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ted

TerraPower’s Travelling Wave Reactor – why not use an IFR?

September 22, 2010 by Barry Brook
with 3,407 views
4

There has been a lot of hype recently about the “Travelling Wave Reactor” (TWR), thanks largely to a very popular TED talk given recently by none other than Microsoft founder and multi-billionaire Bill Gates. In the 20 min talk, he describes the urgent need for cheap, abundant, low-CO2 energy, if we are to successfully mitigate climate... [read more]

The Danger of Science Denial

April 12, 2010 by Michael Tobis
with 435 views
0

Not what you're expecting, perhaps. "Be sceptical, ask questions, demand proof. Demand evidence. Don't take anything for granted. But here is the thing: When you get proof, you need to accept the proof. And we're not that good at doing that." "You know, science isn't a company. It's not a country. It's not even an idea. It's a... [read more]

Simon v. Ehrlich, again

February 19, 2010 by Michael Giberson
with 231 views
0

Paul Kedrosky gave a short talk at TED 2010 on the Simon/Ehrlich bet on commodities prices, and posts a summary of the content as “Re-litigating the Simon/Ehrlich Bet.” If the Simon-Ehrlich bet is to be re-litigated, and Kedrosky comment is taken as offering a brief in favor of Ehrlich’s position, what can be said in defense of the... [read more]

The Challenge of Scale

February 18, 2010 by Geoffrey Styles
with 154 views
0

This morning's Wall St. Journal featured a front-page article on small-scale nuclear power, highlighting how reactors a tenth the size of current commercial designs could significantly reduce the financial risks associated with these mega-projects. This is one example of the need to think in new ways about scale when addressing our... [read more]

Innovating to Zero: Gates Wants Clean, Cheap Energy Fast

February 17, 2010 by Breakthrough Institute
with 471 views
2

[UPDATED: with full TED Talk video. Watch it below!] Bill Gates wants clean, cheap energy more than he wants to pick the next 50 years worth of presidents, even more than he wants a miracle vaccine. At least that's how he ranked his number one wish while describing climate change as the world's greatest challenge to a rapt audience at... [read more]

A big day for Google: Power Meter and TED!

October 6, 2009 by Lynne Kiesling
with 247 views
0

Google is ringing both of my dominant bells today. Today they announced their first official device partner for the Power Meter — TED 5000 (TED = The Energy Detective). Power Meter + TED = ability for homeowners to monitor their own electricity consumption, regardless of whether they have a digital meter, retail product choice, or any... [read more]

Google PowerMeter and TED 5000 Bring Real-Time Monitoring Home. Smart Meter, Step Aside.

October 6, 2009 by Peter Troast
with 746 views
0

Google/TED Partnership takes real-time power monitoring to a new level. In the field of energy measurement, which we deem the critical beginning of any effort to reduce energy use at home, Google's announcement that the TED 5000 will be compatible with PowerMeter is a game changer.  Now, any purchaser of the new TED 5000... [read more]

Must-see video: Time-lapse proof of extreme ice loss

September 14, 2009 by Joseph Romm
with 260 views
0

Just about everywhere you look ice is melting — see USGS report details “recent dramatic shrinkage” in U.S. glaciers, matching global decline. Here is a very impressive presentation from a 2009 TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference:  “Photographer James Balog shares new image sequences from the Extreme Ice Survey, a... [read more]

Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action

August 6, 2009 by Big Gav
with 512 views
0

TED has a new talk from Janine Benyus, promoting biomimicry based design - Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action.Janine Benyus has a message for inventors: When solving a design problem, look to nature first. There you'll find inspired designs for making things waterproof, aerodynamic, solar-powered and more. Here she reveals dozens of... [read more]

Smart grid device update

June 30, 2009 by Lynne Kiesling
with 151 views
0

Here’s a roundup of some developments in smart grid end user devices (in other words, I had a bunch of cool articles open about nifty innovations, so let’s round ‘em up so I can clear tabs in my browser!) that I hope you will find as interesting as I do:From the NYT Gadgetwise blog, how to keep a green home, remotely. This post focuses... [read more]

TED 2009

April 13, 2009 by ShaiAgassi
with 88 views
0

It has been a very long time since I posted here. In a sense, we tried to quiet down this voice so that BetterPlace.com will become the official voice of our efforts. I decided to reopen this channel today, due to the exceptional event of the posting on TED.com of my TEDtalk from February this year. For those of you who get to this blog... [read more]

Rules, Incentives, Virtue, and Janitors

February 27, 2009 by Jake de Grazia
with 287 views
0

Watched my first 2009 TED Talk yesterday.Barry Schwartz.Practical wisdom. Janitors. Virtue. Dignity. And rules and incentives and their limitations.Barry says Ray Anderson...Turned a part of the evil empire into a zero footprint or almost a zero footprint business. Why? Because it was the right thing to do. And a bonus he's discovering... [read more]