept and Scale Model KLM and Delft Technical University New Concept A new aircraft, the Flying-V, is a look at the exciting future of flying.  A scale model of the experimental aircraft just took flight from a military base in Germany.  The aircraft has huge wings and is designed in a V configuration.  The blended wing concept is the invention of Delft Technical University (TU Delft) of the Netherlands, funded by KLM Airlines and assisted by a support team from Airbus. Radical New Design The flying-V is a fuel efficient, long range aircraft designed as an alternative to traditional jumbo jets.  It gets 20% better fuel efficiency than a traditional Airbus A350 jet, which is today's most advanced aircraft design.  Passenger seats, baggage and fuel tanks are all built into the wings.  When full scale, it will have the capacity to hold 314 passengers.  It is 15% more aerodynamically efficient th

Oxford Study: Majority of Global Utilities Not Strongly Supporting Renewable Energy Source:  Renewable Energy Stock Image Power Companies and the Fight Against Climate Change A new study by scientists at Oxford University in the UK suggests that power companies are very slow to support and utilize green, renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.  In fact, of the 3,000 power utility companies around the world that the Oxford researchers studied, only 10% of the energy suppliers have prioritized renewables over fossil fuels.  Many continue to invest in fossil fuels. The study concludes that utilities' slowness to embrace renewable energy sources is undermining the fight against Climate Change. Europe Coming on Green Europe   is way ahead of the curve in using renewables.  For instance, 40% of the United Kingdom's electricity is coming from wind and solar.  But globally, many of the new wind and solar instillations are being built by independent producers not by utilitie

  Boats Floating Upside Down on Levitating Liquid Source:  ESPCI Experiment Concept French Experiment with Big Potential Applications Scientists at ESPCI in Paris have performed an amazing experiment that seems to defy the laws of gravity and physics.  They've demonstrated tiny model boats floating upside down underneath a levitating layer of liquid.  It's called reverse buoyancy.  The layer of liquid floated on a suspended cushion of air.  Because of the intense air pressure created by shaking the liquid and the air, the boats were able to float upside down.  These amazing research results came when the scientists were investigating the effects of vertical shaking, which can be used to suspend a layer of liquid in mid-air. Why Is This Important? Reverse buoyancy could have major practical applications.  Potentially, it could separate pollutants from water and also be used to transport materials through fluids.  The gravity defying action is from constant vibrations changing th

  Global Bike Maker Canyon's Concept Car  Source:  Canyon Concept Car  E-Quadricycle Car - Personal Electric Driving Mobility Germany's high end bicycle company Canyon just introduced a unique electric, mini concept car as an addition to its roster of top of the line bicycles. The concept is essentially an electric car - electric bike hybrid. The company says the electric vehicle is a one person, future mobility concept.  The vehicle can reach speeds of 37 mph and can travel on the road or on bike paths.  It is a unique, narrow, low to the road and very lightweight four-wheel vehicle.  It's a fascinating piece of new travel innovation. Future of Urban Mobility Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, companies like GM and Chevrolet began as bicycle makers and then moved on to become automakers.  But today, a bike company creating a new car concept is extremely unusual.  Canyon Bicycles founder Romon Arnold has a cutting edge perspective on the future of urban mobilit

New Robotic Spacecraft Source:  NASA  Big Scientific Missions NASA has just patented a cheaper and faster new trajectory for sending smaller, robotic spacecraft to the Moon.  And, NASA has a new spacecraft that it's developing called the "Dark Ages Polarimeter Pathfinder" or Dapper that's the size of a microwave.  Using the new patented route, Dapper will make the journey to the Moon, go into orbit and repeatedly fly through the "cone of silence", a lunar spot that is totally radio-silent on the far side of the moon.  Dapper is designed to detect the faintest signals from the first stars, galaxies and black holes.  Experts say discoveries from the new NASA technology, particularly in the "Cone of Silence" could be Nobel Prize winning. Patented Moon Trajectory NASA has specifically patented the trajectory and route to the Moon that it invented.  Going to the Moon has been tremendously expensive.  NASA's new route will save time, money, fuel and

Aggressive Action Against Climate Change Benefits Earth & Economy Source:  Images of Climate Change  New Science A study published in the scientific journal Nature finds that if nations don't adhere to the 2015 Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and significantly cut CO2 emissions, the global economy will loose at least $150 Trillion to as much as $792 Trillion by the end of the century.  Co-author of the study Biying Yu of the Beijing Institute of Technology says the general consensus in the global academic community is that climate change may lead to a global catastrophe with huge socio-economic loses.  Unfortunately, most of the 190 nations that signed the Paris Accords are falling far short of their commitments. Calculating A Green Future Yu and her team found that if nations optimally cut their CO2 emissions, net global economic benefits would range from $127 trillion and $616 Trillion by 2100.  The dollar figures are derived from climate change

  New Delhi's Proactive Monitoring Model Source:  New Delhi Oxygen Level Monitor Free Oxygen Level Monitors for COVID Patients at Home The government of New Delhi has distributed tiny oxygen monitors to 32,000 people for free.  It's a key part of a plan to keep asymptomatic or mildly sick COVID patients isolated and at home.  The tiny, $13.00 oxygen level monitor, known as a pulse monitor, relays each patients' oxygen level readings twice a day via Whats App to health care professionals.  It's a critical reading because when oxygen levels go low in a COVID patient, complications set in.  Indian health care experts say the system enables then to find out in time if a patient's symptoms are about to worsen and refer them to hospitals. Proactive Monitoring The process started to be implemented in May when COVID cases were surging in New Delhi, a city of 20 million where hospitals were being strained to the limit.  Health authorities noticed what they call "happy h