Author: Chris

Día soleado, temperatura adecuada, día propicio, aunque con un poco de viento, para vivir una vibrante sesión de pretemporada y los equipo no han defraudado. En una espectacular sesión, los equipo se dedicaron a realizar simulaciones de carrera y tandas de clasificación, exprimiendo a tope sus monoplazas.

De esta sesión se sacan dos conclusiones, que los motores Ferrari van muy bien y que ni McLaren ni Mercedes parecen estar totalmente preparados para iniciar el campeonato.

Quien si parece estar en plena forma es Williams, el piloto alemán Nico Hulkenberg logró, en los últimos minutos, arrebatarle el mejor tiempo al Ferrari de Fernando Alonso que hasta ese momento se había mostrado intratable.

Fernando Alonso y su F10 estuvieron realmente bien, dominando practicamente toda la sesión, sólo se le escapó el mejor tiempo al final ya que cuando intentaba rebajar el tiempo del alemán Hulkenberg, su Ferrari se quedó parado en la pista obligando a sacar la bandera roja y poniendo fin a la sesión de test.

Pedro Martínez de la Rosa marcó el tercer mejor tiempo y fue, junto a Alonso y a Hulkenberg , el único capaz de bajar de 1′20”, lo que habla muy bien del trabajo del español y del equipo Sauber.

Michael Schumacher y Lewis Hamilton sólo pudieron ser séptimo y octavo muy lejos de los puesto de cabeza sólo por delante del Renault de Robert Kúbica, que ha demostrado durante toda la pretemporada que no va demasiado fino, y de los debutantes Virgin Racing y Lotus Racing.

Cuarto fue Vitantonio Liuzzi, el piloto italiano de Force India si que exprimió del todo su monoplaza logrando un meritorio 1′21”056 muy cerca de romper la barrera del 1′21”. Este tiempo de Force India junto con el logrado por el Red Bull de Sebatian Vettel, en su primer contacto con Montmeló, y el marcado por el Toro Rosso de Jaime Alguersuari, deja constancia de la fiabilidad y rendimiento que están teniendo los motores Ferrari.

Tiempos segundo día de test:

Piloto – Equipo – Tiempo
1. Nico Hulkenberg – Williams – 1′20”614
2. Fernando Alonso – Ferrari – 1′20”637
3. Pedro de la Rosa – BMW-Sauber – 1′20”973
4. Vitantonio Liuzzi – Force India – 1′21”056
5. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull – 1′21”258
6. Jaime Alguersuari – Toro Rosso – 1′21”571
7. Michael Schumacher – Mercedes GP – 1′21”689
8. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren – 1′22”152
9. Robert Kubica – Renault – 1′24”912
10. Jarno Trulli – Lotus Racing – 1′25”524
11. Timo Glock – Virgin Racing -1′25”942

Vía | Recta de Meta

Imagine wearing a jacket that would tell you if the area you were entering was too polluted. This fantasy is made true by Industrial design students, Genevieve Mateyko and Pamela Troyer at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Canada, who have designed the “Detectair” jacket. Although this concept has been realised previously by inventions such as the ‘Breathless Corset’, which could detect if the amount of CO2 present around you was too high, the DetectAir is a step ahead of its competition. Detectair gauges the presence of other toxins such as alcohol, benzene, ammonia, nitrogen oxide along with carbon dioxide in the surroundings. It indicates the levels of these toxins by using an arrangement of LEDs that looks similar to human lungs and branches of blood vessels along with using small vibrators placed inside the jacket.

This jacket could be very useful to warn people who are sensitive to these substances. It could also bring in a new trend of being healthy while looking smart.
[talk2myshirt]

The amount of data generated from various electronic devices is growing exponentially and storing this data is not the only problem faced by the digital world. Checking its validity is also equally important. Although accumulating data is a very difficult job, checking its validity requires more time and resources. However, in a recent record breaking experiment conducted by IBM researchers on the fourth most powerful supercomputer, 9 terabytes of data was analyzed in less than 20 minutes. This activity, which normally would have taken a day to be completed in the same system, was carried out by implementing a new method for checking the integrity of data designed by IBM researchers. That’s not all. This method used only 1% of the total amount of energy that would normally be required. Analysis of data is required in all fields ranging from traffic and water management to financial planning, and this method will be able to provide models with greater efficiency and accuracy.

This method lowers the complexity of the process of validating data and at the same time makes optimal use of all the computer resources available.
[physorg]

All of us aware of the benefits of using wind energy to generate electricity. However, due the specific location and large space required, windmills aren’t widely used to generate electricity. The recently designed Secret Energy Turbine (SET) might soon change this situation. The SET windmills have all the advantages of regular windmills minus the hassles. It looks like a vertical chimney stack which consists of vertically mounted blades under the influence of two opposing magnets. When the wind hits the blades of the turbine it starts to rotate giving rise to an aerofoil, thus generating electricity. The SET stands true on its name by generating energy in a very efficient and silent manner. This device can be easily installed in houses and can generate 50 to 250 watts of power.

The SET is a technology which, if commercialized, can make all the houses in the world self sufficient in terms of energy required.
[earthtechling]

Si ayer os presentábamos la que podría ser la primera foto de la versión del Cayenne para el 2011, hoy os traemos imágenes oficiales y todos los detalles del que será una de las estrellas del segmento SUV.

Después de muchas especulaciones y mucho misterio, Porsche ha dado a conocer, para el disfrute de todos, las primeras fotos oficiales y especificaciones de su rediseñado SUV, que verá la luz por primera vez en el Salón de Ginebra.

La línea que sigue esta nueva versión del Cayenne no difiere mucho de las anteriores, pero en las imágenes se puede observar que el modelo más rentable de porche, es un poco más estilizado y menos robusto, dando la sensación de ser más ágil y elegante. Esto es gracias a que la línea del techo es un poco más baja y a un ángulo más pronunciado al bajar desde el techo hasta el portón trasero.

El interior ha sido construido desde cero ofreciendo un tablero de instrumentos un poco más pequeño y una consola central de aspecto muy similar al modelo deportivo Panamera.

Si bien la nueva versión del Cayenne es un poco más larga que su antecesora, unos 40mm, es 200kg más ligera, con lo que se logra reducir hasta en un 23% el consumo de combustible. También ayuda a mejorar el consumo de combustible y a reducir las emisiones de CO2 la nueva transmisión automática Tiptronic S de 8 velocidades y el ya famoso Auto Start-Stop.

Las opciones de motorización del nuevo Cayenne incluyen el motor de gasolina VW V6 de 3.6L que rinde unos 300 CV (también encontrado en el Panamera) y el turbo diésel V6 de 3.0L con 240CV. Para los amantes de la potencia, Porsche también da opción a montar un motor de aspiración V8 de 4.8L con 400 CV (Cayenne S) y una versión turbo del mismo motor V8 con 500 CV (Cayenne Turbo).

Pero la gran novedad que incorpora este modelo, es la introducción de un modelo híbrido diésel-eléctrico, que incorpora el mismo motor que el VW Touareg. Combina un motor V6 TSI de 3.3L sobrealimentado de 333CV con un motor eléctrico de 47CV para tener una salida total de 380 CV y 580 de par motor.

La versión híbrida puede cubrir cortas distancias a una velocidad de hasta 60 Km/h sólo con el modo eléctrico. La marca germana no ha dado datos del consumo de esta versión, pero si que aseguran que las emisiones de CO2 estarán en unos 193g/Km siendo el modelo más ecológico de Porsche.

Precios en Alemania del Porsche Cayenne 2011 incluyendo impuestos:

Cayenne 300CV 3.6: 55.431 €

Cayenne 240CV 3.0 V6 Diésel : 59.596 €

Cayenne S 400CV V8: 72.686 €

Cayenne S Hybrid 380CV: 78.636 €

Cayenne Turbo 500CV V8 : 115.526 €

Porsche Cayenne 2011

Vía | Carscoop

A 22-year study, which consisted of more than 6100 sweeps of the North Atlantic by using fine mesh nets, has revealed the existence of a giant patch of plastic rubbish just north of the Caribbean. This dump consists of materials such as bottle tops, toothbrushes and other such items of daily use. According to scientists, the size of this dump is comparable to the ‘great Pacific garbage patch’ that lies between Hawaii and California. These plastic patches are formed due to gyres. Gyres are areas with few ocean currents surrounded by areas with strong ocean currents. This creates a spinning vortex from which the plastic cannot get out once it floats in.

When plastic is in the sea, it degrades into smaller pieces until it is consumed by the marine life at the surface and thus introduced into the food chain harming other forms of life such as sea birds. Though the direct effects of this problem don’t seem to be grave, neglecting this problem will disturb the food chain and consequently the ecological balance.

[dailymail]

The Honda 3R-C concept, designed by Honda to be displayed in the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, is an example of Honda’s efforts to provide a vehicle for zero emission travel. The 3R-C, which has competitors like the Toyota i-foot, i-unit, and i real as well as the Suzuki Pixy, is powered by an electric drivetrain which is mounted low to lower the centre of gravity to improve ride quality. Though the 3R-C is designed mainly to enable zero-emission travel, the normal creature comforts required are not neglected in any way. It consists of a glass covering which serves as a top while the vehicle is parked and as a windshield while it is moving. It also has a lockable cargo space which can be used to store anything from groceries to luggage.

Considering the rate at which energy demands are growing and resources are depleting, using an electric will no longer be an optional thing in the near future.
[diseno-art]

The OEX designed by Hamid Reza Bekhradi has revolutionized the future of “overland trucks” currently which are used for touristic expeditions. This concept vehicle, designed by Fiat Professional design center and IVECO styling office, mainly focuses on offering improved visibility to the passengers by including features such as a big porthole, panoramic seats facing the sides and an extendible lateral balcony with built-in binoculars. Its main feature, however, is the availability of a “series-hybrid system” assisted by a diesel generator which puts this vehicle in the category of Range Extended Electric vehicles. It consists of a canopy made up of flexible solar cells which opens up when the vehicle has stopped for camping. This canopy of solar cells creates a shadow around the vehicle while the electric drivetrain of the OEX is charged by the sun’s energy.

The OEX will be available in two versions. Version A will be able to carry 12-15 passengers and will be used for small expeditions while version B will be able to carry up to 20 passengers and camping equipment. Both the versions have two variants namely; “All-Terrain” and “Arctic (OEX-A)/African (OEX-B)”.

[thedesignblog]

Paul Frigout has designed an “eco-shower” which will surely make conventional showers obsolete. This shower heats water and provides flow using your feet movements. The floor of the shower is made up of blocks which depress when your feet land on them and a metallic cylinder appears which makes your feet go up and down in a very rapid motion. This creates pressure required for water to flow. This water then flows through the turbine in the shower-head generating electricity which is then used to heat the water.

The building materials for the “eco-shower” use Ice Stone (made up of recycled glass, concrete and steel) instead of using ceramic which cannot be recycled. We truly require more such innovations if the world has to sustain in these energy crises.

[yankodesign]

El Mercedes C63 AMG es una muestra más de la capacidad que tiene Mercedes para mezclar el señorío y la potencia en un sólo modelo. Es un ejemplo de clase y confort que el preparador alemán Vorsteiner, era incapaz de romper, por esto, ha creado un paquete aerodinámico el cuál mantiene el espíritu del viejo CLK Black Series.

Un ejemplo de esto es el spoiler frontal característico en el CLK Black Series y que se ha incorporado ahora al C63 AMG. El paquete lo completa un nuevo difusor trasero que además de mejorar la aerodinámica del coche cumple la función de refrigerar el escape.

Las nuevas piezas han sido construidas con una nueva resina que da lugar a una fibra de carbono muy ligera y un 30% más rígida que la fibra de carbono común. Al paquete se incorporan unas llantas de 19 o 20 pulgadas cubiertas por unos neumáticos Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 que aseguran un manejo impecable del C63.

Vorsteiner Mercedes C63 AMG

Vía | World Cars Fan

Increible historia, pero cierta. Los hechos ocurren KwaZulu-Natal, Sudáfrica, a la salida de la que se supone que era una boda VIP de la familia de un partido político, un Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 colisonó con un Ferrari F430 destrozando ambos deportivos.

Pero lo increible de la historia es que el conductor del Lambo era un ex asesino a sueldo que fue condenado a 72 años de prisión por asesinar a 6 personas y que le fue concedida amnisía política y libertad. Sin duda esta noticia no habla muy bien de la reputación del partido político anfitrión de la fiesta.

Para agravar aún más la situación, al parecer, los dos conductores se liaron a tortas con los curiosos que intentaban fotografiar el accidente. Al llegar la policía ambos conductores se negaron a hacer declaraciones y tampoco fueron interrogados los testigos ni los curiosos que fueron golpeados. Probablemente el conductor del Ferrari sería alguien importante en Sudáfrica por lo que los agentes de la ley hicieron la vista gorda.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

Vía | Wrecked Exotics

From the Via Campesina website, head there to find out more!

17 April 2010 – Join the International Day of Peasant Struggle

To commemorate the International Day of Peasant Struggle on April 17^th 2010, the international peasant movement La Via Campesina calls upon member organisations, allies and supporters to unite against transnational corporations (TNCs), which seek complete control over food and agriculture systems around the world.

On April 17^th 1996, nineteen landless Brazilian peasants who were defending their right to produce food by demanding access to land were massacred by the military police. Since the massacre at El Dorado dos Carajás, every year on this date actions are organised around the world by farmers’ organisations, communities, student groups, non-governmental organizations and activists, in order to demand food sovereignty and peasants’ rights to produce food.

The year 2009 ended with three international summits: the Food and Agriculture Organization World Summit on Food Security in Rome, the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Geneva and the United Nations’ Climate Summit in Copenhagen. At each event, TNCs displayed their intention to control food and agriculture systems, markets, lands, seeds and water—indeed all of nature—worldwide. TNCs such as Monsanto Company, Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland and Nestlé deployed armies of lobbyists at these events to shape policies to their benefit.

For example, US-based Monsanto Company is lobbying to receive public subsidies for Roundup Ready soybeans, which are genetically-modified to resist glyphosate (sold by the corporation as Roundup), the most widely used herbicide in the world. Monsanto claims Roundup Ready soybeans reduce climate change because resistance to Roundup means the soybeans can be grown without ploughing the soil (which releases carbon dioxide), known as ‘no tillage’ or ‘conservation tillage’ agriculture. Monsanto argues that it should therefore be eligible for carbon credits from the Clean Development Mechanism of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change.

Yet the reality is that Monsanto and other TNCs are some of the primary contributers to climate change and other environmental crises, because they promote an unsustainable model of industrial agriculture.

Additionally, TNCs exacerbate poverty and economic recession, worldwide. As they consolidate their control over lands and agricultural markets, TNCs expel small farmers and peasants from their lands and reduce employment opportunities in rural areas, thereby swelling urban slums with even more desperate and unemployed families.

TNCs are making huge profits while hunger and poverty are on the rise. Thus, an offensive against TNCs is now a priority for La Via Campesina. Our movement envisions a world in which TNCs such as Monsanto, Cargill, Carrefour and Walmart, and their destruction of nature and humanity, will cease to exist. To replace them will be billions of peasants on small and medium-sized farms, producing healthy food for local and regional markets, preserving biodiversity, protecting water aquifers, sequestering carbon and revitalizing rural economies.

To mark the 17th of April 2010, La Via Campesina calls upon its members and allies to join forces and increase resistance against TNCs, and to amplify the voices and rights of peasants worldwide.

What can you do?

• To raise awareness about the destruction being caused by TNCs, and the benefits of peasant agriculture, organise an event or action in your community, school, city or organization. Possible events might be a protest, public debate, direct action, film screening, farmers’ market, heirloom seed exchange, song or picture contest;
• Subscribe to La Via Campesina’s 17^th of April mailing list to stay informed about the actions being organised around the world, to receive our mobilisation kit, and to tell others about your plans. Subscribe here: http://viacampesina.net/mailman/listinfo/via.17april_viacampesina.net
• Tell us what you are planning as early as possible to be included in the activities’ list published on www.viacampesina.org
• Send us pictures, articles and videos after the event at [email protected]

Cuando un modelo es impactante desde que sale de la fábrica, poco o nada se puede cambiar para mejorarlo. Este es el caso del Audi R8, que aunque parece perfecto, hay pequeños aspectos que modificados por profesionales, exprimen, en su totalidad, las posibilidades del modelo.

Estos pequeños aspectos han sido modificados por el preparador alemán Prior Desing, que ha creado otro set de actualizaciones para el Audi R8. El paquete preparado modifica únicamente la parte aerodinámica del coche, por lo que todo el tren de transmisión y el motor han quedado intactos.

En la parte frontal han instalado un spoiler inferior con una aleta central y dos pequeñas tomas de aire a los lados. Además el capó ha sido rediseñado dotándolo de una curvatura más pronunciada lo que parece que mejora el flujo del aire.

El parachoques trasero también ha sido rediseñado, construido de fibra de carbono, presenta un nuevo difusor que se adapta a la nueva aerodinámica. Como colofón exterior Prior Desing ofrece unas llantas personalizables de 20 pulgadas.

El interior ha sido diseñado por Kamp-Lintfort. La consola central, totalmente de fibra de carbono, da un toque de frescura a un interior que parece ser muy cómodo.

Audi R8 Carbon Limited Edition

Vía | World Cars Fans

La historia que rodea al nuevo SUV de Porsche está llena de suspense, poco se sabe de la generación de 2011 del Cayenne. Tampoco os podemos asegurar que la foto que os mostramos sea verdaderamente del Cayenne 2011, pero según Lemagauto la fotografía es una imagen escaneada de la edición del jueves de la revista francesa L’Auto-Journal.

Si bien no podemos afirmar que la foto sea real, si que parece que sigue las líneas de los prototipos que hemos podido ver en los últimos meses. Comprobaremos si es una imagen real del Cayenne el día 2 de Marzo, cuando el SUV de Porsche vea la luz en el salón de Ginebra.

Vía | Carscoop

Although it is a commonly known fact that the human body continuously emits small amounts of energy, there was no way to harness this energy. However, a new invention called the “Human energy Recycle System” does just this. It is made up of different units called “Solution” units which are used to collect energy from various human activities. For example, one “Solution” unit can be worn as a wristband to gather energy from hand movements; another can be placed in the pocket near the heart to generate energy from heart-beats. Apart from these, there are also units which can be used to generate energy from body heat. Energy is collected in these units by means of a standard battery. These units can be directly connected to a mobile device in case it needs to be recharged. There is also an “Application portable type” unit, which when inserted into the “Application Built-in type” unit, can be used to store large amounts of energy generated from exercise machines and bicycles.

Though it seems that the amounts of energy generated by this way will be very negligible, if we consider the total human population of more than 6 billion, this amount will be too substantial to neglect. The Human Energy Recycle System really stands by its logo, ‘Healing the earth through small acts’.
[red-dot]

Nowadays, buildings are not just about looks and size. They also have to be environment-friendly. The designs for the Magnolia tower in the Burj, Dubai district, proposed by SADAR + VUGA and backed by Damac Properties have an amazing blend of both these aspects. This tower will set an example, by being a residential building which is not only pleasing to the eye, but also energy efficient. This state-of-the-art residential structure is very ingeniously planned. The tower is oriented in such a way so as to provide the apartments with a view of Burj Dubai tower. The undulating, blossom-like shape of the building, although breathtaking, is decided by this orientation of the apartments. Apart from this, the tower is wrapped in a membrane made of readymade panels which open towards the north (towards the Burj Dubai tower) and close towards the south. This is done to prevent overheating in the building.

The apartments are in the tower are hexagonal in shape. This innovation optimizes space utilization along with providing living comfort. This building will truly be an example of the successful human efforts to reduce energy consumption.
[archdaily]

Transport for London has installed the largest hydrogen fuel cell in its combined heat and power (CHP) power-plant. This power plant located, at the Palestra building in Southwark houses a UTC Power PureCell® 200 phosphoric acid fuel cell unit. This fuel cell is expected to create clean, low-cost energy on-site. This, US$3.7 million, power plant is expected to cut carbon emissions by 40% translating into a saving a US$ 40,000 every year. That is not all; this power plant also educates people passing by its building on the benefits of using hydrogen fuel cells, by using displays powered by energy generated on-site. It also uses the extra heat generated to regulate the temperature in the building. Apart from this, the building will generate 25% of its own energy requirement at peak times of usage and will generate almost 100% of its energy requirement at non peak times.

TfL has set an example by declaring that all their head office buildings will aim to reduce carbon emissions by 10% resulting into annual cash savings of more than US$620,000.
[renewableenergyfocus]

Designer Shang-Che Wu has invented a pedal powered washing machine. Yes! You read it right! This amazing washing machine has all the features of a conventional washing machine without its disadvantages. It uses pedals to power a bi-directional rotating mechanism that generates a two-way flow to clean clothes. The two-way high cleaning flow is generated by using the outer bucket which rotates in the clockwise direction and the turbine which creates counter-clockwise water flow. It looks like a laundry basket which optimizes space utilization. This machine is, in every sense of the word, a boon for people living in places with irregular or no supply of electricity.

Along with saving time, space and, most important of all, energy, this amazing invention provides equal usefulness compared to a regular electricity powered washing machine. In times like ours, when the world faces a grave energy crisis, these are the types of devices which are actually useful.

[yankodesign]

Whenever there is talk of the high requirement and usage of energy, we only think of gas-guzzling automobiles and large factories. We fail to consider the amount of energy spent in cooking food which, taking into account the ever-growing population, cannot be neglected. Philips has designed the Green Cuisine kitchen which lets you keep track of the amount of energy spent in the kitchen. It gives you information about the amount of energy spent for various purposes in the kitchen through surface screens and multiple sensors.

This innovation from Philips can play a major role in energy conservation by using the simple rule that you can curtail your usage only if you know the actual amount you consume. Although this project is still in its conceptual stage, considering the rate at which technology is growing, it is not far from being commercialized.
[trendhunter]

Aware of the fact that 80% of the population of Somaliland lives in areas with either unreliable or no access to electricity, Telesom, one of the leading telecom operators of the country, has introduced solar powered mobile systems. Farah Sugal, Innovation Director, said that although Telesom had a huge customer base in rural areas, many were frustrated because they had to send their mobile phones to big towns or cities just for the sole purpose of recharging. Citing this problem, Telesom introduced solar rechargeable handsets at a very affordable of cost of only $30-U.S. Dollars. Telesom, one of the most respected names of the country, had also been the first company to introduce mobile banking services for the people.

Along with improving the quality of life of people in its country, Telesom has also helped the community at large by its brilliant energy conserving innovation!
[somalilandpress]