From Engadget: Magnetic soap could make your next oil spill less oily

I sure hope this becomes a reality! Anything to help our environment is awesome in my book!

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Instead of spending millions upon millions to clean up the next oil spill, why don’t we just all pitch in and buy some soap? That’s basically what researchers at the University of Bristol are proposing, with a new kind of soap that’s apparently like no other. This soap, you see, is magnetic, which means it could be easily removed from water without leaving behind any hazardous chemicals — a potentially major selling point for cleanup crews and environmentalists alike. To create it, the team collected water with chlorine and bromine ions, and used it to dissolve iron particles, creating a metallic core. They proceeded to test their creation by placing the soapy particles within a test tube, underneath layers of water and oil. Much to their delight, they were able to remove the particles with only a magnet, ostensibly providing a template upon which disaster response crews may build.

 

from Engadget

From Lifehacker: Most Popular Online Meeting Service: Google+ Hangouts

This is the best value in holding online meetings! Why? ’cause it’s FREE!!!  😮

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Online meeting services run the gamut from expensive, feature-filled, and designed for businesses to individual solutions made for people who work on remote teams, or just want an easy way to collaborate with a few coworkers of a vendor without spending a ton of money on an enterprise product. Last week, we asked you which services you use when you needed to share screens, work on documents, or even conference face to face with colleagues. Then we took a look at the top five online meeting services and put them to a vote. Now we’re back to highlight the winner. More »
from Lifehacker

From Autoblog: Video: Followup: Infiniti M35h is world’s “fastest” hybrid

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Infiniti M35h versus Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

We don’t imagine that many new-car buyers are cross-shopping their local Infiniti and Porsche dealerships, but there’s at least one segment of the automotive industry where the two automakers both play ball: high-performance hybrid luxury sedans, which may be the single most conflicted niche of the automotive sphere in the known universe.

In any case, here we are with the Infiniti M35h and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. Each one is marketed as both a somewhat greener luxury vehicle and a performance sedan. We’d guess it’s the performance side of the equation that would be most interesting to the majority of buyers, leaving fuel efficiency a welcome bonus.

So, which one is faster? That’s an interesting question. Usually, we equate that term with top speed, as “fast” connotes velocity. When acceleration is being contested, we generally ask which machine is quickest. And, if it’s quickness you’re after, Infiniti wants you to know that its M35h will out-accelerate its competitor from Germany. How quick is it? According to Motor Trend, the hybrid M goes from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but that’s not the stat Infiniti is claiming. According to the post-jump press release, the M35h is “faster” than the hybrid Panamera from 0-100 (11.54 seconds) and in the quarter mile (13.41 seconds).

As for the rest of the relevant statistics, the EPA estimates that the M35h will manage 27 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway, for a combined rating of 29. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined. Seems the M hybrid takes both the acceleration and economy awards. Check out a video released by Infiniti after the break, where you’ll also find the press release, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Continue reading Followup: Infiniti M35h is world’s “fastest” hybrid

 

from Autoblog