Global Warming

I found it amazing that global warming was predicted over a hundred years ago and nobody listened.  Today, global warming is potentially one of the greatest problems facing our society.  Link to article: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-02/climate-scientist-digs-data-mining-news

Next Great Aggie Innovator

Working on my innovation for The Next Great Aggie Innovator. I decided to focus on the concept of Green Roofs. Nearly finished, everything's just about finalized. I just need to work out a few kinks.

Sick

Missed class today because I was sick.  Professor Vanegas called my group.  Spending the part of today that I can studying for Human Geography and working on my next individual assignment for ENDS.

Solar Generator/Water Purifier Patent

Upon doing a search for a solar-powered generator that also offered purified water as a byproduct, I found this patent: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4253307.html.  I was initially concerned that this would affect our group project, then realized that our project is based on the social innovation of applying this invention to third world countries, rather than the invention itself.

Solar Generator/Water Purifier

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, I've been working on two group projects for ENDS.  The second one is highly related to this blog.  We were asked to come up with a social innovation or invention to help the world.  I came up with the idea of a solar generator that both converted sunlight to energy and purified water.  This would work if instead of photovoltaic panels, a large field of mirrors was used.  The mirrors would all be focused on a central point, in which water would be heated to the boiling point and the steam would be used to turn a turbine, generating electricity.  The steam could then be condensed back into (now completely pure) water.  The machine's only regular inputs would be sunlight and water, and its outputs would be electricity and purified water.