Newly Invented Off-Grid Solar Grill Can Store Energy and Cook at Night Without Electricity - The Mind Unleashed

Why I like science, and something to watch as the technology develops, "While the goal of creating a solar grill with the latent heat storage capacity they are projecting is fascinating, the grill is still a ways from becoming a production reality."

But, what about the battery??

Wilson developed the idea after spending time in Nigeria, where wood is used for cooking, which causes a number of problems. Not only is cooking with firewood leading to respiratory illnesses, but is also increasing the rate of deforestation and women are being raped while searching for wood.

A group of MIT students are working with the technology to develop a prototype solar grill. Derek Ham, Eric Uva, and Theodora Vardouli are conducting a study through their multi-disciplinary course “iTeams,” short for “Innovation Teams”, to determine the interest in such a concept and then hopefully launch a business to manufacture and distribute these grills. The goal is to develop a business model for distributing solar grills to developing nations as well as a grill for the world market. The American version is expected to be a hybrid propane/solar model that will allow for flame cooking as well as through thermal convection.

Technically, you could use this same technology to store the heat energy and heat your home, your water, and probably generate electricity as well. Heat is after all energy, and energy can be converted to electricity. All you need is heat, and this technology could provide it.



Newly Invented Off-Grid Solar Grill Can Store Energy and Cook at Night Without Electricity - The Mind Unleashed

Texas library offers glimpse of bookless future

Neat idea,,, 4500 more e-books and I can become a library,,,,

Texas has seen the future of the public library, and it looks a lot like an Apple Store: Rows of glossy iMacs beckon. iPads mounted on a tangerine-colored bar invite readers. And hundreds of other tablets stand ready for checkout to anyone with a borrowing card.

Even the librarians imitate Apple's dress code, wearing matching shirts and that standard-bearer of geek-chic, the hoodie. But this $2.3 million library might be most notable for what it does not have — any actual books.

That makes Bexar County's BiblioTech the nation's only bookless public library, a distinction that has attracted scores of digital bookworms, plus emissaries from as far away as Hong Kong who want to learn about the idea and possibly take it home.



Texas library offers glimpse of bookless future