Environment
Jaw-Dropping Dwellings (Video)
October 6, 2016
No need to ask, “Do people REALLY live like that?” Even though the stories around the homes featured are so not-the-norm, you see above that they actually do!
In this reel, we explore just what “there’s no place like home” really means. Especially when that home is, say, an old airplane…
– Great Big Story
By the time the video is done, you’ll probably think to yourself: “You know what, why not?” I did. Amazing stories!
– @ojones1
Posted in Environment, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Nature, Series, Travel, Videos | 
Tags: Dwellings, Great Big Reel, Great Big Reel 113, Great Big Story, homes, housing, incredible homes, Jaw-Dropping Dwellings, unusual homes | 
No Comments »
Cornell University’s Dr. Alan Hedge Takes A Firm Stance On How You Should Sit (Video)
October 5, 2016
All these years, we are thinking that the best seated posture was feet flat on the ground, back straight at 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the chair base. Naaaaah, son! That not the science…
There’s a lot of false information about the proper posture you need to use when sitting at a desk. Cornell University ergonomics professor Dr. Alan Hedge sets out why the 90Ëš rule does more damage than good, and what the proper way to sit at your desk is.
Seems like office chairs, just like those outside work, are for chillin’ (like in Altwork’s The Station, which we posted on here). That makes for a productive worker.
– @ojones1
Science: Why Don’t Ants Get Stuck In Traffic? (Video)
September 30, 2016
More smart programming produced by PBS Digital Studios. Brilliant insights in this vid on what ants have to teach us about building efficient traffic networks. Such simple solutions, but many seem impossible. Because they are? NO.
Because…us!
Just watch, and maybe remember this the next time you’re stuck in that road jam downtown.
Posted in Animation, Environment, Human Interest, Investigation, Lecture, Science, Series, Technology, Travel, Videos | Tags: Ants, It's Okay To Be Smart, PBS Digital Studios, traffic, Why Don't Ants Get Stuck In Traffic? | No Comments »
Technology: Transparent Solar Cells Designed To Turn Invisible UV Rays Into Renewable Energy Gains We Can See (Video)
August 15, 2016
Research at Michigan State University has yielded designs for a transparent solar panel capable of capturing solar energy. Professor Richard Lunt, MSU assistant professor and head of the research team, believes that the panel can be used in a variety of ways – like on tall buildings with lots of windows or mobile devices. The ultimate goal is to harvest solar energy via surfaces in such a way that people do not even notice (according to a press statement from Lunt).
Most solar panels capture visible spectrum light, letting invisible ultraviolet waves – the bigger portion of the spectrum – go to waste. The transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) doesn’t capture visible light, but non-visible ultraviolet waves are absorbed by the device, converted, and sent to the edge of the concentrator, where photovoltaic (PV) solar cells convert light energy to electricity.
One caveat: Right now the TLSC is performing at around 1% efficiency, but the MSU team believes that 5% optimization is achievable. Currently, non-transparent luminescent concentrators (current tech) max out at 7% efficiency.
But before you get pessimistic about the low numbers, compare them to using ZERO percent of the abundant untapped energy that we are being drenched in daily!
Posted in Environment, Science, Technology, Videos | Tags: invisible ultraviolet rays, Michigan State University, MSU, Renewable Energy, Richard Lunt, solar panel, TLSC, TomoNews, TomoNews US, transparent luminescent solar concentrator, Transparent solar panel, ultraviolet rays, UV energy, UV rays | No Comments »
Altwork’s Integrated Workspace: “The Station” (Video)
August 8, 2016
Okay. Looks like you can get really productive, really comfortable, or both with this new generation uber-ergonomic tech-integrated work desk.
Altwork introduces its new integrated workspace, the Station, designed to be a multifunctional piece of furniture that gives you more flexibility with respect to how you interact with your computer.
Of course, all this could take a lot of getting used to – the concept, getting comfortable with going from collaborative, to standing, to seated, to lying prone Station positions, computers and peripherals hanging around and above you. Oh, and the price is nothing nice. Get out your black card and slide it for about $7,000 player!
(Still looks cool though.)
In The End, U.S. Dollars Go ‘Green’ (Video)
June 24, 2016
Talk about making it rain for the environment. In a way, I guess this is using money to ensure we have the best soil for the best crops for people to consume. Watch how the U.S. takes dirty money (e.g. ‘spent currency’) and shreds and composts it to enrich gardening/farming soil.
– @ojones1
Posted in Environment, Human Interest, Videos | Tags: compost, composting, Dirty Money, going green, old cash, old money, Reborn, recycling, Where Dollars Die | No Comments »
