Could great walls prevent tornadoes forming in the American Midwest?

Could great walls prevent tornadoes forming in the American Midwest?: "The Great Wall of China was primarily built to keep out nomadic tribes, but a new study suggests constructing great walls in the American Midwest could keep out a different kind of threat – tornadoes. It might sound far-fetched, but a study conducted by Dr. Rongjia Tao from the Department of Physics at Philadelphia's Temple University suggests there is in fact some scientific merit to it. Strategically placed, 1,000 ft (300 m) high great walls could negate the forming of the destructive wind storms in Tornado Alley, and by extension, the destruction they leave in their wake"



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Solar-powered electrochemical cell used to produce formic acid from CO2

Solar-powered electrochemical cell used to produce formic acid from CO2: "Rising atmospheric CO2 levels can generally be tackled in three ways: developing alternative energy sources with lower emissions; carbon capture and storage (CCS); and capturing carbon and repurposing it. Researchers at Princeton University are claiming to have developed a technique that ticks two of these three boxes by using solar power to convert CO2 into formic acid."



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Solar-powered electrochemical cell used to produce formic acid from CO2

Solar-powered electrochemical cell used to produce formic acid from CO2: "Rising atmospheric CO2 levels can generally be tackled in three ways: developing alternative energy sources with lower emissions; carbon capture and storage (CCS); and capturing carbon and repurposing it. Researchers at Princeton University are claiming to have developed a technique that ticks two of these three boxes by using solar power to convert CO2 into formic acid."



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Gypsy Wagon Building

Gypsy Wagon Building: " wagon was built by a collaboration of Paleotool (author of Building a Gypsy Wagon), myself (PaleoPunk), and our friend, AmericanPikey. The AmericanPikey recently retired and wanted a mobile retirement home."



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First production HondaJet takes-off

First production HondaJet takes-off: "Honda Aircraft Company has announced that its first production HondaJet has taken to the skies. The flight took place at HondaJet’s headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday at 10:18 am PDT. The test flight moves the executive jet aircraft closer to certification ahead of a planned entry into service next year."



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New water-based organic battery is cheap, rechargeable and eco-friendly

New water-based organic battery is cheap, rechargeable and eco-friendly: "Lithium-ion batteries have made portable, rechargeable electronics commonplace. Unfortunately, they do have some glaring drawbacks, including heat issues, being made with rare, toxic elements, and the fact the technology doesn't scale up very well, which limits applications. A team of scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) is working on an alternative in the form of a water-based organic battery that is not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but also holds the potential for scaling up for use in wind and solar power plants as a means to store large amounts of energy."



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Air bags could keep sinking ships afloat

Air bags could keep sinking ships afloat: "The European Union has invested in a project designed to keep damaged ships stable and afloat by means of airbag-like balloons. It is hoped that the new system, developed under the Su Sy project, will give emergency services extra time to evacuate stricken ships, minimizing the devastating losses of life synonymous with the sinking of cruise ships such as the Costa Concordia, and the South Korean ferry Sewol, which sank earlier this year."



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Eat Essential Nutrients | Men's Health

Eat Essential Nutrients | Men's Health: "
We are in the midst of a nutrition crisis as a nation where we’re overfed, yet undernourished. Data suggests we’re falling short of the recommended nutrient intake of several nutrients—namely fiber, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin D—even though we’re eating more calories than our bodies need. In other words, America has a “broken diet” problem that fortunately can be changed with a few simple tweaks. Here’s why you need to pay attention to these often-neglected nutrients, along with the easy ways to pack them into your diet."



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3 work-at-home online jobs that aren't scams | Komando.com

3 work-at-home online jobs that aren't scams | Komando.com: "Many people see working at home as the Holy Grail of job perks and thanks to the Internet it's totally possible. Whether you want a full-time job or just want to make a little extra money on the side, the options are there if you know where to look."



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Robotic Weapon System gives helicopters hidden firepower

Robotic Weapon System gives helicopters hidden firepower: "When we hear about military robots, it usually evokes images of Terminator-like killing machines, but it can also mean robotic systems designed to help soldiers concentrate on the job at hand. Case in point is Israel-based Duke Airborne Systems’ Robotic Weapon System (RWS). Unveiled at the Eurosatory defense industry show in Paris, the system billed as a “first-of-its-kind” is a concealable robotic gunnery module that allows utility helicopters to fly into hostile territory without an armed escort."



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Elio Motors

Elio Motors:



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Physicists finally explain why your earphones are always tangled. - Seriously, Science? | DiscoverMagazine.com

Physicists finally explain why your earphones are always tangled. - Seriously, Science? | DiscoverMagazine.com: "There are few day-to-day events that send me into a rage as quickly as a pair of tangled earphones. As soon as I put them down, they somehow thread themselves into an unholy mess."



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