Compressor-less Refrigerators of the Future

This one has a lot of interesting implications and possible applications.

Compressor-free refrigerator may loom in the future

Thursday, August 7, 2008

University Park, Pa. -- Refrigerators and other cooling devices may one day lose their compressors and coils of piping and become solid state, according to Penn State researchers who are investigating electrically induced heat effects of some ferroelectric polymers.

"This is the first step in the development of an electric field refrigeration unit," says Qiming Zhang, distinguished professor of electrical engineering. "For the future, we can envision a flat panel refrigerator. No more coils, no more compressors, just...(complete article here).

Garmin for Cows??

Can't you just see a bunch of cows walking around the pasture with headsets on? Think of what they might hear....

"Turn left at the first prickly pear cactus and proceed 223 paces to the first Hackberry tree on your right. Turn at a 45 degree angle to the right and proceed...."

A Futuristic Linkage of Animals and Electronics

By Don Comis
June 6, 2008

The same Global Positioning System (GPS) technology used to track vehicles is now being used to track cows.

But Agricultural Research Service (ARS) animal scientist Dean M. Anderson has taken tracking several steps further with a Walkman-like headset that enables him to "whisper" wireless commands to cows to...(complete news release here).

I M THRSTY!

It is amazing what can be done with technology. The trouble is that sometimes it is as much art as it is science.

Plants Text Message Farmers When Thirsty


By Don Comis
April 29 , 2008

Beginning this crop season, farmers will be able to receive text messages on their cell phones from their plants saying whether they are thirsty or not.

Accent Engineering, Inc., of Lubbock, Tex., developed the SmartCropTM automated drought monitoring system based on...(complete article here).

China Moving to Lead Technology

This article isn't directly related to agriculture, conservation or energy -- but is indirectly related to all three. If China continues to have a stable political and economic climate it won't be long until the U.S. is taking second seat to their scientific and technological leadership. Interestingly, we trained most of the scientific leadership.

Study Shows China as World Technology Leader

Technology indicators show China ahead of the U.S. in technological standing

Atlanta (January 24, 2008) —A new study of worldwide technological competitiveness suggests China may soon rival the United States as the principal driver of the world’s economy – a position the U.S. has held since the end of World War II. If that happens, it will mark the first time in nearly a century that two nations have competed for leadership as equals.

The study’s indicators predict that China will soon pass the United States in...(complete article here).