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New York, 4:16 AM
Wed Nov 25
64 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #microwaves more →

    Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy

    Universal Mirror: Imagine the Exact Opposite of an Invisibility Cloak

    Beanzawave USB-Powered Beans Microwave is What USB Was Created For

    Cops Will Soon Be Zapping Drunks With Lasers Instead of Tasers

    Microwave Jingle Bells Will Heat Up Your Geekest Jolly Spirit

    Key to Cheaper Lithium Ion Batteries Could Be Inside the Microwave

    Trapped in the Body of a Microwave, a Tragically-Modded PC

    Microwaving a Cellphone Produces Very, Very Unexpected Results

    Bagetty Wiener Microwave

    How to Create Plasma from a Beer Bottle in a Microwave
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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of infmom infmom
    09/30/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    And here all the broadcasters are just wasting that energy lighting up the fluorescent lights in their building without having to turn on the light switches.
     Reply
    infmom was starred infmom was unstarred
    Image of LastError LastError
    09/29/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    Wireless power has been a proven concept since Nikolai Tesla played with it. The problem is that the utility companies could never figure out how to METER it so they can bill you for it. Afterall, snatching juice out of the air is free, and businesses can't make money on free. Maybe somebody will figure out how to do that someday and make a mint. Until then, it may run gadgets but never a whole house.
     Reply
    Pope John Peeps II promoted this comment LastError was starred LastError was unstarred
    Image of Pope John Peeps II Pope John Peeps II
    09/29/09

    @LastError: Wireless power is unmeasurable, but more importantly it's also EXTREMELY INEFFICIENT.

    I wish people would think about this every time they bring up Tesla's name as a solution to all world scientific problems. Why do so many people masturbate over Tesla these days? Cripes, the guy invented a couple of great things, then he went nuts and basically became a lunatic con artist. On balance, I think we can say that it all evens out.
     Reply
    Pope John Peeps II was starred Pope John Peeps II was unstarred
    Image of TuxRug TuxRug
    09/29/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    I remember I once made an AM radio from a kit that used no batteries, just the antenna and a ground wire clipped to the floor vent.
     Reply
    infmom promoted this comment TuxRug was starred TuxRug was unstarred
    Image of infmom infmom
    09/30/09

    @TuxRug: I fondly remember my little crystal radio shaped like a rocket. Picked up the local AM station fine, clipped to the aluminum frame of the window beside my bed.
     Reply
    infmom was starred infmom was unstarred
    Image of Trond Aasland Trond Aasland
    09/29/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    Anyone interested in this should check out the latest episode of the BBC show Bang Goes the Theory, where they demonstrate wireless power by a) flying an RC helicopter powered by a microwave oven, and b) show off IR antennae - basically solar panels that work through clouds and at night (by exploiting IR radiation emitted by the earth while cooling).
     Reply
    Wilson Rothman approved this comment Trond Aasland was starred Trond Aasland was unstarred
    Image of Monty Monty
    09/29/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    Anyone who has ever been under an FM or AM broadcasting antenna (the AM ones are the really tall ones) during the winter will know how the amount of power pumped through these things actually warms the air. No question, there is enormous power out there for "free". Well, ignoring the fact that it is not "free", of course - we are merely borrowing the excess energy that is escaping from these broadcasting mechanisms.

    That said, not to be a conspiracy theorist, but I still have a tough time understanding how this "free energy" floating in the air that can power things or warm us up on a cold day does not cause any harm to us as it passes through our bodies. Admittedly, the harm it could cause would be minimal, especially given the enormous number of these waves in the air today. However, much like the release of carbon dioxide into the air (if you believe what most scientists say), there may be a tipping point where the small amounts become a problem. Right?

    Still, this is being typed by an obnoxious dude with a brain tumor, so it is entirely possible that I am just searching for something to blame. I am going after the bottled water people next. Oh yes, Aquafina, you are in big trouble now.
     Reply
    Monty was starred Monty was unstarred
    Image of lpranal lpranal
    09/29/09

    @Monty: I don't doubt that there has been a case of cancer or two out there that was somehow caused by this (not that you'd ever be able to prove it in any way mind you) but the problem with that theory isn't the amount of radiation but the kind- namely, that it's all non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation (frequencies above ultraviolet) is the stuff that can readily harm humans. There's a nice little summary here:
    [www.epa.gov]

    The amount of both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation from manmade sources pales in insignificance when compared with the sun, cosmic rays, etc, except in very local, contained sources (nuclear power plants, x-rays, etc.)
     Reply
    Monty promoted this comment lpranal was starred lpranal was unstarred
    Image of anexanhume anexanhume
    09/29/09

    @Monty: It's not my fault that you didn't take your free club-issued tinfoil hat.
     Reply
    anexanhume was starred anexanhume was unstarred
    Image of Monty Monty
    09/29/09

    @lpranal: Thanks for the link - much appreciated. I guess I am still not certain that I buy that waves that can travel through you and cook food will not disrupt DNA. But, I yield to the scientists who clearly know more than I do.

    As anexanhume says, I will start wearing my tinfoil hat more regularly now - just in case.
     Reply
    Monty was starred Monty was unstarred
    Image of ColonelGentleman ColonelGentleman
    09/29/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    This is a cool proof of concept, but 20% efficiency drop off at 1 meter? I'd love to know how much power you could get a couple miles from a tower, which is a reasonable distance you would expect to be from one.
     Reply
    Wilson Rothman promoted this comment ColonelGentleman was starred ColonelGentleman was unstarred
    Image of Wilson Rothman Wilson Rothman
    09/29/09

    @ColonelGentleman: That 80% refers to the in-house wireless power technology, which we'll hopefully see in products in a year or two. They don't even measure efficiency for the microwave harvesting, since it's basically picking up scraps--ultra ultra low "efficiency."
     Reply
    Wilson Rothman was starred Wilson Rothman was unstarred
    Image of anexanhume anexanhume
    09/29/09

    In reply to Yes, There Is Such a Thing as "Free" Energy
    The broadcasting station will feel the burden if the harvested EM waves cause a legitimate viewer to not receive a signal. Some may buy a better antenna, some may buy cable/satellite, and some may just not watch that channel at all. Granted, if it will be of inestimable impact, but it's still there.
     Reply
    anexanhume was starred anexanhume was unstarred
    Image of MarcusMaximus MarcusMaximus
    09/29/09

    @anexanhume: It doesn't really work like that. These radio waves are sent out in all directions, so having an antenna picking up some of them doesn't reduce the power at any other point. If any bit of the energy put out by the broadcasters isn't used, it's wasted and either collides with the earth, resulting in an incredibly small amount of heat, or(more likely) radiates out into space.
     Reply
    anexanhume promoted this comment MarcusMaximus was starred MarcusMaximus was unstarred
    Image of anexanhume anexanhume
    09/29/09

    @MarcusMaximus: No, but it reduces the power in a line of sight direction, which could feasibly have an impact in a dense metropolis.
     Reply
    anexanhume was starred anexanhume was unstarred
    Image of MarcusMaximus MarcusMaximus
    09/29/09

    @anexanhume: Even so, it wouldn't have any more impact than actually using it to receive a broadcast. Besides, most of the signal terrestrial antennas get is from the waves bouncing off nearby buildings/walls/whatever else.
     Reply
    MarcusMaximus was starred MarcusMaximus was unstarred
    Image of fuchikoma fuchikoma
    07/20/09

    In reply to Universal Mirror: Imagine the Exact Opposite of an Invisibility Cloak
    Looking at the image, at first I thought this was about those mirrors designed with computer modelling to reflect an image without reversing left to right, so for example, you could hold a book up to it and read it normally.
     Reply
    fuchikoma was starred fuchikoma was unstarred
    Image of Matthew Liang Chaboud Matthew Liang Chaboud
    07/18/09

    In reply to Universal Mirror: Imagine the Exact Opposite of an Invisibility Cloak
    Normal mirrors reflect light at an angle from the surface normal of the mirror equal to the incident angle. This *can* be 90 degrees, but it's a relatively rare occurrence.

    It's a minor point, but...
     Reply
    FredicvsMaximvs promoted this comment Matthew Liang Chaboud was starred Matthew Liang Chaboud was unstarred
    Image of mikeness mikeness
    07/18/09

    In reply to Universal Mirror: Imagine the Exact Opposite of an Invisibility Cloak
    Sweet, this will take my narcissism to the big time. By the way, I say photoshopp'd to the image above.
     Reply
    SysRq promoted this comment Edited by mikeness at 07/18/09 1:55 PM mikeness was starred mikeness was unstarred
    Image of bosskev bosskev
    07/18/09

    @mikeness: My narcissism could not get any bigger. Local weather stations often erroneously report a high pressure system forming when it's really just my enormous ego passing through town.
     Reply
    bosskev was starred bosskev was unstarred
    Image of JodaThongnopnua JodaThongnopnua
    07/18/09

    @bosskev: Your ego smells rather foul.
     Reply
    bosskev promoted this comment JodaThongnopnua was starred JodaThongnopnua was unstarred
    Image of bosskev bosskev
    07/18/09

    @JodaThongnopnua: Not mine; you're probably noticing my friend Governor Tarkin.
     Reply
    bosskev was starred bosskev was unstarred
    Image of JodaThongnopnua JodaThongnopnua
    07/18/09

    @bosskev: He's holding your leash as well? Didn't know you were into bondage.
     Reply
    JodaThongnopnua was starred JodaThongnopnua was unstarred
    Image of Techguy1138 Techguy1138
    06/08/09

    In reply to Beanzawave USB-Powered Beans Microwave is What USB Was Created For
    Is anyone else thinking sweet! Now I can build a radar system for my office?

    Damn where else can I find a microwave emitter that operates on 3.3v dc?
     Reply
    Techguy1138 was starred Techguy1138 was unstarred
    Image of KingPsyz here for HappyFunKingPsyz© KingPsyz here for HappyFunKingPsyz©
    06/08/09

    @Techguy1138:
    No, but that sounds 10 kinds of awesome.


    So Heinz Radar detector connected to a webcam / USB missle launcher array?

     Reply
    KingPsyz here for HappyFunKingPsyz© was starred KingPsyz here for HappyFunKingPsyz© was unstarred
    Image of videobeagle videobeagle
    06/08/09

    @Do not taunt Happy Fun King Psyz:

    And can make a tasty snack!
     Reply
    videobeagle was starred videobeagle was unstarred
    Image of Hello Mister Walrus Hello Mister Walrus
    06/08/09

    @videobeagle: And can discretely make your coworkers sterile.
     Reply
    Hello Mister Walrus was starred Hello Mister Walrus was unstarred
    Image of Eddie Dounn Eddie Dounn
    06/08/09

    In reply to Beanzawave USB-Powered Beans Microwave is What USB Was Created For
    thank god
     Reply
    Eddie Dounn was starred Eddie Dounn was unstarred
    Image of Hello Mister Walrus Hello Mister Walrus
    06/08/09

    @Eddie Dounn: Who needs god when you have this?
     Reply
    Hello Mister Walrus was starred Hello Mister Walrus was unstarred
    Image of Capall Capall
    12/24/08

    In reply to Cops Will Soon Be Zapping Drunks With Lasers Instead of Tasers
    Sure, the driver was being a little unsupportive, but the way the officer reacted was way out of line. He would have gotten far better cooperation had he simply acted more calm. Maybe he'd just gotten the taser and was itching to use it - he did have it out from the start.
     Reply
    Capall was starred Capall was unstarred
    Image of GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag
    12/24/08

    @Capall: He actually did not. He only drew it after opening the door, about 30 seconds in. As he walks towards the car, he lays his right hand on the fender, and you can see his left hand swinging empty. And if he had just gotten the Tazer, then he would also just been shot with it, as you have to be shot with it before you can carry it. Haven't you seen the miriad of videos of cops and military people getting tazed and making wookie noises?
     Reply
    GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag was starred GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    12/24/08

    In reply to Cops Will Soon Be Zapping Drunks With Lasers Instead of Tasers
    They Will Fight. And They Will Win. Join Today. Service Guarantees Citizenship.


    Would you like to know more?

     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of weatherman weatherman
    12/24/08

    @Kaiser: Violence has resolved more conflicts than anything else. The contrary opinion that violence doesn't solve anything is merely wishful thinking at its worst.
     Reply
    weatherman was starred weatherman was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    12/24/08

    @weatherman wishes everyone a white christmas: You wouldn't know civic virtue if it reached up and bit you in the ass!
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag
    12/24/08

    In reply to Cops Will Soon Be Zapping Drunks With Lasers Instead of Tasers
    At least we'll be safe from the Replicators.
     Reply
    GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag was starred GitEmSteveDave_ForgotNametag was unstarred
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