io9
voyager
Posts Tagged “
Solar
”
voyager
An Inconvenient Scientist
One of the most well-respected climatologists in the world, James Hansen was pissed off about global warming way before it was cool to be 'green' — like, 1988. He's such a baddass that in 2006 he took on his employer, NASA, and the Bush Administration, publicly accusing them of supressing his research, which provided damning evidence that humans were causing global warming. But he's far from finished. Today marks the 20th anniversary of his climate crusading, and in a speech before Congress today he's planning to ask lawmakers to send the CEOs of oil companies to jail for spreading lies about climate change.
More »
Famous Climate Scientist Goes Postal, Tries to Lock up Big Oil CEOs
One of the most well-respected climatologists in the world, James Hansen was pissed off about global warming way before it was cool to be 'green' — like, 1988. He's such a baddass that in 2006 he took on his employer, NASA, and the Bush Administration, publicly accusing them of supressing his research, which provided damning evidence that humans were causing global warming. But he's far from finished. Today marks the 20th anniversary of his climate crusading, and in a speech before Congress today he's planning to ask lawmakers to send the CEOs of oil companies to jail for spreading lies about climate change.
More »
space porn
The sun is giving off solar eruptions so massive, it looks like a huge volcano. Amateur astronomer Peter Lawrence snapped this amazing close-up of the flares shooting into space from the sun's eastern limb, using a solar telescope and filter. Could this herald the appearance of a new sunspot? Or an ancient civilization emerging from its solar fortress? Click through to see another amateur photo and judge for yourself.
More »
The Sun Is Exploding!
The sun is giving off solar eruptions so massive, it looks like a huge volcano. Amateur astronomer Peter Lawrence snapped this amazing close-up of the flares shooting into space from the sun's eastern limb, using a solar telescope and filter. Could this herald the appearance of a new sunspot? Or an ancient civilization emerging from its solar fortress? Click through to see another amateur photo and judge for yourself.
More »
mega environmentalism
A Solar-Powered Death Ray
A Spanish company has built a "Solar Power Tower" near Seville that could easily become the world's first orbital solar death ray. It generates electricity via sunlight without photovoltaic cells, using 624 mirrors called heliostats to focus sunlight on a receiver at the top of the tower. The system generates temperatures hotter than the surface of Mercury. More »
mega environmentalism
Need to get some quick-and-pretty solar energy to your house, but don't want to mount a bunch of heavy solar panels on your roof? Now you can start powering up with these gorgeous, lightweight solar balloons. As long as you've got a helium tank handy, says inventor Joseph Cory, just one or two of these balloons made with photovoltaic solar cells could power your whole house.
More »
Power Your Home with Helium Balloons
Need to get some quick-and-pretty solar energy to your house, but don't want to mount a bunch of heavy solar panels on your roof? Now you can start powering up with these gorgeous, lightweight solar balloons. As long as you've got a helium tank handy, says inventor Joseph Cory, just one or two of these balloons made with photovoltaic solar cells could power your whole house.
More »
space porn
We've long seen the results of solar flares on Earth, but haven't been able to predict when they'll strike next. New research released last week has given us a better understanding of solar weather. The massive, looping jets of superheated gas that erupt from the sun are driven by giant magnetic structures that extend out beyond the sun itself.
More »
Magnetic Structures Larger Than the Sun
We've long seen the results of solar flares on Earth, but haven't been able to predict when they'll strike next. New research released last week has given us a better understanding of solar weather. The massive, looping jets of superheated gas that erupt from the sun are driven by giant magnetic structures that extend out beyond the sun itself.
More »
triviagasm
The Triumphant Journeys of Martian Robots
Since 1960 we've been attempting to explore the red planet, and along the way there have been countless failures and lost spacecraft that attest to just how hard it is to fly those 35 million miles from here to there. However, there have also been success stories, like the twin rovers Opportunity and Spirit, who have both overcome mechanical problems, braved dust storms, and sent back enormous amounts of data. Today, after being threatened with a shutdown due to budget cuts, the Martian rovers got a reprieve. They'll be rolling along for many months to come. To celebrate, check out our list of Martian robots and landers who have already served their robotic duty as our slaves, erm we mean allies, on the red planet. More »
solar racecars
There are no beer logos on this race car, because every inch of available space is taken up with solar panels. The Solar Fox, from University College London, is one of two British cars that will be competing in the 2009 World Solar Challenge in Sydney, Australia. The Fox will be racing at speeds of up to 75 MPH, thanks to an electric motor and solar cells with 30 percent energy efficiency, instead of just 20 percent like most cells. Click through for pics of the other car.
More »
Go Solar Racer, Go!
There are no beer logos on this race car, because every inch of available space is taken up with solar panels. The Solar Fox, from University College London, is one of two British cars that will be competing in the 2009 World Solar Challenge in Sydney, Australia. The Fox will be racing at speeds of up to 75 MPH, thanks to an electric motor and solar cells with 30 percent energy efficiency, instead of just 20 percent like most cells. Click through for pics of the other car.
More »
space porn
A Sunspot Twice The Size Of Earth
Sunspot 982 flared up over the weekend, and it looks totally awesome. Not only is it humongous, but it has these two cool-looking dark filaments sticking out of it. Photographer Greg Piepol took this picture using a regular Coronado SolarMax 90 Ha telescope. Another awesome sunspot pic after the jump. More »
space porn
This is a total eclipse of the sun by Saturn, as seen by NASA's Cassini space probe. I totally want this image painted on black velvet. This famous image is just one of the photos that Cassini Imaging Team leader Carolyn Porco showed off during her talk about Saturn and its moons, now online at TED. [TED, via Runaway Pancake]
Saturn Blocks Out The Sunlight
This is a total eclipse of the sun by Saturn, as seen by NASA's Cassini space probe. I totally want this image painted on black velvet. This famous image is just one of the photos that Cassini Imaging Team leader Carolyn Porco showed off during her talk about Saturn and its moons, now online at TED. [TED, via Runaway Pancake]
special effects
The Academy's shortlist for visual effects awards hit the web yesterday, and Sunshine isn't anywhere to be found. If you want to see why this is such a travesty, then head out and pick up a copy on DVD today. We know all of you didn't see it, and it flew under the radar for a lot of people out there, so we'll wait here patiently while you pick one up or add it to the old Netflix queue. Or you can click through to see our analysis of how special effects in the actual nominees compare to the stunning Sunshine.
More »
Sunshine Should Be Burning Up the Oscars
The Academy's shortlist for visual effects awards hit the web yesterday, and Sunshine isn't anywhere to be found. If you want to see why this is such a travesty, then head out and pick up a copy on DVD today. We know all of you didn't see it, and it flew under the radar for a lot of people out there, so we'll wait here patiently while you pick one up or add it to the old Netflix queue. Or you can click through to see our analysis of how special effects in the actual nominees compare to the stunning Sunshine.
More »
space porn
NASA channels Warhol in these ultraviolet images of the sun, posted today. The non-artistic reason for the differing color spectrums is to show off a reversed-polarity sunspot, on the left. This sunspot marks the end of another cycle of waxing and waning solar flares, meaning the sun will begin climbing towards Solar Max, which it will reach in 2011 or 2012. Sidenote: wouldn't Solar Max be a good superhero name?
UV Solar Images Are Pop Art Masterpiece
NASA channels Warhol in these ultraviolet images of the sun, posted today. The non-artistic reason for the differing color spectrums is to show off a reversed-polarity sunspot, on the left. This sunspot marks the end of another cycle of waxing and waning solar flares, meaning the sun will begin climbing towards Solar Max, which it will reach in 2011 or 2012. Sidenote: wouldn't Solar Max be a good superhero name?
photography
No, these photographs weren't taken by an astrophysicist or whipped up in a special-effects lab. Photographer Larry Alvarez takes these pictures of the sun in his backyard using a camera, a telescope, and some homemade gear. With some tips from Alvarez, you can build your own solar telescope camera, too.
More »
Solar Eruptions Captured By DiY Astronomer
No, these photographs weren't taken by an astrophysicist or whipped up in a special-effects lab. Photographer Larry Alvarez takes these pictures of the sun in his backyard using a camera, a telescope, and some homemade gear. With some tips from Alvarez, you can build your own solar telescope camera, too.More »
The Sun Hurls Continent-Sized Blobs of Gas at Us
Newly-discovered x-ray jets literally blanket the face of the sun, launching continent-sized blobs of superhot gas outwards at 200 million miles per hour. Which is just about 5% of the speed of light, and makes us second-think the chances a spaceship like the one in Danny Boyle's Sunshine might have of getting close to that sucker, even for a quick flyby.
Newly-discovered x-ray jets literally blanket the face of the sun, launching continent-sized blobs of superhot gas outwards at 200 million miles per hour. Which is just about 5% of the speed of light, and makes us second-think the chances a spaceship like the one in Danny Boyle's Sunshine might have of getting close to that sucker, even for a quick flyby.
afterburn
A giant solar flare hits the Earth and decimates the entire Eastern hemisphere, killing millions of people and mutating others into hideous creatures. Would you run for the hills or start trying to save the world's greatest art treasures? Most people would probably be busy building a seriously badass underground bunker rather than thinking about the fate of the Mona Lisa while avoiding mutants and marauding pirates, but the heroes of the new comic book miniseries Afterburn coming next month from Red 5 Comics. Preview panels after the jump.
More »
Solar Flare Divides World Into Pirates and Art Collectors
A giant solar flare hits the Earth and decimates the entire Eastern hemisphere, killing millions of people and mutating others into hideous creatures. Would you run for the hills or start trying to save the world's greatest art treasures? Most people would probably be busy building a seriously badass underground bunker rather than thinking about the fate of the Mona Lisa while avoiding mutants and marauding pirates, but the heroes of the new comic book miniseries Afterburn coming next month from Red 5 Comics. Preview panels after the jump.
More »
environmental installation
This machine looks like it should be creating a new biosphere on Mars, but instead it's bringing solar power to Europeans on cloudy days. Called a "heat accumulator," this massive, silvery ribbon of solar-power-sucking panels can store energy all day and then feed it to the power grid at night. German aerospace engineers put it into operation in Spain earlier this month, and are hoping it can help make solar energy viable in areas without much sun. Photo by DLR/Markus Steur.
Let the Terraforming Begin
This machine looks like it should be creating a new biosphere on Mars, but instead it's bringing solar power to Europeans on cloudy days. Called a "heat accumulator," this massive, silvery ribbon of solar-power-sucking panels can store energy all day and then feed it to the power grid at night. German aerospace engineers put it into operation in Spain earlier this month, and are hoping it can help make solar energy viable in areas without much sun. Photo by DLR/Markus Steur.
science porn
This is the Nuna4, which won the World Solar Challenge in Australia — the fourth time in a row the University of Delft has won the race. The Nuna4 weighs less than 190 kg (without driver), and its lightweight construction means it can get up to an average speed of 90.87 km/hour. Image by Erik Van 'T Woud/AFP/Getty Images
More »
The Fastest Solar Car In The World
This is the Nuna4, which won the World Solar Challenge in Australia — the fourth time in a row the University of Delft has won the race. The Nuna4 weighs less than 190 kg (without driver), and its lightweight construction means it can get up to an average speed of 90.87 km/hour. Image by Erik Van 'T Woud/AFP/Getty Images
More »
comet holmes
Mega Comet In Our Solar System Grows Larger Than The Sun
The relatively benign Comet Holmes, besides having a cool, superfly name, erupted a few weeks ago in a spectacular stellar event which has caused the scientific community to go "oooh" and "aaah." Since then, it's been growing steadily larger, and now dwarfs even our own Sun in sheer size. Do you need to stock up on sunblock and start digging that bomb shelter? More »
