Aberystwyth at 633 mph?

What's this? A new land speed record? No, it's speed at the circumference of the earth as it rotates once every 24 hours.

The circumference of the earth at the equator is approx 24,000 miles giving a speed of 1000 miles at the equator. Using a cosine equation and putting in Aberystwyth's latitude of 52.4N we get 633 mph.

Equation:

circumference = 2 x Pi x R x Cos(Pi x 52.4/180) where R = radius of the earth = 3963 miles

Source: Ask A Scientist

World's biggest truck?

Liebherr T 282B mining truck

This fine example of German engineering, the world’s largest earth-hauling dump truck, has an empty weight of 203 metric tons, a load capacity of 365 tons, and a wheelbase of 22 feet.  It’s powered by a 90-liter diesel engine that puts out 3,650hp.  The air-conditioned cabin sits eighteen feet above the ground.

And the fuel tank holds 1600 - 2000 gallons.

Source: The Munchkin Wrangler

Good vibrations

Need a word to describe how positive you feel? Maybe a word from this list will help:

AFFECTIONATE compassionate friendly loving open hearted sympathetic tender warm ENGAGED absorbed alert curious engrossed enchanted entranced fascinated interested intrigued involved spellbound stimulated HOPEFUL expectant encouraged optimistic

CONFIDENT empowered open proud safe secure EXCITED amazed animated ardent aroused astonished dazzled eager energetic enthusiastic giddy invigorated lively passionate surprised vibrant

GRATEFUL appreciative moved thankful touched INSPIRED amazed awed wonder JOYFUL amused delighted glad happy jubilant pleased tickled EXHILARATED blissful ecstatic elated enthralled exuberant radiant rapturous thrilled

PEACEFUL calm clear headed comfortable centered content equanimous fulfilled mellow quiet relaxed relieved satisfied serene still tranquil trusting REFRESHED enlivened rejuvenated renewed rested restored revived

Source: Centre for NVC (Non-violent communication).

If you're not feeling this way now, maybe you could say 'I want to feel amazed; I want to feel fulfilled' etc.

291 mph electric vehicle

Street Legal?

Ohio State University claims another electric speed record with the battery powered Buckeye Bullet. 291 mph. Source: Autoblog Green

What do I need?

Here's a list of possibilities:

CONNECTION acceptance affection appreciation belonging cooperation communication closeness community companionship compassion consideration consistency empathy inclusion intimacy love mutuality nurturing respect/self-respect

CONNECTION safety security stability support to know and be known to see and be seen to understand and be understood trust warmth PHYSICAL WELL-BEING air food movement/exercise rest/sleep sexual expression safety shelter touch water

HONESTY authenticity integrity presence PLAY joy humor PEACE beauty communion ease equality harmony inspiration order AUTONOMY choice freedom independence space spontaneity

MEANING awareness celebration of life challenge clarity competence consciousness contribution creativity discovery efficacy effectiveness growth hope learning mourning participation purpose self-expression stimulation to matter understanding

From the Non-violent communication (NVC) website.

Hmm, I think I might be happier labelling these as 'wants' rather than 'needs'. Maybe they're interchangeable? Or desirable without being necessary? Maybe I don't want to be labelled as a 'needy' person? :)

500-mile EVs by 2020

Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster runs on laptop batteries. Lots of them. Martin Eberhard, co-founder of Tesla, is predicting that EV's will have a 500 mile range by 2020.

Eberhard says that five years ago Tesla were using 1.4 amp-hour cells. Now the same size cell is available in 2.9 amp-hours with 3.4 amp-hours coming soon. This is amazing progress, driven by global sales of 2 billion laptop batteries a year.

Some biomass numbers

Miscanthus harvesting

Energy crops and wood chips/pellets can be burnt for heat or to generate electricity. Miscanthus yields about 15 tonnes per hectare and 4,200 kWh/tonne gross or 1,680 kWh/tonne net (at 40% efficiency). This is 25,000 kWh per hectare per year. According to David MacKay's Hot Air, each person in the UK uses approx 18 kWh (of electricity) per day or 6,570 kWh per year. Therefore each hectare of Miscanthus provides enough electricity for about 4 people.

The area of the UK is approx 24M hectares so we would need about 58% of the UK planted in Miscanthus to provide current electricity use.

Update: primary energy consumption per person in the UK is about 125 kWh/day (MacKay again). This includes all fossil fuels + wind + hydro. But not electricity generated from fossil fuels? NB: this would need 2 hectares of Miscanthus per person or 500% of UK land area!

Update 2:
Google's data browser has the World Bank showing UK electricity consumption at 6,122 kWh per person per year, or 16.8 kWh per day.