Using CO2 to Extract Geothermal Energy

Carbon dioxide captured from power plants could make geothermal energy more practical.
Carbon dioxide generated by power plants may find a second life as a working fluid to help recover geothermal heat from kilometers underground. Such a system would not only capture the carbon dioxide and keep it out of the atmosphere, it would also be a cost-effective way to use the greenhouse gas to generate new power.

Backers of this as-yet-unproven concept secured a big endorsement and much-needed cash with the U.S. Department of Energy's recent award of $338 million in federal stimulus funds for geothermal energy research. Some $16 million of the funds will be shared by nine carbon dioxide-related projects led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and other national labs, Sunnyvale, CA-based combinatorial chemistry firm Symyx Technologies, and several U.S. universities.
The idea: Carbon dioxide that's cycled through hot regions kilometers underground can efficiently bring heat to the surface, where it can be used to generate electricity. The likelihood is that the process would leave lots of carbon dioxide underground, and thus out of the atmosphere, according to Symyx project leader and materials scientist Miroslav Petro. "You're sequestering CO₂ and at the same time generating power from it."

Making 3D Maps on the Move

A vehicle uses off-the-shelf components to build 3D maps of an area.

At a robotics conference last week, a vehicle called ROAMS demonstrated a cheap approach to mobile map-making. 

ROAMS (Remotely Operated and Autonomous Mapping System) was created by researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, with funding from the U.S. Army. It uses several existing mapping technologies to build 3D color maps of its surroundings, and it was demonstrated at the 2009 IEEE conference on Technologies for Practical Robot Applications in Woburn, MA last week.
The system uses LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), which involves bouncing a laser off a rapidly rotating mirror and measuring how the light bounces back from surrounding surfaces and objects. The same technology is already used to guide autonomous vehicles, to make aerial maps, and in spacecraft landing systems.

An Electronic Clue In The Mystery of DNA Repair

DNA repair machines may home in on the electrical signals created by mutations
Here's a curious puzzle involving DNA molecules. DNA is regularly damaged by ordinary wear and tear and the constant buffeting of ionising radiation. However, cells possess an extraordinary collection of molecular machines such as repair enzymes that rapidly identify the defects and repair them.
The puzzle is how they do it. One idea is that repair enzymes simply float about for long enough and eventually find damaged regions. But the numbers just don't stack up. Genes are usually between 1000 and 1,000,000 base pairs long. By contrast, a typical mutation usually involves just a handful of base pairs. That's just too small to find using a random walk with any reliability. Some other form of active location finding must be going on.
One theory is that mutations change the electrical characteristics of a stretch of DNA and that this creates a signal that repair enzymes can home in on, like electricians locating a break in a circuit. The trouble is that DNA doesn't conduct electricity like a power cable and so it isn't clear how this would work.
Now Arkady Krokhin at the University of North Texas and few buddies have worked out how DNA may do it. The key turns out to be that different regions of DNA have different electrical characteristics. The group has calculated from first principles the way in which charge flows in different regions. They say that in exons--the information carrying parts of genes--the energy spectrum of the molecule allows delocalised electrons to exist. In these areas, charge can flow.

Staying Connected on the Road

Fortunately, mobile connectivity has improved dramatically in the last several years. Whether you are using Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you have many options to choose from.
Hotel Internet
Where hotels used to offer only "data ports" into which you plugged your modem, it's common today for there to be high speed internet or Wi-Fi for no additional charge.
When the internet works, it's a great thing, but sometimes it can be quite spotty. Problems include authentication and wireless access points which are too far away to reach your room. Probably the worst, however, are those systems that intercept all outgoing mail, route it through their server and then restrict the number of outgoing messages you can send in a day. For email driven or business lifestyles, this is unacceptable.
Wi-Fi Hotspots
Hotspots which offer Wi-Fi are everywhere if you have a wireless-capable device. If you have an account with AT&T, for example, you have access to thousands of hotspots across the country, usually in a Starbucks. The convenient thing with these accounts is that you may not have to sign up for a plan; you can usually pay for a day or week's worth of access. Of course, if you plan on using these networks regularly, the plans are more cost effective. If you just have a "connectivity emergency" though, a 24 hours pass can really save the day.
Hotspots are not limited to Starbucks, however. You can quite often find them at libraries, sometimes shopping malls, government facilities and more. Online resources are available to help you find free hotspots. Just search for "free hotspot directory" to find several. Don't limit yourself though; many times these directories are out of date, so continue to check for new hotspots.
Cellular
For the seriously addicted or just serious internet user, cellular technology has recently gotten to the point of being usable and may prove to provide the most flexible option of all. Most major carriers now have high-speed internet options that have much improved coverage and connectivity.
A very popular option is the USB cellular modem. These devices plug into your laptop and provide a high-speed cellular broadband connection, often at speeds approaching home DSL, depending on the cellular coverage.
Unfortunately the cellular approach has a cost. It's best to think of this as signing up with a second ISP - your cellular provider - costing about as much or more than your wired connection at home. There are sometimes less expensive plans or even day passes with severe restrictions on the amount of data you're allowed to transfer before extra costs kick in.
Check the internet - it's not uncommon for cellular sales staff to not have (or be unable to share) details that might get you a less expensive solution. Your peers, on the other hand, are often very willing to share their solutions.
Satellite
Satellite may be the only answer for you, if you are out of the range of hotspots, Starbucks and Cellular phone towers. There are, however, a couple of issues that might affect you.
In the fine print of a provider's agreement, it may state that your bandwidth may be throttled if you use too much. In other words, if you are doing a lot of large downloads or other high-bandwidth operations, the satellite company may slow you down - often to slower than dial-up speeds. Simple reason: the bandwidth on a satellite is limited and providers don't want people hogging it.
The delay you can notice from a satellite can be significant. The signal travels up to the satellite, sometimes over 22,000 miles, comes back down and the response is repeated. You may not notice the delay, but your computer will. Certain internet protocols can slow to a crawl because they can't handle the transmission delay due to the satellite.
But, when all else fails, it's certainly better to have satellite than no internet at all.
Today, the ability to stay connected while traveling is much easier than in days past. You just have to pick the best option for you in your needs, situation and location.

Get more free tech help and advice from Leo Notenboom by visiting http://ask-leo.com With over 30 years of industry experience, including an 18 year career as a software engineer with Microsoft, Leo gives real answers to real questions from ordinary computer users at Ask Leo! Subscribe to Leo's weekly newsletter now and receive a free ebook: "Internet Safety - Keeping Your Computer Safe on the Internet", a collection of steps, tools and concepts you need to know to keep your computer and your information safe.
By Leo Notenboom

How to Inspect a Used Vehicle Before Purchasing it

Recently I was faced with the task of helping my son find his first vehicle to purchase. Being that he is just in his first year of college, we decided to purchase a used car. One of the biggest things I learned from this experience was just how critical it is to inspect the vehicle from top to bottom, end to end and then over again as well as to have the vehicle inspected by an automobile mechanic before ever finalizing the purchase of a used vehicle. Keep in mind I am a single mother of 15 years so the pressure I felt to do this right was enormous since I have little knowledge or experience with car motors and transmissions and everything else in between. I prepared the best I could and learned about the many things we could check on a vehicle to give us an idea if we should pursue moving ahead on the vehicle we were most drawn to. It is my intention and hope through this article that I help someone else faced with the task of purchasing a used car by sharing a few of the tips I learned.
It's very helpful to bring any research with you that you have done on any of the vehicles you will look at such as the report you can obtain from the Kelly Blue Book to make sure the asking price is not too far off from where it should be.
Always inspect the car during daylight hours. Scan down the sides of the car and look for paint irregularities or surface unevenness. Look for any "rusty" areas, mismatched paint colors or panels on the car that appear to be re-painted as this may indicate the vehicle was in an accident or has corrosion. Check if the vehicle has a trailer hinge since this could mean the vehicle was used for towing and is worth at least looking into further.
Check all the engine fluids which include motor oil, transmission, oil, brake fluid, and power steering fluid to name a few. Transmission fluid should be reddish in color but transparent. If it smells burnt, that's not a good sign. Oil should be golden in color; if it's black, that's not a good sign either. Are there any coolant leaks from the engine? When checking the engine oil, determine if the level of oil is within the normal range or if its low.
Bring a mirror with you to check the underside of the vehicle - look for oil or transmission fluids that may have leaked on other engine parts, and dents or scrape marks which may indicate the vehicle has been driven over rough roads and perhaps sustained other damage.
Bring a strong magnet with you and a piece of cloth. Cover the magnet with the cloth and check out different areas on the car to see if the magnet sticks to the metal. If it sticks in some areas and not in others, chances are the car has had body damage and has been repaired with Bondo or some other kind of material. It's probably a good idea to pass on this kind of vehicle.
Bring a dollar bill. Open each door and hang the dollar bill over the top of the door and close it. As you pull on it, it should be snug. Check out a couple of other places on each door of the vehicle. If it slips out of some areas, then the car has likely had some kind of damage.
Look at each of the tires for uneven wear. If the outside or inside edges are worn, it may have problems with the alignment. Does the car have a spare tire, jack and wheel wrench?
The condition of the cars interior gives you a good idea of how well the rest of the car has been taken care of. When inspecting the interior, check for any dampness under the carpet and in the trunk. Do you notice any possible tampering to the odometer? Does the air conditioner provide really cold air? Check all the interior power features such as windows, mirrors, and door locks, etc. Does the heater and defogger work properly? Do you feel comfortable in the drivers seat with the seat belt, mirrors, steering wheel, seat, and visibility? Test the wiper blades, headlamps and turn signals.
Check the manufacturer's label, which is usually located on the driver's door or door jamb. Are there any signs of altering? Check the VIN number. Also check the exact date when the vehicle was manufactured.
When test driving, does the car start quickly and without hesitation? Do you notice any pinging, knocking or whistling sounds? Do you notice any shaking or vibration of the car especially when driving at a higher rate of speed? Does the car make creaking or knocking noises when driving over bumps? Does the steering feel loose? Is the steering wheel straight? Does the car pull to one side and is difficult to maintain a straight driving line? Do you notice any smoke from the engine area or from the exhaust? Do you smell burnt oil or transmission fluid? Check the dashboards control panel for any warning lights that may be on such as "check engine" or "service engine" indicators. Check the temperature of the engine on the control panel to find out if the engine is running too hot. Is there any hesitation when accelerating? Is the motor as powerful as it should be for the type of motor in the vehicle? Does the car feel like the idle may be off when parked and perhaps feel as if it might stall? Does the brake pedal go clear to the floor or feel loose or spongy? Does the car pull to one side when braking? Do you notice any grinding noises when braking?
Having a vehicle inspected by a professional is one of the wisest things one can do when deciding whether or not the vehicle your interested in purchasing is going to be a reliable car however there's a lot to be said for just plain good common sense thinking and that "gut feeling" we get with knowing if we should pursue a particular vehicle or move onto the next.

By Kim Yeschick

What is Net Metering and How Does it Work?

http://windenergy7.com/turbines/?p=104

Net Metering is now implemented in more than 30 states in the United States, in the sphere of renewable energy generation. It is a policy that allows private individuals to benefit from individual power generation which works in conjunction with the electric utilities. For example, a homeowner or business owner has a wind power generation system that is connected to the utility grid and produces enough power for their personal use as well as an additional surplus, in which they can profit from. The surplus electricity can be used by some other user, after it has been directed back into the utility distribution system. Therefore, unused energy can be redirected back into the grid for certain benefits to the energy generator owner. In effect, this extra power will enable the electric meter at the turbine owner's location of use to turn backward and offset their own consumption. They receive a 'credit' on future electricity bills or earn retail rates from the utilities, for the extra energy generated. This credited billing system can be monthly or even yearly and depends on the total consumption and production of energy. This proves as a huge incentive for people looking to invest in small scale renewable energy projects. Customers can now 'bank' on the power they generate, use it as per their convenience and boost the value of their produce.
One major advantage is that more often than not customers can take advantage of their existing meters to make use of net metering (though they do need to check with the concerned utility). Both residences and small business enterprises generally use a kilowatt hour meter to regulate the flow of electricity either forward or backward. Following the same system as a net metering process, the meter moves forward when the customer needs more power than is being produced and backward when there is a surplus of electricity.
In order to check whether a particular area offers this netting service, customers can check with their utilities, although most states require that at least some of the utilities offer a provision for the net metering system. Regulations do apply, as well as rules for rates and services in the case of state regulated utilities. Although a majority of the states do make provisions for net metering for wind energy generation systems, it may be limited to those of a smaller scale.
The Importance and Benefits of Net Metering:
As we know, the wind does not always have a consistent speed or volume at all given times; there is a definite variability factor. The amount of energy generated from a wind power project may not always be aligned with its demand and supply. Net metering helps balance out the fluctuations. Also, a customer can avoid costly battery and storage devices by using the net metering and grid system, enabling him to get the proper price for the energy produced.
Net metering is easy to use, uncomplicated, and economical. This system can be used to galvanize the growth and usage of small scale wind power generation. Using this renewable source of energy can be highly beneficial both economically and environmentally; not just on a local scale but in a vast global scenario.
Net metering cancels out the need for a second meter, thereby lessening installation costs borne by consumers. Customers get a better value for the energy they produce because it is in conjunction with the utilities and do not need to install a new meter.
Net metering isn't just beneficial to the customers but also to utilities and providers. The redirection of surplus energy from small scale wind power projects backing into the grid does help utilities to ease their supply loads. It also helps in eliminating costs like the administrative and meter accounting costs they would face if they bought modest amounts of surplus energy from small scale wind energy set-ups.
The costs of net metering:
Utilities end up accumulating less revenue because they are buying power at less than the wholesale price, and are consequently not earning more profits by selling power. However, utilities can offset some of the revenue lost through savings in administrative and accounting costs with the usage of net metering. The amount of revenue lost for the utility or money saved by the customer depends on varied factors; the most vital one being the actual amount of surplus electricity produced and harnessed.
Net metering is thus not only a benefit to consumers but it can be an efficient solution for the increasing demands and growing burden of the existing transmission lines. It can be used by state governments to increase energy independence and open up the market.

Vert Investment Group ("Vert") is a leading renewable energy investment advisory firm focused on small to medium-sized utility-scale generation projects in strong power markets. Vert utilizes its proven methodology, the Staged Progression Model, to guide development projects to construction ready and identify investment opportunities that generate out-sized returns.

By Joaquin Altenberg

Mimicking the Building Prowess of Nature

Scientists build new materials using inspiration from complex biological forms.

Joanna Aizenberg, a materials scientist at Harvard University, has scoured the natural world for clues to biological building codes. She aims to decipher some of Mother Nature’s unique designs, including dirt-resistant sea urchins and sea sponges made of super-strong light-conducting glass, to develop novel materials that, like these organisms, can self-assemble and sense and respond to their environment.


“We try to identify biological systems that have unusual and sophisticated properties, such as optical, structural, or magnetic properties, to make extremely sophisticated, efficient, and highly potent devices and materials,” says Aizenberg, who is also a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. “Then we take these principles and try to integrate them with what we already know in materials science--incorporating them into existing materials or fabricating a new generation of materials based on biological principles.” The work could result in better fiber optics, paint that changes color in response to temperature or light, and new ways of delivering drugs or clearing arterial plaques.

This collection of striking images explores some of Aizenberg’s new materials, as well as the organisms that inspired them.

Nanodreadlocks: “One specific feature that interests me more than anything else at the moment is how nature creates adaptive materials that optimize performance in response to changing environmental cues,” says Aizenberg. “The systems I am trying to replicate in my lab are the surfaces of sea urchins. They cover their bodies with an array of microflowers that constantly open and close, protecting the body from contamination.”

Taking inspiration from sea urchins, Aizenberg’s team has developed nanobristles that spontaneously curl into a precise array of helical bundles when immersed in an evaporating liquid. Aizenberg likens the phenomena to the way wet, curly hair clumps together and coils to form dreadlocks. The bristles shown here are made of an epoxy resin and are approximately 100 nanometers in diameter--about one-thousandth the width of a human hair.

The first copies of the McLaren MP4 are expected to arrive in the United States in mid 2011. McLaren on track to launch MP4 in U.S. in '11

McLaren's plan to launch the 200-mph MP4 supercar in the United States and Canada in mid-2011 are on course, says the newly appointed boss of North American operations.Tony Joseph, McLaren's regional director for North America, says rumors that the North American launch of the MP4 is being delayed... Published 11/05/09, 10:29 am et