James asks…
Just wondering if anyone thinks this would be a good idea?
With rising gas prices and utility bills getting larger every year don’t you think its time we discovered new sources of power? Do you think that it would be a good idea to put some of the most brilliant minds together from places like Berkley, M.I.T., and other universities to create small communites that run soley on new energy sources. For example, self sufficient homes that are powered totally off-grid,and vehichles that run on renewable resources such as hydrogen,electric,and bio fuels. For funding, companies that have interest in this project can be a sponsor therefore relieving the heavy costs to the schools in return for ideas to possibly produce in the future. Why should we have to depend on anything that one day we will run out of ? When we have the technology to explore space for a few ooh’s and ahh’s just to say we was the first to do it, why don’t we ever have the money to do something constructive enough to save our own a s s? What do you think? any ideas?
The Expert answers:
This is already being done. There’s plenty of reserch goin on wind turbines, various ways of using solar, tide and wave power. Plus biodiesel, cars that run on ethanol (grain-based alcohol, really), hydrogen, hybrid and 100% electric cars.
Some of it is already rolled out. Hybrid cars are on the streets even in US, UK has biodiesel in gas stations, Brazil – ethanol cars. Wind turbines have been around a decade at least.
These things are still 30-50% more expensive than fossil fuels, that’s why rollouts are mostly subsidized by governments.
But do not worry, once oil price goes up another $30/barrel, all those alternative energy sources will go mainstream.
Donald asks…
I have some science questions. not that hard i just dont understand them! Please help!?
What is a regular amount of a renewable resource that can be harvested without reducing the future supply called?
What is an area with a large population of valuable ocean organisms called?
Is setting aside a marsh as a wildlife refuge an example of a legal or scientific approach to protecting biodiversity?
Building a highway is an example of the type of land use know as what?
The ozone layer is important because it helps block out harmful______ radiation?
Almost half of all medicines sold today contain______ originally found in wild organisms.
Wood, leaves and manure belong to a group renewable energy sources called ________ fuels.
Wind and hydroelectric power are both indirect forms of ________ energy.
It would mean alot if you could answer all of these. If you can’t just do what you know. I will pick a best answer that has as many of the questions answered. Please help I don’t have that much time! Thanks!
The Expert answers:
1- I would say something like the “Sustainable volume” or “Sustainable amount” or “Sustainable Limit”
2- ?
3- Could be both, In the UK a rare habitat may be protected as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest” and there are other EU protection designations. But, scientific evidence of the value of the habitat needs to be presented to grant these statuses, so “Both” could be an answer
4- ?
5- The ozone layer keeps out UltraViolet radiation that causes sunburn, skin cancer and can be harmful to plant life as well as animal life.
6- Well, salicylic acid was originally found in Willow bark. Penicillin is produced by certain molds. The answer could be ‘chemicals’ or ‘molecules’ – not a very well written question.
7- Biofuels
8- I think the setter is wanting ‘Electrical’ as this is what wind and hydro power actuually produce, but again, not a well set question. Indirectly wind and hydro rely on Solar energy, but then again, indirectly biofuels rely on solar energy too.
Get a better science teacher!
Thomas asks…
Do we actually have the science and technology to create a world where we don’t need money?
I have heard that there is enough energy and resources to make many different types of renewable energies. Energies like wind, tide, geothermal and solar. Technology makes it easier for man to live comfortably, yet many men are losing jobs to robots taking over their industry. For example, like car manufacturers or the agricultural industry. I have learned that there are many faults in the American banking system. I have also learned that money is created out of thin air and it is all an instrument of debt. Perhaps man needs to let himself be told what to do and what to believe for his own good by his own government and religion? I don’t think so. If we truly knew what we were capable of, things would be a lot better than they really are. There is no need for wars and there is no need to hate. We are all preconditioned to believe that somebody on a high throne made of power and money has the right to create the laws we abide by? I don’t think so.
The Expert answers:
Money is simply a medium of exchange. It’s nothing more than a type of language for communicating value. You could say it’s “out of thin air” but only to the extent that words are; it’s true only in a particularly stupid sort of way.
What causes money to operate in this certain way is the existence of a market of private properties. Private property creates value by limiting who can control it, producing an opening for a desire of control in other people while a market is a series of rules which produce the types of values that a culture or government intends to produce. Money can be seen as a peculiar rule in this sense; it regulates interactions but only by insisting that they be mediated while not saying by what they should be mediated. In other words, I don’t just give you my turkeys for your chickens but I give you pieces of paper or coins or checks or credit cards for your turkeys which you give back to me for my chickens. Money is so powerful in this sense that even if I went back to just giving you turkeys, the turkeys would become the medium of exchange and in a very real way, “Money”.
This preface is just to point out what it is you’re proposing we get rid of. While there are other ways of regulating markets and organizing societies, it is the underlying logic of the society which causes the problems you’re attempting to address, not some symptom like money itself.
Charles asks…
Science Questions Please Help!!!?
You are trying to win a race through the woods. You know you can take a short cut to the west, but then you must ride your bike 27 meters in 9 seconds to win. What does your average velocity need to be to win the race?
A. increases; increases
B. increases; decreases
C. decreases; increases
D. decreases; decreases
An example of the law of conservation of energy would be which of the following?
A.Your radio transfers electrical energy to sound energy and heat energy.
B. You turn off your radio to save energy.
C. You exercise to music to use up some of your energy.
D. You take your dog on a walk to help him use more energy.
The use of renewable and non-renewable resources is a hot topic in our society today. What do you think? Could the use of renewable resources as a primary energy source happen in your lifetime? What are some ways you personally can conserve energy and help the environment? Please include an answer and explanation for each question as well as three ways you personally can conserve energy and help the environment.
sry Choices for the first question
A. 3 meters per second, west
B. 18 meters per second, west
C .3 meters per second
D. 18 meters per second
The Expert answers:
.
1) I don’t get the choices for the first question: (27 meters) / (9 seconds) = 3 m/s
2) answer A.
Could the use of renewable resources as a primary energy source happen in your lifetime?
Doubtful. Were still using late 1800’s technology (that is petroleum) to power 99.999% of cars, with essentially the same internal combustion engine. If big business is making big profits then there is almost no way to change the status quo. Theoretically, if the efficiency to generate electricity from some renewable energy sources increases (as expected) then renewable energy can make a significant impact.
.
Susan asks…
What engineering job will make the most difference?
I’m an engineering major and an officer in a sustainable energy technology club and I want to know what job will make the most difference. For example, I’ve heard fuel cell vehicle technology would be a great alternative to gasoline vehicles, but due to the weak infrastructure for hydrogen fueling stations and FC vehicles, we’d be looking at high cost cars that won’t be mainstream for at least another 30 years. I’m also a big fan of renewable energy sources (i.e. wind, solar, hydro, geo thermal, bio fuels), but the simple fact is that we’re still going to be running off oil for quite a while. Not that I have anything against oil, it’s a great energy dense resource that has been able to provide most of our modern day conveniences, but even oil companies are eventually going to have to resort toward using alternative sources of energy. Point is, I want to be in the field that will make the most difference in helping develop a more sustainable future. So would that be work in perhaps research, renewable energies, sustainable transportation, infrastructure, proper public advertising, politics, or what?
The Expert answers:
I think a breakthrough in either battery energy density, or battery recharging rates would make the biggest environmental difference in the short term. It’s these two things which make fully electric vehicles undesirable to consumers, which is the only reason they aren’t abundant. So, chemical engineering is a good choice.
Going into politics could also have important short-term effects.
If you want to plan for the long-term, bio-engineering and aerospace are where it’s at. Humanity will eventually control its own evolution, and become a space-faring civilization.
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