Producing power from the wind and sun isn't as simple as just swapping a wind turbine for a coal-fired power plant. Every source of power we use has to work with our electrical grid, an old, imperfect, complex system that wasn't put together with the needs of renewables in mind. For instance, because renewable generation is intermittent generation, using it goes hand-in-hand with ramping production from traditional generation up and down. When you don't have enough wind, you turn up the gas-fire generators. That kind of treatment can put stress on machinery and rack up costs in maintenance and repairs. But new research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests that, at least in monetary terms, those costs are dwarfed by the cost savings you get from using more wind and solar power and, thus, not having to pay for fuel sources.
Cost savings of renewable energy might outweigh costs of adapting to renewable energy
Watch a Nemertea shoot an alien-like proboscis from it's body
Watch a Nemertea shoot an alien-like proboscis from it's body. A Nemertea aka a ribbon worm will shoot this silly-string-like proboscis outwards to catch prey or to distract a predator. I like the way Its proboscis branches out into many vein-like structures. Upon first glance, it's hard to believe this footage is actually real. It looks… READ THE REST
Algae nanorobots might soon deliver drugs inside our bodies
Imagine a gaggle of little algae robots maneuvering around inside your body, carrying life-saving medication to target the chemical receptors directly at the point of need rather than an injected medication that has to circulate throughout the body first. Maybe little creepy-crawly feelings emerge. Don't worry, if and when this technology becomes available for humans,… READ THE REST
WaveSwell draws sustainable electricity from the sea's natural motion
From "down under" comes an idea and technology that creates sustainable electricity, down under the ocean. Headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, this innovative firm Wave Swell developed a proprietary "Uniwave" technology for creating electricity from water power. "The WSE technology produces clean, sustainable electricity without the use of any oil or other contaminants. There are… READ THE REST
The best Microsoft Office subscription is less than $36 during our Deal Days event
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you have a computer, the odds are high that you need a Microsoft Office subscription. After all, it's the simplest and most efficient way to create presentations, type documents, send… READ THE REST
Fight the germs both inside your mouth and on your toothbrush!
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Would you wash your floors with an already dirty mop? Would you dust off your shelves with the same rag you used the last time, the one that still contains the… READ THE REST
This professional-grade knife sharpener will keep your blades fresh
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then you know the importance of having a proper set of sharpened knives. The Angle Pro Knife Sharpener with Angle Gauge will keep… READ THE REST
