|
|
If Not On Trees, Where Do Good Ideas Grow?
Major oil companies are funding nanoreporter research to find oil. Nanoreporters are carbon clusters 30,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. When injected into natural reservoirs, change in their chemical makeup tells if they've encountered oil, water or other substances. Temperature and pressure information are also provided, also helpful in finding oil. Bar-code-like tags tell how long nanoreporters have been underground. If 9-month nanoreporters find oil but 3-month ones don't, scientists know the oil is deeper. Royal Dutch Shell is funding nanoreporter research to relay real-time information - but isn't it real time for other energy sources?
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University hope to use the Gulf Stream on Florida's eastern shore as an energy source for the energy-challenged state. As the Gulf Stream flows by turbines, it would turn rotor blades and generate energy to be transmitted to electrical conducting cables and stored for future use. It's predicted that the world's strongest current could generate 4-10 gigawatts of power - the equivalent of 4-10 nuclear power plants - enough to power 3-7 million homes, supplying one-third of Florida's electricity. Of course, questions about cost and environmental impact have to be answered to see if the idea holds water.
Mary Naylor's idea was to start the Transitional Care Model at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. When elderly patients are discharged from hospitals, 20% return within a month, costing Medicare $17 billion annually on re-admissions. With TCM, nurses with advanced geriatric training are assigned to elderly patients in the hospital and they follow up with these patients after their discharge. The nurses make frequent visits and phone calls for 2-3 months to help the patients learn to manage their own care. Although studies show the program saves Medicare patients $5,000 annually, Medicare doesn't pay for the nurses - an unhealthy decision.
Susan Kessler, Georgia mother of 6, made a decision to market a sign that can be magnetically attached to cars driven by teens with learner permits or first-year licenses - "Caution Newly Licensed". Some European countries require signs for new drivers, but U.S. states vary greatly in their restrictions. Nevertheless, states with strong licensing laws for young drivers had 30% fewer fatalities among 15 to 17-year-olds. Kessler has sold more than 15,000 of the $7.99 signs through her Web site "newlylicensed"; and if new drivers remove the sign, it's a sign for parents to remove the keys from new drivers.
|
 |
Please Rate: |
|
Rating: |
 Processing ... |
(Average: Not rated) |
| Views: | 8 | |
|
| More Articles from Society and Culture | | |
| Top Articles in Society and Culture | | |
|
