China to relax one-child policy as part of economic, social reforms

  • Under the current law couples living in Chinese cities can only have two children if neither have any other brothers or sisters.
  • China is abolishing some of its labor camps and is seeking closer ties to the United States.
  • Among the reforms the CPC also said that the "re-education through labor" system is to be abolished to improve human rights.
  • Also the China's president told the visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew that the U.S. and China should strengthen policy coordination during the reform and restructuring process.
  • All said by the Chinese Media.
  • This ties to the one child policy and the effort to decline the population.
  • Nbcnews.com

Crayola turns dried markers into fuel

  • Crayola found a way to make dried markers intoclean fuel used in ships, boilers, and even cars.
  • They partnered with the clean energy company JBI to create the Colorcycle initiative.
  • About 600 schools have agreed to recycle their used markers for free.
  • Machines process about 2,000 pounds of plastic per hour and make the clean fuel at a few gallons per minute.
  • 80% of the fuel is turned into diesel.
  • 20% is turned into light naphtha for steel and paving companies.
  • Crayola makes 60% of the world's markers and 80% of the world's crayons.
  • Many customers don't think about taking out the ink before they recycle them.
  • 17,000 markers so far have been recycled, but they are hoping to get to 70 million recycled.
  • This ties to the advanced technology because the machines that make the markers into fuel help humans reuse things.
  • This also ties to the sophisticated settlements because this is an increase in technology and that leads to the more sophisticated settlements.
  • Foxnews.com

Air Force's Mysterious space plane nears 1 year in orbit.

  • The U.S. space plane X-37B is nearing 1 year in Earth's orbit performing duties in support of long-term space objectives.
  • The unmanned spacecraft is on a mission known as Orbital Test Vehicle 3 launched on top of a rocket from Cape Canaveral on Dec.11, 2012.
  • The first OTV ,in 2010, lasted almost 225 days in orbit and landing in California.
  • OTV-2, in 2011, flew for 469 days and also landing in California.
  • It travels in low-Earth orbit operating from 110-500 miles in altitude.
  • This ties to media/transport because it is like a sattellite.
  • This relates to culture because it shows what we think a spacecraft should look like. 
  • Foxnews.com

Love Canal still oozing after 35 years

  • New residents attracted by promises of clean land and cheaper homes are making lawsuits saying they are getting sick because of the buried chemicals from the 1970's.
  • A man who bought his home over a decade ago says ever since he moved in he has had mysterious rashes and his wife has had many  miscarriages and unexplained cysts.
  • Already 6 families have sued over the past few months.
  • Many years ago the canal was capped and schools and homes were built on top of it, but when the snow melted from a harsh winter in 1997 seeped into the ground and forced the chemicals into the groundwater and to the surface, into yards and basements.
  • Residents complained about miscarriages, kidney problems, and mental disabilities in their children.
  • By doing that they got the attention of President Jimmy Carter.
  • After the 2011 sewer evactuation project people said that the waste that was backed up into their basements left behind a residue positive for dangerous chemicals.
  • Lois Gibbs a former housewife who led the charge for the evacuation recently returned and said there were no longer posted signs of "danger" so no one would know they were standing in toxins.
  • This relates to culture and how the environment influences it because now because of these incedents our culture is about keeping people safe and helping the environment.
  • This also relates to the increase in technology and advanced settlements because if this would happen today we would be more prepared and have technology to help prevent the toxins from spreading.
  • Foxnews.com

New device that treats epilepsy that is also FDA approved.

  • The device is designed to intercept and lessen the effects of seizure activity in the brain.
  • It is called the RNS simulator and made for patients whose seizures can be pinpointed, but not controlled with medicine or surgery.
  • The device is about the size of a credit card and is implanted into the skull to monitor brain activity and when a seizure begins it sends an electrical current.
  • A man has been seizure since 2008 which was when he got the simulator.
  • There is a possibility that a patient could lose their peripheral vision and would not be able to drive again.
  • Although many patients have impressive results the device is not an available option to all types of epilepsy.
  • This ties to decrease in population since during surgery people could possibly die and without the surgery people could die too.
  • This also relates to diffusion because other cultures could have found information and gave it too this culture which lead to this new device.
  • Foxnews.com

For drones the most promising market is agriculture

  • An Idaho farmer built his own equip with a camera that is under 10 pounds and has a bird's eye view.
  • He uses the drone to watch his cows and crops.
  • Agriculture is the most promising market because it is the perfect fit for the large-scale farms and vast areas where privacy and safety issues are less of a concern.
  • Researchers and companies are developing drones with sensors and to monitor disease and spray pesticides.
  • They could be used to ward off birds in the fields, boost growth in cops, pollinate things, do weather forecasts for water supply, monitor irrigation, and to plant/harvest crops.
  • This relates to the increase in technology because the drones help humans produce more crops and manage the fields.
  • This also ties to irrigation since it monitors irrigation.
  • Foxnews.com