spaceelevators's Page

Ok, so I found this on slashdot. Not my own creation at all. But a very good read nonetheless (actually, probably better since I had nothing to do with it). Freakonomics got a group of smart interesting people to answer the question "Is space exploration worth it and why?" A good, though long, read.
Check it out

After first developing the technology for solar thermal power with
Solar One back in the early '80s, the US is finally going to get our first commercial plant. A company called Ausra is currently building a
130,000 square foot array outside Las Vegas, that expects to generate 700 megawatts of pollution free power every year. That's roughly enough to power 500,000 homes. The… Continue

Scientists recently completed a five-year study of the effectiveness of switchgrass as a source of ethanol. Now, personally, I prefer spending our energies on solar, wind, hydrogen and of course fusion, but in the interim, the US is pushing ethanol pretty hard, and it looks like it's here to stay.

The problem with the current ethanol production in the US of course is that we have chosen a food source… Continue

Ok, so I read about these guys when they where named the Popular Science Innovation of the year. Basically, they are making solar panels MUCH cheaper than anyone else out there.

"But Erik, how on earth could they do that?" you may ask. Solid question. Glad you're paying attention.

Well, so instead of embedding the panel in silicon in the standard fashion, they are basically using a printing press to… Continue