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WoW, Photos

on November 16, 2014

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AMAZING PHOTOS

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Landsat-1 satellite

On this day in 1972 Landsat-1, the first US Earth-resources satellite was launched. The satellite, based on a modified weather satellite, was placed in a polar orbit to obtain continual coverage of the whole globe for the next six years. L andsat-1 had a three-camera system to obtain visible light and near infrared photographic images of Earth; a four-channel multispectral scanner (MSS) to obtain radiometric images of Earth; a receiver to collect feedback from ground stations for relay back to NASA, and two video tape recorders to provide backup when the spacecraft was out-of-range of NASA's ground control. One of its more notable discoveries was a small island off the coast of Canada, which was later named Landsat Island after the satellite. You can read more about the Landsat program at http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/ (image courtesy of http://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/baumanpr/geosat2/RS%20Landsat/RS-Landsat.htm )

world’s thinnest electric generator

Scientists have built the world’s thinnest electric generator - and it’s only one atom wide FIONA MACDONALD MONDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2014 Image: Rob Felt, Georgia Institute of Technology Researchers have created a graphene-like material that generates electricity every time its stretched, and could power the wearable technology of the future. Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Columbia Engineering in the US have shown they can generate electricity from a layer of material that’s just one atom thick. The generator is made from molybdenum disulphide (MoS2), which is a clear, flexible and extremely light material that opens up huge possibilities for the future of electricity generation. The new electrical generator is an example of piezoelectricity, or electricity that’s generated from pressure. Piezoelectric materials have huge potential to be used to create materials that can charge devices, such as footwear that powers an iPod. But until now, scien

Tiny origami robot builds itself and also performs disintegrates

Researchers from MIT recently unveiled a tiny, untethered robot that can both build and dismantle itself. The robot tips the scales at a third of a gram and measures just 1.7cm in length. A small heat source is all that’s needed to get the robot – which starts life as a flat sheet – to begin erecting itself. Once complete, a tiny magnet inside the device combined with a set of electromagnetic coils strategically placed under its operating surface help the robot walk, swim and complete basic tasks like pushing or carrying objects to or from a specific location. When done, a quick dunk in a vat of acetone will dissolve it entirely, leaving just the magnet behind. I’m not entirely sure what sort of tasks the device would be best suited for but it’s pretty incredible nevertheless. Video: Watch as tiny origami robot builds itself, performs tasks then disintegrates https://youtu.be/f0CluQiwLRg

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