Mar 26
We get it. Our love of drinking water from disposable plastic bottles is a problem, enough of a problem that San Francisco actually wants to ban them
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Mar 22
Traditional sprinklers simply spread water over an area, which leads to lots of water wasted and uneven watering. Droplet wants to change all that with its eponymous robot. Instead of blindly spraying water around like Bill & Lance with a Spread gun, Droplet knows where your plants are and aims at them like Mr. Mundy in Doublecross.
When you get a Droplet, you’ll go to a web app to specify the type and location of your plants. I don’t know how exactly the web app works, just that you can go through it on a computer or a mobile device and in just a few minutes. In addition to that data, Droplet will also supposedly tap into the United States’ weather station and soil sample data to gauge when and how much water to spray. One Droplet should be able to tend to a 2700sq.ft. area.
Grow a browser and head to Amazon, where you can pre-order Droplet for $300 (USD). That’s a lot of money for a sprinkler, but when you consider its resulting water savings and positive impact on the environment I think it’s worth it.
[via Digital Trends]
Mar 14
Camelbak’s made a name for itself when it comes to proper hydration, at least when it comes to outdoor activities. But now the company has set its sights on your kitchen—and Brita—with its new Relay pitcher that uses an exposed dual-pleated filter that lets water flow 10x faster than what we’re all probably used to.
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Mar 14
Most of the clocks we see hanging on the walls of homes and offices today are battery powered. There are a few that might be powered by a spring or wired into the room’s electricity. However, battery or electric power aren’t the only ways to operate a clock.
A company called Bedol has a whole range of clocks that are powered by water. The latest clock from the company is a wall clock that is powered by H2O. The clock is shaped like a drop of water and has a translucent tank in the back. The water put into the clock interacts with metal plates in the tank to produce electricity.
One tank full of water will power the clock for six months to a year according to its maker. The clock then needs to be refilled and it will continue telling time. The Water Wall Clock comes in several colors, and sells for $89(USD). It will start shipping this April.
Mar 12
This battered diamond has survived a "journey to hell and back," and it has a pretty specular story to tell. Spat out from deep inside the earth, it is our first direct evidence for a scientific theory that says that vast amounts of water are trapped deep inside Earth’s mantle.
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Mar 11
Here’s a fun old trick anyone can do: draw arrows on a piece of paper, put a glass in front of those arrows and pour water into the glass. Watch as the arrows you drew magically change directions right before your eyes. Refraction is a mind bending thing.
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Mar 03
A new plan for U.S. transportation!
Posted in: Today's Chili
A new plan for U.S. transportation! California tries to fix its water crisis! An ugly building with good politics in Philly! Plus, Italy’s boyish new leader and a walking tour of "crushingly boring" Silicon Valley! It’s all in this week’s best Urban Reads.
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Feb 26
California needs rain, and they need it bad. How bad? Just have a look at the GIF above. The first image shows Folsom Lake near Sacramento on July 20, 2011. The second image shows Folsom Lake on January 16, 2014. Notice a difference?
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Feb 26
If you’ve ever made a trans-Atlantic call—or, heck, used the internet—then you might like to know a few things about the ocean floor. Mighty but enigmatic underwater rivers flow along the ocean bed. And it’s telecommunications companies, who have to lay thick cables for transoceanic phone and internet connections, with perhaps the most to worry about when it comes to mapping those rivers.
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Feb 25
Who knew a sad story told through water drops can be so fun to watch? This stop motion animation called Cachoeira (which means waterfall in Portuguese) by Rodrigo EBA! is illustrated with a little droplet man in a little droplet car trying to take a dip in a little droplet waterfall. I find it adorable.
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