transportation

Biofuel Blindspot?

Submitted by editor on Tue, 05/06/2008 - 20:03.
in

biofuels.jpgBiofuels have been hyped as the answer to global warming, as "fuel for the revolution," and as a way to prevent the predicted catastrophe of "peak oil collapse." They've also been blamed for driving up food prices and contributing to global warming (in some instances, at a greater level than traditional fossil-based fuels).

The darling has become dastardly, at least judging by recent media coverage.

Low and Slow: The Once and Future Blimp

Submitted by editor on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 22:10.
in

cargoblimp.jpgMention blimps or dirigibles to people and you'll normally get a bemused reaction: Oh, what an oddball topic! They rarely react as if airships or airship technology exists outside the distant past or whimsical present. But a new class of modern airships -- part plane, part dirigible -- might change that.

In the 1930s and 40s, passengers routinely flew via airship from Berlin to Rio De Janiero, crossing the span in just under three days. But following the spectacular Hindenburg disaster (a disaster some believe was the result of sabotage), and with the advent of jet engine technology, the popularity of airship travel plummeted.

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