april 2009 issue
|
World watch
Wind Turbines Land in Antarctica
BY GAIL HELGASON
Freelance Writer
When it comes to energy sources, Antarctica is turning green.
In February, eight wind turbines were officially inaugurated at the Princess Elisabeth Station in east Antarctica. The station is the only polar base operating entirely on renewable energies, says a news release from Proven Energy of Scotland, provider of the turbines.
 |
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE |
Up to now, most stations have relied on diesel generators because wind turbines were not considered strong enough to withstand such extreme conditions. Temperatures can dip to -60 C and wind gusts can reach more than 300 km/h at the station.
The turbines are expected to generate the highest output of any small wind power system in the world.
Engineering
Better Security
American engineers are working on a computerized surveillance system that would recognize suspicious street behaviour — before it’s led to crime. The system will use intelligent video cameras, geo-referencing software and large video screens, reports Mechanical Engineering (New York).
Engineers at Ohio State University have found a way to track a selected target and are studying walking patterns to determine what constitutes unusual behaviour. They hope to make the software available to law enforcement agencies.
Cold Water
Poured on
Water Conservation
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have thrown cold water on the notion that water conservation is always good. In fact, conserving water could be bad for your health.
That view is in response to an increasing trend in Australia to collect rain in tanks, which is predicted to increase the population of mosquitoes that carry dengue fever, New Scientist (United Kingdom) reports. The research predicts that by 2050, climate change will result in six more breeding cycles per year of mosquitoes.
Meanwhile and closer to home, civil and environmental engineer Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech has warned that limiting water use is resulting in water stagnation in pipes, leading to more bacteria and potential lead poisoning.
Missing:
Tomorrow’s
Engineers
The National Science Foundation in the United States predicts a shortage of 70,000 engineers by 2010, says an item in Food Engineering (Troy, Missouri). A survey of more than 1,000 American children aged eight to 17 found that 44 per cent don’t know much about engineering, and 21 per cent don’t think their math or science skills are good enough for an engineering career.
Only 10 per cent of girls said their parents were likely to encourage them to be engineers — yet 21 per cent said their parents would likely encourage them to be actresses.
Dragon-like Bridge
Reaches the Beaches
In Vietnam
 |
DRAGON AHOY |
Imaginative design promises to transform an otherwise plain bridge in Vietnam into the fanciful form of a dragon, Civil Engineering (New York) reports. Now in the final design phase, the structure will connect downtown Da Nang with popular beach areas.
The bridge’s three tied arches suggest the serpentine body of a dragon, with cantilevered elements representing the head and tail. The award-winning design was created by the Louis Berger Group of New Jersey, with Ammann & Whitney of New York the bridge engineering firm.
Goodbye
Back Pain?
If you are among the 80 per cent of people who will experience back pain at some point in their lives, you may end up appreciating the efforts of engineers at Axiom Worldwide in Tampa, Fla. A new decompression system developed by the company uses steel bearing technology, an item in Mechanical Engineering (New York) says.
This design means the two-part systems can’t slip or slide, unlike systems built with plastic or composite materials.
Spinal decompression is one approach to back pain caused by spinal compression, and involves stretching patients for hours or even days at a time. Axiom engineers said a six-week regimen of half-hour treatments reduced pain in most patients.
San Francisco Considers
Congestion Fees
San Francisco may be on the road to becoming the first American city to institute congestion charges, says to Civil Engineering (New York). Stockholm, Singapore and London already levy fees on drivers in highly congested areas. The study by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority is not expected to be released until later this year.
Marmalade
Matters
Marmalade lovers have probably suspected all along that their favourite spread has an important place in the universe. Now, science is on their side.
The popular spread has inspired engineers and food scientists to improve the safety and performance of — wait for it — rockets, reports Mechanical Engineering (New York). A multidisciplinary team is developing a new type of gelled fuel with the characteristics of orange marmalade (minus the rind). The team includes experts in mechanical, agricultural and biological engineering and food science at Purdue, Iowa State and Massachusetts universities.
Gels have a safety advantage over liquids because they are less likely to leak. The gels would also enable better control of rockets by the military, because motors using gelled rather than solid fuels can be more precisely controlled.
CUTLINES for pic (dragon bridge):
CUTLINES for pic (Elizabeth station):
|