Bat Happy Hour
Bug-loving bats will often flock to wind turbines in search of prey, as researchers theorize that bugs swarm around wind turbines in warm weather. Conscious of this, the Swedish Municipality of Halland has asked turbine developer Eolus to grants bats a “happy hour” – an hour before sunset and an hour before sunrise where turbines are turned off. This will allow bats to hunt for bugs without the risk of death or injury from the blades. If developers turn off their wind turbines while bats are foraging, they aren’t likely to lose a lot of income, as bats tend to forage in calm weather or low winds.
TreeHugger
Elastic Electronics
Researches are coming closer to creating “bio-integrated” medical devices – electronics embedded in living tissue that monitor and deliver electrical impulses in the tissue. These could be implanted in different parts of the body, and have applications from seizure-detection and treatment to monitoring the health and wellness of premature babies in a noninvasive manner. Prototypes of the circuits can already detect muscle movement, heart activity and brain waves by being placed on the surface of the skin like temporary tattoos.
R & D Magazine
Research Lab in a Glacier
For the first time, a research lab has been created inside a glacier by Norwegian scientists. This laboratory provides the scientists with the unique opportunity to do research on glaciers inside of a glacier, which they hope will deliver more accurate results. The lab is located approximately 660 feet into the Svartisen glacier in northern Norway.
SmartPlanet
Technology Meets Art: Mirror Installation Turns Viewer’s Face into Wild Animal
Ever wondered what you’d look like as an animal? Artist Karolina Sobecka has created a mirror installation that turns viewers’ reflections into wild animals, which perfectly mimic the user’s motions and facial expressions. The exhibit is titled “All the Universe is Full of the Lives of Perfect Creatures” and works using 3D software and a hidden camera with facetracking software that can recreate the user’s movements in real-time.
Top image: Mexican Free-tailed Bats by Flickr user dizfunkshinal via Wikimedia Commons
