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Category Archives: Science/Technology
Electric Cars: A Strategic Industry?
The 2012 Beijing Auto Show marks two big trends: First, China has already overtaken the US as the world’s largest auto market. Second, hybrid and electric cars have gained increasing importance. These two trends are nurtured by the Chinese government’s … Continue reading
Posted in 21st Century, Environment, Game Changer, Inspiration, Science/Technology
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Electric Battery: A Critical Enabling Technology
What is an enabling technology? The brain is the ultimate enabling technology without which no human invention is possible. Since food nourishes the body and the brain, agriculture, both traditional and modern, qualifies as an enabling technology, too. A third … Continue reading
Solar Stocks: A Good Play?
In recent months, all solar stocks have come down to near bottom as a result of three factors: fast falling prices due to technology advance; reduced government subsidies in top markets like Germany and Italy; and overcapacity in production and … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Investment, Science/Technology
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The Barcode: A Silent Revolution
When I go to the library, supermarket, department store or other retail outlets, I notice the barcode on nearly every product. Lately, a new kind of barcode also appears on newspapers where you can scan it with your smartphone for … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Investment, Game Changer, Science/Technology
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Alternative Energy: Handicaps and Promises
Until the invention of mechanical power, humans had been relying on energy derived from muscles and natural forces such as horses and wind for a long time. During the period between 1770 and 1870, three types of engine were invented … Continue reading
The Rise and Fall of Oil
The age of oil began about 120 years ago with the commercialization of the internal combustion engine. At the current consumption rate of 85 million barrels a day (mbd), by the year 2025, world consumption is projected to reach 120 mbd. Over 90% of the increase will come from … Continue reading
Posted in 21st Century, Business/Investment, Science/Technology
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Energy: Discovery and Usage
Nothing will happen without energy. The universe is filled with incredible energy that the human race is still in the process of discovering, not to mention utilizing it. Where does all the energy come from? Science has traced it back to the … Continue reading
The Next Big Thing
During the period from the late 1950s to early 1970s, racing for the moon was the next big thing as a result of Soviet-American power competition. Although the impacts for the Soviets were less apparent, the moon program has contributed … Continue reading
The Power of Nature
The recent earthquake destruction in Japan reminds us once again of the enormous powers of nature, and how small and helpless we are when a natural calamity strikes. Besides earthquake and tsunami, there exist other destructive forces of nature including … Continue reading
Posted in Science/Technology
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Distributed System: Efficiency and Independence
The world is moving from a concentrated system toward a real distributed system of independent operations enabled by modern technology. What do I mean? If you were a student of computer programming in the 1970s or earlier, you will remember … Continue reading
