The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Enhanced Recovery Means More Oil

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The Department of Energy released reports indicating the effect enhanced recovery techniques are having on recoverable oil reserves. With all of the hand wringing going on and predictions of "peak oil" doom, these reports don't get a lot of publicity, but they should. Our current proven reserves of 21.4 billion barrels could be increased by another 89 billion barrels, that's … [Read more...]

What is a hybrid?

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With the introduction of the Yamaha Gen-Ryu hybrid concept motorcycle, we keep our eyes on the topic of hybrids and yesterday a few articles appeared pointing to a website that underscores the willful misdirection used by some hybrid activists. (That wasn't the intention of these other articles but it is clear when you follow the links) A Wired news article points to the … [Read more...]

Industrial Archeology and Rapid Prototypes

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When I wrote yesterday about the Honda RC174 replica being built, I noted one of the problems in doing so was the lack of drawings. To complete the project, they needed an original and took photos, measurements and X ray images to get all of the necessary information to duplicate what Honda had done. However, once done, you have the raw input data for today's technology to do … [Read more...]

Flexible Instant Body Armor

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U.S. and Canadian Olympic skiers are using a brand new high tech material in their ski suits that is flexible in normal use but instantly hardens into protective armor upon impact. The material is called d3o and it's made from "intelligent molecules" that move slowly so the material is soft and flexible but on impact they lock together forming a hard shock absorbing … [Read more...]

Rocket Bike Powered by Roofing Tar

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Now that we have guys building rockets like SpaceShipOne, everyone's getting into the rocket powered game. Tim Pickens happens to be a rocket designer with Orion Propulsion and he got the bug to strap on some thrust but all he had available was a bicycle, so he was off to the garage and wheeled out with this. Actually his first one was a little 35 pound thrust rocket which … [Read more...]

ENV Hydrogen Motorcycle Shown in Tokyo

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Is this the future? If what the makers of the ENV say is true, it's coming soon. The ENV hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle by Intelligent Energy is now on display at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo. Gaijin Biker was on hand to take these photos and talk to the company rep. We've had several previous posts on the ENV however, it looks like this is very close to market at an … [Read more...]