Asus presents homemade robots Zenbo – Wired.it

Next Wired Fest. Check out the program

the presentation video is disturbing, but the robot may have a reason – and does not cost a blunder

Live

31 May 2016

the three new smartphone Zenfone range are not the only gadgets that Asus unveiled at Computex Taipei. The most curious of all products unveiled by the group during the day yesterday is definitely Zenbo, a homemade robot from the look inspired by an unlikely cross between Wall-e and BB-8 . The body is spherical and the movements are based on two wheels while the face is a tablet with touch screen which if necessary can surf the Internet or view the user interface necessary to issue specific commands to the robot.

Zenbo is also designed to respond to voice commands and wireless interface with the other elements of the smart home, such as external cameras to show who is at the door or appliances of any kind to control the air conditioning, the ‘lighting and TV easily. Not only by means of a front camera allows you to video calls and control the home when no one is present, while connecting to your personal calendar can remind you of your upcoming appointments.

with a price even unreachable $ 599 , it seems that Asus is serious about feel this uncharted territory, and also the timing of this move seem appropriate. Zenbo ultimately can be considered a more developed version of Amazon Echo and parlor products that Google and Apple have already in the pipeline; if Asus was able to arrive on the market soon anticipate the next trend in the market on which all the big names in the industry seem to point.

Would you like to receive updates on this topic?

Enter your email address -> -> Follow

Mars gives show: 11 years ever so close to Earth – The Messenger

Mars gives show: Monday night will be at the minimum distance from the Earth which had not happened for 11 years. After Sun and Moon, will be one of the two brightest celestial bodies in the sky, the other is Jupiter. It will be tempting opportunity to admire the Red Planet disk, its reddish color and observe some details of the surface, the latter visible only through a telescope.

Mars reaches the minimum distance of 75.3 million kilometers at 23:34 (Italian time on Monday) and the best visibility time will be around one in the morning. “The planet is just getting dark but must reach the height of 30 degrees above the horizon to become visible,” said astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, head of the Virtual Telescope. In fact, the light on the horizon of the planet, he explained, must cross a greater thickness of the atmosphere, and this affects the visibility.

The planet has already made a fine show on May 22 reaching than the opposition but the Sun, found Masi, “this is the best time to observe it because now the Moon rises very late and the darkest sky allows us to appreciate better the legendary Mars red.”

as viewed from Earth the planet will have a diameter equal to one hundredth of that of the Moon’s disk and to find it you have to look to the south among the stars of the constellation Libra is easily recognizable by its distinctive red color, but to observe the details you need a small telescope of at least 100 mm in diameter that will differentiate the ice cap of the North Pole and the darker regions of the surface.

due to the changeable weather on the peninsula, who had to miss the event this evening because of the clouds do not be discouraged: “Mars – reassured Masi – still remains well visible for a month, then it becomes more elusive, distant and modest but still visible to the naked eye.

<'p>
             

After Pinocchio, even the Bible translated into emoji – The Republic

the European personnel selection criteria favor, as you can imagine, good education and creativity. While one of the most positive aspects of joining the company is the direct contact with the CEO Tim Cook . A friendly approach, therefore, that, however, does not apply to the consumer. All is not gold that glitters, warns the interviewee, explaining how difficult it is to stay calm working in an Apple Store, despite the great atmosphere seems almost always relaxed and informal. A ruin, in fact, are mainly customers. In practice, a salesman can be said to be constantly mistreated, not so much by the employer as by the patrons, – he said the woman – can attack you with their complaints before you even contact the Genius Bar to ask for technical support. And in the worst cases the insistent demands become insults and even death threats.

Then there’s the training, ongoing supervision and manic part of those responsible, claiming to have a relationship with the customer to ask for ” your favorite ice cream ”. A mission almost impossible, considering the more than one hundred patrons with whom he has to do every day. In short, there is not a moment for yourself and you feel always under control. Faced with a work routine so stressful even the Mac cult and example of Steve Jobs can revive the fortunes of a forced commit every day to wear a ” ‘Apple Mask’ ‘just to have a smile.

Topics:

apple store

former employee

Great Britain

Business Insider

Starring:

tim cook

Rosetta is the ingredients of life in the comet 67P – Tom’s Hardware

The ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft has found in Comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko elements that are deemed crucial to the origin of life on Earth , primarily the amino acid glycine, which is commonly found in proteins , and phosphorus, a key component of DNA and cell membranes.

 
 

For a long time the scientific community discusses the possibility that water and organic molecules have been brought to Earth by asteroids and comets, providing some of the key building blocks for the emergence of life. The data published over the weekend by European Space Agency confirms and reinforces this view.

 
 
 
 

It was already known that some comets and asteroids were carrying water with a composition similar to that of the oceans on Earth, the Rosetta probe was first detected significant differences in the comet 67P, but the new results show that comets have still had the potential to provide the basic ingredients for the formation of life as we know it.

 
 

 

See also: Space: like chasing a comet and land on

 

 
 

The amino acids are biologically important organic compounds that contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, and form the basis of proteins. Traces of simple amino acids such as glycine, were found in the samples returned to Earth in 2006 by NASA’s Stardust mission, which collected the material in the comet’s coma Wild 2. In that case the possible terrestrial contamination of dust made samples the extremely difficult analysis.

 
 

The information gathered by Rosetta do not have these problems, because we talk about direct and repeated surveys of glycine in the coma of Comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko . “This is the first unambiguous evidence for the presence of glycine in a comet,” said Kathrin Altwegg, principal investigator of the ROSINA instrument with which measurements, and lead author of the study published in Science Advances were made.

 
 
 
 

“ We have also detected the presence of other organic molecules, which can be a precursor of glycine, and provide clues to how the amino acid may have formed .” The measurements were carried out before the comet reached the closest point to the Sun (perihelion) in August 2015. In particular, the first survey was made in October 2014, while Rosetta was only 10 kilometers from the comet. The second occurred during a flyby Rosetta conducted in March 2015, when he was 30-15 km from the nucleus of the comet.

 
 

La Glycine has also been detected in other occasions related to the emissions of the comet’s jets in the month before perihelion, when Rosetta was more than 200 km from the nucleus. Since glycine turns to gas only when it reaches temperatures just below 150 ° C , for much of the time it is released from the comet’s surface, and for that Rosetta has not detected continuously .

 
 

“ The glycine is the only amino acid known to be able to be formed without the presence of liquid water , and the fact that we see him together with the precursor molecules and dust suggests that it is formed to ‘interior of interstellar ice grains of dust, and then be kept inside the comet for billions of years, “said Kathrin.

 
                                   
 
 

Another element found by Rosetta is phosphorus, a key element in all known living organisms. It is for example within the structural framework of the DNA, and is employed for the transport of energy within the cells.

 
 

“ There are still many open questions about the chemical elements that were present on the early Earth , and there is also an enormous evolutionary gap to be filled between the arrival of these elements by cometary impacts and the birth of life, “explains co-author of the study Hervé Cottin. “The important point is that comets have not really changed at 4.5 billion years, therefore provide us with direct access to some of the ingredients that you probably have been part of the prebiotic soup , which eventually led to the origin of life on Earth. “

 
 

“The multitude of organic molecules already identified by Rosetta, now joined the exciting confirmation of basic elements such as glycine and phosphorus, endorse our idea that comets have the potential to provide key molecules for prebiotic chemistry “concludes Matt Taylor, ESA Rosetta project scientist.

 
 

“To demonstrate that comets are reservoirs of the most primitive material in the solar system and may have carried these vital ingredients on Earth is one of the main objectives of the Rosetta mission, so we are satisfied with the result.

Life on Earth came from a comet? By the probe Rosetta new clues – International Business Times Italy

The life, or at least some of its ingredients, travels the cosmos aboard a comet . The spacecraft Rosetta European Space Agency (ESA) is in fact able to detect some of these “building blocks” of life as we know it on the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Of these ingredients belong to glycine, an amino acid normally present in proteins, and phosphorus, which is an essential component of DNA and cell membranes. It is a discovery that could have a huge impact in the history of the planet Earth is in fact a long time discussing the possibility that water and organic molecules have been brought on a young Earth from asteroids and comets , providing an essential contribution to the development of life.

READ ALSO: SpaceX fails again there: the Falcon 9 rocket back successfully [VIDEO]

particularly interesting is the presence of glycine, the simplest amino acid, of the organic molecules that contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen , in addition to forming the bases of the proteins. traces of glycine were found in 2006 among the samples reported in 2006 by the Wild-2 comet thanks to NASA’s Stardust spacecraft.

However, on that occasion there was the fear of a possible terrestrial contamination of the samples, which made the very difficult analysis. But this time is different: Rosetta was able to detect repeatedly and clearly glycine in the coma of Comet 67P, which reached in August 2014, a few months after releasing the Philae lander on the surface.

“ This is the first unambiguous detection of glycine in a comet “, explains Kathrin Altwegg, Head of the ROSINA instrument nacelle which allowed to perform the measurements and the first author of a paper on the findings, Advances in Science. “At the same time, we also found other organic molecules that could be precursors of the glycine, suggesting possible ways in which this may have formed.”

The comet Rosetta contains some of the basic ingredients of life Spacecraft: ESA / ATG medialab; Comet: ESA / Rosetta / NavCam – CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO; date: Altwegg et al. (2016)

As mentioned, the surveys carried out by Rosetta however, are not limited to glycine: as explained in the paper, the ESA spacecraft has succeeded with “smell” of phosphorus traces , a key element in all living organisms.

READ ALSO: Super telescope E-ELT, Italy at the forefront: contract 400 million [VIDEO]

for example, phosphorus and its compounds are found in DNA and cell membranes , as well as being used for the transport of energy within the cells. “There is still much uncertainty about the chemistry in the Earth first formed, and of course there is a huge evolutionary gap to be filled between the arrival of these ingredients because of the impacts of comets and the life that states,” explains co- author Hervé Cottin.

“But the important point is that comets are not really changed in 4.5 billion years: we provide direct access to some of the ingredients that you probably have ended up in the prebiotic soup at the end resulted in the origin of life on Earth

. “

Life comes from space? Rosetta discovers the “building blocks” of DNA on a comet – Intelligonews

Life on Earth comes from the space ? No, not about UFOs, but organic molecules observed for the first time on a comet with no doubt that they are the result of contamination. It is 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenok, the comet reached and studied by the European Space Agency probe, Rosetta , in 2014. On it were found the glycine and phosphorus , two key elements for the formation of the DNA.

“We already knew that glycine could have assembled in the early stages of solar system formation – says Roberto Battiston , president of the Italian Space – we had also found traces in some meteorites and a comet dust sample brought to Earth by NASA in 2009. But we always had the doubt that the materials had been contaminated by us. This time we observed the comet’s tail without touching it, by measuring the emissions of its spectrum. We are sure to have reliable data “. It’s likely that these bricks to have evolved life as we know it? “On this question – continues Battiston – there is great discussion. But the discovery leads us to think that, on the timing and size of their universe, life can be quite common. Processes such as the one observed by Rosetta can indeed also be occurring elsewhere. Today we know that the Earth is less special than we thought. Since the 90s we have discovered many planets orbiting a star like our own. “

Go back then to come forward the theory that organic molecules could have formed in space, board of planets and comets, harnessing the energy of the sun and the water.

traces of life on the comet: the incredible discovery of the Rosetta probe – Weather Center Italian

Traces of life on the comet: the incredible discovery of the Rosetta probe

Traces of life on the comet: the incredible discovery of the Rosetta probe – are decades to be asked the following question: “it was a comet to bring life to Earth?” a resounding answer in this sense seems to give the sensor Rosetta , a mission launched into orbit in 2004 by ‘the European space Agency in order to study the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Rosetta has reached the last two years the star and now came the first extraordinary results. The sensor , in fact, found some traces acid glycine and Phosphorus. These are the basic components to provide explanations regarding the origin of life on our planet. [...]

The origin of life on Earth, the Rosetta probe is amino acids and phosphorus on the comet – The Messenger

It ‘was a comet to bring life to Earth? The amino acid glycine and traces of phosphorus, as crucial components to explain the origin of life on our planet, were found on the comet 67 / P Churyumov-Gerasimenko reached two years ago by Rosetta and Philae lander during the mission lasting more than 30 years of planning and trip and that the Times considered it “the greatest feat of mankind.” Now a note from the European Space adds tremendous value to the exploration accomplished after a flight of 10 years and 6.5 billion kilometers from the orbiter and the probe landed small robot on the comet.

In particular, the amino acid glycine, which is commonly found in proteins, it is a kind of obsession with the esoricercatori that for years arguing over whether organic molecules have been brought on the “young” Earth from asteroids and comets remains. The presence of glycine in space has increased over the last thirty years by repeated announcements to as many denials. Only in 2002 it considered the final confirmation by the Taiwan University but based on the examination of signals picked up by radio telescopes. Not cheap, but needed something more concrete to fuel hopes and further research on the origin of life on Earth due to contamination from outside (panspermia). Also important is the discovery of traces of phosphorus, decisive component of DNA and cell membranes.

 
 

As reported today by Science Advances, labile testimonies of simple amino acids like glycine had been detected in samples of comet Wild 2 obtained in 2006 by NASA’s Stardust mission. But the analysis was not considered decisive for the possible terrestrial contamination of samples.

An entirely different thickness data obtained through Rosetta probe with a large degree of Italian technology, analyzing repeatedly and from different distances in 2015 and 2015, the rarefied atmosphere dellla comet. “And ‘the first unambiguous detection of glycine in a comet,” said Kathrin Altwegg, principal researcher thanks to the “Rosina” tool that has the article format.

To scientists those testimonies of Glycine is contained in the “lot of dust” that wraps with varying degrees of intensity of the comet, a “tail” of the comet shining like the one that four billion years ago may have led life on Earth.

“There is still much uncertainty regarding the chemistry that was present on the early Earth, and there is also, of course, an enormous evolutionary gap to be filled between the arrival of these ingredients with cometary impacts, and the occurrence of life, “says Hervé Cottin, the study’s co-author. “The most important aspect is that comets have not got to change over the past 4.5 billion years, and then provide us with a direct access to some of the ingredients that are probably finished in the great prebiotic soup that led to life on Earth ». “Rosetta confirms – said the President of ASI Roberto Battiston – that comets are the messengers who come from far away to tell us about the complexity of the universe. The discovery of glycine amino acid and phosphorus, a key component of DNA, on the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, endorse the theory that asteroids and comets have played an important role in transporting to the Universe at least some of the basic elements of life. They are just small pieces of a complex truth. With the next ones will be other data. once again, the choice made by the European Space to go hunting for comets and land on (a European record and also Italian) proves important for the scientific results that is leading. ”

 
             

Rosetta comet on the building blocks of life – The Republic

Rome – As building blocks of life are still rather elementary. But it is the first time that the organic molecules are observed on a comet with no doubt that they are the result of contamination. The substances in question are the glycine, the simplest of the twenty amino acids that make up our proteins, in particular the DNA and the RNA. And phosphorus, key ingredient of the double helix and cell membranes. Studied the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenok climb to the headlines – despite the complicated name – because they achieved and designed by the European Space Agency probe, Rosetta, in 2014.

“We already knew that glycine could have assembled in the early stages of formation of the solar system, “explains Roberto Battiston, president of the Italian Space Agency. “We had also found traces in some meteorites and a comet dust sample brought to Earth by NASA in 2009. But we always had the doubt that the materials had been contaminated by us. This time we observed the comet’s tail without touching it, measuring the emissions of its spectrum. We are sure to have reliable data “. The results of the Rosetta analysis were published in Science Advances.

According to one of the theories about the origin of life , organic molecules would be formed in space, aboard the planets and comets, harnessing the energy of the sun and the water (which several times was found aboard meteorites). Falling to Earth, they would have “fertilized” with their elements. The journal Science recently published a University of Nice experiment in which the researchers put together in laboratory water, methanol and ammonia, cooling the whole to 200 below zero (as in ice grains of comets) and bombarding it with ultraviolet rays imitation energy of the stars. From “Space primordial soup” has identified several types of sugars, some are compatible with the building blocks of DNA. In October, more and Rosetta had found traces of oxygen in the tail of the comet.

“How likely is it that these bricks to have evolved life as we know it? On this question there is great discussion” comments Battiston. “But the discovery leads us to think that, on the timing and size of their universe, life can be quite common. Processes such as that observed by Rosetta can indeed also be occurring elsewhere. Today we know that the Earth is less special than we thought . Since the 90s we have discovered many planets orbiting a star like our own. “

Topics:

comets

rose

hex

asi

battiston

67P / Churyumov- Gerasimenko

life in space

Starring:

Glycine in the canopy of 67 / P – The Italian Space Agency website

What comets were the bearers of life in our solar system is something recognized and elements that would confirm they were encountered in past missions, but without the certainty that the cometary dust was not a contaminated once again came to our planet, such as the Stardust mission.

Now, thanks to ESA’s probe Rosetta and its encounter with the comet 67P / Churyumov- Gerasimenko , the figure seems certain. Among the ingredients found in her hair appear the amino acid called glycine, which is commonly found in proteins, and phosphorus, one of the key elements of DNA and cell membranes.

“This is the first unambiguous detection of glycine in a comet, “he says Kathrin Altwegg , principal investigator of the ROSINA instrument that performed the measurements and lead author of the study published in Science Advances. “At the same time we also detected the presence of other organic molecules, which can be precursors of the glycine, providing clues about the ways in which this amino acid may have formed.”

The measurements were carried out before the comet reach its closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion, which took place in August of 2015. the first survey was obtained in October 2014, while Rosetta was located 10 km away from the comet. The next opportunity arose during a close flyby in March 2015, when the probe was located at 15-30 km from the comet’s nucleus.

“The glycine is the only amino acid known to be able to form without liquid water, and the fact that we observe it together with the precursor molecules and the dust suggests that it is formed within the interstellar dust grains or by irradiation of frozen ice by ultraviolet light, to then be preserved for billions of years in the comet, “he adds Altwegg.

the new results collected show that comets may still have played a key role in the manifestation of life as we know it. Amino acids are organic compounds containing carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, and form the basis for the proteins, then play a biologically fundamental role.

“There is still much uncertainty as regards the chemical which was present on the early Earth, and there is also, of course, an enormous evolutionary gap to be filled between the arrival of these ingredients with cometary impacts, and the occurrence of life, “says Hervé Cottin , co- author of the study. “The most important aspect is that comets have not got to change over the past 4.5 billion years, and then provide us with a direct access to some of the ingredients that are probably finished in the great prebiotic soup that led to life on Earth “.

Read the article Advances in Science” Prebiotic chemicals – amino acid and phosphorus – in the coma of comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko “K. Altwegg et al

Rosetta is the ingredients of life – Media Inaf

This photograph was taken from the navigation room Rosetta March 25, 2015, at a distance of 86.6 km from the nucleus of comet 67P . these days the ROSINA instrument carried out a survey of glycine in the comet’s coma. Credits: ESA / Rosetta / NavCam

components that we feel are crucial for the origin of life on Earth were detected on comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the object of study of the probe Rosetta ESA for about two years. Among the detected ingredients appear the amino acid called glycine, which is commonly found in proteins, and phosphorus, one of the key elements of DNA and cell membranes.

The scientific community has long debated the possibility that water and organic molecules have been brought to Earth by asteroids and comets, and that by doing so the small bodies of the solar system have provided us with some of the key building blocks for the emergence of life. If it is true that some comets and asteroids have been shown to contain water with a composition similar to that of Earth’s oceans, it is also true that Rosetta has found significant differences in the composition of the water 67P, fueling the debate on the genesis of water on Earth .

the new results collected show that comets may still have played a key role in the manifestation of life as we know it. Amino acids are organic compounds containing carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, and form the basis for the proteins, then play a biologically fundamental role. Traces of the simplest of the amino acids, namely glycine, were found in the samples brought back to Earth in 2006 by the Wild-2 comet, object of study of NASA’s Stardust mission. However, the high probability of terrestrial contamination of the samples had rendered the results of analysis rather weak. What he got Rosetta, however, are surveys of glycine directly in the canopy of his comet .

“This is the first unambiguous detection of glycine in a comet,” he says Kathrin Altwegg , principal investigator of the ROSINA instrument that performed the measurements and lead author of the study published in Science Advances . “At the same time we also detected the presence of other organic molecules, which can be precursors of the glycine, providing clues about the ways in which this amino acid may have formed”

The measurements were carried out before the comet reached its closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion, which took place in August of 2015. the first survey was obtained in October 2014, while Rosetta was located 10 km away from the comet. The next opportunity arose during a close flyby in March 2015, when the probe was located at 15-30 km from the comet’s nucleus. Glycine has also been observed on other occasions, associated with emissions of jets during the previous month at perihelion, when Rosetta was at more than 200 km from the nucleus, and was surrounded by large amounts of dust.

The ROSINA instrument onboard Rosetta found are considered essential ingredients for life as we know it on Earth 67P inside the comet’s coma. on the top right the amino acid called glycine detection, bottom right a key element for all living beings, or phosphorus. top left one probe scheme, with stated the position of the ROSINA instrument, in low orbit around the comet Rosetta. at the center of the image collection March 25, 2015 from the navigation room. Click on the image to enlarge. Credit: ESA probe / ATG medialab; comet: ESA / Rosetta / NavCam – CC bY-SA 3.0 IGO; data: Altwegg et al. (2016)

“the glycine is the only amino acid known to be able to be formed without water liquid, and the fact that we observe it together with the precursor molecules and the dust suggests that it is formed within the interstellar dust grains or by irradiation of frozen ice by ultraviolet light, to then be preserved for billions of years in the comet, “adds Altwegg .

La glycine is transformed into gas only when it reaches temperatures of around 150 ° C, and this means that for most of the lifetime of the comet the amount of glycine released from the surface is infinitesimal, given the low temperatures. This explains why Rosetta was able to detect only during short time windows.

Another interesting survey described in the article is that of phosphorus, a key element for all living organisms. For example, we can find it in the structure of DNA and cell membranes, and is used for the transport of energy within cells.

“There is still much uncertainty regarding the chemistry that was present on the early Earth, and there is also, of course, an enormous evolutionary gap to be filled between the arrival of these ingredients with cometary impacts, and the occurrence of life, “says Hervé Cottin , co-author of study. “The most important aspect is that comets have not got to change over the past 4.5 billion years, and then provide us with a direct access to some of the ingredients that are probably finished in the great prebiotic soup that led to life on Earth “.

” the company of organic molecules already identified by Rosetta, now joined the exciting confirmation of key ingredients such as glycine and phosphorus, strengthens our hypothesis that comets they have the potential to provide the key elements for prebiotic chemistry, “says Matt Taylor , scientist Rosetta mission. “Being able to show that comets contain the most primitive material in the solar system and may have transported the fundamental elements for life on Earth is one of the main objectives of the Rosetta mission, so we are particularly pleased with this important result.

more :

source: Media INAF | Written by Elisa Nichelli

Uses, obsolete technology: the Pentagon still rely on floppy and Pc of the 70 – The Republic

L’ARSENALE US nuclear defense is still entrusted to IBM computer diskettes and 70s. There is material for a Hollywood script for what he has discovered the Government Accountability Office, in practice the agency for Congress comb through the federal budget. Despite US taxpayers pay about 61 billion dollars a year to keep up to date technological equipment of various departments of the Pentagon, the latter seems collecting modern art computer.

In the detailed report of the GAO stated that the Defense system that coordinates intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and their tanker “runs on computers IBM Series 1-70s and uses 8-inch floppy disk”. The Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Valerie Henderson, responded to Associated Press that “it is still in use because, long story short, it still works.” “However, to address the concerns of obsolescence, with floppy drives are scheduled to be replaced by digital devices safe at the end of 2017″.

In short, the GAO suggested the Pentagon to make a move, even if in Indeed there is a complete update of the entire Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications in 2020. Among the many oddities identified by the GAO, there are also other antiques. The Treasury Department for profiles of taxpayers still relies on a software-based assembly language that runs on old IBM mainframe. The Department of Veterans Affairs handles the payroll, pensions and other services with software in COBOL. The same applies to the Department of Justice, in relation to levels of security and housing. “The government runs the risk of keeping systems that have reached their limits,” says the GAO.

Topics:

USA

ibm

windows 3.1

floppy disk

Starring:

In the fall of natural gas technology and LPG – Il Sole 24 Ore

It is a chain of 22 thousand employees and 1.7 billion Euros in the country and made in Italy, from the technological point of view, it has no competitors in the world. Yet it is likely to fray in the silence, between the hooks of the collapse in oil prices and the explosion of fashion of the electric motors. We are talking about the field of sustainable mobility represented by Ngv Natural-gas vehicles, an association that brings together the most important Italian companies operating in ecofriendly alternative transportation fuels (natural gas, LPG, LNG, hydrogen, biofuels and dual fuels) yesterday launched Bologna a cry of alarm, at the first World’s fair in the segment “Alternative Fuels Conferences & amp; World Fair in 2016. “

” Italy is the worldwide benchmark for natural gas and LPG technologies, the first cars were born here in the thirties, and in these 80 years have enabled the development of vehicles, networks and services are now mature, ready to offer an alternative to the classic green and economical petrol and diesel. Yet we neglected if not forgotten, “says the president of Ngv Italy, Mariarosa Baroni, opening the three-day BolognaFiere on alternative fuels involving 40 exhibitors from 13 countries, including Eni, Snam, Gazprom, Fca, Iveco, Audi.

the driver of economy is more determinant of environmental awareness for the Italic consumers and the fall in the Brent well below the $ 50 a barrel, and therefore the reduction of gaps with natural gas or LPG, is having huge repercussions both on the sales of eco-friendly cars is on the manufacturers’ accounts. But this does not detract from the world record of our country: the end of 2015 circulated in Italy over 3 million gas cars, or 8% of the entire fleet (compared with 1.5% in Europe) and 43 thousand new cars with gas supply in the first quarter 2016 (Anfia data) representing 86% of all registrations of this type in Europe. Numbers far more interesting than even 840 electric cars registered along the boot in the same period, also because behind LPG and CNG is an Italian technology that is unrivaled on a global scale, with brands such as Reggio Landi Renzo which controls a third of the world market for gas engines, closely followed by Cuneo BRC gas Equipment (through the joint venture Italian-American Fuel System Solutions), the second player worldwide.

Landi Renzo, however, has closed 2015 with nearly 28 % less revenue prior year (205 million euro against 233, 80% export), and even if the embargo in Iran and the ban in Pakistan, two very promising markets for natural gas, injects optimism , “Hers is the new patent for the retroactive hybridization of any car, the dual fuel diesel-natural gas and LNG (liquid natural gas) for heavy transport we are betting,” says Corrado Storchi, public affairs director of Landirenzo. In Italy there would be a chance for the development of natural gas, because 82% of the 1,100 service stations (against 3,700 LPG) and 84% of natural gas vehicles in circulation (883mila cars against 2.1 million LPG) is concentrated in just eight regions. In Europe, where pipelines do not exist, we would rather space to develop LPG (especially prevalent in Poland and Turkey), but the sector is governed by 95% by political choices and incentives for electric cars – the phenomenon now the rage – put on track by countries such as Norway, the Netherlands and Germany have the effect of removing markets from Italian technology.

Yet, says Rita Carousels, director Assogasliquidi Federchimica, “the LPG and CNG engines guarantee high performance, long battery life, high security, pollute 20% less in terms of CO2 than conventional fuels, do not emit particulate and save at least 30% of the costs: you do not understand because they do not need to be supported like electric mobility, which it can work well only in the city. Not to mention that to power the electric motors in Italy, going back to the source, thermal power plants are coal-ranging and therefore very polluting, a contradiction. ”
Hence the high expectations of the industry for the transposition of the European Directive Dafi time to develop the market and networks for mobility with alternative fuels – all in compliance with the principle of technological neutrality, by compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid LPG, from biofuels to electricity to hydrogen – a directive that our country must implement by 18 November 2016. “the national strategic framework on alternative fuels is ready and will arrive in mid-June at the Council of Ministers” assured John Perrella of the technical secretariat of the Mise inaugurating the fair in Bologna. Among the upcoming standards, the development of distributors only for natural gas and the requirement for new distribution systems to add gas to the two conventional fuels petrol and diesel.

© All rights reserved

clean beaches, volunteers to work throughout Italy: hunting plastic – Republic

IN VIEW of summer, next weekend back clean beaches and seabed – Clean up the Med , the voluntary initiative promoted by Legambiente to clean beaches, cliffs and backdrops in Italy and around the Mediterranean basin “and protect a common good turned too often in open dump.”

Million tonnes of waste end up in seas in the world every year , remember the environmental organization recalling the UNEP data (the UN environment Programme) that about 70% of this waste sinks, 15% and floats another 15% remains in the water column.

the volunteers will hunt mainly to the plastic which is the material found on the beaches. For this year Legambiente, on the occasion of the campaign ‘beaches and clean waters (also realized thanks to the contribution of Cial, Novamont and Virosac), asks citizens to report “the presence of mermaid tears: those’ dots that make up matter before that produces the plastic objects. Small and light – said Legambiente – are dispersed by winds and currents that carry on all the beaches in the world. they are dangerous: they absorb from sea water pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) ; are ingested by marine animals and birds, thereby entering the food chain; do not disappear or dissolve, but fragment into ever smaller pieces due to weathering, UV radiation and the action of the sea. “

many events planned in Italy, reminds Legambiente.
In Calabria , in Soverato, appointment on May 28 at the Bay dell’Ippocampo at 10.00 with Legambiente Heron. During the initiative, students in high schools teach pupils of primary recycling. In Scalea, the City Council established the Boys at the Comprehensive Institute “G. Caloprese” organizes a Transaction clean Scalea: May 28, 2016 at 9:15 am we start from the school yard to go to some relevant sites of the town center and then conclude the initiative “adopting” a stretch of beach.

In Emilia Romagna , in Ravenna, double cleaning initiative: Friday, May 27 along the beach of Lido class and Saturday 28 at Lido di Dante, with the involvement of the Circle Matelda Legambiente, the coop social People in Motion, the Citizens’ Committee of Lido di Dante, the King association of Girgenti, Coop Alliance 3.0 and the volunteer project “laboriously “Municipality of Ravenna.

in Liguria , Camogli, appointment Friday 27 at the mouth of the rio beach Gentile Camogli. Attended by students of the Nautical Institute of Camogli. The activity will include a first part of the Marine Litter monitoring the beach and follow the real cleaning.
In Veneto, Rovigo Saturday, May 28, from 9:30 am, on the beach of Marina Caleri has organized a cleaning day of the coast, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration of Rosolina.

In Apulia , in Marina di Lesina Circle Lo Sperone organizes cleaning the beach on 28 May. Meet at 9:30 am at the visitor center of the Gargano National Park. The initiative is promoted in collaboration with the Prison of San Severo, attend the detainees accompanied by surveillance, Agesci scouts, school groups and other volunteers, in addition to members of the circles of Gargano Legambiente.

in Basilicata , in Montalbano Jonico, May 29 from 10:30 am volunteers will meet at Lido Onda Free Scanzano Jonico for cleaning the beach front lido, to discuss environment and legality, to share a fair, caring and snack with organic products, and play with the classic beach games: bocce, sand castles, long jump, tambourines, of marbles tournaments.

in Friuli , in Trieste, Saturday, May 28 at 9:30 am meeting at Canovella dè Zoppoli beach to collect garbage and beached abandoned. Legambiente will provide gloves and bags.
In the Marches, in Fermo, appointment Friday, May 27 at the Association premises Picena Nautica on the waterfront A. Gramsci north. The program includes the participation of the classes of 4 Primary School Petetti and the City of Fermo. Recovery of waste present in the seabed by divers volunteers the Ass Underwater World of Fermo, with explanation of the equipment needed for scuba diving and their operation. Open lesson on plant and animal life present in the Adriatic Sea.

In New York , in Ostia, are organized environmental education activities with classes of elementary schools and cleaning the beach : event May 27 at 10.00 hours on the 8 km coast road.

In Campania in Paestum, appointment Saturday, May 28 10:00 AM Oasis Paestum dune near the bunker. The initiative provides for the cleaning of the sandy and dune, wind trap for the realization of the dune protection and Artecologia (sand sculptures by the sea). During the initiative they will be installed placards made by students.

In Sardinia , in Cagliari, together with Legambiente They will participate in the boys APA Dream, the association that supports people with disabilities in physical activity, sports and cultural associations, scouts and people of all ages. The event is scheduled May 29 at 9:30 am on the Giorgino beach, inserted in the context of the festival “Reading Metropolitan initiatives”.

In Sicily , will also participate in a Ragusa migrants and asylum seekers in some of the province. The cleaning will take place in the club of the beach in the town of Ragusa and in the Micenci beach in Donnalucata in the municipality of Scicli at 9.30 on 28 and 29 May. In Agrigento, the initiative will instead take place Monday, May 30, will affect the stretch of beach that runs from Lido of the State Police to the Bar Restaurant “Le Dune”. Will be involved in the initiative a few school groups and Acuarinto Association, committed to the implementation of projects for the inclusion of unaccompanied foreign minors, who will speak with a group of young immigrants. Appointment to the beach of the State Police from 09.00.

Legambiente, waste on the beaches: 714 meters per hundred – Quotidianodiragusa.it

Bottle caps, disposable tableware and cigarette butts. Are some of the waste that cover the Italian beaches. Every hundred meters of the beach there are about 714 on average, and three out of four are plastic objects. Denounces the relationship Beach Litter of Legambiente, which monitored 47 Italian beaches for an area of ​​106 thousand square meters and has found more than 33 thousand waste beached. Leading the top ten of the most objects between the sand are pieces of plastic and polystyrene (22.3% of the total), destined with time to fragment into millions of micro-particles that end up in the belly of the fish and, from there, on our tables. 13.2% of the waste are the sticks of cotton swabs to which the volunteers have collected 4,412 pieces, more than 2,642 cigarette butts (7.9%). Follow caps and plastic lids and metal, bottles and fishing nets.

In geographical terms the most critical situation is on the beach Coccia di Morto in Fiumicino (Rome), near the mouth of the Tiber, where they accumulate waste from the river. Here Legambiente has found more than 5,500 waste in 100 meters, of which 2 of 3 due to poor purification (3,716 cotton buds collected). black jersey for the Olivella beach in Santa Flavia (PA), with 1,252 waste in 100 meters.

The 47 sampled beaches:
 - Liguria and Tuscany the sampled beaches fall in the municipalities of Genoa (Voltri beach) and Orbetello (beach Giannella) in the province of Grosseto.
 - Lazio five samples: the beach Coccia di Morto in Fiumicino, to Capocotta in Ostia, two sectors on the Marechiaro lido at Anzio and the Levante beach in Terracina (Lt).
 - Campania is present in the survey with sixteen beaches: one near Caserta, in Castelvolturno (free beach in the locality Bagnara); five in the province of Naples, Pozzuoli Monachelle of the beach and the beach of the Natural Reserve of Costa Licola, the beach to the marina of Castellammare di Stabia, the Pezzolo beach to Seiano Marina di Vico Equense and Cava the beach of ‘ island in Forio on the island of Ischia; Salerno is the Mercatello beach, while in the province of Poplars beach, that of Agnone Cilento Montecorice, the Plan of Velia Ascea, the beach and the Lido Venus Trentova Agropoli, the Oasis Tower dune Mare Capaccio-Paestum, the beach the resort Magazzeno in Pontecagnano, the free beach in Battipaglia and the protected area of ​​dunes Legambiente Silaris at Eboli.
 - Sicily, we find the Olivella beach in Santa Flavia and San Cataldo Trappeto, both in the province of Palermo, in Syracuse the Arenella beach, the Marina di Priolo Gargallo and Punta of the Ants in Pachino, also in the province of Syracuse; The Canton Beach in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, in the province of Messina, and the Babbaluciara beach in Agrigento.
 - Calabria: the beach at the seafront Italo Falcomatà in Reggio Calabria and the Picket Fence beach Cutro in the province of Crotone.
 - Basilicata: In the province of Matera the beach of Policoro the shore of San Teodoro in Pisticci and the Lido Onda Libera in Scanzano Jonico.
 - Apulia: Taranto at a beach on the Mar Piccolo, close to the Park and Cimino in Ginosa was sampled a free beach on the initiative of the municipal administration. In the province of Bari it has been sampled the Cala beach Lama Monachile in Polignano a Mare.
 - Brands: there are six beaches present in the survey: the beach Torrette di Ancona, that of Marina di Montemarciano and Marzocca beach in Senigallia; the beach in the nature reserve of Bilge in San Benedetto del Tronto, the Lido San Tommaso in Fermo and Faleriense beach in Porto Sant’Elpidio.
 In the northern Adriatic they were monitored the Vessel golden beach in Comacchio, in the province of Ferrara, the beach at the Laguna del Mort in Eraclea (Venice) and Canovella de ‘Zoppoli in Duino Aurisina (Ts).
 

Italian beaches full of waste – Rai News

Plastic polestirolo, cotton buds and cigarette butts pollute the sea of ​​Italian

Share

26 May 2016 On Italian beaches are 714 waste every 100 meters. These are the figures that emerge from a survey conducted by Legambiente, which has monitored the May 47 Italian beaches where they were found 33,540 waste. On average 714 waste every 100 linear meters of beach.

This year the undisputed queen of beach waste plastics remains: 76.3% of the objects found is plastic; follow the butts of cigarettes (7.9%), waste paper (5.5%), metal (3.6%), glass / ceramics (3.4%), wood (1.3%), textile waste (1.2%) and rubber (0.8%).

Leading the top ten found beached wastes are three small but dangerous objects: in the first place there are the plastic and polystyrene pieces (22.3%), which measure less than 50 cm, which make up almost a quarter of the waste found. Second place went to the cotton swab (13.2%) for a total of 4412 pieces, a direct result of improper habit of “disposing” these waste by throwing them in the toilet and the ineffectiveness of the treatment plants. Third place for the cigarette butts (7.9%): in particular the survey of Legambiente has counted 2642, an amount equal to the contents of 132 packets.
Waste that hurt environment, wildlife, economy and tourism. sea ​​turtles, seabirds and marine mammals may become trapped in fishing nets and the professional capture tool or die by suffocation due to accidental ingestion of waste (particularly plastic bags) exchanged for food.

‘survey, which is part of the campaign “clean Beaches and seabed – clean-up the Med 2016″, sees the most critical situations on the beach Coccia di Morto in Fiumicino, near the mouth of the Tiber, where they accumulate waste coming from the river. Here Legambiente has found the highest number of waste: waste in 5500 than 100 meters.

Of the waste found, 67% is attributable to bad treatment, with the presence of well 3716 cotton swabs and several other items (deodorants for toilet and blister).
The gradual fragmentation of plastic waste abandoned in the environment triggers a Stop pollution and incalculable. The effect of waves, currents, UV radiation and other factors, the waste is destined to fragment into millions of micro particles which disperse marine and coastal ecosystems are ingested by wildlife marina.Attraverso the food chain, the plastic also reaches our tables with its harmful substances. In second place in the standings, with 13%, we find the Q-tip: This is the classic waste from treatment failure who arrive on the beaches through rivers, canals and drains.

Samsung: when technology is not understood – Webnews

The best metaphor of ‘ innovation is that of a sudden acceleration. It is felt by almost a physical point of view: a force that pushes into the future, often rambling directions, sometimes in exciting way. However there is a ‘ inertia that is opposed and braking, which opposes resistance is not just fear, but it is a natural need for adaptation. A research carried out by Samsung has measured this feeling by turning it into numbers and making it even more obvious the phenomenon: the fierce today’s innovation matches a fierce force of inertia which tends to counteract the impulses for change. It is an inertia made of several components, with many faces and not easy to define, but in any case the real and unspoiled nature.

Never before historical moment the technology is able to surprise us through extraordinary experiences, such as virtual reality, self-driving cars and smart appliances. However, according to Samsung, Italians and Europeans in general are struggling to keep up with the tech terminology, still unknown to many and a source of misunderstandings.

The survey Tech Habits 2016 describes a country in which 59% of Italians say they use more technology than 2 years ago (an increase even higher than the European average), with a 14% that even he claims to be now totally “addicted” and not being able to absolutely do without. But there is also the other side of the coin: the 88% of Italians said at least once to know a term related to technology despite not having the slightest idea of ​​what he was talking about. In short: an incomplete love, the result of poor knowledge charm, which generates breakaway zones intended to weigh on the awareness of citizens with regard to the technology itself. Samsung explains:

About a third of Italians (32%) showed that unclear terminology prevents to best use a device, exploiting the full potential (in Europe percentage drops to 23%); 36% say they have at least a more advanced device than their ability to use and necessity (the percentage rises to 43% at European level), while 7% (11% in Europe) will instead hear late against technological progress.

words are the least understood “ streaming “, “ cloud ” and “ emoji “, but included also one of the most unknown” fiber optic “and” Android . ” Yet probably Italians know Netflix, Google Drive and use every day smilies on your smartphone. Use unconscious, in short, and probably net of any knowledge real about how the service functions, as to what are the terms, such as the characteristics, such as the opportunities. A passive approach, ultimately, that can only give power to those offers and toglierne to who benefits. The knowledge rate is further reduced if you deal with the definition of “Internet of things”: a reality that is now around the corner does not seem to worry about either of interest to most of the respondents, totally unaware of this reality and of all the repercussions that it could therefore have on everyday life. It would be worth spending a reflection on issues such as security and privacy, then, if the user wants guarantees without offering in exchange the notional minimum essential to be able to reap the benefits.

But you can blame the people for this ” ignorance “, or makes more sense to attribute responsibility to those who have the duty to inform, raise awareness and make people understand? Diffused responsibility for indirect blame : from journalism to marketing, passing for companies and institutions, too often underestimate the disconnect between reality and perception of the same, without attaching the necessary importance to the understanding of products and services. unfamiliar terms, indeed, are exploited for their innovative aura, creating further confusion. Under what rule the user must be aware of the differences between non-Ultra HD, UHD and 4K? If the law does not admit ignorance, innovation what can forgive and what not to people who are struggling to keep up in a period of fierce evolution?

Mario Levratto , Head of marketing and External Relations at Samsung Electronics Italy, explains:

our research reveals that the tech terminology can be a barrier for many consumers. In Italy we are working hard in this direction, simplifying the language we use and trying to develop advanced products, but easy to understand and use, thanks to the support of our experts and our distributors. In addition, to ensure that our technology can really facilitate and enrich people’s lives, we are committed to promote the dissemination of a culture of innovation in our country , to support growth cultural, social and economic Italian. We do it with our Corporate Citizenship projects. Samsung has developed in our country initiatives in key socio-economic sectors – from art to school, the safe use of the Internet to vocational training – to enhance the digital and help all Italians, especially the younger ones, but not only, to fully understand its meaning and benefits, and to acquire the skills required by the market.

cultural digital divide is largely identifiable in this distance between innovation reality and the reality of widespread culture: on the front of the technology is easy to create unbridgeable gap dictated by the various snags and the continuous accelerations in the world of smartphones, tablets, smart TV, online or ecommerce services. It’s up to the institutions to protect the rights of people, it’s up to the people to cultivate their curiosity and it is up to companies to create the right awareness in order that the fear of technology does not become an obstacle to the market. In the midst of all this there is the meeting point of the collective interest in order to grow the market, increase awareness and grow the technology offered in parallel to the ability to take advantage of the same.

Plastic, cigarettes and litter: the unbearable carpet on Italian shores – The Republic

A green multicolored carpet, white, blue and pink waste. It is what is found on many Italian beaches: on average 714 waste every 100 meters. This is what emerges from the “Beach litter” assembled and edited for the third year by Legambiente that monitored in May 47 Italian beaches: an area of ​​106,245 square meters, equivalent to 800 beach volleyball courts, where 33,540 were found beached waste. Also this year the plastic remains undisputed queen: 76.3% of the objects found is in fact plastic, followed by cigarette butts (7.9%), waste paper (5.5%), metal (3.6 %), glass / ceramics (3.4%), wood (1.3%), textile waste (1.2%) and rubber (0.8%).

Leading, however, the top ten most found beached wastes are three small but dangerous objects: in the first place there are the plastic and polystyrene pieces (22.3%), which measure less than 50 cm, which make up almost a quarter of the waste found. Second place went to the cotton swab (13.2%) for a total of 4412 pieces, a direct result of improper habit of ‘dispose’ this waste by throwing them in the toilet and the ineffectiveness of the treatment plants. Third place for cigarette butts (7.9%): in particular the survey of Legambiente has counted 2642, an amount equal to the contents of the packages of 132, 3% more than in the 2015 survey. follow the top ten: caps and lids (plastic and metal) 7.8%, plastic bottles for drinks (7.5%), fishing nets and aquaculture (3.7%), disposable tableware, plastic (3 , 5%), building material (2.3%), glass bottles and pieces (1.9%) and bottles and containers of detergents (1.8%). Waste that hurt the environment, wildlife, economy and tourism the survey” Beach litter “, which is part of the campaign” clean Beaches and seabed – clean-up the Med 2016 “also made possible thanks to the contribution of Cial Novamont and Virosac, was carried out by volunteers of Legambiente in May 2016. the most critical situations were found on the beach Coccia di Morto in Fiumicino, near the mouth of the Tiber, where they accumulate waste from the river. Here Legambiente has found the highest number of waste: waste in 5500 than 100 meters. Waste recovered, 67% was due to the bad treatment, with the presence of well 3716 cotton swabs and several other articles (for toilet and blister deodorants). Another beach that emerges in negative is that of Olivella in the municipality of Santa Flavia (Pa), with 1252 waste in 100 meters of beach, surrounded and heavily scarred even from the crumbling cement. Also important to note the beaches invaded by waste from the fishing industry, particularly the Canovella dè Zoppoli beach in Duino Aurisina, Trieste, where as many as 65% of the waste found are related to networks of mussels and beach on Mar Piccolo in Taranto, in Cimino near the Park (with 44% of waste due to fishing).

“About 70% of the waste that comes into contact with the marine ecosystem sinks and only 15% remains on the surface,” says Rossella Muroni, national president of Legambiente. This is why “it is urgent to put in action program for the progressive reduction of waste at sea and in the coastal strip, as required under EU Marine Strategy Directive, which in Italy have not yet been put in place.”

Fiumicino

in the survey Beach litter the main indicators taken into consideration are: the composition of the waste and its quantity and size (greater or less than 25 cm). The areas of investigation have been chosen so as to effect the sampling of transects of 100 meters in length of free and not yet clean beaches in view of the bathing season. As regards the type of the monitored waste, from the survey of Legambiente that as many as 30% consists of packaging, of which 26% from packaging and food wrappers (eg. Bottles, containers, dishes), and 4% from packaging non-food (eg boxes and towels). 71% of the food packaging consists of disposable packaging plastic. In second place are the waste from treatment failure, almost 5000, and the third, the waste arising from the smoke. More than 2,000 waste-related fisheries sector (in particular networks and “socks”, mussel) with 6% and 3% we find the category of aggregates and building materials left in situ. The problem of beach litter and marine litter is also an economic problem because they require enormous resources that are used for cleaning beaches.

San Benedetto

According to a study commissioned by the European Union and implemented by Arcadis, the marine litter costs the EU well 476.8 million euro a year. This figure takes into account only the tourism and fishing sectors, since it is not possible to quantify the impact of all economic sectors. In particular, the total estimated cost for the cleaning of all EU beaches amounting to 411.75 million euros and the impact on the fisheries sector is estimated at 61.7 million euro a year.