Making a Rocket could be as easy as loading up a printing program, on a computer, and pressing Start. The 3D printer does the rest.

These Giant Printers Are Meant to Make Rockets

Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone are both in their mid-20s, and it shows. The two aerospace engineers are energetic, optimistic, and so ambitious they can't help sounding a little bonkers. In a small factory a couple of miles from Los Angeles International Airport, Ellis and Noone have spent the past two years working to build a rocket using only 3D printers.

From article, (In a small factory a couple of miles from Los Angeles International Airport, Ellis and Noone have spent the past two years working to build a rocket using only 3D printers. Their startup, Relativity Space Inc., is betting that removing humans from the manufacturing equation will make rockets way cheaper and faster to produce. The going rate for a rocket launch is about $100 million; Relativity says that in four years its price will be $10 million. “This is the right direction,” says Ellis, the chief executive officer, during the first-ever press tour of the company’s headquarters. “The 3D printing and automation of rockets is inevitable.”

The printers, among the largest ever, consist of 18-foot-tall robotic arms equipped with lasers that can melt a steady stream of aluminum wire into liquid metal for shaping. Ellis and Noone say a handful of the arms can work together to create the rocket’s entire body as a single piece, guided by custom software that monitors their speed and the metal’s integrity. They haven’t performed that task yet, but the printers have already made a 7-foot-wide, 14-foot-tall fuel tank in a few days and an engine in a week and a half. Relativity says a whole rocket can be built within a month if the company makes good on the promise of its technology. By comparison, the most efficient rocket-making processes today require hundreds of people working for many months.

The boldest future application of Relativity’s machines could take place on Mars. Ellis says the company plans to refine its printers so they’re durable and adaptable enough to help create the buildings that make up a space colony. “If you think that type of future is inevitable, then we will need lightweight, intelligent, and automated manufacturing to build stuff on another planet,” he says. “Our long-term mission is to print the first rocket on Mars.” Top that, Elon.)

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Start Ups are Showing Space is not too Risky

Private investors push down stratospheric cost of space start-ups

On a muggy summer's day in London two years ago, the rapper will.i.am, Virgin billionaire Sir Richard Branson and Airbus chief executive Tom Enders gathered in the 200-year-old lecture theatre of the Royal Institution. In this temple to scientific achievement, Michael Faraday first demonstrated electromagnetism, Sir Humphry Davy revealed sodium and Sir Joseph John (JJ) Thomson unveiled a fundamental particle now known as an electron.

 From article, (Early next year, OneWeb, founded by tech entrepreneur Greg Wyler, expects to launch the first 10 satellites in a constellation that will eventually number some 648 spacecraft — set to be the world’s largest satellite constellation if all goes to plan.

Despite having no operating satellites, OneWeb has been able to raise more than $1.5bn in the last two years from companies as diverse as SoftBank, the Japanese telecoms group, US chipmaker Qualcomm, the European aerospace group Airbus, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin and even Coca-Cola.

Interest in the commercial opportunities of space is snowballing and, with it, the prospects for start-ups to find financial backers.

space — which institutions once considered far too risky and expensive except for the big satellite operators — is becoming “a more normal area [in which] to invest. Appetite across the board from investors continues to grow”.

Investor interest is being driven by a recognition that the costs of going into space are falling.

The arrival of entrants such as SpaceX into a market once dominated by entities with a strong hold on access to government-backed launches is forcing down launch costs by as much as 75 per cent.)

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Have Asthma? Take Vitamin D to lower risk of Attacks

Vitamin D supplements linked to lower risk of asthma attacks

LONDON: Asthma attacks serious enough to require steroid treatment or hospitalization may be less likely when people take vitamin D supplements, a recent analysis suggests.

 From article, (Asthma attacks serious enough to require steroid treatment or hospitalization may be less likely when people take vitamin D supplements, a recent analysis suggests.

Researchers examined data combined from seven previously published studies with a total of 955 asthma patients who were randomly selected to take vitamin D or a placebo pill, in addition to any other medicines prescribed to manage their symptoms.

When asthma patients took vitamin D supplements, they were 54 percent less likely to have an attack severe enough to require an emergency room visit or hospital admission, the study found. They were also 31 percent less likely to have frequent asthma attacks requiring treatment with corticosteroids.

The apparent benefits of taking vitamin D were significant only in people who started out with a deficiency, however.

“The take-home message is that asthma patients who suffer with attacks (exacerbations) should get their vitamin D level checked, and if it is low, they should take a vitamin D supplement – there is negligible risk associated with doing this, and there is pretty good evidence to suggest that this could reduce their risk of having an attack,” said senior study author Dr. Adrian Martineau of Queen Mary University of London in the UK.

“It’s very important to emphasize that asthma patients should not stop taking their usual asthma therapy,” Martineau said by email. “All of the studies included in our review looked at the effects of giving vitamin D on top of usual therapy.”)


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Tidal Power, Scotland's New source of Power

Scots tidal at full power

18/10/2017 Atlantis Resources has redeployed the fourth and final 1.5MW turbine at its MeyGen Phase 1A tidal array in the Pentland Firth in northern Scotland. The offshore works were performed by the Atlantis offshore operations team using the Olympic Challenger vessel and the Lockheed Marti-designed AR1500 turbine is undergoing commissioning procedures, the company said.

 From article, (Atlantis Resources has redeployed the fourth and final 1.5MW turbine at its MeyGen Phase 1A tidal array in the Pentland Firth in northern Scotland.

The offshore works were performed by the Atlantis offshore operations team using the Olympic Challenger vessel and the Lockheed Marti-designed AR1500 turbine is undergoing commissioning procedures, the company said.

Following final completion testing, MeyGen Phase 1A is expected to formally complete its construction phase and enter into its 25-year operational phase within the coming weeks.

Total production from the 6MW project surpassed 2.6GWh with over 800MWh of grid-connected power generation during the month of September, it added.

Atlantis chief executive Tim Cornelius has meanwhile called on the UK government to renew price support for tidal stream projects.)

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Suddenly, The Deal Came Apart and Solar, Wind and Battery storage stepped in.

The beginning of the end of big, climate-changing power plants in California

Then, suddenly, the deal started to come apart - much to the happy surprise of environmentalists who opposed it on the grounds that it was unnecessary and conflicted with the state's clean energy goals, and to Oxnard officials and activists who were tired of industrial projects being sited time and again on their border.

 From article, (Plans to build a new natural-gas-fueled power plant on the Ventura County coast had been in the works for years, and the project seemed like an all-but-done deal just a few short weeks ago. The Puente Energy Project, to be built and operated by NRG Energy, had obtained most of the necessary approvals and was preparing for the final go-ahead from the California Energy Commission. It was a project similar to other recently approved plants in Huntington Beach and Carlsbad.

Then, suddenly, the deal started to come apart — much to the happy surprise of environmentalists who opposed it on the grounds that it was unnecessary and conflicted with the state’s clean energy goals, and to Oxnard officials and activists who were tired of industrial projects being sited time and again on their border.

The beginning of the end came when the Energy Commission asked the California Independent System Operator, the agency responsible for keeping the state’s electric grid running smoothly, to explore whether the backup power could be obtained through “preferred” resources. (Preferred power sources, like solar and wind, are those that don’t produce greenhouse gasses.))

Me, "Good old Solar, Wind, and battery storage to the rescue."

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Passion and Tension go hand in hand at SpaceX and Google. But, they are the top places Tech Talent want to work.

SpaceX, Google and Shopify top the list of places tech talent wants to work

Where are dreams fulfilled for tech talent? Companies including SpaceX, Google, Tesla, Netflix, Slack and Facebook rank highly, according to a survey conducted by job website, Hired. For the survey, released Thursday, 2,349 software engineers, product managers, designers, and data scientists were interviewed between Aug. 8 and Aug. 24.

 From article, (What employees say about working at SpaceX:

"Working here is more like being on a mission than having a job," says an anonymous current employee working in the Hawthorne, Calif., office according to a review posted on jobs website Glassdoor. "If you're just looking for a paycheck (no judgement, you do you), this is not the place you want to be. It's never boring. The work always feels important, even when it's basic stuff. Working in a rocket factory is slightly dream-like. The people around you inspire you to do the best work you've ever done in your life which is a pretty incredible high."
"With so many highly passionate, driven people, tensions often run high. People will defend their points of view, you'll defend yours, and it's tough keeping your cool. Picking which battles to fight and which to let go. The overall mission does help us keep perspective, but on a personal level it is non-stop ups and downs. You watch people hold on until they get fed up and flung off," says the senior software engineer in Hawthorne. "Space is cool, being a part of it is cool. But it's easy to overwork yourself without knowing it. This plus the above can lead to quick burnout."

What employees say about working at Google:

"You can't find a more well-regarded company that actually deserves the hype it gets. You'll work on cutting edge projects / solve important issues that impact your community and the world," writes an employee working at the Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. "You'll meet interesting people who are your colleagues, managers, and senior management. You'll open the paper and see your company in the news almost every day, and read about projects you're working on, which is a cool thing."
But, as with SpaceX, working at Google can be all consuming in a way that is unhealthy, says one former program manager working in the Mountain View, Calif., headquarters.)

Me, "I guess if you want to make a difference in a very driven company like SpaceX or Google you take the perks where you can get it and try and do the best you can. If its just to much for you, there is no shame in finding a different job. Remember to consult your Human Resources Manager, and see what can be done to ease your stress. Maybe they can change your work hours to a less stressful one. Some people like to work at night, some during the day. No one expects you to be Hercules!!"

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1,000+ Satellite to Launch should keep Space Launchers busy.

SpaceX, OneWeb detail constellation plans to Congress - SpaceNews.com

WASHINGTON - SpaceX and OneWeb say they are within months of launching the first satellites in their competing megaconstellations of broadband smallsats designed to bring internet to every corner of the globe. Testifying before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Oct.

 From article, (SpaceX vice president of satellite government affairs Patricia Cooper said the company’s first two prototype satellites will launch “within the next few months” to validate in-house technology ahead of an operational launch campaign in 2019.

Launching the full constellation of 4,425 Ka- and Ku-band satellites would take about five years, she said.

“We would expect to provide commercial service as early as 800 satellites deployed, which is probably in the 2020, 2021 timeframe,” she said.

SpaceX plans to use its own rockets to launch its broadband constellation, and similar to its other projects, is building most of the satellites in-house, preferring vertical integration to reliance on a large base of suppliers. The company did not give a timeline for its larger proposed constellation of 7,500 V-band satellites, which would circle the Earth in an orbit below the first constellation.

OneWeb still expects to begin service with its first-generation constellation of roughly 900 satellites in 2019, though the launch date for the first 10 satellites has slipped by two months. Greg Wyler, OneWeb’s founder and executive chairman, said the first launch is now scheduled for May instead of March.
Greg Wyler OneWeb
Greg Wyler, founder and executive chairman of OneWeb. Credit: SpaceNews screen capture from Oct. 25 Senate hearing.

Arianespace is OneWeb’s primary launch partner and will use Europeanized Soyuz rockets to loft most of the initial constellation. OneWeb has also contracted with Virgin Orbit for 39 launches using its still-in-development LauncherOne dedicated smallsat vehicle. Blue Origin is under contract for five OneWeb launches with the future New Glenn rocket. In contrast to SpaceX and Canadian operator Telesat, OneWeb is not launching prototypes. It’s first satellites are the operator’s cornerstone of the larger constellation, which will be built out during 2018.)

Me, "Hm... 1,000+ satellite systems should keep rocket launchers busy for the next few years."

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Relying On the Congo because it has the most proven reserves of Cobalt may leave a bad taste in some electric car customers.

We'll All Be Relying on Congo to Power Our Electric Cars

The cars of the future will depend increasingly upon supplies of an obscure metal from a country in the African tropics where there has never been a peaceful transition of power and child labor is still used in parts of the mining industry.

 From article, (The country formerly known as Zaire -- which hosted boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman for their 1974 heavyweight title bout dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle” -- supplies 63 percent of the world’s cobalt. Congo’s market share may jump to 73 percent by 2025 as producers like Glencore Plc expand mines, according to Wood Mackenzie Ltd. By 2030, global demand could be 47 times more than it was last year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates.

Cobalt is a byproduct of copper and nickel mining. Until recently, there were often surplus supplies as it was used mostly to harden steel. But the bluish-gray metal’s ability to efficiently conduct electricity has made it essential for high-end rechargeable batteries. A typical power unit in an electric car contains about 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of cobalt, though some varieties use less than 5 kilograms.

Read more about what’s driving battery demand and materials by clicking here.

Over the next two decades, the global fleet of electric vehicles may reach 282 million, or about 16 percent of all cars on the road, BNEF analysts estimate.

Tesla Inc. has more than doubled vehicle unit sales since 2014, and is targeting 500,000 for next year. Volkswagen AG plans to invest 20 billion euros ($24 billion) by 2030 to roll out electric vehicles, with another 50 billion euros earmarked for batteries.Volvo Car AB says it will have five electric models in its lineup by 2021, while Daimler AG, the owner of Mercedes-Benz, is investing $1 billion to ramp up electric-vehicle production in the U.S.

With demand growing, mining companies including Glencore, Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. and China Molybdenum Co. are pouring more money into the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has by far the most proven reserves.

Of further concern to automakers is that some Congolese cobalt comes from informal mines that Amnesty International alleges may rely on child labor. Artisanal mining is legal in Congo but poorly regulated. In 2014, the government estimated as much as 14,000 tons of its cobalt exports, or 20 percent, came from these informal diggers. By last year, that share fell to 8,600 tons, according to Darton, as the government cracked down on illegal mines and technology companies including Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. came under public pressure to more fully vet their supply chains.
Identifying Source

Still, it remains difficult for battery makers to know where their cobalt comes from.)

Me, "Child labor Is a problem in mining Colbalt, but with more investment in Congo's cobalt suppliers, to produce more product, it may become easier to at least have inspectors reporting where the Cobalt going into car makers batteries comes from. A premium could be offered for non-child labor Colbalt."

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Killing Latent HIV Cells

Scientists create molecule to activate, kill latent HIV-infected cells

UCLA researchers have found that the way to cure HIV-positive patients may be to activate the virus. Researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute and Stanford University developed a synthetic molecule that reactivated dormant HIV in cells. The molecule killed one-quarter of infected cells within a day.

 From article, (UCLA researchers have found that the way to cure HIV-positive patients may be to activate the virus.

Researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute and Stanford University developed a synthetic molecule that reactivated dormant HIV in cells. The molecule killed one-quarter of infected cells within a day. The researchers demonstrated the molecule’s effectiveness in mice and published their results in September in the scientific journal PLOS Pathogens.

The human immunodeficiency virus enters cells and changes its own RNA to DNA, which becomes part of the DNA of the host cells, said Matthew Marsden, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology and leading author of the paper. The host cells then produce copies of the virus that can infect other cells.

Anti-retroviral medications reduce the amount of HIV in an infected person by preventing the virus from multiplying, said Christina Ramirez, a professor of biostatistics at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, who also worked on the project. Without medications, HIV would destroy immune system cells and leave the patient vulnerable to infections by other pathogens.

“I think (anti-retroviral medication) is a triumph of modern medicine,” Ramirez said. “(HIV) is not the death sentence that it used to be.”

However, some infected cells do not actively produce new viruses and are not affected by anti-retroviral medications, Marsden said. He added HIV can hide and persist indefinitely in certain long-living immune system cells, and their research aims to eliminate this latent HIV reservoir of cells.)

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StarLink is Coming

Here's everything you need to know about SpaceX Starlink

Unless you've been living in a technological black hole for the last few years, you're probably heard of Elon Musk, and read stories about his ambitious ideas and startups. Between sexy electric cars, " hyperloop" transit systems, reusable rockets, and Mars colonies; there's certainly no shortage of things to look forward to from the guy.

From article, (The project is ambitious to say the least, but the payoff will presumably be immense. Imagine having blazing fast internet available all the time, no matter if you’re were in the middle of a crowded city or deep in the Amazonian jungle. Slated for as soon as 2024, this theoretical blanket of broadband isn’t that far off. If this project comes to fruition, it would make low latency internet available to locations that previously had either poor service, or none at all. The impact such a network might have on Earth remains to be seen, but Elon Musk is already thinking beyond our pale blue dot. In the long-term, SpaceX intends to develop a similar system to deploy on Mars for future colonization attempts, and will use the Starlink project to lay the foundation for those efforts.
If Musk and Co. are successful in this endeavor, they will almost certainly cause waves in the telecom industry. After all, with global internet, who needs traditional cell phone service? ISPs and telecoms will likely start to feel the heat as Starlink (and similar projects from other tech giants) progress over the next few years. So while this might be bad news for SpaceX’s competitors, individual consumers like yourself have a lot to look forward to.)

The Switchblade Flying Car

Incredible flying car with folding wings to offer freedom from traffic jams

Hoversurf, the Russian company behind the notorious "hoverbike", has unveiled its latest invention - a flying car with folding wings that can fit into parking spaces and promises freedom from traffic jams. Dubbed the ' Formula Project', the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle seats up to five people, and is powered by 52 turbine propulsion units and 48 electric thrusters.

 From article, (Hoversurf, the Russian company behind the notorious "hoverbike", has unveiled its latest invention - a flying car with folding wings that can fit into parking spaces and promises freedom from traffic jams.

Dubbed the 'Formula Project', the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle seats up to five people, and is powered by 52 turbine propulsion units and 48 electric thrusters.

Its futuristic body is formed from 3D printed carbon fibre and metals, and it has fold-away wings, so it can fit into a normal car parking space or garage.

It navigates using 3D vision technology, and is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, with a good weight to strength ratio.

Hoversurf says that, unlike rival flying car concepts, its Formula Project vehicle is "ready to use in real world".

"Do you know the problem of all projects of flying cars? They are all made for the future. None of them you can not use today. Impossible to parked at the store or put in a garage," the company says on its website.

"Formula - is created for the present day. You will not notice how quickly it will become a part of your life - conveniently and safely.")

Me, "There are going to be those that laugh, But, once flying cars, like these, become more readily seen, in the air, transporting people, laughing will turn into actual use and ownership."

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How to survive the trip to Mars and Beyond

Humans traveling to Mars may soon be possible. Whether they can survive the trip is another story

Bone mineralization is one of those lack-of-gravity problems. For each month in space, Logan says the human body loses 1 percent of its bone mass. And, once back on Earth, the bones don't grow back. "I'm not trying to throw cold water on the idea of going to Mars.

 From article, (Logan spent 20 years helping diagnose and treat NASA's astronauts. He said the main obstacle to sending humans to Mars is what he calls "the gravity prescription."

He said: "We know what Earth's gravity – one G for 24 hours a day – does. And we know that zero gravity, after four months, begins serious health deterioration."

Bone mineralization is one of those lack-of-gravity problems. For each month in space, Logan says the human body loses 1 percent of its bone mass. And, once back on Earth, the bones don't grow back.

"I'm not trying to throw cold water on the idea of going to Mars. I want to make sure we can survive if we do go," Logan said.

He says, if putting humans on Mars is truly a near-term goal, it means studies today must focus on Martian gravity, or 0.38 Gs.

"We need to start sending more people into space if we're actually going to get somewhere, with even problems we know like the gravity prescription," he added.

The scientist also said that it is critical to use the words "outpost" and "settlement" distinctly when talking about space exploration.

"Let's stop playing fast and loose with this idea that the ISS [International Space Station] is our first settlement in space. We have a permanent presence, but with rotating crews," Logan added. "Settlement is men, women, children, over multiple generations.")

Me, "We can build spacecrafts that can go faster between Mars and Earth so lack of gravity is less of a problem on the human body. We can institute some kind of artificial gravity (Centrifugal Force) spinning a part of the space craft to simulate gravity where astronauts can spend a lot of their time. And, once we get to Mars, we weigh down our clothing, with weights so as to produce, simulated, Earth like gravity, to keep astronaut bones strong. We need to come up with ideas like this to keep the human body, that was built for Earth, to continue to function in other lower gravity, or lack of, locations."

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Central New York wonders if BRT can change the way people get around Syracuse.

Could 'Bus Rapid Transit' change the way central New Yorkers get around?

The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) has issued its final recommendation on a transit plan that could change the way central New Yorkers get around. The final report focuses on the idea of Bus Rapid Transit. It involves creating corridors in high traffic areas that are earmarked for buses that would travel more quickly, with fewer stops.

 From article, (The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) has issued its final recommendation on a transit plan that could change the way central New Yorkers get around.

The final report focuses on the idea of Bus Rapid Transit. It involves creating corridors in high traffic areas that are earmarked for buses that would travel more quickly, with fewer stops.

And the cost?

“It’s in the order of the magnitude of over $30 million to build the whole thing out, which sounds like a lot of money. And it is, I’m not trying to understate that,” said D’Agostino. “But we’ve made similar investments in the community.

D’Agostino expects this kind of rapid bus service would help people in impoverished parts of the city who need to use it. But also he says it would attract choice riders, people who would use it because it’s quick and convenient.

“It would help people who have to use transit, but it might also make people say, ‘It’s so convenient, now, it’s so fast, it’s so easy. I’m going to use transit now.’ And so now we have choice riders in addition to people who have to use transit. And that’s how you really build a system that’s going to work for the community,” he said.)

Me, "You've got to love city planners. They see a way of using BRT or SBS and put it into affect. The main goal is a system that moves a lot of people on a road, like a bus, but serving more people, like a trai,n and keeps cars off the road. Public Transit is one of those things that helps build cities. Its nice to see another NYS City planning for the future."


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While Mayor De Blaiso believes the city will lose a lot of Property Tax dollars. The MTA does not run Buses or Subways down every borough street. The MTA would only collect Property Taxes to fund close by Capital Projects.

Cuomo and De Blasio Battle Again, This Time Over New York City Taxes

Budget proposal seeks transportation improvement districts State would have ability to collect taxes in transit areas Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to allow New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to collect property taxes in neighborhoods served by mass transit would usurp the city's power to raise its own revenue, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration.

 From article, (Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to allow New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority to collect property taxes in neighborhoods served by mass transit would usurp the city’s power to raise its own revenue, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.

The proposal, included in Cuomo’s fiscal 2019 budget summary, would let the MTA establish transportation improvement districts in New York City and capture revenues from rising real-estate values, without city approval. It also would require the city to match state funding for subway repairs whenever the governor declares a state emergency.

MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota said city officials would have the power to veto any transit project of more than $100 million, eligible for creation of a special tax district, through the city’s representatives on the state Capital Plan Review Board, a panel that must approve such projects statewide. 

Lhota, who served as a top deputy and budget director for former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, didn’t address the likely possibility that a future mayor would be forced to reject construction of a major transit facility out of concern that supporting it would result in the city forfeiting property tax revenue to the state.

The dispute is the latest in a four-year long feud between de Blasio and Cuomo, the state’s most powerful Democrats. The two have battled over who should pay for fixes to New York’s problem-plagued subways. While the city owns the subway system, the state’s MTA runs it.)

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Me, "We are not talking about taking away that much city tax money. We are talking about certain places the MTA serves the Public by Mass Transit. The whole city is not serviced by the MTA. This is true if you have ever had to walk many blocks to a bus stop line or a subway line. The MTA would set up areas that would be used to collect taxes to fund Capital Projects. These areas would probably be close to Capital Projects. I can't see the MTA collecting taxes on a Manhattan street to fund a project in Brooklyn per say. I could see the MTA collect property taxes for a new Brooklyn subway line, that would run under a current Brooklyn bus line."

If You like Eating outside, at your local restaurant, but it is winter time. Here is a crystal clear Igloo solution. While not totally perfect, it is an interesting idea.

Restaurant turns to 'igloos' to provide outdoor winter dining experience

The owners of Fenton Fire Hall have repurposed garden igloos to serve customers looking to dine outside this winter. "They're like mini greenhouses," general manager, Mike Yahner said. "I don't think they're original purpose was to serve food and drinks in them. Our owners got the idea while traveling and seeing similar setups.

 From article, (the owners of Fenton Fire Hall have re-purposed garden "igloos" to serve customers looking to dine outside this winter.

"They're like mini greenhouses," said general manager Mike Yahner. "I don't think their original purpose was to serve food and drinks in them. Our owners got the idea while traveling and seeing similar setups."

The garden igloos, consisting of a clear plastic material stretched over a metal frame, were initially launched at Honchos in nearby Clarkston, another restaurant owned by the same group. The concept caught Yahner off guard but after seeing it become an "instant success," he figured it was worth the shot at the Fenton Fire Hall.

"I asked the owner if we could get them out here and he shipped two out," Yahner said. "The response to them so far has been overwhelmingly positive. We want to add one more to our patio."

The dome-shaped garden igloos are warmed by the greenhouse effect. The structure keeps cold air out while the sun and a single space heater keep the inside warm. Yahner said the idea attracts a "certain kind of fun person."

"We're very clear with guests that it's not a perfect concept," Yahner said. "Inside the igloo is about 20 to 25 degrees warmer than whatever the temperature is outside. On warm days, like the weather we experienced this weekend, you can be in there in just a shirt. But on colder days, we advise wearing coats if you choose to dine in them."

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Countries like India, with very large Sea Coasts, are trying to see if Tidal Energy can be used to power its cities.

Is tidal energy the next frontier for India's energy security?

New Delhi: Even as the largest global green energy programme is gaining traction in India, a new frontier in the form of tidal energy may open up to help meet the country's energy demand.

 From article, (Even as the largest global green energy programme is gaining traction in India, a new frontier in the form of tidal energy may open up to help meet the country’s energy demand.

India’s power minister Raj Kumar Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday about the country having an estimated tidal energy potential of around 8000 megawatt (MW), according to a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, along with credit rating firm Crisil Ltd.

With a 7,517 km coastline, India’s interest towards tidal energy is understandable. According to the study, while the Gulf of Kambhat and Gulf of Kutch near Gujarat have an estimated potential of 7000 MW and 1200 MW, respectively, even the Gangetic delta in Sunderbans in West Bengal has a potential of 100 MW.

The interest in tidal energy comes in the backdrop of India’s growing energy demand. This demand is expected to further increase with the government’s focus on improving energy access through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya launched to provide electricity connections to over 40 million families in rural and urban areas.

According to the government’s policy think-tank Niti Aayog, the country’s energy demand is likely to go up by 2.7-3.2 times between 2012 and 2040 and hence the need to scale new frontiers.

With India’s per capita energy demand expected to reach 1055-1184 kilogram of oil equivalent (kgoe) in 2040 from 503 kgoe in 2012, perhaps the Arabian sea holds some of the answers for the nation’s energy quest.)

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Carbon Capture and Storage is vital to Coal uses as an electrical generating fuel. However, CCS is more expensive than using alternative fuels that produce less CO2 than coal.

No one will fund the only technology that can save the US coal industry, according to a new Moody's report

Moody's Investor Service predicts that the US coal industry will continue a "sharp decline." That is, unless carbon capture and storage (CCS) is deployed. The technology involves capturing carbon emissions from power plants (and other producers), and then burying the emissions underground. Through proper monitoring, the buried emissions can remain there for tens of thousands of...

 From article, (Moody’s Investor Service predicts that the US coal industry will continue a “sharp decline.” That is, unless carbon capture and storage (CCS) is deployed.

The technology involves capturing carbon emissions from power plants (and other producers), and then burying the emissions underground. Through proper monitoring, the buried emissions can remain there for tens of thousands of years. If done at scale—burying billions of metric of carbon dioxide by 2050—the technology can help avoid catastrophic climate change.

CCS has been in commercial use since the 1970s to boost production of depleted oil and gas fields—when emissions are injected underground, they can essentially force previously hard-to-reach fossil fuels out of the ground. In recent decades, CCS has also been used for climate-change mitigation by countries like Norway, Canada, and the US. Many international bodies, such as the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, believe the technology is vital to hit climate goals.

What does that have to do with coal? Well, today (Jan. 25), Moody’s published a report (paywall) saying:

1. Even if the cost of coal were to fall to levels competitive with natural gas, environmental concerns will still ensure the coal industry’s steep decline. The US, Europe, and China are shifting their fuel mixes away from coal and towards cost-competitive, often subsidized, alternative fuels.
2. Deploying CCS at scale cannot stop the decline of the coal industry, but it can slow it down.
3. Technology barriers for large-scale deployment of CCS have been mostly overcome, but policy support and investment have been lacking.
4. The world will continue to burn coal for decades to come, especially in the developing countries. That, if nothing else, makes development of CCS vital for hitting global climate goals.)

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Connecticut Poll shows Connecticut Residents would approve of tolls on highways as long as they were fair: Either just at the Connecticut borders of the state, targeting out of state commercial truckers, out of state passenger vehicles, and not next to their Home exit ramps.

New AAA Poll Supports Highway Tolls

A new poll by AAA shows that 47 percent of Connecticut drivers support interstate highway tolls, and they also strongly favor a special "lock box'' to ensure that the money is spent exclusively on transportation. Only 5 percent supported the so-called "mileage tax'' that involves a fee that would be based on the number of annual miles that a person drives.

 From article, (A new poll by AAA shows that 47 percent of Connecticut drivers support interstate highway tolls, and they also strongly favor a special “lock box’’ to ensure that the money is spent exclusively on transportation.

Only 5 percent supported the so-called “mileage tax’’ that involves a fee that would be based on the number of annual miles that a person drives. In addition, 16 percent said they would support increased state and federal gasoline taxes, rather than tolls.

Overall, 30 percent did not support any of the payment options, and only 2 percent said that “no additional funding is needed.’’

Nearly 1,000 drivers were questioned about the payment methods for the highly expensive transportation improvements that the state is facing for roads, bridges and highways.

A hotly debated topic for years, tolls have been highly controversial and have not been approved by the legislature since the old-fashioned tollbooths were dismantled after a tragic accident that killed seven motorists in 1983 on Interstate 95 at the Stratford toll plaza. The new tolls would be electronic and would not involve the old-fashioned tollbooths.

House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz said last year that it is "absolutely insane'' to continue allowing out-of-state drivers to cut through Connecticut for free, adding that highway tolls are "inevitable."

"We let people from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine and Quebec ride through the state of Connecticut and pay nothing,'' he said. "It's absolutely insane to me. So tolls, yes.''

The poll showed that 87 percent support a “lock box’’ that would ensure that money from tolls or other taxes would be set aside exclusively for transportation purposes. Only 13 percent said they would oppose the idea.

Tolls could raise as much as $18.3 billion in revenue by 2040 – with at least 30 percent paid by out-of-state drivers and 24 percent paid by heavy trucks, according to estimates by a special panel that studied the issue. Supporters said the state needs to fix its crumbling transportation infrastructure and currently serves as an anomaly as the only state on the Eastern seaboard without tolls.

House Republican Leader Themis Klarides issued a statement late Tuesday: "We all recognize the need to pay for road and bridge repairs, but funding for transportation projects is not a partisan or Republican caucus issue. That is why Republicans put forth a comprehensive plan, beginning in 2015, to do that: prioritize our needs with our available resources. Republicans committed $63 billion over 30 years to do that, not a small sum. Public opinion shifts when respondents find out where the tolls will be located. Some people have been misled to believe that they can be solely located at our borders.'')

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To become a Multi-User Spaceport, Kennedy Space Center is negotiating with private space companies its next steps.

KSC, Cape & Brownsville launch pads to shepherd busy launch schedules

As Kennedy Space Center continues its transition to becoming a multi-user spaceport, more details are emerging about its possible future, including a new small vehicle launch complex, a New Armstrong launch pad, and a SpaceX BFR assembly facility. SpaceX, meanwhile, has also been making slow but steady progress at the location of their future South Texas Launch Site.

From article, (In order to become a multi-user spaceport, KSC must be ready to support a wide variety of rockets and have appropriate launch facilities for those vehicles. This can involve leasing existing facilities to companies, such as Pad 39A being leased to SpaceX. However, the needs of specific rockets could warrant the construction of a new launch pad, or even a new launch complex, containing multiple launch pads.

Blue Origin is currently talking with NASA about constructing a new, large launch facility for their New Armstrong rocket north of 39B, where the original Pad 39C would have been located. This new facility, if built, would be named Launch Complex 49. The Environmental Impact Study for the planned launch site is currently underway.

Since LC-39C won’t be used until after the first SLS launch, KSC is also designing a new dedicated light-lift vehicle launch complex, named LC-48. This new launch site will feature two pads and will be used by small launchers, such as the Electron rocket. LC-48 will be located between LC-39A and SLC-41, but on KSC property.

SpaceX is also considering building their own new facilities, although this will not be a launch complex but rather a factory to build their future BFR vehicle. The company is talking with NASA and Space Florida about obtaining land for the new factory, likely be located near or right next to Blue Origin’s existing New Glenn factory.

Such work would take place after the completion of the company’s future South Texas Launch Site. Progress on the Brownsville site has seen the construction of a large solar farm, the addition of communication dishes for tracking and communicating with future Crew Dragon missions and bringing in construction equipment for building the launch site.

In 2011, SpaceX began talks with various state and local officials, exploring proposals for a new and private launch site located away from their current facilities – SLC-40 at the Cape and SLC-4E at Vandenberg. With their launch cadence and manifest rapidly growing, SpaceX predicted that their current launch pads at the time would be overwhelmed with the number of launches.

From 2012 to 2014, SpaceX began exploring submitted proposals for the new launch site. The primary considered locations in “competition” to host the site were in Alaska, California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Georgia and Puerto Rico. The proposed Texas site, located near the town of Brownsville, was the leader in the “competition”.

SpaceX began buying and leasing land at the proposed Brownsville site in 2012 and started investigating the environmental impact of launches from the site in the same year, which concluded in late 2013.

SpaceX announced in August 2014 that the proposed Brownsville location would host their new, private launch site.

Groundbreaking occurred in 2014, but construction came to a near halt when construction resources were moved to work on the then newly-acquired LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center to ready it for Falcon Heavy and crewed Falcon 9 missions.

Soil foundation issues at the Brownsville site and the need to repair SLC-40 following the AMOS-6 conflagration in September 2016 delayed construction even further, and only in late 2016 has construction at the site began to slowly resume.

Due to the aforementioned soil foundation issues, a large dirt mound was built up in early 2016 on the future Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) site to help settle and pack down the loose soil to ensure a firm foundation for the facility. In late 2016 and early 2017, two tracking dishes, moved to Texas from Cape Canaveral, were installed near the site for tracking future Crew Dragon missions.

 In late 2017, a solar farm was constructed near the launch site to power the launch facilities and construction equipment. In January 2018, Tesla Powerpacks began to be installed at the solar farm, to store leftover electricity produced by the solar panels. This extra stored power will be used when the panels alone are not producing enough power for the launch site, such as on cloudy days or maintenance periods on the solar panels.

Starting in late 2017, construction equipment was moved to the site in preparation for major construction, which should start in 2018. The main structures will be the HIF, a payload processing and encapsulation facility, a launch control center, and the launch pad with its hardware (such as lightning towers, fuel tanks, sound suppression water storage tanks, etc.).

The current plan for the site is to support both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy commercial missions, mostly heading to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), although launches to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are possible. However, recent updates by SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell seem to hint at the possibility of the site hosting future BFR tests and/or launches.

SpaceX is currently limited to no more than 12 Falcon launches per year from the site, and up to two of those can be Falcon Heavy launches.

As of now, the launch site is expected to be finished in late 2018 or early 2019, according to Ms. Shotwell, with “vehicle tests” occurring at around the same time. However, with no major construction on the launch site itself occurring as of now, only time will tell if SpaceX can achieve those goals.)

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Gas costs a lot? Try an electric car.

Thinking of buying an electric vehicle? Here's what you need to know about charging

CLOSE When Macy Claprood was making the commute to Miami for her summer job, she glanced at the instrument panel in her Nissan Leaf and realized she had to fill up - on electricity. Claprood, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, had to stop halfway at a mall parking lot to top off the batteries in her electric car.

From article, (Claprood paid $10 each time she used a station to recharge her Nissan Leaf in Miami — and appreciates the savings. On the Fort Lauderdale-to-Miami commute she was making last summer to her job teaching lifeguard lessons, she estimates she would have spent about $20 round-trip on gas in a conventional car.

That's one reason she loves her Leaf, which tops out at an electric range of about 107 miles.

"The gas just costs so much money," she said. "It definitely pays off."

Most electric-car drivers are like her, using public charging stations only when they occasionally need them. They love the quiet power that their cars provide.

“I don’t know that I could ever go back to gas,” Claprood said. “I like the car.”

With the current shortfall of charging stations, though, electric-car drivers admit to a hassle factor
More stations are coming, potentially making things easier for Claprood. Tesla is tripling its fleet of fast-chargers by the end of 2018, Volkswagen is spending heavily on new stations, and the U.S. government is backing new infrastructure plans, among many other investments. But it’s not clear if they will be enough.
Hoping to go electric? Here's what to expect:

Volkswagen’s emissions scandal turned out to be good news for electric-car charging.

The German automaker agreed to invest $2 billion over 10 years in U.S. electric-car infrastructure, including new stations and educational initiatives, as part of a federal settlement over its diesel emissions scandal.

Mark McNabb, CEO of the VW-funded Electrify America program, said the company is spending $500 million apiece in four 30-month cycles. The first round of investments is focusing heavily on installation of stations in 17 metro areas, including six in California.

And the terms of the settlement prevent VW from favoring its own technology.

Tesla continues to develop its own nationwide network of electric-car stations, dubbed superchargers.  Usage is free to buyers of the company’s Model S sedan and Model X crossover for the first 1,000 miles annually and available to buyers of the new, lower-priced Model 3 for a fee.

The company started 2017 with 5,000 superchargers globally and projected in April that it would finish the year with 10,000. CEO Elon Musk told analysts in August that the company would triple its network by 2018.

Some Tesla superchargers have been busy for long periods, angering owners. But Musk said in August that “we're confident that will address the supercharging needs of S, X and 3.”

Tesla vehicles can also charge at public outlets and in the home.

The Tesla Model 3, which began shipping to customers this fall at a starting price of $35,000 before tax incentives, is able to travel at least 220 miles on a charge. Musk originally projected weekly production of 5,000 vehicles by the end of December but has since revised that target to the end of the second quarter after hitting manufacturing snags.

GM's Bolt, which is available for sale nationwide for $37,500 before incentives, goes at least 238 miles on a charge. Most major automakers are working on longer-range electric vehicles at similar or even lower prices.

Since the average commute is about 25 miles per day, “running out of energy is just not going to be that common,” said John Nielsen, managing director of automotive engineering for AAA.)

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