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Breakthrough Technology Could Lead to Battery-Powered Future

by Eric Wesoff - ecomagination.com - August 8, 2011

Battery technology has moved way beyond simply powering your basic consumer electronic devices; batteries now help power the world at large. But advances in battery technology have been slow to respond to the power demands of modern life.

Liquid Metal Battery - a company pursuing a breakthrough battery design using molten antimony and molten magnesium separated by an electrolyte—attracted Bill Gates and oil company Total as seed investors.

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Kony2012: The Rise of Online Campaigning

A social media campaign to shine a light on Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony has attracted ire of its own after critics attacked its methods. Is using Facebook and Twitter to promote change pointless, or the natural extension of our social media habit?

by Kate Dailey - BBC News - March 9, 2012

On Monday, the California-based nonprofit Invisible Children released an online 30-minute documentary about Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA). "We want to make him famous," they said. "Not to glorify him, but so that his crimes would not go unnoticed."

It worked.

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Podcast - If You're Happy, How You Know It

scientificamerican.com - February 22, 2012

Social scientist Roly Russell, of the Sandhill Institute in British Columbia, talked with Scientific American's Mark Fischetti at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science about potentially better measures than GDP of a nation's well-being.

(LISTEN TO THE PODCAST IN THE LINK BELOW)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=if-youre-happy-how-you-know-it-12-02-21

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A Nano Method to Clean Polluted Water

submitted by Samuel Bendett

Homeland Security News Wire - February 21, 2012

Decontaminating polluted waste water costs millions, but a new discovery by scientists at the University of Brighton could result in huge savings as well as delivering safer, cleaner water

Decontaminating polluted waste water costs millions, but a new discovery by scientists at the University of Brighton could result in huge savings as well as delivering safer, cleaner water.

The research, recently published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, represents a significant shift in scientists’ understanding of chemistry. Mercury is a serious contaminant so this breakthrough could save millions of pounds.

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Civil Society Initiative Relevant to HADR Communication

submitted by Samuel Bendett

This initiative related to HADR illustrates how NGOs are working to fill the gaps in government planning and response.

internews.org

During humanitarian disasters people affected by the unfolding tragedy need more than physical necessities. They also have an urgent need for information. In the aftermath of a crisis, from earthquakes, to armed conflicts, survival can depend on knowing the answers to essential questions.

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Invisibility Cloak to Protect Buildings from Earthquakes

submitted by Samuel Bendett and Linton Wells

Homeland Security News Wire - February 15, 2012

Scientists show that by cloaking components of structures with pressurized rubber, powerful waves such as those produced by an earthquake would not “see” the building — they would simply pass around the structure and thus prevent serious damage or destruction

University of Manchester mathematicians have developed the theory for a Harry Potter-style cloaking device which could protect buildings from earthquakes.

Dr. William Parnell’s team in the University’s School of Mathematics has been working on the theory of invisibility cloaks which, until recently, have been merely the subject of science fiction.

In recent times, however, scientists have been getting close to achieving cloaking in a variety of contexts. A University of Manchester release reports that the work from the team at Manchester focuses on the theory of cloaking devices which could eventually help to protect buildings and structures from vibrations and natural disasters such as earthquakes.

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Subject: [DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB ] Hospital Librarians Survey - Emergency/Disaster Involvement

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Amy Donahue To: ***@***.*** Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 3:10 PM Subject: [DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB ] Hospital Librarians Survey - Emergency/Disaster Involvement Please forgive the cross-posting! But do feel free to forward this on to your hospital librarian colleagues through state or regional lists (I've got Wisconsin covered) - I would very much appreciate it as I'm trying to reach as many hospital librarians as humanly possible. The objective of this survey is to look at whether hospital librarians are actively involved in their organizations' emergency & disaster preparedness activities and, if so, how. Some demographics will also be captured. By exploring what roles currently exist and presenting these findings in a poster at the 2012 Annual Medical Libraries Association Conference in Seattle, WA, it is the author's hope that hospital librarians can continue their involvement in this vital area and learn from each other. Disclaimer: This survey has been exempted from Institutional Review Board oversight as the Aurora Health Care IRB has determined it does not constitute human subject research. Results will be kept confidential and presented only in aggregate.

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Report - Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing

submitted by Albert Gomez

un.org - January 30, 2012

Report

The High-level Panel on Global Sustainability presents its report to the Secretary-General on 30 January 2012 in Addis Ababa.

The 22-member Panel, established by the Secretary-General in August 2010 to formulate a new blueprint for sustainable development and low-carbon prosperity, was co-chaired by Finnish President Tarja Halonen and South African President Jacob Zuma. The Panel's final report, "Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing", contains 56 recommendations to put sustainable development into practice and to mainstream it into economic policy as quickly as possible.

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Solar Storms And 13 Other Unusual Risks That Should Have You Freaking Out This Year

submitted by Jonathan King

by Sam Ro - businessinsider.com - January 25, 2012

      

Photo/NASA

Risk management is a part of our everyday lives.  Everyone knows to look both ways before crossing the street. Most also know to diversify their investment portfolios to limit the impact of a stock market crash.

But, what about the less obvious risks?

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