Japan will launch an in-depth survey – a real in-depth survey as in heading deep into the sea – to look for rare metal deposits, the kind used in high-tech products. Japan will start digging in the seabed surrounding the country this year says Tokyo.

The plan is for the marine project to help Japan enhance the country’s capacity to secure energy and mineral resources, like oil, natural gas and methane hydrate.

Methane hydrate is an ice-like compound that burns. Japan wants to carry out a full-scale extraction in or after fiscal 2018.

Next up…the debate for/against off shore digging.

It’s not going to happen in/near California. Gotta keep those Puffins happy.

The University of California, Berkeley has succeeded in controlling a live rhinoceros beetle by radio. The video of the feat was disclosed at the MEMS 2009 academic conference in Sorrento, Italy.

Researchers controlled the movement of beetle wings and some other parts using radio signals sent to six electrodes on the beetle’s brain and muscles.  The beetle was equipped “with a module incorporating a circuit to send signals to the electrodes, wireless circuit, microcontroller and battery.”

UC Berkeley has controlled several insects electronically but has yet to come up with a way to get kids to come to class regularly. Hmmm……

A rhinoceros beetles can carry a weight of up to 3g and fly carrying the module which weighs about 1.3g on their backs. Among other reasons, the researchers say the beetle “looks cool.”

But why? – For military surveillance?

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US funds the research making the experiment something intended for military purposes.

The university says that the technology can be utilized for peaceful purposes as well.  Haven’t we heard this kind of argument before?

Radio-controlled beetles can be useful in places that are too narrow or dangerous for a human to enter.  That makes sense. But what’s a beetle going to do there? Pirates used to send their parrots in to undesirable places, too.

Rhinoceros beetles can work as surveillance robots in place of humans.

However, the ultimate goal says the university is to make the most of the insects’ own sensors while using their energy system as batteries.

Next giant step – Cyborgs!

Definitely some ethical issues going on here, eh?

The flight experiment

Who is the sovereign ruler of the penguin empire? The emperor penguin, of course, is the only animal on earth that doesn’t leave Antarctica’s open ice in the dead of winter or any other time for that matter. Known as the elegant bird with the funny walk, there are interesting facts you probably never knew about the emperor penguin. Here’s our take …

1. The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all known penguins. They reach up to 122 cm in height and weigh anywhere from 22 to 45kg. Heavier than that, they are put on a strict diet.
2. Though it’s considered a bird and has wings – highest feather density of any bird species, it cannot fly. Sneaking up behind one allows it to wish it could fly, however …
3. The emperor penguin is a great traveler. Every year, adults take exhausting journeys to mate and feed their offspring. Kind of like parents of all species, no?
4. Must be a great lover, too. They manage to breed in the coldest environment possible with air temperatures reaching -40 °C. Well, if I lived in that cold a place I’d want to snuggle with someone, too and not be blamed for the consequences.
5. The female emperor lays one single egg and then leaves for the sea to feed.
6. During the incubation period, the male emperors prove to be great babysitters. Their job is to keep the egg warm.
7. The Emperor Penguin chick is typically covered with silver-grey down and has a black head and white mask. They don’t get their tuxedos till a bit later on.
8. To escape wind and conserve warmth, the Emperor Penguins huddle together. Once it has warmed, others will take its place moving to the inside of the group. They learn to share like this in penguin kindergarten.
9. An Emperor Penguin can hold its breath anywhere up to 20 minutes, and dive over 550 meters (1,800 ft).
10. Emperor Penguins rely only on vocal calls for individual recognition between parents, offspring, and mates.
11. Used to the cold, at over 20 °C the emperor penguin becomes agitated and lifts its wings to expose more parts of the body. Well, when I get warm, I want to show my body parts, too…but I refrain.
12. When they’re not tobogganing – sliding over the ice on its belly, the Emperor Penguin walks with a wobbling gait or proves its swimming talents (its average swimming speed is 6–9 km/h). That’s faster than I can run.
13. Emperor penguins feed on fish, squid, krill and crustaceans, except when they violate number one above.
14. They can only be found in the Southern Hemisphere.
15. The emperor penguin’s enemies are the killer whales, leopard seals, and walrus.

And just to make the facts even more interesting, here’s an amazing pictures gallery. It’s an amazing bird, no?

All images copyright to Martha de Jong-Lantink.
Check out her amazing trip to Antarctica from 2007.

Mitsubishi and Libya’s Al Fateh University will sign a memorandum of understanding to begin joint research and development of reusable energy sources.

The Japanese trading company will put up the money for research into reusable energy by Libya’s largest university. Japan will also supply test materials and send specialists to Al Fateh from 2009 to 2011. The two will also engage in field-tests of solar power generation systems at the university.

Libya is one of the world’s leading oil-producing countries. The country is also working to develop green energy. Libya is a prime location in that it has hours of intense sunlight each day. Mitsubishi and Al Fateh U want to develop technology and expertise. After that, they will cultivate leaders for the new industry.

Wind power is also on the docket because of the strong gusts that buffet the country’s coastal region.

Mitsubishi wants more trade with Africa. Libya is seeking technology from advanced countries. Win-win, eh?

Source (sub req!!)

A U.S. company, Solarmer, is developing plastic solar cells for portable electronic devices. Technology for the project was invented at the University of Chicago.  A commercial-grade prototype will be ready later this year, said the vice president of IP development and strategic alliances at Solarmer.

The prototype measures eight square inches (50 square centimeters) and is expected to achieve 8 percent efficiency with a lifetime of at least three years.  New materials with higher efficiencies are considered a key in the industry. Plastic solar cells are behind in terms of the efficiency … for now.

The invention is a new semiconductor material called PTB1. The material converts sunlight into electricity. The active layer of PTB1 is a mere 100 nanometers thick. The width is approximately 1,000 atoms. Synthesizing the material even in very small amounts is a time-consuming, multi-step process.

The University of Chicago licensed the patent rights to the technology to Solarmer last year in September.

Solarmer will sponsor research at the university. The advantage of this technology – simple, says the pair.

If anyone was wondering why the Dutch are not only healthier but also more productive than others, we have the answer: “Employees who regularly travel to work by bike are, on average, ill one day less a year than the others. Therefore they are better value.”

It doesn’t surprise us, because we already knew that cars make us fat, but bringing more profits for the companies we work … that’s a new one. And I’m thinking about it from the blogger’s perspective who’d be much more productive, but what do you do when you work from home? How about cycling (or exercising) at least a few times a week and embrace the “green” way? [via Pysorg]

Image courtesy of BikePortland.org

Another great example of eco-architecture, Cottage in a day is an energy efficient factory-built home by architect Michael Fitzhugh. Based on 14-square-foot-modules, with structural insulated panels and natural wood finishes, it’s supposed to be the perfect eco-friendly solution for a rustic cottage in a rural landscape.

With Energy Star windows, bamboo flooring and a price starting from $52,000 (up to $152,400 for a fully functional furnished home), the prefabricated structure is built on a precast concrete foundation that won’t harm the soil, and requires minimal labor and waste on site. Looks like the perfect solution for a stylish weekend in the mountains. What do you guys think? [via Inhabitat]

Japan and the United States are hanging out together in back rooms working on a proposal to allow Japan to engage in “coastal whaling” off its (Japan’s) own shores. The catch is Japan will scale back on the country’s controversial “research whaling” in Antarctic waters.International Whaling Commission Chairman will ” issue a public proposal on Feb. 2 that the commission members will openly debate a month later,” said the Washington Post.

Commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986.  Since that time, whaling nations like Japan and anti-whaling countries like the United States and Britain have been at each others’ throats.

IWC allows Japan to kill the whales for scientific purposes. Japan has a culture of consuming whale meat. But Japan argues that its research activities are legal, in compliance with IWC.

There is a very fat whale chance of the new proposal getting through. For one, if Japan is permitted to whale off its coast, the IWC will not be needed any more, and nobody wants to lost their job..

Japan says it intends to withdraw from the IWC or create a new body unless commercial whaling is somehow allowed again.

 Not all is good news in the solar industry, and researchers are not helping …

Indian solar cell manufacturers were hanging out at the 18th International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference & Exhibition. Yeah, they really do have conventions for this kind of thing. This one took place from Jan 19 to 23, 2009, in Kolkata, India.

India’s solar cell manufacturers all have plans to enhance production capacity, BUT, many of them are postponing their plans because of the ongoing global financial crisis.

Titan Energy Systems Ltd, is based in Hyderabad-based. The company makes solar modules. Plans to increase its annual production capacity from current 100MW to 500MW by the end of 2009 may have to be put on hold for about six months says the company.

Jupiter Solar Power Ltd, is a solar cell manufacturer that was established in 2007. The company originally planned to start manufacturing photovoltaic cells last year in November 2008. That date was postponed until February 2009 because of the financial crisis. Additionally, Jupiter Solar Power is delaying its production increase scheduled for 2010, until 2011.

Business is good for those in the solar industry … not so good for those trying to get in.

Nippon Oil Corp,also know as Eneos and Sanyo Electric Co Ltd have a joint venture – 50:50 to produce amorphous Si thin-film solar cells and marketing power generation systems. Panasonic, which recently bought Sanyo has not put up any money yet.

Sanyo will develop manufacturing technologies for thin-film solar cells as well as the production of cells and modules. Eneos will make large-scale power generation systems using the modules. Eneos is also responsible for distribution and sale as well as provide material technologies for gases (eg, hydrogen gas) required in the cell production.

“The establishment of the new company is part of our efforts to become a comprehensive energy provider based on solar cells, fuel cells and rechargeable batteries, which are like the ‘three musketeers of batteries,’” Eneos President Shinji Nishio said.

Sanyo Eneos Solar have a target of 80MW per year sales with an energy conversion efficiency of 10% by 2010. Full-scale mass-production and an annual production of 1GW with conversion efficiency of 12% or higher by 2015. 2GW/year production by 2020.

The power generation systems are expected to be installed mainly in the Middle East.

Sanyo says it can make up for the slow start through superior technology and reliability.

“The solar cell business is a long-term project with its focus on 2020 or even 2050,” he said. “We are not at all concerned about a short-term depression. For manufacturers that have the lead in the thin-film solar cell production (by purchasing the production equipment in whole), the conversion efficiency will probably peak at about 7%.”

“In contrast, we will promote the research and development concurrently with the production and will constantly improve our technologies to achieve an efficiency of 10%, 12% and higher,” he said.

Business is good in the solar energy industry and will be so for a long time to come. Wonder if those report