March 4, 2020

Scientists develop low-cost solution that generates electricity from air

Could battery-powered electronics soon be a thing of the past?



Scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have created a device capable of generating electricity from the water vapor that is naturally present in the atmosphere. This could be a true game-changer, especially with regard to powering wireless electronics.
The device, coined the “Air-gen,” traces its roots back more than three decades to the muddy shores of the Potomac River. There, scientists discovered an unusual microbe belonging to the Geobacter genus that, among other things, could produce magnetite without oxygen.

While experimenting with the material, electrical engineer Jun Yao discovered – almost by accident – that when the nanowires were contacted with electrodes in a specific way, they generated a current.

“I found that exposure to atmospheric humidity was essential and that protein nanowires adsorbed water, producing a voltage gradient across the device,” the scientist said.

Current iterations generate a sustained voltage of around 0.5 volts, ScienceAlert notes, but the team said multiple devices could be used together to generate enough power to charge small electronics like smartphones. Best yet, the tech is renewable, non-polluting, low-cost and even works in areas with low humidity like in the desert. Unlike other renewable sources of energy such as solar or wind, it even works indoors.

The team ultimately wants to develop large-scale systems capable of supplying electricity off the grid. It may even be possible to incorporate it into wall paint to help power your home.

https://www.techspot.com/news/84083-scientists-develop-low-cost-solution-generates-electricity-air.html

March 4, 2020

Mid-Mississippi Delta River Region Potentially a "Next California" of Fruit and Vegetable Production

With climate change expected to disrupt US food system, report identifies opportunities and hurdles of shifting production east

WASHINGTON, DC, February 28, 2020 – Today World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released a new report, The Next California, Phase 1: Investigating Potential in the Mid-Mississippi Delta River Region, exploring the viability of shifting some fruit and vegetable production to an area of the U.S. currently dominated by row crops. The report finds that while California will continue to be a key agricultural state, the mid-Mississippi Delta River region is well-positioned to supplement fruit and vegetable production, contributing to a more distributed and climate-resilient food system.

“The U.S. currently produces more than a third of our vegetables and two-thirds of our fruits and nuts in a single state: California, a place where climate change impacts are already evident,” said Jason Clay, senior vice president of markets at WWF. “A hotter and drier California, with more extreme weather events, is bad news for farmers, but also American consumers and food companies. We need a plan to mitigate risk and take some pressure off the state and its environment. The Delta region could potentially be one of many ‘next Californias’ of the future.”

The report identifies several advantages to selecting the Delta region as a pilot for more intensive fruit and vegetable production. These include a long history of farming, the low cost of land and labor, fertile soils, abundant rain and surface water, and more. There are also economic benefits to be had; widespread poverty and unemployment, along with concerns of ongoing international trade issues and rising tariffs for commodity crops have created an environment receptive to change and diversification. There are also strong land grant universities and trusted local organizations able to provide support and guidance to farmers.

While there are many opportunities, the report also analyzes the significant hurdles that must be overcome for viability at scale. Labor is one of the top concerns. With a shortage of trained labor and very few migrant workers in the region, either more visas must be granted, or more local workers trained to handle specialty crops. Automation and technology, including robots capable of handling delicate produce, could also help address the labor shortage. Other challenges include humidity, pests, pesticides, and a lack of infrastructure needed to process, package, and ship specialty produce.

“Despite the challenges of growing specialty produce, many of the farmers are intrigued by the opportunity and open to change, provided they have the right level of support and aren’t doing it alone,” said Julia Kurnik, director of innovation startups at WWF’s Markets Institute. “There are still questions to be answered, but our research thus far shows potential toward an environmentally and financially sustainable system. Within the next few decades the Delta region could supply a significant portion of the country’s fruits and vegetables.”

The report outlines priorities for Phase II of the Next California project, including additional research and fact-finding, relationship building, fostering market demand, and working with local universities to design a pilot project. Phase II will culminate in a business plan and roadmap, laying the groundwork for local partners to implement next steps.

“Every country has a California in its food system – a place we’ve relied on for generations to feed millions of people – and none of them are anticipating the impacts of climate change,” said Clay. “The lessons learned from this report should be applied globally, starting a conversation to identify the ‘next Californias’ around the world.”

https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/mid-mississippi-delta-river-region-potentially-a-next-california-of-fruit-and-vegetable-production

March 4, 2020

Party Unity--This is what Democrats should be doing right now

March 3, 2020

"Don't Make Me Fight" He Cries Out Loud While They Bite Him All Over

Heartless monsters continue to use innocent dogs for their entertainment. Dogfighting still exists, especially in parts of the world where it isn’t illegal or the laws aren’t strictly enforced. Sometimes the dogs used as ‘bait’ to train the fighters are dumped when they are severely injured and become a liability. Dogs like Phoenix fall victim to this every single day. By sharing his story, we can bring awareness to a problem that still exists despite what people think.

Phoenix was dumped on the streets near Mexicali. His body was covered in horrific wounds. He was so skinny and scared. His head had been bitten so many times that it was swollen beyond recognition. It was so swollen, in fact, that he could no longer open his eyes.

http://animalnews24h.com/dont-make-me-fight-he-cries-out-loud-while-they-bite-him-all-over/

More info and photos at site, if you need a good cry.....

Why are dogs so good to us, even after they are treated this way? I am forever haunted by the pic of the pit puppy that was so sweet, and refused to fight. His, "owners", cut his ears off and threw them on the sidewalk. The photo was the puppy sitting there looking at his own ears. No mention of his eventual fate.

March 3, 2020

This dog was raised alongside rabbits

March 2, 2020

Doctors Are Examining the Vaginas of Unconscious Women Without Their Consent

Informed consent and informed refusal are cornerstones of medical ethics. They’re also constitutional rights. A person can even refuse life-saving medical treatment. Doctors who ignore competent patients when they refuse medical treatment have committed a criminal assault.

But some doctors are ignoring this fundamental right when they treat women. According to several investigative reports, doctors are performing pelvic exams on women without their consent, and often against their will, when they go in for surgery. The practice doesn’t just apply to women who have gynecologic surgeries. A woman who goes in for a tonsillectomy or gallbladder removal might be subjected to a doctor probing around in her vagina, and never even know it.

The New York Times details the story of an Arizona nurse who checked into a hospital for stomach surgery. She told her doctor she did not want students involved in her procedure. After she awoke, doctors told her she had gotten her period. They knew because they had performed an invasive pelvic exam without her permission. Another woman told a hospital that she did not consent to a pelvic exam during routine, non-gynecological surgery. The hospital told her she had to consent to the surgery, and that if she didn’t, she should seek care elsewhere.

These incidents are not anomalous. At teaching hospitals across the country, students practice pelvic exams by performing them on unconscious women, even when those women do not consent or specifically state that they do not want an exam. Most women never know that they have been violated. But some, like science teacher Sarah Wright, report complications such as pelvic pain.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/2/26/1922213/-Doctors-Are-Examining-the-Vaginas-of-Unconscious-Women-Without-Their-Consent?detail=emaildkcc

March 2, 2020

San Jose opens first tiny home community for formerly homeless residents

Walking into San Jose’s first tiny home community for homeless residents is like stepping foot inside a miniature gated neighborhood.

After making your way past the 10-foot gate surrounding the property, 40 tiny homes — 80-square-feet rectangular structures with just enough room for a single bed, desk, shelf and air conditioning and heating system — are in neat rows with gravel paths, lined with potted plants, leading from one home to another.

The unconventional community built on a Valley Transportation Authority site leased by the city on Mabury Road near Coyote Creek offers a mix of stability and compassion for those trying to stay afloat in spite of the region’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.

And after more than three years in the making and months of delays, state and local leaders from Mayor Sam Liccardo to Assemblyman Ash Kalra to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday gathered at the site — formally called a bridge housing community — to tout it as an innovative approach to helping solve the state’s growing homeless crisis. In San Jose alone, more than 6,000 residents sleep in cars, shelters or on the streets every night.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/27/san-jose-opens-first-tiny-home-community-for-formerly-homeless-residents/

March 2, 2020

Wild elephant breaking an Electric fence

Elephants are smart cookies. You can see this one calculating. Its a real shame they were picked as the rethuglican symbol.