Swiss energy giant, BKW-FMB, has recently announced its plans to create the world's first solar powered submarine. Asking investors to contribute almost $9 million to start work on Projekt Goldfisch, the company hopes to begin construction on the floating "power islands" of photovoltaic panels that will channel electricity for the subs as soon as possible.
According to BKW, the solar subs will draw power from "a solar array of five generators, each with 430-square feet of panels. A GPS tracking system would tell the sub where to surface when it needs to recharge." Fully charged, the company claims the sub could dive to depths approaching 1,000 feet and reach a top speed of about 5 knots (roughly 6 mpg).
So what does one do with a solar submarine? Well, the company hopes to put its first Goldfisch models in Dubai as an attraction featured at the already popular Burji Al Arab Hotel. Already featuring solar boats and a submarine restaurant, BKW says their sub will allow guests to come '"into contact with the attractive idea of emission free mobility."'
Underwater solar tourism may well become a booming new industry but, for now, I think I'll stay above water and away from anything that could potentially turn belly-up should it the sky turn a particular shade of gray.
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/12/we-all-live-in.html#more
-Samantha Perez
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The phone that feels the flu before you do
Everyone worries about getting sick, but a new application, the Zicam Cold & Flu Companion, takes hypochondria to a new level.
All you have to do is enter your zip code and you will receive information on what percentage of people have the flu, a respiratory illness, or even the EVK plague. "Matrixx Initiatives Inc., the Arizona company that makes products under the Zicam brand, gets the information on disease levels from Surveillance Data Inc. — which gets its data from polling health care providers and pharmacies." They can also ask the application what nearby zip codes also have high risk levels so that they can avoid those areas.
I think that this application is interesting, but more useless than useful. Older, or more fragile people can benefit from this application, but I think others will use it as an excuse not to make a business trip or visit family, and hypochondriacs will just freak themselves out!
This application is available for the T-Mobile G1 and is free! It should be available for the iPhone by the end of the month.
By: Alexandra Guzmán
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28038134/
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