Being caught in an avalanche is probably not the most comfortable experience, but this new life-saving device may make it a bit less of an ordeal. By wearing it, you can be sure that not only will the rescue teams be able to locate you, but they will also know your health status and be able to take appropriate measures as soon as they find you.

If you end up luckier than your friends and managed to avoid the avalanche that got them, you can then switch the transceiver to ‘search’ mode, allowing you to find them and rescue them.

Source: Oh Gizmo!

Researchers at the North Carolina State University have created a new process to make jet fuel out of animal fat and vegetable oil. This technology, called Centia^TM — short for crudus potentia, or “green power” in Latin — is totally “green” and does not involve the use of any petroleum-derived products. The team is currently working on further developing this process to make car fuel as an environmentally-friendly alternative to the traditional gasoline.

New biofuels technology developed by North Carolina State University engineers has the potential to turn virtually any fat source – vegetable oils, oils from animal fat and even oils from algae – into fuel to power jet airplanes.

Source: North Carolina State University

In an effort to raise public awareness to the use of renewable energy sources, the Windream One project was officially launched, sponsored by French environmental association Theolia. The project will consist in crossing the Atlantic ocean over a distance of some 3,000 miles in a sail balloon using only energy drawn for the sea, the sun, and the wind. This is the first attempt of this type and another pioneering step in the history of air travel.

Source: Theolia

The new MiniC.A.T. is the first non-polluting, compressed air powered car to enter production. The recent deal that the inventors struck with Tata, the biggest Indian car manufacturer, will allow this “green” automobile technology to be mass-produced and available to all. Apart from having an engine of the most unusual kind, the car also has a single-wire electrical system and complete wireless control. The central controlling computer allows you not only to keep an eye on the vehicle’s parameters, such as speed, but also to be connected to the Internet, a satellite GPS system, and many other external information providers.

Last, but not least, the cost of running this car will be extremely low, as all you’ll need is an appropriate gas station able to supply you with compressed air. With an autonomy of 120 to 190 miles and a speed up to 68 mph, this seems to be the ideal vehicle for town traffic. No more choking fumes, but a breath of fresh (compressed) air!

Source: The MDI Air Car

NASA’s Ames Research Center has issued a report linking the amount and nature of aerosol particles in the atmosphere to the cooling or warming of Earth. The study measured how these particles, both natural and and originating from human activities, change the amount of radiation received from the Sun — ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared — and thus modify the temperatures and the climate. Future computer models designed by climatologists to forecast the evolution of our planet’s climate will take these results into account for better accuracy.

Source: NASA Ames Research Center