Alcohol for Everybody

This is the sweetest thing to come out of Singapore since the Sling.

Scientists at Singapore’s Institute of Biotechnology and Nanoengineering have developed a method of transforming carbon dioxide into methanol. That’s right, go ahead and read that again if you need to do so. Let it sink in. Now, ask why none of the major news outlets have reported this discovery?

Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly breaking news. This process has been discovered before, but the new method is a lot a lot a lot cooler. The new catalyst being used can convert carbon dioxide to methanol straight out of the air!! That changes everything.
Seriously. This advance gives us the ability to turn carbon dioxide (harmful greenhouse gas) into methanol (clean burning fuel). This is the same carbon dioxide that we release every single time we breathe! Yes, we will be able to recycle our own energy!! This will revolutionize the energy industry, as long as big oil doesn’t stand in the way of its progress.
Gosh, can you imagine a future where we rely heavily on this method of energy capture?
Suddenly, burps will be a lot sexier. The louder you go, the more you care about the environment. In fact, if you’re into enviro-friendly ladies or boys, just go right up to your sweetie and burp in his or her face. There’s no need for silly pick up lines anymore.

(Angewandte Chemie)

The Cutest Robo-Overlords

I am quite certain that, as a civilization, we have reached our peak. After watching these bionic penguins swim (and fly!!) it is all too obvious that humans are totally inadequate with our cumbersome, fleshy bodies. For evolution to continue, we must accept the bionic penguins as our new, sexy overlords.

Flying Robot Penguins? Amazing!

There are so many neat technological achievements incorporated into the bionic penguin.

First, there’s the penguin’s body itself, made of carefully aligned fibre glass rods. In penguin form, it allows for quick turns and a svelte frame. The design has also been used to create an exremely flexible bionic arm. It has current use in industrial production, but I see it as a potential replacement limb. Granted, a lot more development needs to go into research and design. I’m not going to let them put a penguin on my arm. Then again, when I put it like that…

Next, there’s the cool 3D sonar technology that allows the penguins to swim (and fly!!)  around in three dimensions without crashing into shit. This is a pretty advanced technology that increases robot mobility by a huge margin. Modification of this technology could eventually lead to robots that can move around on their own, walk through a city without being hit by a bus, etc.

Last of all, did you see the flying penguins?

(3d sonar technology from: EvoLogics, robot penguins revealed by: Festo)