Bridgelux, a startup in California, has developed a manufacturing technique that could substantially cut the cost of LED lightbulbs.

Image: Bridgelux

via Technology Review

“AeroVironment and Better Place are among six organizations to receive a share of US$2.6 million in federal stimulus funding as part of Hawaii’s push to boost electric vehicle infrastructure. AeroVironment’s $820,000 contract will see up to 320 of its EV charging docks rolled-out on the islands while the $854,000 awarded to Better Place will support the introduction of EVs to a rental car fleet as well as installation of charging stations.”  via Read More → "Hawaii to roll-out large scale public electric vehicle charging infrastructure"

“Using mathematics to tackle some of biology’s biggest questions, Martin Nowak has concluded that an ability to cooperate is the secret of humanity’s success. He talks to Michael Marshall about drawing fire from Richard Dawkins, the perils of punishment, and devising the mathematical equivalent of the rules of religion.” 
via New Scientist

This article is a condensed excerpt from Michio Kaku’s new book, “The Physics of the Future.” via Salon

NY Times Book review of James Gleick’s The Information.

Synopsys from the Publisher: 

The story of information begins in a time profoundly unlike our own, when every thought and utterance vanishes as soon as it is born. From the invention of scripts and alphabets to the long-misunderstood talking drums … Read More → "James Gleick’s History of Information – a book review"

“Portable medical scanning technology on a par with MRI and CT could soon find its way into GP surgeries, aiding the quicker diagnosis of various conditions.” via theEngineer

An excerpt from the NY Times article: 200th Birthday for the Map That Made New York

Henry James condemned it a century ago as … Read More → "How Manhattan Got Its Grid"

Image:  B. Combs, Buena Vista, GA, USA

This massive storm that is raging in Saturn’s northern hemisphere is so huge and so bright that we can easily see if from Earth, a billion miles away.

via geekosystem and NASA

AT&T is making a bid to purchase the troubled T-Mobile USA. The $39 billion bid would combine the second and fourth-largest U.S. telecoms carriers into the first. Together, they would have a customer retail base of over 121 million and 43.7% of the national market, raising regulatory concerns…

Source: Wired

A chart of the ionizing radiation dose that a person can absorb from various sources. The unit for an absorbed dose is “sievert” and one unit will make you sick…a couple more probably will kill you.

Important caution: do not let your mother see this chart.

Source: http://xkcd.com/radiation/