Items of Interest

Rock Dust CO2 Absorption

#220
A nation by nation assessment published in Nature shows that adding crushed rock (finely crushed basalt) to farmland could absorb up to two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air per year. The technique is called enhanced rock weathering and by-products of iron and stell manufacturing, and construction, could be processed to produce the rock dust needed.  (H/T to Jenn for sharing this.)
Environment
Innovation

COVID-19 Detection Through Speech

#220
Researchers MIT's Lincoln Laboratory have identified a way to recognise COVID-19 in asymptomatic people by analysing their speech patterns. The theory that the constriction of muscles caused by a COVID-19 infection could affect speech in otherwise asymptomatic people was put to the test by analysing speech from video interviews of asymptomatic celebrities before and after their postive diagnosis.
Audio
Innovation
Science

COVID-19 Datapack

#219
Data visualisation heavy weight Information Is Beautiful (David McCandless) has published a datapack of Coronavirus visualisations with links to the underlying data. The site includes this handy reference diagram (above) showing the risk profile of various activities. (P.S. Wear a mask)
Data Vis
Life

Water Filled Glass Windows

#219
Dr. Matyas Gutai of Loughborough University has developed and tested a new energy efficient building option, Water Filled Glass (WFG) windows. The WFG system holds water between layers of glass windows, allowing the sun to heat the water, providing insulation and sound proofing. The hot water is then pumped out, replaced, and stored in a water tank. When the temperature drops, the hot water is circulated around pipes to heat the building.
Environment
Innovation

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