Gizmodo: norway

World's First Power Plant Using Osmosis To Generate Power Opened in Norway

Kat Hannaford — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:50:27 EST

If a failed Russian missile launch hadn't been confirmed as the instigator for those mysterious sky spirals, we would've seriously looked at this osmotic power plant in Norway as the potential source.

Statkraft, the company leading this project, has built a small-scale operation near Oslo in Norway, but hopes that it'll have a commercial plant built by 2015, which could generate power for 10 per cent of the country. If osmotic power plants were adopted throughout the world, Statkraft claims up to 1,600 - 1,700 terawatt hours could be generated, which is around half the energy that comes out of the EU currently.

Osmosis, if you cast your mind back to science class, is when a solution in water passes naturally through a semi-permeable membrane separating the weaker solution from the strong.

In this particular Norwegian case, the membrane has been made from polyester, polysulfone and polyamide, and while some of the energy harnessed keeps the pumps ticking over, the rest of it powers a turbine—although currently, only one watt per square meter is being produced. It's believed that they'd need to generate five watts to make it worth its while, so it looks like it's back to the drawing boards for Statkraft for now. Wonder if they're related to the plastic cheese manufacturers? [Economist]

The Truth: Mysterious Spiral Explanation Actually Was Alien Sighting Cover-Up

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:20:00 EST

I admit it: I'm part of a worldwide plot coordinated by a secret international agency. We're the same people who covered the fake Apollo landings, JFK's assassination, and Tom Cruise. Fortunately, some readers uncovered the truth behind the mysterious spiral.

You are right, dear UFO and strange phenomena experts who sent the emails in the gallery. It is true, this is not what happened with the mysterious giant spiral in Norway. And since you are right, I'm sharing your theories on the matter with everyone in Gizmodo (yes, these are serious emails and comments from real readers).

This Is How the Mysterious Giant Spiral Happened

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:32:00 EST

It wasn't the fury of Thor or an alien portal or the Second Coming of Hey-Zeus. Here you have the explanation of the mysterious giant spiral that happened yesternight in Norway, computer simulation included.

The video shows a rocket running out of fuel and spiraling out of control, which looks exactly like the photos and videos.

Norwegian astronomer Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard says it's 99.9% safe to say that it's a rocket out of control, while some newspapers and TV channels are quoting Russian military sources, confirming that this is a failed Bulava missile launched from a nuclear submarine in the White Sea.

The Norwegian defense has confirmed that, even while they have not admitted the failure, the Russian Navy alerted them about the tests prior to the giant spiral appearing in the skies. And if that wasn't enough to convince everyone, here are two images of the missile trails being blown away by the wind, at dawn:

Sorry people, no alien invasions. Yet. [Thanks Jon Trygve and everyone who wrote]

Just Me, Or Do These Plans For the World's Tallest Wooden Building Look Like a Giant Game of Jenga?

Danny Allen — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

If it weren't for, you know, concrete and steel—more of us would live in buildings like this planned Norwegian tower. At 16 to 17-stories high, it'll also out-do this crazy Russian do-it-yourselfer who built a 13-story wooden castle:

(That's Nikolai Sutyagin from Arkhangelsk in Russia's north-east).

But I digress. The Norwegian Barents Secretariat office and cultural tower will be built with natural and recycled materials from the surrounding area. The designers, Oslo-based Reiulf Ramstad Architects, are focusing on sustainable building and carbon neutrality.

They also hope to reuse biodegradable household and industrial waste to produce bio gas. Mmm. Like fresh pine cones! [Barents Observer via Inhabitat]

Norwegian PM's Monitor Rig Surely Doubles As Tanning Bed During Long Winter Months

Jack Loftus — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway, laughs at your puny 3-monitor setup, and then he spites you by using only one of his eight ginormous screens to catch up on some local AP news.

But aside from this wonderful picture, there's also a huge sample of plain wonderful imagery from around Norway in this collection, which ranges from the early morning hours all the way to evening. There's even an image of our new friend Stoltenberg lounging in what appears to be a Norwegian Obi-wan Kenobi hut:

The rest is really quite awesome: Cute baby shots, to emergency rescue crews in action, to wildlife, to landscape panoramas of the countryside.

Be wary though—since many of the shots are also of healthcare situations, there are a few from the morgue showing a doctor delicately preparing a deceased elderly person for Valhalla. And yes, was just being cheeky there, as I realize that's citing Norse mythology, and implies the person died in combat—life is tough!

Nevertheless, an interesting photo set if ever there was one. Thanks for sharing, Sverre. [24 Hours In Norway]

LED Wall in Norway Transforms Pedestrian Shadows Into Light

Elaine Chow — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:15:00 EDT

If you've been in Norway this past year or so, you may have happened upon The Strømer, an interactive LED wall that turns shadows into light. Based on architect Stig Skjelvik's Dobpler prototype, the display lights up as people move through Norway's Sandnes Sentrum pedestrian tunnel, leaving illuminated trails in their wake. Constructed as part of the city's European Capitol of Culture 2008 event, it's unknown how long the wall will be up. Check it out if you're in the area. [ Inhabitat]

Norway Forgets Who They're Dealing With, Demands Apple Open Up FairPlay DRM (Again)

matt buchanan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:20:00 EDT

Norway is ostensibly big on neutrality, even when it gets them invaded and pulverized, so it's not surprisingly it hates Apple's FairPlay DRM, which only lets songs play on iPods. It even has a law requiring that consumers be able to use digital media with whatever device they choose, which FairPlay obviously pees all over. After a lovely chat with Apple in February, not much has changed, so gentle Norway is going to play war against Apple over FairPlay for the rest of hapless Europe.

If Apple doesn't respond to the allegations by Nov. 3, Norway will take Apple before its very diplomatic and wussy-sounding Market Council as the first test case to force Apple to bust open FairPlay. If Norway is for seriously taking on Apple, iTunes-loving Norwegians better enjoy its full DRM'd bounty while they can, especially if any ruling about FairPlay extends to movies and TV shows—guess what's slathered all over them? Why?

Likelier actions from Apple than handing over the FairPlay keys: shutting down the iTunes Store in Norway, pulling everything with DRM, or a blitzkrieg into Oslo. [Yahoo! via Ars Technica]

Public Megaphone Takes Drunk Dialing to Insane New Levels

Sean Fallon — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EDT

More often than not, very public art installations are pretentious and, well...pretty damn stupid. But every once in a while you come across a rare gem like the "Telemegaphone Dale." On August 2nd, anyone with a telephone can call a 23-foot tall loudspeaker sculpture on top of the Bergskletten mountain in Western Norway and have your voice ring out over the land. Naturally, the hills will be alive with the sound of drunken morons shouting profanities across the pristine landscape, but if you want to be one of those morons, hit the following link on the 2nd for the number you need to call. [Telemegaphone Dale via Core77]

A Lamp Named Moo, the Song Johnny Cash Should Have Sung

AddyDugdale — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:50:00 EDT

There are a few reasons why I find myself strangely attracted to Moo. It's made by a Norwegian company called Northern Exposure. You can mount on both inside and outside walls. It reminds me of my brother, whose nickname is Moose. Light-up antlers, baby (although the designers could have put a bit more light at the tips, really). It's just a lot less messy than going hunting in the snow. [Dezeen]

Weird Combo of the Day: Free iPod Nano With Twelve-Pack of Caulk

Jason Chen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:50:00 EDT

Oh, caulk! Is there anything you can't do? Not only do you allow us to plug up holes by squirting your oozing, white fluid-like substance all over the place, but you come in a long and pleasing missile shape. And if you get too difficult to clean up after using, all we have to do is cut off a bit of the tip! How convenient. And now you even come with a free iPod nano if we buy 12 of you? C'mon! How can we not love caulk? [Found in Egersund Norway thanks to Erlend]

Norwegian Ski Hotel Placed Right On The Slopes

Adrian Covert — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:45:08 EST

io9 found this great concept by Danish design architects BIG which places a hotel against the side of a mountain with the idea that hotel patrons can finish off a ski or snowboard run by riding directly to their floor. The hotel looks absolutely epic, and I like the way the wavy lines of the hotel match the tracks left on snow by skis and snowboards. [BIG via io9]

Bicycle Lift: A Video

Jason Chen — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:30:37 EDT

In case that gallery we posted yesterday about the bicycle lift in Trondheim Norway wasn't enough to give you the idea, here's a video of it. The lift actually moves a lot faster than we thought it would, carrying passengers up this pretty damn steep hill since 1993. So the lift's more out of necessity than out of laziness.

Seriously, we'd love to see these installed in cities over here. – Jason Chen

Thanks Per!

iTunes Declared Illegal in Norway

www.gizmodo.com — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:17:23 EST

After filing an initial complaint back in June 2006, the Norwegian Consumer Council has deemed Fairplay (iTunes DRM) illegal in Norway with the possibility of France and Germany following suit. Evidently the Norse people aren't too happy about the fact that Apple's DRM technology restricts files downloaded from the iTunes store from being played only on iPod and not other music players. They feel consumers who have lawfully obtained these files are being negatively affected by these anti-piracy measures. Juicy, riveting legal details in the link below. –Dana Bushman

Norway declares iTunes Illegal [BuzzBums]