I know most people have heard the term "supercomputer" although it may have been in a movie. The fact is we really do have a class of computers called supercomputers. These computers are designed for extreme processing, able to crunch numbers and resolve problems at break neck speed. So fast, they are currently measured in petaflops. The new fastest of the supercomputers is the Oak Ridge National Labratory's Jaguar XT5 running at 1.759 petaflops and is pictured above. One of the primary jobs of the new supercomputer will be addressing climate change. Read More...

This school, located in Los Angeles, will be the first to generate 100% of its own energy. Utilizing both solar PV and wind turbines. Buildings will be constructed in position specific arrangements to maximize renewable sources.

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Well, I didn't realize that the first solar space craft crashed into the ocean a few years ago. I just read that the second attempt is scheduled for 2010. The premise is simple, the sails are dark on one side and reflective on the other. As the craft is free in space without significant forces, the light bouncing from the reflective side and being absorbed on the dark side will add up over time to significant propulsion and speed.

If you have ever seen the toy shown above, this is the same process that will drive the craft. You can click the image for a better view. The toy is called a radiometer.

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This really can't be summarized easily. Michelle is a Biomedical engineer at U.C. Irvine. Given a problem with microfluidics, she thought back to her childhood and found a very powerful solution that no one had considered.

Here is a snip from the article:

' ...the specialized equipment that she previously used to make microfluidic chips cost more than $100,000--money that wasn't immediately available. "I'm a very impatient person," says Khine, now an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine. "I wanted to figure out how I could set things up really quickly."

Racking her brain for a quick-and-dirty way to make microfluidic devices, Khine remembered her favorite childhood toy: Shrinky Dinks, large sheets of thin plastic that can be colored with paint or ink and then shrunk in a hot oven. "I thought if I could print out the [designs] at a certain resolution and then make them shrink, I could make channels the right size for micro­fluidics," she says.'

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If you are a vet; Thank you for your service that we can enjoy the lifestyle and opportunities we have.