Jeff Muhs and biofuels
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Next week's Lunch with Leo presentation coincides with Air Force Week, and the topic couldn't be more relevant: biofuels and the future of energy. (Sorry -- Thunderbirds not included!) The speaker for the June 3 lunch is Jeff Muhs, executive director of the Utah State University Energy Lab. Muhs investigates strains of oil-rich algae in order to optimize biofuel production.
Muhs, who was at one point an energy and science policy advisor to the U.S. Senate, recently testified before Congress about the plausbility of using algae to capture and recycle carbon-dioxide emissions and create oil in the process. Muhs is also a USTAR researcher.
(All images courtesy of Jeff Muhs' research lab)
Muhs, who was at one point an energy and science policy advisor to the U.S. Senate, recently testified before Congress about the plausbility of using algae to capture and recycle carbon-dioxide emissions and create oil in the process. Muhs is also a USTAR researcher.
In theory, algae farms can be anywhere there is enough sunlight for the plants, and part of Muhs' research is optimizing sunlight absorption and thus increasing the amount of fuel produced. Other biofuel researchers are exploring creative placements for algae ponds -- next to wastewater treatment plants (the, ahem, natural organics in the wastewater can be part of the algae "food"), in shallow desert pools in the sunny southwestern United States, or next to coal plants where algae could convert waste carbon dioxide to biofuel.
You may remember the Continental Airlines test flight this January with half a tank of conventional jet fuel and half a tank of algae- and jatropha-produced biofuel. Continental joined Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines, among others, in testing biofuels as an alternative to conventional jet fuel. Even though large-scale algae fuel production is likely still several years away, the promise of this biofuel has caught the attention of the airlines, Congress and R/D communities throughout the country.
So, please, join us Wednesday, June 3, at the Salt Lake City Public Library for a discussion about how the hated pond scum of yesteryear could become the future of fuel. (To register for Lunch with Leo, visit its web page. The event is open to the public, and the $25 fee pays for your meal.)
Labels: Leo, locals, science, technology, university, USTAR
Ocarina
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
We spend a lot of time around here thinking about interactivity, how to engage visitors and what The Leonardo could use to get people excited about learning. Back in February 2008, The Leonardo ran a month-long workshop in South Towne mall where one of the emphases was on sound and music. Visitors -- especially teenagers -- were enthralled by the composition and general tinkering they could accomplish with GarageBand, LogicPro, a midi keyboard and a couple of iMacs.
Fast forward to the AAM conference in Philadelphia last month, and a session about gestural computer interactives. Among the many interesting things in that session was a tidbit about Ocarina, an iPhone and iPod touch application that turns your hand-held device into a musical instrument.Ocarina is the brainchild of a Stanford assistant professor, who has also created an iPhone orchestra -- members "play" their phones and amplify the sound by speakers attached to the back of their hands.
Fast forward to the AAM conference in Philadelphia last month, and a session about gestural computer interactives. Among the many interesting things in that session was a tidbit about Ocarina, an iPhone and iPod touch application that turns your hand-held device into a musical instrument.Ocarina is the brainchild of a Stanford assistant professor, who has also created an iPhone orchestra -- members "play" their phones and amplify the sound by speakers attached to the back of their hands.
YouTube demonstration of Ocarina and iPhone instrumentation by Stanford's Ge Wang
Ocarina (named for an ancient flute-like instrument) has a global setting as well, giving players a chance to listen to what people are doing with the application all over. The original application has a "Zeldrian" tone setting, and Wang has figured out how to play Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" on the iPhone. You can also check out a free trial of the company's leaf trombone that's worth your time for the memories of junior-high band class, if nothing else.
Although Wang doesn't come out and say it, Ocarina tweaks familiar technology to allow entry points to those unfamiliar with an instrument, and it has great potential for getting people interested in music, technology and sound.
Labels: music, technology, university, video
NASA
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
NASA isn't exactly a local group, but it has been fascinating to watch from afar their Hubble Space Telescope repair mission.
Atlantis Shuttle launch on Monday, May 11
I'm currently watching video feed of the Atlantis Space Shuttle crew positioning a robotic arm to repair the telescope. There are no orchestral swells on the soundtrack, but the real-life drama beats anything you could manufacture on a cinema screen.
Screen grab of the live feed -- Hubble orbiting with Earth in the background
And if the shuttle-to-Houston updates aren't enough, you can follow the on-board Twitter feed of Astronaut Mike Massimino for updates such as, "From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!" I love technology.
Labels: science, technology
unravel, REVEALED
Thursday, May 7, 2009
We love the 337 Project around here (if you haven't bookmarked their site, do and check them often!), and we also love to see 337 artists branch out to other art forms in the community.
That's why I'll be checking out "unravel, REVEALED" this Friday night. I can't say that I'm entirely sure what the performance will be or look like, but 24 hours straight of dance? That has to be interesting!
It looks like the performance kicks off around 9:30 p.m. You can stop by right at the beginning, at any point during the night or next day, or for the closing portion on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. -- 1700 South between 1200 and 1300 East. See you there.
Update: This was great. Visitors sat or stood near the parking strip grass, facing this scene:
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(Please pardon the horrible camera-phone picture)
The program attributed the piece to a community-wide collaboration (and I believe them -- it takes a lot of support staff and caffeine to pull off an overnight dance performance). I can't vouch for all 24 hours of the performance (saw some on Friday night and again on Saturday afternoon), but it was very cool to see this type of art happening around town.
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