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UCF researchers are working on tech so machines can thermally ‘breathe’

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In the era of electric cars, machine learning and ultra-efficient vehicles for space travel, computers and hardware are operating faster and more efficiently. But this increase in power comes with a trade-off: They get superhot.

To counter this, University of Central Florida researchers are developing a way for large machines to “breathe” in and out cooling blasts of water to keep their systems from overheating.

The findings are detailed in a recent study in the journal Physical Review Fluids. [Read more…] about UCF researchers are working on tech so machines can thermally ‘breathe’

Undersea earthquakes shake up climate science

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Despite climate change being most obvious to people as unseasonably warm winter days or melting glaciers, as much as 95 percent of the extra heat trapped on Earth by greenhouse gases is held in the world’s oceans.

For that reason, monitoring the temperature of ocean waters has been a priority for climate scientists, and now Caltech researchers have discovered that seismic rumblings on the seafloor can provide them with another tool for doing that.

In a new paper publishing in Science, the researchers show how they are able to make use of existing seismic monitoring equipment, as well as historic seismic data, to determine how much the temperature of the earth’s oceans has changed and continues changing, even at depths that are normally out of the reach of conventional tools. [Read more…] about Undersea earthquakes shake up climate science

Ancient human footprints in Saudi Arabia give glimpse of Arabian ecology 120000 years ago

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Situated between Africa and Eurasia, the Arabian Peninsula is an important yet understudied region for understanding human evolution across the continents.

Recent research highlighting the role of the Arabian Peninsula in human prehistory shows that humans repeatedly dispersed into the peninsula’s interior at times when its harsh deserts were transformed into lush grasslands.

However, the nature and timing of these dispersals have remained elusive, due to a scarcity of datable material and poor-resolution paleo-ecological data associated with evidence for humans. [Read more…] about Ancient human footprints in Saudi Arabia give glimpse of Arabian ecology 120000 years ago

Carbon-rich exoplanets may be made of diamonds

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As missions like NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, TESS and Kepler continue to provide insights into the properties of exoplanets (planets around other stars), scientists are increasingly able to piece together what these planets look like, what they are made of, and if they could be habitable or even inhabited.

In a new study published recently in The Planetary Science Journal, a team of researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Chicago have determined that some carbon-rich exoplanets, given the right circumstances, could be made of diamonds and silica.

“These exoplanets are unlike anything in our solar system,” says lead author Harrison Allen-Sutter of ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration. [Read more…] about Carbon-rich exoplanets may be made of diamonds

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Shedding light on coral reefs

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Earlier this year, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) senior scientist and coral reef ecologist Eric Hochberg published a paper in the journal Coral Reefs that put numbers to a widely accepted concept in reef science: that materials in seawater (such as phytoplankton, organic matter, or suspended sediment) can affect how much light, as well as the wavelength of light, reaches the seafloor.

This, in turn, impacts the ecology of organisms, including corals and algae, that live on the seafloor and rely on that light for photosynthesis.

“Given that reef ecosystems are driven by photosynthesis, there should really be a greater interest in light ecology on reefs,” Hochberg said. “In order to do that, you need to have numbers, so this paper is a start in that it generates the first reasonably large data set on water clarity on reefs.” [Read more…] about Shedding light on coral reefs

Michael Phelps part of Colgate’s ‘Save Water’ conservation effort

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On Earth Day 2019, Colgate announced its continued partnership with one of the greatest swimmers of all time, Michael Phelps, who serves as global ambassador for the brand’s ongoing “Save Water” initiative.

The campaign message is simple: small acts like turning off the tap when brushing your teeth can cumulatively save massive amounts of water as well as the energy required to treat water and pipe it into people’s homes.

Colgate products are found in two out of every three homes in the world, and almost all of them require water use.

“Given that our brand is found in more households than any other brand in the world, Colgate is uniquely positioned to lead in water conservation and promote conservation,” says JoAnne Murphy, Director of Retail Category Development, U.S.

While Colgate continues to make significant strides in reducing the amount of water and energy it uses to make and distribute products, 90 percent of its water footprint comes from consumer use.

While the U.S. uses more water per person than any other country in the world, 130 million Americans live with severe water scarcity1 at least one month per year. More than that, 1.7 million lack running tap water or a flushable toilet in their homes.

World-champion swimmer Phelps, Colgate’s global water ambassador since 2017, says, “I am often asked about my keys to success in the pool and people are surprised to hear how much I talk about doing all the small things as part of my preparation that ultimately have a big impact on performance.

“The same applies to this important “Save Water” campaign as the more we can all practice small behavior changes like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, the bigger collective impact we can make in conserving our water usage.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, just turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth for two minutes can save about 64 glasses of water.

Fressko’s eco-friendly water bottles highlight new outlook for eco-friendly living

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By Andrew Polin

Fressko, which manufactures premium glass- and bamboo-encased stainless steel flasks, has changed my outlook on how I can live an eco-friendlier life.

After writing about Fressko’s environmentally-friendly flasks for the past five months and reading about the plastic garbage that is polluting the world’s oceans – a whale died recently with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach – I have slowly taken small steps to reduce my plastic-footprint on the world.

First, I leave a Fressko flask in my car and I use it whenever I visit a fast-food restaurant or movie theater. That way, I don’t need a plastic cup for water or soda. I go to at least 2-3 movies a week so that’s about 30 plastic cups saved over the past three months. Multiply my efforts by millions of people and it can really have an effect.

This week I ordered stainless steel utensils in a travel pack that I am going to use whenever I eat at any restaurant that uses plastic utensils. It cost about $12 and included two stainless steel straws with a cleaning brush. Once again, do the math and multiply my savings by millions of people.

I also take reusable non-plastic grocery bags to the supermarket and use them instead of plastic bags.

I just made three simple changes in my life. Anyone can do what I am doing. Together, we can have an impact.

“It is very satisfying to know our company’s mission is rubbing off on our consumers,” said Hayley Culley, marketing director for Fressko, which is based in Melbourne, Australia. “Our philosophy is simple: Be kind to mother earth, to others and yourself.”

Fressko flasks are durable, functional, leakproof, and can keep beverages cold for up to 12 hours or hot for up to six hours. Fressko also uses a third-party quality assurance company to make sure the company’s quality standards are met during production.

With an eco-friendly philosophy, Fressko has created sustainable, reusable alternatives to plastic, rubber or paper cups. These containers are 100 percent BPA-free and designed for durability and ease of use.

Fressko offers three product lines:

Original Series, which includes three glass and two bamboo flasks.

Color Collection, which is a series of infuser flasks in a variety of colors: lagoon, floss, coal, denim, snow and clay.

Camino, which is a 12-ounce reusable coffee cup featuring a color-coated, scratch-resistant exterior and a stainless steel interior and is designed for long-term durability. The cup can be placed under the spout of a coffee machine and includes internal barista markings.