An interesting graph showing how batteries are extending solar power and eliminating the “duck curve”.
Solar + Batteries on the California Grid
Regenerative Braking on Subways
This is pretty amazing. Did not know that this was happening. Regenerative braking saves about a third of the energy used by trains and also keeps the tunnels cooler. From Grist.
Barcelona is turning subway trains into power stations
FLIR Nightvision
My first job out of school involved working on military hardware. I came to decide that I didn’t want to work on weapons. When I told my boss this he sold me (for a while) on our project saying it had great commercial uses. It was Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) imaging used for military night vision. I’ve seen the old 512 x 512 black and white images from war zones many times over the years. I remember my boss telling me the company wanted to sell commercial versions to sherrifs departments to find “little children lost in the woods at night”. Yeah, ok. But I suppose it has happened. From BBC.
Drone captures rescue of girl, 10, who sleepwalked into woods
The Contingency Contingent
I like N+1. Need to make it a point to read more of these. The story of a young recruit and the effort to avoid the “Y2k” disaster. Has it already been a quarter century?
The Contingency Contingent
Nuclear AI
No this isn’t The Onion. I know Mr Gates has invested in nuclear tech, but after decades and billions (trillions?) on government investment, nuclear has been a loser. When can we stop beating this dead horse? There are better, cheaper proven alternatives.
Microsoft deal would reopen Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI
Halal Mortgages
I always wondered how this worked. Of course, most religions had restrictions on charging interest until recently.
Halal mortgages are becoming popular in America
EV Sales Keep Increasing
I keep hearing about the “slowdown” in EV adoption so much that I was almost starting to believe it. The real story is the growth *rate* is slowing. Fair enough. You can only grow at 25% for three or four years in a fixed size market (for instance). Fact is people are buying more EVs every year and fewer gas powered cars. Peak for gas cars was 2017 or so.
Steven A. Guccione 