Nagib vs. kremen

Med brklanjem med zalivalno PC-mehkoopremo sem naletel na tole nagibno vazo. Vaza med izparevanjem vode spreminja nagib in na ta način sproča svojemu lastniku o količini vode v njeni notranjosti. Precej zabaven koncept, ki pa ga rastline verjetno ne bodo sprejele dobro. Ko bi se le kdo spomnil kakšneg bolj enostavnega načina za pogled v notranjost vaze...

Kakorkoli že, še zmeraj dovolj simpatično in lou-teh za objavo.

Hemcrete ©

vir / source;

- Tradical ©

- inhabitat.com

LCA v prostem dostopu / LCA now open source

Na zadnjem delovnem mestu sem imel veliko opraviti z metodologijo LCA (life cycle assessment) oz. ocenjevanjem življenjskega cikla po slovensko. Gre za postopek ocenjevanja okoljskega vpliva nekega proizvoda na izbrane kategorije v okolju (toplogredne emisije, potencial za tvorbo kislega dežja, potencial za  širjenje ozonske luknje, potencial za evtrofikacijo voda, raba energije, raba vode, ...) tekom celotne življenjske dobe proizvoda (proizvodnja surovin, proizvodnja proizvoda, transport, trgovina, ravnanje z odpadki, recikliranje, ...).

Metodologijo usmerja družina standardov ISO 14040, programska oprema in baze podatkov za ocenjevanje vlipvov na posamezne okoljske kategorije so ponavadi (ne)dostopne pod zelo zasoljenimi cenami. Ko sem  začel z delom na projektu, sem si mislil: "zagotovo obstaja open source različica".  In res je obstajala, profesionalna, prosto dostopna, s hudimi algoritmi in fency barvami v končnih grafikonih. Ni hudiča, bila je to beta različica, z bazami podatkov ki so omogočale več ali manj nič drugega kot pregledovanje struktur.

Takoj naslednji dan po oddaji končnega poročila mi je Andreas Ciroth, eden izmen LCA gurujev, poslal obvestilce, da je OpenLCA razhroščen in pripravljen za vsesplošno uporabo :)

Kakorkoli že, imel sem priliko preizkusuti preizkusno različico programa in ga pripročam.

KLIK za obisk uradnega portala

&

KLIK za prenos programa

[en] My previous work assignment included the evaluation of environmental impact of various  agriculture-related systems. For this, I have choosen the LCA (life cycle assessment) approach. This methodology array takes into account the product’s entire life cycle (traw material production, product production, consumption, waste management, ...) to assign the environmental contribution to numerous impact categories (global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, resources consumption, ...).

As LCA is guided by the ISO family 14040 and the usual software and databases for the assessment at the start-up of our project were priced quite highly. I was looking for other options. I was certain that open source  alternatives just had to exist. And I was right, the software that was online was even beter than the existing "professional" solutions. But it was in beta and all the stages of LCA were not quite possible yet.

Ever since, I have been anticipating the new release. And the very next day after we have finished our project obligations, I got a short note from the program creators. It said: something like: 'Yesterday we released a bugfix for openLCA, you can download it at the usual download site.' :)

Anyhu, I had the opportunity to test the test version of the program and I recommend it.

CLICK here for the homepage

&

CLICK here for the download

Versatile

Glavno nagrado z letošnjega netečaja Invent Your World je odnesel domov 15-letni srednješolec. Javier Fernández-Han je osnoval idejo zaprtega kroga za proizvodnjo hrane in energije, v katerem so modularno prepleteni obstoječi sistemi za proizvodnjo energije iz obnovljivih virov (proizvodnja biogoriv iz alg, proizvodnja bioplina, ...), sistemi za pridelavo hrane in živalskih krmil, proizvodnja kisika in strategije zmanjševanja toplogrednih emisij. Zmagoviti formuli, ki naj bi bila še posebej prilagojena za nerazvite dežele, je ime VERSATILE.

Ravno pravi čas, saj se je glede na članek v NYT prebudil tudi petrolejski konzervant Exon, ki menda že nekaj časa vlaga v razvoj četrte generacije goriv (rastline, ki so sposobne kopičenja večjih koncentracij ogljika) iz alg.

View more documents from Youth Venture.

[en] A 15-year old boy has won the top prize in this year's Invent Your World challenge. Javier Fernández-Han work is based on a holistic energy resource system which is coupling several modular subunits (waste treatment, biogas and algae-oil, production of food and fodder, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and oxygen production). The modular array is designated for use in developing countries and has been named the VERSATILE system.

The time is just right, as Exon is investing into oligae according to an article recently published in NYT.

Erazmus za mlade podjetnike / Erazmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Program Erazmus za mlade podjetnike (začetek v februarju 2009) nudi nekakšno prakso za nove podjetnike, izposabljanje v tujem MSP (malo ali srednje veliko podjetje) za dobo do šestih mesecev.

[en] A new EU exchange program launched in february, Erazmus for Young Entrepreneurs looks like a nice opportunity for new businessman to improve their professional experience in foreign SMEs.

Sončni pastir / Solar herdsman

Pri Polžu sva brkljala po ruski različici Življenja in tehnike, Науки и жизни (letnik 2004?) in naletela na tole kontrapcijo, avtomatizirano prestavljanje črednike (skoraj prepričan sem, da je na sliki Lely Voyager), ki daje popolnoma nov pomen samohodnim kosilnicam :).

Pašnik ogradimo s treh strani v tekalno stezo, četrto stranico pa premikata dva vozna robota, ki se napajata s sončnimi celicami in medsebojno komunicirata z Bluetooth tehnologijo. Sistem je možno programirati tudi tako, da po potrebi prižene živali nazaj na izhodišče (npr. vsakodnevno v molzišče). Takšno povečevanje črednike omogoči enakomeren odvzem paše in zato je manjši tudi delež poteptanega rastlinja.

Za neenakomerne terene je menda na voljo nekaj kompenzacijskih pripomočkov (dodatna ograja, kolesni distančniki, ipd.), toda na OMD območjih se takšnih avtomatskih pastirjev kaj kmalu še ni nadejati...

vir: / source: Науки и жизни

[en] My all-that-is-Russian-enthusiastic friend and me were ransacking the piles of Науки и жизни (Science & Life) magazine and discovered an article about an automatic grazing system (I'm pretty sure the picture shows the Lely Voyager).

This system consists of three fixed sides and a frontal wire being moved by two solar-powered 4-wheel robots. The robots are in mutual contact via Bluetooth and can be programed to reverse when nedded (e.g. bringing the cows back to the milking parlour once daily).

Irregularities in the terrain can be somewhat compensated with the use of an intermediate fence line, contour following wheel spacers, or such; yet the herdsmen in the less-favored areas are staying bipedal for now...

Bioplin in Guinnes / Guinnes and Biogas

Nemško podjetje Hohenester Sport je predelalo audija A4 quattro, ki lahko za pogonsko gorivo koristi bioplin. Sam lastnik podjetja, Jürgen Hohenester, je sedel za volan in s hitrostjo večjo od 360 km/h dosegel nov svetovni rekord.

[en] Hoenhester Sport, a car tuner company, has modified the audi A4 quattro to run on biogas. The owner himself (Jürgen Hohenester) has taken the steering wheel and achieved speeds over 360 km/h - a new world record.

vir / source: Hohenester Sport [de]

produktivni prevoz / grow 'n drive

Agata Jaworska je za Cornell Mushroom Blog predstavila koncept svoje magistrske naloge 'Made in Transit'. Koncept je študijsko osnovan na ostrigarjih. V 'vzgojišču' pripravijo hranilni substrat in ga nacepijo s hifami ostrigarjev ter ga zapakirajo. Embalaža igra tako tudi vlogo 'rastlinjaka', saj ostrigarji rastejo med prevozom in so ob prihodu v trgovino sveže pravšnji za nabiranje. Takšen način proizvodnje, izdelava oz. dokončna priprava proizvoda med transportom, je precej uporaben za dostavo zorjenje živil med transportom, in tudi smiseln v drugih industrijah, celo viskoko tehnoloških (elektronika, avtomobilska industrija, ...).

[en] Cornell Mushroom Blog interviewed Agata Jaworska about her Masters thesis concept, ‘Made in Transit’. The supply chain concept studies is based on oyster mushrooms. In the 'mushroom farm' the substrate is prepared and mixed with the mushroom spores and packaged. Grey oysters would then grow during the transport and arrive fresh and harvest-ready. Such means of production making or finishing the product in transport are especially usefull for food ripening and also applicable in other industries, even tech (like electronics and automobile, ...).

- source: Cornell Mushroom Blog -

Vesnin vrt / Spring garden

Naša mama je prava mestna zelna čarovnica. Rastlinsko kraljestvo, ki se razprostira na njenem balkonu, je večinoma kar svojeročno vzgojila iz sadežev z lokalne prodajalne sadja-zelenjave. Ker ji hitro zmajka posod za rože, semena in rastline nato podtika v vse, kar ji pride nasproti. Tako sili zelenje ven iz starih kuhinjskih posod, čajnikov, pekačev, celo iz umetelno okrašenega podstavka za petrolejko.

[en] Meine mutti is quite the herbal witch of the metropolis. Her home is full of unconventional plants, the most of which she grew from ordinary fruits and vegetables she gets at the local grocers. When she runs out of pots, she uses any thing that holds water. There is green protruding out of old kitchenware, teakettles, roasting pans and even from a petroleum lamp stand decorated with ornaments.

- spredaj L>D; japonska nešplja (Eriobotrya japonica) in ananas (Ananas comosus),
zadaj; hrast (Quercus L.) in eden izmed citrusov (Citrus L.) -
- [en] in front L>R; loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) and pineapple (Ananas comosus),
in back; oak (Quercus L.) and a member of the citrus family (Citrus L.) -

- banana (Musa L.) in kavovec / coffe plant (Cofea L.)-

- spredaj L>D; paprika (Capiscum annum), datelj (Phoenix dactylifera) posejan v zimi, datelj posejan spomladi,
zadaj; kavovec (Cofea L.) in lanski :) majaron (Origamun majorana) -
- [en] in front L>R; bell peppers (Capiscum annum), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) sown in winter, date palm sown in spring,
in back; coffe plant (Cofea L.) and the majoram (Origamun majorana) from last year :) -

- poleti pod hibiskusom mali papigi dvorijo golobi -
- [en] in the summer, the little parrot is courted by pidgeons -
(Hibiscus L.)

- neznani prišlek / unknown visitor -

Integrative biology

vsa predavanja / [en] whole course playlist

Youtube že nekaj časa gosti tudi predavanja iz Berkeley-a. Včeraj sem odkril prof. Marian Diamond, ki je prava inspiracija.

[en] Berkley has been providing the lectures from it's courses on Youtube for some time now. Yesterday, I was taken aback by the lecture of prof. Marian Diamond.

The World According To Monsanto

Da se zakoni čez lužo podrejajo trgu vemo že dolgo (kot sta na dolgo in široko razdelala avtorja uspešnice Funky Buisness Forever). Marie-Monique Robin iz Francije, režiserka filma The World According to Monsanto pa opozarja, da se v ugodnih razmerah po vetru obrača tudi 'znanost'.

[en] The system where the law is governed by the needs of the market was described and compared with other capitalistic systems (to EU and China model) in the bestseller Funky Buisness Forever. Marie-Monique Robin from France, now warns about the inclusion of footman 'science' in the same system, creating legal environmental crimes and health consequences.