The utility that operates Japan’s crippled nuclear plant says it deserves most of the blame for the crisis, in the company’s strongest remarks about its own shortcomings. Tokyo Electric Power Co. acknowledged in a report Friday that it was not prepared to deal with the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged northeast Japan in March 2011, […]
Automotive/Transportation
Michigan Tech Researcher Slashes Optics Laboratory Costs
Just as the power of the open-source design has driven down the cost of software to the point that it is accessible to most people, open-source hardware makes it possible to drive down the cost of doing experimental science and expand access to everyone. As part of this movement, a Michigan Technological University lab has […]
EEVblog #444 – Car Lane Guidance Camera Teardown
In this EEVblog teardown: What’s inside a modern Hyundai car lane guidance camera module?
Full Report: Superdome Partial Power Outage
During the evening of February 3, 2013, play of Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens was interrupted during the third quarter for approximately 34 minutes due to a partial loss of electrical power. At the time of the power loss, the electrical load (current) was rebounding after a significant […]
Major Oil Companies to Testify on Oil Tax Change
Representatives of the North Slope’s three major players are scheduled to testify Tuesday before a House committee on proposed changes to Alaska’s oil tax structure. The House Resources Committee is working on SB21, which is aimed at making Alaska more competitive for investment dollars and increasing production. The existing system, passed in 2007, features a […]
BP’s Cement Contractor Denies Destroying Evidence
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP’s cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 said Tuesday that its recent discovery of missing cement samples was the result of a “simple misunderstanding,” not an attempt to withhold crucial evidence. In a court filing, Halliburton attorneys accused BP PLC of trying […]
Thinfilm Memory to Combat Counterfeit Products
Thin Film Electronics ASA announced it has received the first order for the use of Thinfilm Memory for brand protection, a system of specialized electronic labels to help thwart counterfeiting. The order was received from a global consumer packaged goods company. “The largest companies in the world lose billions of dollars each year to illegally […]
Automotive Systems-on-Chip capable of delivering more than 25,000 DMIPS
Renesas Electronics Corporation and Renesas Mobile Corporation announced the availability of a new member of the R-Car Series of automotive Systems-on-Chip (SoCs). Capable of delivering more than 25,000 DMIPS, the R-Car H2 provides high performance and state-of-the-art 3D graphics capabilities for high-end multimedia and navigation automotive systems. The R-Car H2 is powered by the ARM […]
Mars Rover Back in Action After Computer Problems
The Mars rover Curiosity is humming again after being sidelined by back-to-back computer problems. The six-wheel rover fired up its onboard laboratories and analyzed a pinch of rock dust over the weekend. It had been unable to do science experiments since late last month after experiencing a computer memory problem. Mission managers say Curiosity will […]
$1.7M Penalty Proposed in Exxon Spill
Federal regulators proposed $1.7 million in civil penalties against Exxon Mobil Corp. on Monday for safety violations linked to a pipeline rupture that spilled an estimated 63,000 gallons of crude oil into Montana’s scenic Yellowstone River. In a notice sent to the company, U.S. Department of Transportation regulators alleged a chain of bad decisions by […]