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UV Light Helping With Gulf Clean-Up Effort
Lately, the biggest problem solving effort undergone anywhere in the world has taken place in the Gulf attempting to stop the oil leak. BP, scientists, government officials, and even average citizens have come up with everything from stuffing the leak with gulf balls to using hay to soak up the oil. However, what many aren't focusing on are solutions to how to cleanup the oil that is already spilled. Most solutions involve skimming, control burning, and chemical dispersants. Most of these have had their impact on cleaning the gulf, but a new way is not only a great way to clean up the oil, but is actually a quite beautiful one too.
UV light, which is used to spot blood at crime scenes among other instances, are now being used to help clean up oil that has washed up the Gulf Coast's beaches. UV will help scientists and clean-up crews find hard to locate oil on the beach. Under the UV light, the minerals in the oil show up and glow purple and blue which makes it easier to spot in the sand and near perfectly during the nighttime. What the UV light also does (as seen in the picture above) is give some amazing pictures from this horribly tragedy. By using UV light, people who want to save the Gulf are being given another tool to do so.
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Fuel Efficient Car Eco-Friendly and Stylish
When it comes to automobiles, style can be everything. Cars have always been at the forefront of having different looks and being completely stylish and trendy to coincide with the times they are apart of. This is why dozens of books, movies, and songs have been about this very subject. However, the tide is beginning to turn when it comes to car culture with more people than ever focusing on substance rather than style.
Most are looking into buying cars that are friendly towards the environment and get great gas mileage rather than one that is sleek or looks great on the road. This can be a problem for a lot of people though because the majority of the public believe that they must sacrifice some style and power in exchange for fuel efficiency. Even the green cars that are at the top of the line when it comes to style come off as too futuristic and just don't have what it takes to hit the road in many people's mind. Yet, just because a car is eco-friendly doesn't mean it can't have amazing style. Actually the style of a new eco-friendly vehicle is hot!
Take for example, the Fisker Karma (seen above), which looks like an amazing gas fueled sports car. In actuality, it is a top of the line electric automobile. The Karma gets an electric range of 50 miles after which the gasoline engine kicks in for an added ride. It may be a little too pricey for most, but it's a beautiful car that you wouldn't assume has fuel efficient features. This hybrid vehicle thus proves that you can have style on the road and help preserve natural resources.
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Solar Power Struggles To Find A Market In The United States
With the disaster in the Gulf coast getting worse daily, the United States seems primed to embrace green technologies as an alternative to the risky and environmentally damaging oil dependency that the country currently uses as it's energy answer. There are plenty avenues for the United States to take when it comes to renewable energy technologies. Things like wind power and wave power are renewable, clean, and some will say the future of energy consumption in the country. However, one renewable technology (that has actually been around for decades) has had a tough time as of late finding a marketplace in the United States.
Solar power, an unlimited energy that comes from the sun, accounts for less than 1 percent of energy in the United States. This is crazy to think considering the benefits of the technology and this may be why the U.S. ranks behind Germany, Japan, and Italy in the solar market. Resources have been put into solar power in order to make it a sustainable force in the energy market place and give it a chance with consumers. However, solar power's presence is dimming in the U.S. and many experts are saying that it has to do with a lack of planning and lack of technological advancement around the country.
The United States suffers from a lack of strategy that will get them off coal and oil as powerful energy usage and move them towards green and clean technologies. Why solar power suffers more than any other in the United States is because of stiff competition from other countries. Places like Japan are coming up with new ways to use the technology and are implementing those technologies presently.
Solar power in the U.S. needs to find a marketplace in order to not...
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Niranjan Shah And The NIBS
When most people think of the way things are, Niranjan Shah is a man who thinks of what things could be and does what he can to build them. World leaders have recommended him, so have heads of state, congressmen, and fellow countrymen both here and in India. Now, while most of these recommendations speak of Shah's commitment to humanitarianism and charity, one particular recommendation speaks to the heart of Shah's engineering background - his recommendation to the board of directors to the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).
Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton nominated Mr. Shah to the board of directors' position for his work in the field of engineering and architecture. His ability to handle the job may have been noticed through the great things that Niranjan Shah has done as chairman of Globetrotters Engineering Corporation and his countless efforts to make his hometown of Chicago a better place. One of these examples is shown through his work with mayor Richard Daley, where Shah served as a member of the Economic Development Commission for the City of Chicago helping bring positive change to society.
As a member of the board of directors for the National Institute of Building Sciences, Niranjan Shah will work with others in his field to do what he does best: improve the field of architecture and engineering. He will do this by improving already standing structures and bringing new technology and perspectives to the field. This is why Shah and NIBS are well fit for each other and why none other than former President Clinton recommended Shah for the position.
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Senate Passes Financial Reform Bill In Hopes Of Fixing Economy
After one of the greatest recessions in American history many were calling for changes to be made on Wall Street, in the housing market, and generally to many of the flawed and broken areas of the economy. The job fell to President Obama and Congress to make sure that this type of recession and crisis would not happen again. What they came up with was a financial reform bill that went across the broad economic spectrum and touched on the areas of Wall Street, homebuyers, lenders, and traders among others. This bill was one of the most widespread legislative documents on the economy since the Great Depression. It was passed on Friday.
The vote passed 59-39 and is a big achievement for the Obama administration. It represents an overhaul of down-and-out businesses on both Wall Street and Main Street. The bill calls for restraints on the risks in the financial system and makes it easier to liquefy large firms that are failing. From the consumer perspective, it also creates new rules to securities that had a lot to do with the 2008 economic collapse and creates a new consumer protection agency that stands as a watchdog for big corporations, banks, and firms trying to bully the marketplace.
President Obama made it clear that this new reform bill isn't attacking the banks but rather protecting the economy and the American consumer. The bill is scheduled to be on his desk and signed into law sometime in early July.
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Kagan Nominated for Next Supreme Court Justice
Last Monday, President Obama ended the speculation on who was going to fill the open Supreme Court Justice seat left by John Paul Stevens. The person chosen wasn't that much of a surprise. As expected, President Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court ending weeks of curiosity surrounding the choice. Many felt that Kagan would be the nominee as most considered her to be the front-runner after Stevens stepped down from the court some weeks ago.
Just like all of the other justices before her, Kagan was nominated by a President and will have to be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate in order to take the open seat and become the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States. If confirmed she would be the fourth woman in history to be on the court and the third woman to join the current court alongside Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. However, unlike the other judges, Kagan has no prior experience as a judge. This, President Obama hopes, will bring a fresh and new perspective to the highest court in the country.
President Obama was happy to nominate Kagan saying that she is a "trailblazing leader" and "one of the nation's foremost legal minds." At 50 years old, she would be the youngest person on the Court. Taking into account the lifetime tenure of a Supreme Court Justice, this means that she could sit on the Court for decades to come.
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Niranjan Shah And The City of Chicago
The city of Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There's so much to do, and so much to see in Chicago that it would take a complete lifetime to take it all in and really enjoy it. Yet, the greatest part of the city is its amazing buildings and architecture. New and modern skyscrapers teamed seamlessly with older but yet beautifully constructed buildings to make the perfect city. This is why the city of Chicago is such a great fit for the architectural brilliance that Niranjan Shah brings to the table. It may be his home and the birthplace of his company, Globetrotters Engineering Incorporated, but it is also a place that works with Shah and helps him work his magic on a grand scale.
The new international terminal at O'Hare International Airport (one of the biggest and most frequented airports in the world) has been well documented, but to think that's all Shah and Globetrotters Inc. has done for the city of Chicago would be incorrect. Shah has also worked on the design for the new Midway international airport, which cost up to $250 million and was 850,000 square feet in size. He and Globetrotters engineering services also helped two McCormick Place Convention Center facilities expand for greater use.
Niranjan Shah and the city of Chicago go hand in hand and both have helped the other prosper and show off what they can accomplish.
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World's Largest Laser Could Make Fusion A Reality
Energy topics are leading discussions all over the world. Natural resources are finite, conservation efforts are sometimes slow to start, and green technologies may not be getting implemented fast enough. Everyone is looking to come up with the policy that really sparks the green movement. However, a science breakthrough may offer the Ace up the sleeve for fixing the energy problem.
California scientists are attempting to use the world's biggest laser, which is about 300 yards long or three football fields in length, to see if the laser can cause a nuclear reaction. Not just any nuclear reaction either but one strong enough to create the energy of a star on the surface of the planet. What the laser is basically doing is creating a power source much like the sun right here on Earth. This sounds more like science fiction than science, but if the laser can pull of this feat then many energy concerns may have a solution.
Tapping into the energy of the small star would be able to solve many of the energy crisis' that are going on and also have many in the field seeing this as a way to make nuclear fusion a reality. The scientists are confident that this experiment will garner some sort of positive results. Either way, in fiction a laser is usually used to destroy the earth but it seems like in reality it may be able to help it.
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Air Force Set to Launch New Baby Space Shuttle
A new era in space exploration, and maybe even space defense, is about to take flight. On Thursday, the Air Force is set to launch its "baby space shuttle" into orbit from Cape Canaveral in Florida and many eyes will be focused on what has been mostly a secret project thus far.
The X-37B looks just like the normal NASA space shuttle that takes off from Cape Canaveral all the time, but the differences between the two are extensive and go much further than just size. The X-37B will be the second re-usable spacecraft in America and will have no pilots aboard. Instead it will be in the hands of the military that will fly the ship via remote control. Since the military project is just being introduced, not much is known about the ship outside of that it can stay in space for up to 9 months and that it's dimensions are about 30 feet in length. Outside of that, the Air Force is keeping much about this new piece of engineering flying technology under wraps.
Some feel that the use of discretion is because the military is planning on using the baby space shuttle as a weapon from space. These reports are unfounded if nothing more than speculative rumor, and according to the military the baby shuttle will launch a new era for space experimentation and even perhaps exploration. It will test experiments in space and determine which breakthroughs can be transported to use on land. No matter the use of the ship, one thing that's not a secret is that the X-37B baby shuttle is an example that when technology and engineering come together it can break the orbit around what is possible.
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Robots Could Be Used To Help With Coal Mining
The coal mine explosions in West Virginia have shown once again that coal mining is one of the most dangerous jobs to have. The risk to coal miners is extensive with dangers like structural failures, underground crashes, suffocation, gas poisoning, chronic illness and explosions lurking within the mine. These are realistic fears that have become reality many times over the years of coal mining. Miners who work thousands of feet under ground do realize the risk that come with the job, however there is no price you can place on a human life. With all of the advances in technology, it makes people wonder if risking a human life is even necessary anymore?
Robot technology has had many advances in the last decade. With some of them able to perform the most dangerous aspects of a coal miners job, it is apparent where they could be put to good use. Coal mining is obviously a safety issue for humans. A lost life is irreplaceable. However, replacing a robot would simply cost resources.
Robots have already been used by the coal mining industry for mapping purposes in mines that humans cannot access. Small robots utilize lasers and cameras, which allow humans to explore certain mines with no danger to themselves. This is a great example of how robots can help mining and keep miners away from the potential dangers of the job. However, many issues still remain between robots filling in for miners.
A major issue is the one between the need for safety and reliability of artificial intelligence. Coal mining is a massive production and requires a lot of work to accomplish everything that needs to be done. This may not be a setting for robots especially if there...
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Oil Drilling & National Security
President Obama allowed the waters of the Atlantic coast, northern Alaska, and Gulf of Mexico to be open to new oil drilling. The President hopes that these newly approved drilling areas will help turn the U.S. away from foreign oil dependency and more towards domestic oil dependency, thus increasing national security. The President approved much of the east coast (from Delaware to central Florida) for potential drilling and asked Congress to lift drilling bans in many areas of the Gulf of Mexico. He also opened up drilling in the oil-rich northern coasts of Alaska.
While some did not meet this decision with open arms, the President did take some environmental concerns into account. He announced that areas like Alaska's Bristol Bay would continue to stay untouched (he named it a national treasure). In fairness, it's always been a tough balancing act between environmental concerns, the economy and national security but, the President hopes that the decision will at least promote bipartisanship with Republicans who favor the idea.
The President insists that renewable energy is vital to a sustainable future, but with attacks on the U.S. constantly threatening, it is apparent that something needs to be done in the immediate future to decrease our dependency on foreign sources of oil while we wait for the green infrastructure to mature. It will be interesting to see how the country is affected in the near future.
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Congress Passes College Aid Bill, Helps Students Pay For College, Student Loans
Congress just passed a historic health care reform bill this weekend, but what may have gotten lost in the shuffle is the passing of another important piece of legislation. The House on Sunday passed a bill that will help millions of students pay for tuition and will make paying back student loans more effective and easier for these student borrowers.
The bill (which was attached to the landmark health care reform bill) changes the student loan system by eliminating private lenders and expanding Pell Grants, which are grants from the government through the FAFSA that do not require repayment, as much as $36 billion. This will help borrowers to not get bogged down by massive student loan payments and will help to put the emphasis on gaining a college education rather than paying college finances. The bill would also give billions of dollars to community colleges, which will help many low-income students gain access to a college education that before may have been out of reach.
The bill also helps borrowers pay back their loans by putting a smaller cap (10% rather than the current 15%) on the borrower’s monthly income that is devoted to paying back loans. This stimulation of the bill wouldn’t be immediate (it wouldn’t take effect until 2014), but it would eventually have a great impact on people maintaining their own incomes rather than constantly paying back loan after student loan. This bill may not be as historical as the health care reform bill but for millions of students struggling to pay for college it's as important.
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Energy Efficiency & Spain
GEC incorporates LEED certified systems into facets of their engineering designs. This is one step in the proper direction for energy efficiency. Hopefully larger scale projects are on the horizon. Recently CNN aired a story about Spain and a tremendous leap they have made into a sustainable energy future. It explains Spain's solar revolution and how one project is responsible for 11MW of electricity - soon to be 300MW.
The project involves a farm of highly reflective mirrors over 75,000 square meters in combined size. The mirrors gather light from the sun and reflect it to a centrally located tower which absorbs the reflected light. Down the line, the light is converted into steam which is used to spin a turbine. The turbine spins a generator which converts motion into electricity. The whole process converts more than 92% of the light into steam and is highly efficient and is expected to expand. While the project they examined is called PS10 and utilizes over 600, 120-square-meter heliostats to power approximately 6,000 homes, PS20 is located right next door and is capable of producing 20MW, enough to power approximately 10,000 homes. For 2013, the project goal is to operate 300MW of electricity, enough to power over 700,000 homes.
This is a very good example of how renewable energy technology can be implemented to make real, noticeable results in the mission to cut carbon emissions and reduce our carbon footprint. It would be great to implement a large scale project like this in various locations across the United States. Technology has also given us point-of-use solar panels (PV panels) which convert sunlight into electricity right where it's demanded. That way, if you happen to live in...
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Obama High Speed Passenger Train Plan To Cut Down On Oil Dependence, Traffic Congestion
For many, trains seem to be an outdated and slow mode of transportation, but with green initiatives in full effect, riding the train may be making a comeback. President Obama revealed a plan for a new countrywide network of high-speed passenger train lines. These trains would help in cutting down on foreign oil dependency, carbon emissions, and even traffic buildup. They would be much faster than conventional trains and would initiate a new age of train travel.
The plan would potentially have up to 600-mile long passenger rails that would transport people around different portions of the country. The different portions of the country would be the Pacific Northwest, the Southeast, the Northeast, and the Midwest with possible connections to other portions of the country. This would significantly improve the heavily congested traffic routes running from Washington, DC to Boston, Massachusetts and the rest of the Northeast. The Obama administration’s new rail plan would also help cut down on the carbon emissions that come from cars as a result of using them less, which would be another step towards the creation of a cleaner environment.
Vice President Biden went on to say that creating this new nationwide high-speed rail system would make traveling in the country both cleaner and leaner. People from New York to California will be able to travel at high speeds knowing that where they’re going is both clean and quick. I guess, sometimes to see the future of travel it’s useful to go back to the past.
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Niranjan Shah and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi
Niranjan Shah has made many significant impacts on the world and these impacts haven’t gone unnoticed. This is why Mr. Shah has had so many influential people speak about the amazing and historical things he has done. One of these recommenders is Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who is no stranger to making history. Pelosi was the first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and also the first Italian-American to hold that office. She also, being second in secession, is the highest-ranking female politician in American history. Since becoming Speaker of the House, Mrs. Pelosi has worked night and day to bring better health care to the American people, end conflicts overseas, and protect the environment. Recently, she has worked with President Obama to achieve these goals and bring the country into a brighter future.
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