Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Extreme precipitation (both wet and dry) is altering New England’s streamflow
From Dartmouth News Service: Over the past 25 years, the Northeast has experienced the largest increase in extreme precipitation nationally. Prior research has shown that the amount of extreme precipitation— rain or snow that results in one- to two inches of water in...
Teaching cursive is mostly a waste of time, part II
You blog/newsletter readers have already seen me rant about state efforts to mandate cursive education, but that earlier item didn't run in the Concord Monitor. So I wrote a longer rant that ran in Tuesday's paper, shown below. As of right now my email is leaning 3-1...
Bridge-building takes climate change into account because reality trumps rhetoric
From the Union-Leader: State transportation officials are designing the replacement bridge on Route 1A spanning the Hampton River between Hampton Beach and Seabrook with climate change on their minds. “They are incorporating 4 feet of sea level rise into the design of...
Another record low power day on New England grid
Rooftop solar reduced New England's demand for electricity on Easter Sunday to the lowest on record. A combination of sunny skies, which boosted solar output, along with mild temperatures and the Sunday holiday, which reduced demand, meant that between 2 and 3 p.m. on...
NH lawmakers boldly lead us into the future by mandating that kids learn … wait, cursive?
New Hampshire Bulletin reports that our legislative body, realizing that we need an educated workforce to tackle the opportunities of the 21st century, are mandating that teachers take time out of the school day to ensure that kids have mastered communication...
State sits out regional ‘green hydrogen’ push
I have no idea whether the push for "green hydrogen" is a good idea or not - there are excellent-sounding arguments for both yea and nay. But it's worth looking into, which makes it sort of puzzling why New Hampshire is the only New England state not to be part of a...
NH patents through April 9
(Links to each patent can be found here, using the patent number.) By Targeted News Service WASHINGTON – The following federal patents were assigned in New Hampshire through April 9. *** Flat Flexible Conductive Fluid Crimp Connector PICA PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LLC,...
‘Electrify everything’ is harder for industry
“Electrify everything” – the philosophy at the heart of recreating an economy that will flourish without destroying the ecosystem, is well on its way for transportation and home heating and appliances. Industrial machinery, however, is another matter. We’ve spent...
Concrete is bad, climate-wise. Granite is less bad.
The Swenson Granite quarry in Concord is expanding to the north, partly to meet demand from customers seeking to reduce their climate impact by using an alternative to curbing made of concrete. “Concrete has such a gigantic carbon footprint ... A lot of that concrete...
Vermont eyes per-mile fee instead of per-gallon for road fund as EVs get more popular
Vermont legislators are looking at ways to change from increasingly outmoded gasoline tax to a mileage tax for vehicles, so that road-repair funds won't run out as people switch to electric vehicles. (Valley News story is here.) Officials have described a possible...
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