Posted on July 29, 2018  Comments (0)

Technology can provide huge benefits when we take care to use it wisely. Considering usability is extremely important and we need to keep focusing on improving usability. This video shows an interesting application by Abhishek Singh’s to increase the usability of “smart speakers.” His app runs on a tablet allow a user to use American Sign Language to interact with Alexa (it displays Alexa’s responses in text on the table).

Related: Getting Closer to a Universal Translator (2010) – NASA You Have a Problem with Usability (2008) – Appropriate Technology and Focus on Improving Lives at MIT (2014)

Posted on May 27, 2018  Comments (0)

The system uses the constant ground temperature 2.5 meters (8 feet) below ground to heat a greenhouse. The underground-temperature on his farm is 11 degrees (52 degrees Fahrenheit). Other nearby areas range from 9 to 17 degrees (17 is near a hot spring).

Just circulating air through 64 meters (210 feet) of tubing buried 2.5 meters underground is enough to allow citrus and other plants to thrive. Selling at local farmer’s markets brings in a very high profit for farmers that can grow and sell locally.

Using the power of the sun to grow and the constant ground temperature to keep the air warm enough creates an opportunity to grow all year round. The same principles can be used to cool down indoor temperatures in very hot locations near the equator.

Due to the controlled environment growing organically is easy so that further increases the payoff for this type of farming.

The cost of the system can be as low as $25,000 if you have access to a backhoe to dig the trenches for the air pipes and can do much of the labor yourself. That is the cost of just the heating systems for a conventional greenhouse.

I really like this type of intersection of engineering and business (as well as environment and health benefits – providing healthy local food) that creates value to society by using our knowledge effectively.

Learn more at Citrus in the Snow. The Nebraska farmer (seen in the video) has been growing Citrus in Nebraska this way since 1992.

Related: Sustainable Ocean Farming – Beehive Fence Protects Farms from Elephants – For Many Crops Ants Can Provide Pest Protection Superior or Equal to Chemicals at a Much Lower Cost – Small Farm Robots

Posted on January 31, 2018  Comments (0)

I see red-tailed hawks in my backyard occasionally. This one has a squirrel on a high tree branch in my backyard. The video shows it fly away.

When I hear a murder of crows squawking loudly I often can spot a red-tailed hawk (or perhaps some other hawks) near my yard.

Related: Backyard Wildlife: Sharpshinned Hawk – Red-shouldered Hawk – Backyard Wildlife: Fox – Backyard Wildlife: Blue Jay

Posted on January 7, 2018  Comments (0)

These were the most popular (by number of page views) posts on our blog in 2016.

• Insightful Problem Solving by an Asian Elephant (2011) *
• Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (2008)
• Why is it Colder at Higher Elevations? (2008)
• Science Sort of Explains: Hiccups (2008)
• Ranking Countries by Scientific Publication Citations: USA, UK, Germany… (2015)
• Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids (2005)

molten salt solar system diagram

• Molten Salt Solar Reactor Approved by California (2010)
• Neil Degrasse Tyson: Scientifically Literate See a Different World (2009)
• Loan Forgiveness Program for Engineering Students (2008)
• How Lysozyme Protein in Our Tear-Drops Kill Bacteria (2012)

Read more