Hydrogen Plane High Up

The plane in the photo above made aviation history by making the first manned flight by a hydrogen fuel cell. The Boeing Research & Technology Europe team in Madrid, Spain modified a two-seat Dimona motor-glider. A hybrid propulsion system based on a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion batteries was installed.

In February and March around the Ocaña airfield, south of Madrid, there were three test flights. The experimental plane climbed to an altitude of 1000 meters using power from batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. After reaching this peak, the pilot disconnected the batteries, and flew straight and level at 100 km/h for approximately 20 minutes.

Check the video below to see it in action:

Lone Island

The Isle of Eigg is a beautiful small island locate off the coast of Scotland. Through a mix of ingenuity and strong-willed residents, it has become the first entirely self-sufficient island, relying on a £1.6m system that draws power from a mix of local wind, solar and hydroelectric energy sources.

The system was built to supply more than 95% of their annual energy needs and has an emergency backup source of battery storage an two diesel generators. Engineers finished the project on February 1st, and it links a total of 45 households, 6 community buildings and 20 businesses over a 6-mile high voltage network. Even though the system only supports around 80 people, it still sends out an important message to the world.

Oldest Human Voice

Enthusiasts recently gathered to listen to a recently discovered French recording, which scientists claim is the oldest know recorded human voice. It is a 10-second clip from 1860 of a woman singing a section of the song Au Clair de la Lune (By the Light of the Moon). The recording predates Thomas Edison's Mary Had A Little Lamb by 17 years. The sounds were captured using the device shown above, known as a phonautograph.

To add a comedic spin on the story, listen to the audio below. It was recorded from BBC Radio 4, when Charlotte Green giggles uncontrollably after the human voice recording was played. "I'm afraid I just lost it, I was completely ambushed by the giggles," said Green.

Combat Spy Plane

The US Army has a new concept: a six-inch robotic spy plane, modeled after a bat, that could gather data from smells, sights, and sounds in combat zones, then transmit the information back to a soldier in real time. A grant was awarded to the University of Michigan College of Engineering a five year, $10-million grant to turn concept into reality. The grant establishes the U-M Center for Objective Microelectronics and Biomimetic Advanced Technology, called COM-BAT for short.

A low-power tiny radar and a sensitive navigation system would help the bat maneuver even in night conditions. It would weigh about a quarter of a pound and use about 1 W of power. The bat's lithium battery would constantly be charging through energy scavenging from wind, solar, vibration and other sources.

The grant includes an options to renew for another five year period, with additional funding. So don't expect anything anytime soon...

Earth Hour 2008

If you are one of the millions of people who checked yesterday and was sad to see no post, I apologize. On March 29, 2008, 8:00-9:00pm was Earth Hour, but I thought it was Earth Day, therefore had no computer access... That's a good place to start.

What is (was) Earth Hour 2008? Millions of people, across the globe, turned their lights off (and electronics, in my case) to make a statement, to help find new methods of reducing the strain on the environment, in hopes of reaching a solution to our climate change crisis.

Here is their heavyhearted advertisement:

According to the website, "Earth Hour 2008 made a difference. Millions of people around the world continuing the commitments we have made–changing our lives and encouraging others to do the same–will change the world."

If you didn't know about this until now, you're too late... But don't feel guilty, the countdown has already started for next year.

BC Forests Feeling Blue

A recent outbreak of mountain pine beetles has destroyed an area of 33.4 million acres of British Columbian pine tree forests. This has huge economic implications, as these forests are a major source of softwood lumber exports to the United States.

According to a news release posted on BC's website, these infesting insects have killed about 710 million cubic meters as of this month, which is up from 582 million cubic meters at the same time last year. The province estimates that about 76% of it will have been killed by 2015.

These tiny black critters lay their eggs in lodgepole and ponderosa pines. The hungry larvae the kill the trees by destroying their ability to absorb nutrients and water. They also carry a fungus that stains the wood blue, leaving a marker for everybody to see...

Draw The Line... Again

One of the most overlooked, yet increasingly pressing issues in conservation biology, is the current location of human-implemented borders. These include borders between countries, as well as borders on natural reserves of protected areas.

First, consider physical barriers between two nations, such as regions of fencing dividing Mexico and the United States. Due to the increasing rate of illegal immigration in the US, the government has chosen to remedy the situation by building massive fences. In fact, in the election year Washington plans to complete 670 miles of it. The problem? Now people will change their point of entry, clogging the same paths that some animals, like the rare jaguar, choose to use as well. Jaguar biologist Emil McCain said, "The border barriers are directly linked with the funneling of people into the last remaining habitats. Jaguars are very solitary animals, they can't move freely where there are a lot of people."

Now, consider other borders, as in the perimeters of natural reserves or national parks. In many cases, these borders were initially devised in order to preserve the habitats of a threatened or endangered species. So how could they be causing harm now? Well, as we all know, the climate is rapidly changing, and in turn has a huge impact on habitat. As the habitat changes, the animals within that habitat will likely relocate in order to live an optimal environment. The borders could potentially prevent their migration.

Perhaps it is time to reconsider where fences are built, and where borders are established.

Lets Go To Space

It will be possible before you know it. Xcor Aerospace, a California aerospace company, plans to enter the space tourism industry with a two-seat rocket ship capable of suborbital flights to altitudes of more than 60 kilometers above Earth.

The spacecraft, called The Lynx, is about the size of small private plane, and is expected to fly in 2010. It will take off from a runway like a normal plane, and reach a top speed of Mach 2 and an attitude of 60,000 meters. Then it would descend in a circling glide to a runway landing.

How much will it cost to get up there? Well, the ship will be flown by two pilots and carry up to six passengers, who will pay about U.S. $200,000 each. Apparently passengers will experience 4.5 minutes of weightlessness and will be able to unbuckle themselves to float in the cabin before returning to Earth.

Up In The Clouds

According to the 2008 Guinness Book of World Records the tallest living man is 37 year old Ukrainian Leonid Stadynk, who measures 8 feet, 5 inches (2.59 meters) tall and weighs 440lbs. Apparently his excessive growth started when he was 14 years old, after having brain surgery. He developed a pituitary gland tumor, causing it to secrete large amounts of growth hormone. This is referred to as acromegalic gigantism.

A news report from 2006 claims that he had grown 2cm in the previous year. Doctors assume that he will keep on going... Check the AP video below to see what he has endure:

Philippine Good Friday

This home-video footage shows Philippine devotees reenacted Jesus Christ's suffering on Good Friday, by volunteering to have themselves nailed to crosses. The event started with a procession of men hitting their backs with bamboo sticks hanging from ropes. This act of self-flagellation is a common way to atone for sins. Soon they approached a mound where three crosses stood. Volunteers were then laid on the crosses and had nails driven through their palms and feet. Around 23 people, including 2 women, were scheduled to go through the crucifixions in three separate ceremonies in San Fernando City.

The Philippines is Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic country. Although church leaders frown upon the event, it has become a tourist attraction bringing in huge crowds of local and foreign tourists every year.