http://www.ted.com/talks/eben_bayer_are_mushrooms_the_new_plastic.html
The Earth – and Its Average Inhabitant – at 7 Billion People (Infographic) According to the U.N. Population Fund, on October 31, 2011, the earth became home to 7 billion people. And the population is growing quickly. Estimates put the planet at 8 billion in another 14 years, which is an eye blink compared to the 123 years it took us to go from 1 billion to 2 billion. That means a weighty impact on our planet. How weighty? Great Pacific Garbage Patch The area of increased plastic particles is located within the North Pacific Gyre, one of the five major oceanic gyres. The Great Pacific garbage patch, also described as the Pacific trash vortex, is a gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean located roughly between 135°W to 155°W and 35°N and 42°N.[1] The patch extends over an indeterminate area, with estimates ranging very widely depending on the degree of plastic concentration used to define the affected area. The patch is characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of pelagic plastics, chemical sludge and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre.[2] Despite its size and density, the patch is not visible from satellite photography, nor even necessarily to a casual boater or diver in the area, since it consists primarily of a small increase in suspended, often-microscopic particles in the upper water column. Discovery[edit] Charles J. Formation[edit]
Must-See Infographic: Americans Throw Away Enough Trash Per Year To Cover The State Of Texas Twice Over Did you know that China accounts for one third of the world’s garbage output? Or that only 1 in 5 plastic bottles is recycled? Or that Americans throw away enough trash each year to cover the state of Texas twice over? Societal Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Dr. Mihail C. Roco is a senior advisor on nanotechnology for the National Science Foundation, as well as chair on the Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology of the U.S. National Science and Technology Council. William Sims Bainbridge earned his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University, with a dissertation on the social origins of the space program, which became his first of 18 published scientific books (not counting edited volumes).
Fear the Beard: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Facial Hair (Infographic) Ever wonder if growing facial hair has a purpose beyond making it easier to play “Spot the Hipster” at trendy urban coffee houses? Apparently it does. While modern may might grow a beard to intimidate opposing batters, prehistoric men grew beards to keep warm, intimidate enemies and protect their faces from punches. 7 Alternative Fuels and Fuel-Powered Vehicles With $4.00/gallon gas prices a not-so-distant memory, alternative fuels are all the rage. But what about the vehicles that run on them? Between hydrogen fuel cells, bio diesel, electricity and compressed air, the industrialized world is hard at work creating the next generation of non-oil consuming vehicles. These new, eco-friendly chariots deserve at least as much attention and fanfare as the fuels that power them, especially these 7 models.
How Much Oil is Left in the World? Over the next two to three weeks, I am going to post a series of short articles utilizing graphics I created from the recently released 2012 BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Because I am working on the roll-out of a new product which will be geared specifically toward those with a financial interest in the world of energy (more on that in the coming days), I will take a break from my video blogs during this time, and catch up on accumulated questions after I finish this series. World Oil Reserves Facts and Figures
Relativistic Baseball What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light? - Ellen McManis Let’s set aside the question of how we got the baseball moving that fast. Kickstarter Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform.[2] The company’s stated mission is to help bring creative projects to life.[3] Kickstarter claims it has received over $1 billion in pledges from 5.7 million donors to fund 135,000 projects, such as films, music, stage shows, comics, journalism, video games, and food-related projects.[4] People who back Kickstarter projects are offered tangible rewards and special experiences in exchange for their pledges.[5] This model traces its roots to subscription model of arts patronage, where artists would go directly to their audiences to fund their work.[6] History[edit]
10 Very Rare Cloud Pictures Showcasing cool pictures of rare clouds caught on camera. Clouds fill the skies above us and are part of our every day lives but often go unnoticed. However, there are some clouds that are so rare that you will be very lucky to see them in your lifetime. The six natural resources most drained by our 7 billion people With 7 billion people on the planet – theoretically from today – there will be an inevitable increase in the demand on the world's natural resources. Here are six already under severe pressure from current rates of consumption: 1. Water Freshwater only makes 2.5% of the total volume of the world's water, which is about 35 million km3. But considering 70% of that freshwater is in the form of ice and permanent snow cover and that we only have access to 200,000km3 of freshwater overall, it isn't surprising that demand for water could soon exceed supply.
What is an Operating System Not all computers have operating systems. The computer that controls the microwave oven in your kitchen, for example, doesn't need an operating system. It has one set of tasks to perform, very straightforward input to expect (a numbered keypad and a few pre-set buttons) and simple, never-changing hardware to control.
Crowd funding Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet.[1] One early-stage equity expert described it as “the practice of raising funds from two or more people over the internet towards a common Service, Project, Product, Investment, Cause, and Experience, or SPPICE.”[2] The crowdfunding model is fueled by three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea and/or project to be funded; individuals or groups who support the idea; and a moderating organization (the "platform") that brings the parties together to launch the idea.[3] In 2013, the crowdfunding industry grew to be over $5.1 billion worldwide.[4] History[edit]
Oh I wish I kenw, I dont speak french at all, if I find something I will rememmber to let you know:) by leanaspahija Jun 4
A lot of fantastic, speakers and subjects ! Great to learn English. if something equivalent exist in French I'm interessed to know... here for example by ocpourvoir Jun 4