n-rd » Environment http://blog.n-rd.com Everyone has an inner n-rd. Mon, 24 May 2010 14:34:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 The Mannahatta Project http://blog.n-rd.com/2009/09/03/the-mannahatta-project/ http://blog.n-rd.com/2009/09/03/the-mannahatta-project/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:33:49 +0000 Adam http://blog.n-rd.com/?p=153 The Wildlife Conservation Society has an awesome Google maps overlay of Manhattan in 1609. It’s interesting in a number of respects. You can find out what flora and fauna were around in the area at the time. Also it seems to cover the lower parts of Manhattan which I thought were mostly created on landfill from people settling there. Either way great mashup of technologies to raise awareness about the impacts of people on the environment.

The Mannahatta Project

]]> http://blog.n-rd.com/2009/09/03/the-mannahatta-project/feed/ 0 Giant carnivorous plants http://blog.n-rd.com/2009/08/28/giant-carnivorous-plants/ http://blog.n-rd.com/2009/08/28/giant-carnivorous-plants/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:18:44 +0000 Adam http://blog.n-rd.com/?p=140 Boing Boing has a really interesting video with David Attenborough about carnivorous pitcher plants. These plants are so large that it’s said they have been known to consume small rodents. The best part about this video is a visually stunning surreal time lapse segment showing how the plant constructs the pitchers.

Video: giant carnivorous plants – Boing Boing

]]> http://blog.n-rd.com/2009/08/28/giant-carnivorous-plants/feed/ 0 Sugar and Yeast Power Generator http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/24/sugar-and-yeast-power-generator/ http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/24/sugar-and-yeast-power-generator/#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:18:22 +0000 Adam http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/24/sugar-and-yeast-power-generator/ Here’s an interesting prototype of a generator using rotational motion, powered by sugar and yeast. It sounds like it just causes an imbalance in the system and gravity does the rest. I don’t think that he’s hooked a generator up to it yet, but it’s still an interesting concept. I’m powered by sugar and yeast also, but people just tell me I have a drinking problem, they don’t thank me for bringing power to the poor masses. AfriGadget » Blog Archive » Dr. Ngalande’s Sugar and Yeast Power Generator.

]]> http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/24/sugar-and-yeast-power-generator/feed/ 0 Hysterical Greenpeace ad http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/hysterical-greenpeace-ad/ http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/hysterical-greenpeace-ad/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:19:51 +0000 Adam http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/hysterical-greenpeace-ad/

This could only play in Britian. That’s unfortunate because it’s hysterical.

]]> http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/hysterical-greenpeace-ad/feed/ 0 The Brickley Engine http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/the-brickley-engine/ http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/the-brickley-engine/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:25:56 +0000 Adam http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/the-brickley-engine/ Here is an interesting engine concept that is making the rounds lately. The Brickley Engine Configuration, 15-20% Increase in Fuel Efficency, 15-20% Decrease in CO2 Emissions is the promise of the engine, I’m not sure if it’s in practice yet. It’s a very interesting configuration and looks to be a promising engine concept. It makes me wonder about how this would stack up to the wankle rotary engine in terms of efficiency. Because it certainly loses the silly name contest.

]]> http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/22/the-brickley-engine/feed/ 0 UNICAT Camper http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/18/unicat-camper/ http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/18/unicat-camper/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:04:43 +0000 Adam http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/18/unicat-camper/ I have a penchant for all things reuse. Take this brilliant example of a UNICAT truck that someone turned into a gorgeous RV. I can’t imagine the amount of work that went into this, but it was well worth the effort. It’s so legendary that it had to be put on snopes so it can be known that this wasn’t an urban legend. Well done.Urban Legends Reference Pages: Garbage Truck Camper

]]> http://blog.n-rd.com/2008/01/18/unicat-camper/feed/ 0