Greetings from Excelsior, Minnesota, where the sky is cloudy, but the wood roast is delicious.
Picture for the week
Hawking takes zero-gravity flight
British physicist Stephen Hawking has completed a zero-gravity flight in a specially modified plane provided by Zero Gravity Corporation.
Hawking, who suffers from motor neuron
disease,
was able to float free, unrestricted by his paralyzed
muscles and his wheelchair.
He believes private space
ventures are vital to reduce the cost of space
tourism and make it accessible to a greater number
of people.
"I think the human
race doesn't have a future
if it doesn't go into space,"
he said.
Architecture that can change the world
University of Minnesota Students Design The Clean Hub Unit
There are some very tired, and slightly nervous architecture and design students at the University of Minnesota. They have spent weeks getting their final project ready for a public presentation.
They've created a portable structure, called a "clean hub," that, when set up, can meet the power, water, sanitation, shelter and storage needs of people affected by natural disasters. The concept could also be used in refugee camps, which has drawn the interest of the World Bank.
A computerized rendering of the "clean hub" unit, designed by U of M architecture and design students. It's a portable unit that can provide power, water, and shelter in disaster areas. (Image courtesy of Shelter Architecture)
Learn more about the Clean Hub and support it in its efforts to win the American Express Members Project Competition at the following links:
http://www.membersproject.com/Community_Development/1489
http://thecleanhub.blogspot.com
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/04/27/cleanhub/
Posted by: John Dwyer | July 09, 2007 at 08:58 AM