Why a 19th-century invention is only now finding its place in the sun as a 21st-century energy source. Greg T. Spielberg | October 2010 issue The SunCatcher is an enormous solar dish made of mirrors and metal, but it’s best thought of as a giant silver flower. At thirty feet (11 … [Read more...] about Flower power (no, not that kind…)
Archives for January 2007
How the Stirling engine works
Greg T. Spielberg | October 2010 issue A Stirling engine uses internal gas that’s alternately heated and cooled to produce energy. Hydrogen, for instance, is sealed in a chamber connected to a series of pistons. When the hydrogen is heated, it expands, driving the pistons through … [Read more...] about How the Stirling engine works
Standing barefoot before God
The agony and ecstasy of writing as a spiritual practice. Rabbi Rami | October 2010 issue … [Read more...] about Standing barefoot before God
This is island Earth
A glimpse inside the lives of the Bajau Laut, who could play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity in the Indian and Pacific oceans' Coral Triangle. Marco Visscher | October 2010 issue … [Read more...] about This is island Earth
This is your life
Stop tweeting, texting and multitasking for a minute. Instead, tell your story. Michael McQueen | October 2010 issue Communication is the currency of our age. Americans send an estimated 2.5 billion text messages every single day—and this is just the start. Add to this the … [Read more...] about This is your life