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Archive for the ‘sustainability’ category: Page 446

May 17, 2020

These drones will plant 40,000 trees in a month. By 2028, they’ll have planted 1 billion

Posted by in categories: drones, sustainability

We need to massively reforest the planet, in a very short period of time. Flash Forest’s drones can plant trees a lot faster than humans.

[Photo: courtesy Flash Forest] One of Flash Forest’s prototype drones.

May 16, 2020

Tesla’s next factory is going to be in Austin, Texas and it’s going to happen quickly

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, sustainability, transportation

A source familiar with the matter told Electrek that Tesla has chosen Austin, Texas for its next factory and it’s going to happen quickly.

The race to secure Tesla’s next factory is apparently over.

Continue reading “Tesla’s next factory is going to be in Austin, Texas and it’s going to happen quickly” »

May 16, 2020

Verge opens pre-orders for its outrageous hubless electric motorcycle

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

You can now order yourself a Finnish electric motorcycle with lots of torque, lots of range and a very unique look. Oh, and it’s also got a jaw-dropping, gaping hole where the middle of the back wheel would normally be.

We first saw this fancy Finnish design back in 2018. At that stage, it was known as the RMK E2, although since it made its public debut, the company has changed its name to Verge and the bike is now known as the TS.

Now, it’s ready for production and we can put some final numbers to it. The centerless hub motor that constitutes the rear wheel will deliver 80 kW (107 horsepower) and 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque. According to Verge, that’ll get you to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 4 seconds, which is plenty quick but will see the back of a well-ridden superbike.

May 15, 2020

Tesla Leak Describes Upcoming “Million Mile” Battery

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

Tesla’s new battery could last way longer and make its vehicles far more affordable.

May 14, 2020

Here’s what SpaceX and NASA’s crucial Crew Dragon mission should look like on May 27

Posted by in categories: space travel, sustainability

SpaceX and NASA are planning a triumphant return to American human spaceflight on May 27, with the SpaceX Demo-2 mission for its Crew Dragon spacecraft. This is the final step required for Crew Dragon to become certified for human flight, after which it’ll enter into regular operational service ferrying people (and some cargo) to the International Space Station on behalf of the U.S. and some of its allies.

The animation above shows how SpaceX and NASA envision the mission going, from the astronauts stepping out of their ride to the launch pad (a Tesla Model X badged with NASA logos past and present), their trip across the bridge linking the launch tower to the Falcon 9 that will take them up and their spacecraft’s separation from the rocket and subsequent docking procedure with the ISS.

SpaceX and NASA have done plenty of preparation to get to this point, including running a full uncrewed original demo mission that more or less followed this exact flow, just without any actual astronauts on board. That mission also included the undocking of the Crew Dragon capsule, and its return to Earth, with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the ocean.

May 13, 2020

New device excels at making hydrogen using concentrated sunlight

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability

System could be scaled-up to supply clean and renewable energy.

May 13, 2020

Experimental realization of Shor’s quantum factoring algorithm using qubit recycling

Posted by in categories: information science, quantum physics, sustainability

Circa 2012


Quantum computational algorithms exploit quantum mechanics to solve problems exponentially faster than the best classical algorithms1,2,3. Shor’s quantum algorithm4 for fast number factoring is a key example and the prime motivator in the international effort to realize a quantum computer5. However, due to the substantial resource requirement, to date there have been only four small-scale demonstrations6,7,8,9. Here, we address this resource demand and demonstrate a scalable version of Shor’s algorithm in which the n-qubit control register is replaced by a single qubit that is recycled n times: the total number of qubits is one-third of that required in the standard protocol10,11. Encoding the work register in higher-dimensional states, we implement a two-photon compiled algorithm to factor N = 21. The algorithmic output is distinguishable from noise, in contrast to previous demonstrations. These results point to larger-scale implementations of Shor’s algorithm by harnessing scalable resource reductions applicable to all physical architectures.

May 13, 2020

EGEB: The largest solar farm in the US has been approved

Posted by in categories: government, solar power, sustainability, transportation

A $1 billion solar farm in Nevada has been approved by the US government; the majority of British want weekly car-free days in towns and cities.

May 12, 2020

SpaceX Seeks $656,000 From California in Midst of Musk’s Battle

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, employment, space travel, sustainability

(Bloomberg) — Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is seeking almost $656,000 in new funding from California in the midst of the billionaire’s battle over whether Tesla Inc. should be reopening its plant in the state.

SpaceX’s request for funds to train existing workers and hire new ones will go before the state’s Employment Training Panel on May 15, one week after the county that’s home to Tesla’s factory sought to block the facility from resuming operations. The company sued the next day, and its chief executive officer threatened to move Tesla’s headquarters, future programs and potentially its manufacturing out of the state.

Musk, 48, appears to be prevailing in the stand-off. He tweeted Monday that Tesla was restarting production in spite of Alameda County’s order and said that if anyone is arrested, he wanted to be the only one.

May 11, 2020

Elon Musk restarts Tesla factory in defiance of county orders

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, sustainability, transportation

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Monday that the company’s factory in Fremont, California is open and has restarted production despite a stay-at-home order issued by Alameda County.

Musk said in tweet Monday afternoon that he will “be on the line,” a reference to the assembly line at the factory where Tesla makes the Model X, Model S, Model 3 and Model Y. He added “if anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.”

Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.