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Archive for the ‘sustainability’ category: Page 3

Jul 6, 2024

Hopper Is a German-Built Three-Wheeler That Unifies the Benefits of E-Bikes and Cars

Posted by in categories: energy, sustainability, transportation

As the modern world faces various environmental challenges, city dwellers are increasingly looking for more sustainable and energy-efficient mobility solutions for their daily commutes.


With a partially-enclosed body, comfy seats, and a steering wheel, this electric three-wheeler is much comfier and more stable than a regular bike.

Continue reading “Hopper Is a German-Built Three-Wheeler That Unifies the Benefits of E-Bikes and Cars” »

Jul 6, 2024

Elon Musk’s liquid-cooled ‘Gigafactory’ AI data centers get a plug from Supermicro CEO — Tesla and xAI’s new supercomputers will have 350,000 Nvidia GPUs, both will be online within months

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, robotics/AI, supercomputing, sustainability

The massive data centers use liquid cooling for top performance.

Jul 6, 2024

Tesla’s Elon Musk posts video update of Giga Texas supercomputer cluster

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, supercomputing, sustainability, transportation

As noted by Musk in his update, Tesla is just finalizing the construction of Giga Texas’ supercomputer cluster. He also noted that the electric vehicle maker would be attempting to get the supercomputer cluster online in the coming months. The cluster is expected to further accelerate the progress of Tesla’s FSD efforts, which is crucial for the rollout of the company’s dedicated Robotaxi, which will be unveiled on August 8, 2024.

While Musk was all work in his Giga Texas update during Independence Day, he also took some time to poke fun at Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg, who posted a video of himself wakeboarding in a suit and sunglasses, sipping some beer, and holding up an American flag to celebrate the Fourth of July. Zuckerburg’s video went viral, with social media users noting that it made the Meta CEO very likable and cool.

Jul 6, 2024

Tesla Cybertruck on track to be #1 electric pickup truck in the US

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

The Tesla Cybertruck is on track to becoming the #1 electric pickup truck in the United States. Tesla recently celebrated the Tesla Cybertruck becoming the best-selling electric pickup truck in the US.

Tesla reported delivering approximately 443,956 vehicles in total for Q2 2024. The majority of the deliveries were Tesla Model Y and Model 3 units. Tesla reported delivering 21,551 units of its other models, including the Cybertruck, Semi, Model X, and Model S.

Tesla did not provide a precise number for its Cybertruck deliveries. However, a few official X accounts suggested that the Tesla Cybertruck is the best-selling electric truck as of the second quarter. Tesla’s lead engineer for the Cybertruck, Wes, celebrated the electric pickup truck’s achievement on X. Tesla’s official Cybertruck X account also confirmed the news.

Jul 5, 2024

NASA seeks industry support in GLIMR concept study

Posted by in categories: biological, chemistry, economics, engineering, space, sustainability

WASHINGTON — The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that the agency is seeking assistance from industry as it begins a study into its Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) Access to Space (ATS) approach.

The GLIMR mission aims to provide transformative rapid observations of dynamic coastal zone ecosystems throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and coastal continental U.S. (CONUS). Its goal is to observe and monitor ocean biology, chemistry, and ecology to help protect ecosystem sustainability, improve resource management, and enhance economic activity. This includes identifying and tracking harmful algal blooms and oil spills, while also observing, quantifying, and understanding processes associated with rapid changes in phytoplankton growth.

The GLIMR ATS scope is expected to include several key components and activities: the spacecraft itself, the launch vehicle, the integration and testing of the GLIMR payload with the spacecraft, and the integration of the spacecraft with the launch vehicle and subsequent launch. It will also cover the command uplink from the industry-provided Mission Operations Center (MOC), the downlink of GLIMR engineering and science telemetry to industry-allocated ground stations, and the delivery of error-checked GLIMR data to various mission partners. Additionally, it encompasses all related tasks and support required during the planned GLIMR Mission, such as pre-launch planning, launch support, in-orbit check-out, and operations.

Jul 5, 2024

Frontiers: Ambitious biodiversity goals to protect 30% or more of the Earth’s surface by 2030 (30×30) require strategic near-term targets

Posted by in categories: existential risks, sustainability

To define areas that must be protected to prevent the most likely and imminent extinctions, we propose Conservation Imperatives—16,825 unprotected sites spanning ~164 Mha of the terrestrial realm that harbor rare and threatened species. We estimate that protecting the Conservation Imperatives would cost approximately US$169 billion (90% probability: US$146—US$228 billion). Globally, 38% of the 16,825 sites are either adjacent to or within 2.5 km of an existing protected area, potentially reducing land acquisition and management costs. These sites should be prioritized for conservation action over the next 5 years as part of a broader strategy to expand the global protected area network.

Jul 5, 2024

Tesla Giga Berlin expansion gets approval from authorities: report

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

Recent reports have noted that Tesla Germany has received permission to expand Giga Berlin from the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment, as per the Ministry of the Environment. With the approval in place, Tesla could start construction work ahead of schedule.

The Ministry of the Environment noted that the early start of construction involves the buildout of an asphalted logistics area for new vehicles, the construction of underground lines and staircases at the press shop, and the installation of rooftop solar panels. As per German publication Stern, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has expressed his support for the Tesla Model Y factory’s expansion.

The approval for Giga Berlin’s expansion is expected to pave the way for the facility to increase its vehicle production output. It should be noted, however, that the approval that Tesla Germany was able to secure was only for expansion of the existing Giga Berlin facility. Further forest clearing activities, which are required for Tesla’s plan to build a railway station in the complex, still require permissions.

Jul 4, 2024

Planetary Boundary Layer Revealed: Satellites Illuminate Atmospheric Mysteries

Posted by in categories: climatology, satellites, sustainability

New research has unraveled the complex dynamics of the planetary boundary layer, enhancing satellite detection of atmospheric pollutants and aiding environmental management and climate modeling efforts.

A new study has provided groundbreaking insights into Earth’s planetary boundary layer (PBL), a crucial area that affects air quality and climate. By analyzing satellite data, researchers have explored how the temperature gradient from the surface to the atmosphere impacts the identification of atmospheric pollutants, offering a deeper understanding of atmospheric thermal contrasts (TC).

The endeavor to keep tabs on and curb air pollution has been stymied by the enigmatic nature of the planetary boundary layer (PBL). This atmospheric strip, in constant caresses with the Earth’s surface, is a hotbed for pollutants. Yet, its mercurial dance through time and across geographies presents a formidable scientific puzzle. Given these hurdles, an in-depth dissection of the thermal contrast (TC) that delineates this layer is imperative.

Jul 4, 2024

Surprising Vortex Uncovered — Supercomputers Reveal Hidden Secrets of Solar Technology

Posted by in categories: particle physics, solar power, supercomputing, sustainability

In the past decade, metal-halide perovskites have rapidly progressed as a semiconductor, surpassing silicon in their ability to convert light into electric current since their initial discovery.

Simulations on TACC’s Frontera and Lonestar6 supercomputers have revealed surprising vortex structures in quasiparticles of electrons and atoms, called polarons, which contribute to generating electricity from sunlight.

This new discovery can help scientists develop new solar cells and LED lighting. This type of lighting is hailed as an eco-friendly, sustainable technology that can reshape the future of illumination.

Jul 4, 2024

Shining a light on oil fields to make them more sustainable

Posted by in categories: electronics, sustainability

One of the most common problems is spills of the salty brine that’s a toxic byproduct of pumping oil. Another is over-or under-pumping that can lead to machine failure and methane leaks. (The oil and gas industry is the largest industrial emitter of methane in the U.S.) Then there are extreme weather events, which range from winter frosts to blazing heat, that can put equipment out of commission for months. One of the wildest problems Sebastien Mannai SM ’14, PhD ’18 has encountered are hogs that pop open oil tanks with their snouts to enjoy on-demand oil baths.

Mannai helps oil field owners detect and respond to these problems while optimizing the operation of their machinery to prevent the issues from occurring in the first place. He is the founder and CEO of Amplified Industries, a company selling oil field monitoring and control tools that help make the industry more efficient and sustainable.

Amplified Industries’ sensors and analytics give oil well operators real-time alerts when things go wrong, allowing them to respond to issues before they become disasters.

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