Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Power forecast shows big growth of New England solar, but also its big weakness
In New England, there is so much "behind-the-meter" solar power that the maximum output is equivalent to Seabrook Station nuclear power plant - except when we really need it, that is. At that point, two thirds goes away. This is the exciting-yet-sobering conclusion...
In climate change, reforestation has a … (what’s the opposite of “silver lining”?)
Reforestation is good for fighting change because trees absorb CO2, above and beyond the other environmental goodness they produce, but ... (there's always a "but" ) ... new work from Elizabeth Burakowski, a postdoctoral research associate at UNH, shows one...
Internet awesomeness redux: Debunking earthquakes
When a couple of other reporters in the newsroom swore that they felt a small earthquake, I went to the Weston Observatory's Real-time Earthquake Monitor and was able to report that, alas, no such luck. It's the nearby bridge construction again.
Reporting this made me cry “the claw, the claw!” like the Martians in ‘Toy Story’
Wouldn't you love to operate a 5-ton claw that picks up 1.5 tons of trash at a single swoop? If only ... http://www.concordmonitor.com/waste-management-plant-penacook-burning-debris-1613572
Hugo Awards again “gamed” by group with political aim
For the second year running, one of the biggest prizes in science fiction and fantasy writing, the fan-voted Hugo Awards has been monopolized by nominations from Sad Puppies and Rabid Puppies, groups who campaign against what they see as the fields' dominance by...
How does a microbe help us make artificial snow?
Interesting piece and video by Science magazine about how "a specialized protein from a bacterium that jump-starts the freezing process when water is close to 0°C—a talent the microbes normally use to damage their host plants" is used to help snowmaking at ski areas....
Lack of competition for Tesla chargers at Hooksett tolls is troubling
My Monitor column today wonders why the Tesla chargers at the Hooksett tolls aren't used more (there aren't that many Teslas on the road - d'oh!) and more importantly, why there aren't any chargers that can fit other electric cars. The answer to the latter: No other...
Putting scaffolding around a 200-year-old State house dome is not trivial
Lots of details in today's Monitor (here) about the scaffolding and repair project on the N.H. State house dome. Mostly I write so Geoff Forester could take a nighttime photo of the scaffolding.
Five obstacles facing self-driving cars, including when I change the tires
A nice piece on Vox today about the five main obstacles facing autonomous vehicles covers material I've thought about (weather limiting sensors, AI is bad at figuring out what people are thinking) but also some things I hadn't considered - such as: Many car...
Protests & politics get attention, but it’s business that killed big gas pipeline
For the past couple of years the proposed Kinder-Morgan gas pipeline through southern New Hampshire has created protests and political posturing galore, but it was sheer business that killed it: Not enough power companies signed up to buy gas under the long-term...
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