2013: The year of the drone

2013: The year of the drone: "Although aerial drones been around in one form or another since World War I, it hasn’t really been until the last decade that they’ve really taken off, so to speak. Where they were once restricted to a spot of battlefield reconnaissance, in addition to military applications, drones are now used for everything from agriculture to oil prospecting and by everyone from rescue workers to real estate agents. Although the technological advances and proliferation of drones has accelerated over the past decade, 2013 was the year that the technology really entered the public consciousness. So let’s have a look back at Gizmag’s pick of the top drone stories of 2013."

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GPS AdventureBox merges geocaching and gift-giving

GPS AdventureBox merges geocaching and gift-giving: "It's often said that experiences make better gifts than physical products, but the GPS AdventureBox is designed to deliver both. In a merging of geocaching and gift-giving, the GPS-enabled box locks away a physical gift or note until the recipient successfully follows a trail of GPS breadcrumbs to a series of locations specified by the giver."

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World's first cycle to the South Pole achieved

World's first cycle to the South Pole achieved: "Shortly before Christmas, we heard about 35 year-old British adventurer Maria Leijerstam's planned attempt to ride to the South Pole on a recumbent fat-tired tricycle. On December 27th at 1am GMT, she achieved that goal, becoming the first person to ever successfully cycle from the edge of the Antarctic continent to the Pole."

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Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft.[1] It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the design's innovative concepts. During reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outfly the missile.[2]
The SR-71 served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents, but none lost to enemy action.[3][4] The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including Blackbird and Habu.[5] Since 1976, it has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, a record previously held by the YF-12.[6][7][8]"

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InfinityList – Jetman in “Full Flight”

InfinityList – Jetman in “Full Flight”:

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Spherical Flying Machine Developed by Japan Ministry Of Defense #DigInfo

Spherical Flying Machine Developed by Japan Ministry Of Defense #DigInfo:

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Daily Kos: How Airliners Work - Fuel System

Daily Kos: How Airliners Work - Fuel System: "We're not going anywhere in our airliner without fuel - lots of it. Until someone builds a practical electric aircraft, probably quite a few years down the road, we have to burn hydrocarbons to make this thing go.

So let's take a look at what we're burning and how we get it to the engines."

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Superstorm Sandy Cleanup Unearths Giant Prize for Lucky Landscaper | Video | TheBlaze.com

Superstorm Sandy Cleanup Unearths Giant Prize for Lucky Landscaper | Video | TheBlaze.com: "With destruction from Superstorm Sandy destruction all around him, landscaper Marvin Rosales Martinez caught a glimpse of an object that didn’t seem to belong among the pile of leaves he was clearing."

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Algae to crude oil: Million-year natural process takes minutes in the lab - Conservative Byte

Algae to crude oil: Million-year natural process takes minutes in the lab - Conservative Byte: "Engineers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have created a continuous process that produces useful crude oil minutes after harvested algae is introduced. This new process does not require drying out the algae, which grows in water, saving time and energy that would be otherwise wasted. The final product can be refined into aviation fuel, diesel, or gasoline."

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Algae to crude oil: Million-year natural process takes minutes in the lab

Algae to crude oil: Million-year natural process takes minutes in the lab: "Engineers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have created a continuous process that produces useful crude oil minutes after harvested algae is introduced. This new process does not require drying out the algae, which grows in water, saving time and energy that would be otherwise wasted. The final product can be refined into aviation fuel, diesel, or gasoline."

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Spike S-512 could be the world's first supersonic business jet

Spike S-512 could be the world's first supersonic business jet: "With the Cessna Citation X set to receive FAA certification in early 2014 and knock the Gulfstream G650 off it's world's fastest civilian aircraft perch thanks to its maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935, Boston-based Spike Aerospace is looking to leave both those aircraft in its wake with its S-512. Spike says its S-512 will be the world's first supersonic business jet, boasting a cruising speed of Mach 1.6, and a maximum speed of Mach 1.8."

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Time to Stock Up on Incandescent Bulbs Before They Go Out Permanently

Time to Stock Up on Incandescent Bulbs Before They Go Out Permanently: "Beginning January 1, 2014, the federal government will ban the use of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent light bulbs. The light bulb has become a symbol in the fight for consumer freedom and against unnecessary governmental interference into the lives of the American people."

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