Technology

Norwegian Discovers Unknown Flower Species

News Analysis: Norwegian Discovers Unknown Flower Species while investigating above the Arctic Circle. The Molecular Biologist happened upon the flower during her expedition on the Archipelago of Svalbard. The portion of the Archipelago is described as a “Botanical Oasis”; It contains Heather and plants rather than being rather void of flora like other areas. The lack of snow in the area made the Discovery possible.

Climate Change, and floras’ abilities to adapt, may portend new species being created. However, it is difficult to discover that which exists, but where Man has not visited.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/29061

Wind Generation Technology (WGT) Approaches Prices Of Competitive Energy Systems

News Analysis: Wind Generation Technology (WGT) Approaches Prices Of Competitive Energy Systems by increasing production thereby lessening costs via “Economies of Scale”. More buyers are pursuing ‘Wind Energy’  as “Ecologically Friendly” (which it is).

For the pluses of ‘WGT’ there are the negatives counter-balancing the Technology: Wind Farms are “an unsightly aesthetic blight” some say: the blades kill many birds in flight (which they do); the Electrical Energy  provided is transitory (depending on wind availability); the Vast Amount of Energy needed to fabricate ALL Elements of a Wind Farm is not considered by Ecologists; and, Wind Energy is too costly compared to other Energies (however, costs are decreasing).

As ‘WGT’  “Pros” gain against the “Cons”, in part due to its ‘Technical Fashion-ability’, many will see that it is a “Ship that has already ‘Set Sail'”. Reality.

Reference: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-17/wind-power-rivals-coal-with-1-billion-order-from-buffett.html

Proposed Finland To Asia Fiber Optics Line Via Northern Sea Route

News Analysis: Proposed Finland to Asia Fiber Optic Line Via Northern Sea Route is an excellent idea. Beyond decreased transmission time  ‘measured in milliseconds’ over 14,900 km ( 9,258 Sm) there is less chance of Intentional Interruption of Line Integrity. The “Enemies of Humanity”, wherever they might be located, would have a much more difficult time in locating and damaging this proposed Northern Route.

Economic benefit to Nations located at both ‘ends of the line’ should be substantial, one might argue.

Further diversification of World Communication Routes is an Exercise is Applied Wisdom.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/8713-finland-backs-plans-for-data-cable-along-northern-sea-route.html

North Dakota, U.S.A., Sets State Oil And Gas Production Record

News Analysis: North Dakota, U.S.A. Sets State Oil And Gas Production Record for Month of October, 2013. The State produced over 940,000 Barrels of Oil a day and over 1 Billion+ Ft3

(28.3 Million+M3) of Natural Gas per day. North Dakota Authorities are anticipating Oil Production hitting 1 million Barrels a day in early 2014.

Since an increasing number of  Scientists are of the  opinion that Oil and Gas are just Natural Processes of the Earth, they are likely to be discovered almost anywhere. Recent Oil and Gas fields in the various Oceans of the World accentuate the Scientists’ thoughts. 

This increase in Oil and Gas being discovered is great news for their continued uses as Industrial Energy Sources. Until other Technologies can be developed that have as high or higher Energy Capacity Values as Oil and Gas, Men will use what has been proven to work. A Philosophy of: “Good Enough Is Best” permeate their decisions regarding choices of Energy. Reality.

Reference: http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/north-dakota-oil-production-hits-record-high-20131213

The Coldest Atmospheric Temperature Ever Recorded On Earth

News Analysis: The Coldest Atmospheric Temperature Ever Recorded On Earth is -94.7C (-135.8F) in Antarctica in August, 2010. On 31 July, 2013 the temperature was -92.9C (-135.3F).

These extreme Negative Temperatures, some would say, are not conducive to “Global Warming” arguments. Why, they ask, if the ‘Ozone Layer is “Gone”‘ and ‘Man-made Pollutants’ are choking the Earth (as some People have maintained) is not the temperature MUCH GREATER as a result? Some individuals would be of the opinion the  Man-Made Particulates are blocking the Cosmic Radiation ‘So Effectively’ that the aforementioned Temperatures are the obvious result.

The simplistic term: “Global Warming”, while perhaps good for rhetorical purposes by Politicians, does not do Justice for Man’s competent understanding of  Earth’s Weather Sophistication.

For  Thousands of Years people have been experiencing and analyzing the Weather; it  still leaves them with great Voids in their Climate Knowledge. Perhaps, like Mice in a Maze, because people are ‘Actors in the Stage Production’, they do not have the Objective ‘Overview’ of what “Mother Nature” Directs from the Balcony.

Reference: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/10/coldest-temperature-recorded-earth-antarctica-guinness-book

Arctic Ice Increase Of 50% Bodes Well For Man

News Analysis: Arctic Ice Increase Of 50% Bodes Well For Man after all of the rampant “Gloom and Doom” Predictions of some people. Some Environmentalists and many Politicians automatically ‘signed up’ to the “Catastrophic Global Warming – Exclusively Caused By Man – Club” (CGWECBMC). All too often, rather than studying such matters with an “Approved Start Baseline” for Data Collection over Time,  this is not performed (and the results are next to meaningless).   Starting to discuss ‘Climate Change’ which may evidence “+ and-” adjustments to the Weather  was not done; Instead, in “Global Warming, “only+” was used. 

Rhetoric by People with Hidden Agendas prescribed “Draconian” Corrective Measures (at huge expense to others) to ‘fix the problem’. Unfortunately, they chose to forget that in Nature there is an Ebb and a Flow. For example, Siberian Meadow-lands through the Arctic area were a reality long ago. Obviously things were warmer for the Flora and Fauna then; the ‘CGWECBMC’ will not discuss this fact. 

The Evidence of “Climate Change” is compelling. As to how much of it is “Mother Nature’s Work” and how much is “Man’s” only time will tell; time measured by Decades and Centuries (not Months nor Years). Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/ljgluqf

Chinese Shipyards Look To Research And Development In Off-Shore Oil Rig Fabrications

News Analysis: Chinese Shipyards Look To Research And Development In Off-Shore Oil Rig Fabrications; this, to meet or exceed such manufacturing in Japan and South Korea. More oil being discovered in all of the Oceans of the World bode well for the equipment needed for its extraction. Chinese understand that with the level of Quality that must be incorporated into both the design and build of Oil Rigs, more than just lower Price is involved in the selection process. Some of the Chinese Shipyards are ‘fast tracking’ obtaining Research And Development (R&D) Knowledge by purchasing established Companies that have it. ‘R&D’ purchased may be less expensive in both time and money than earning it over many years. The Yards already know the Quality they are  producing  in vessels is very Sea Worthy. Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/l5642lp

Port Of Piraeus, Greece, Gets China’s Financial Support

News Analysis: Port Of Piraeus, Greece, Gets China’s Financial Support to develop it beyond Ship Containerization Projects. Now,  Huawei Electronics will be distributing its Products throughout Europe by way of Piraeus.  Since China pays little attention  to Press Reports of “Gloom and Doom” being circulated in the Western Press, It makes its own “Long Term Growth” Assessments of a Nation. It has done so with Greece (Hellas).

Greece is ideal for Corporations or Countries who in Business value: Location, Location, Location.

Reality.

Reference: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-12/13/c_132963670.htm

China Lands Exploration Craft On The Moon

News Analysis: China Lands Exploration Craft On The Moon in its goal to both make new Solar System Discoveries and Travel therein. To its credit, China, in a few short years, achieved this Lunar Landing, which displays its Technical Expertise in Aerospace. While other countries have preceded China to the Moon, each and every mission there is fraught with risk; it is not easy.

Chinese Expertise, Intellect, and Tenacity will allow it to accomplish Great Deeds in the Heavens; Rest Assured of this.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1380449/one-giant-leap-china-change-3-probe-makes-perfect-moon-landing

Weaknesses In Composite Airliners Makes Russian Titanium Factory’s Sales “Sky Rocket”

News Analysis: Weaknesses in Composite Airliners Makes Russian Titanium Factory’s Sales Sky Rocket since these Aircraft need the structural reinforcement provided by Titanium. Little is every said by Airframes who build Commercial Composite Aircraft about the Titanium Componentry therein. Instead, they brag about the “All Light-Weight Composite Construction” of their ‘Birds’. However, quite often, these ‘Birds’ FAIL Wing or other  Stress Tests prior to Certification by Government Aviation Authorities. As such, Titanium (super strong and lightweight for its thinness) is used to reinforce the much weaker Composite Material. 

Another fact seldom discussed is Metallic Deterioration of Non-Titanium due to exposure to the Chemical Bonding agents used in Some Carbon/Carbon Composites: “As aluminum and steel corrode with composite material, titanium consumption is increasing sharply….”

Additionally, Aircraft initial weight projections given to Airlines to induce Sales do meet reality of delivered Aircraft Weight. How can they? The Airframes do not know Where ‘Carbon/Carbon Doublers nor Titanium Reinforcements will be needed nor to What extent. Since the Titanium Factory sells an alleged amount: “…pointing to Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner which uses 20 tons of the metal compared with two tons in the older 737 model.”; Impressive amount of Titanium indeed.

Fortunately for this Russian Titanium Factory, the Frailties of Carbon/Carbon Composites bring it new opportunities. “One Man’s Loss Is Another Man’s Gain”. Reality.

Reference: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mobile/business/article/490801.html