Smart Takes

Archive: 08-2011

• Solyndra to file for bankruptcy; suspends operations

  American solar system manufacturer Solyndra will suspend operations immediately and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. To blame: foreign rivals and a global glut of panels.

  August 31, 2011, 9:55 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• To conserve water, Australia builds first utility-scale solar plant

  First Solar, General Electric and Verve Energy will build Australia’s first utility-scale solar farm to power a nearby desalination plant.

  August 31, 2011, 7:12 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Ford unveils Evos concept; intelligent hybrid car built for the cloud

  Ford unveils the Evos concept car, a plug-in hybrid vehicle designed with cloud-based intelligence that can automatically adapt performance to individual drivers and road conditions.

  August 30, 2011, 3:01 PM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Bill Nye: Hurricane Irene evidence of climate change

  Bill Nye, the “Science Guy,” visits Fox Business to outline in six minutes a career’s worth of climate research. Here’s a look.

  August 30, 2011, 9:28 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Nuclear cars, with help from thorium lasers

  The future car: powered by radioactive elements? Inventor Charles Stevens — and General Motors — thinks thorium lasers could offer a far-out solution to emissions-free driving.

  August 30, 2011, 8:53 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Apple’s aversion to chaos (in industrial design)

  Drawing a direct line between legendary German industrial designer Dieter Rams and Apple. Plus, Rams’ 10 principles of good design.

  August 29, 2011, 12:51 PM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Turning artificial intelligence on itself [video]

  Researchers at Cornell University made two artificially intelligent machines, called Cleverbots, conduct a conversation with each other. The result: existential and absurd.

  August 29, 2011, 11:40 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• For electric vehicles, ‘fast charging’ standard is slow going

  Electric vehicles lack a “fast-charging” plug standard for rapid replenishment of spent batteries. Should consumers with EVs on their mind be worried?

  August 29, 2011, 11:05 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• Fueled by Olympic Games, GE eyes infrastructure in Brazil

  General Electric sees the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as a prime opportunity to invest and expand energy, infrastructure and healthcare businesses in Brazil.

  August 29, 2011, 10:21 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca

• FAA certifies Boeing 787 Dreamliner; on track for delivery

  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has given Boeing certification for its 787 Dreamliner aircraft, paving the way for a first delivery in September.

  August 26, 2011, 9:55 AM PDT | By Andrew Nusca