L.A. bike-sharing program hits a snag

Bike-sharing in Los Angeles has hit a roadblock.

In spring 2012, Tustin company Bike Nation predicted the first phase of its L.A. bike-share program would be up and running by summer 2013. Soon after, officials said, as many as 4,000 bikes would be available to rent by the hour, the day or the week — similar to CitiBike, the program that launched in New York City last month to much fanfare. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bike-share-delay-20130627,0,294356.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Laura J. Nelson

 

 

Mount Everest Airport Will Terrify You

LUKLA, Nepal - As soon as the decades-old Twin Otter landed at Lukla airport, passengers burst out in applause. They do that for nearly every safe landing at the often terrifying airport at the gateway to Mount Everest.

At an altitude of 2,843 meters (9,325 feet), the small airstrip here has earned a reputation as one of the most extreme and dangerous airports in the world. The single runway is narrow, short and sloped. Miss the runway by a few meters (or feet) and the plane would hit a mountain. http://www.weather.com/travel/mount-everest-airport-will-terrify-you-photos-20130618

Article courtesy of weather.com by Associated Press

World's largest solar-powered boat sails into Boston

The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar arrived in Boston this weekend for a brief stay to show off the unusual engineering and design that makes it the world's largest solar-powered boat. The ship is on a scientific mission, led by one of the world's leading climate scientists, traveling along the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic to gather data about the ocean and the atmosphere. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2013/06/23/world-largest-solar-powered-boat-sails-into-boston/uD1gEPTRRPblnQAoh3LAmO/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Gail Waterhouse

Vt. and Quebec announce electric car corridor

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Starting this fall, people who drive electric vehicles should be able to travel the 138-mile route between Burlington and Montreal without worrying they'll run short of a charge thanks to a planned electric vehicle charging corridor, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois announced in Montreal.  http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-reviews/2013/06/18/and-quebec-announce-electric-car-corridor/dygs5GtAc0r7TQe0raWo4M/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Associated Press

California leads U.S. in record first quarter for solar installation

The U.S. had a record quarter in solar installation during the first three months of the year, installing 723 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity for a 33% increase over the same period last year. That represents nearly half of all new generation capacity installed in the U.S. during the first quarter of this year, and puts the solar industry on pace for its best year to date.http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-california-first-quarter-solar-20130612,0,7386012.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Catherine Green

 

 

Cheetah's acceleration power key to their success

WASHINGTON (AP) — Everyone knows cheetahs are blazingly fast. Now new research illustrates how their acceleration and nimble zigzagging leave other animals in the dust and scientists in awe.

Researchers first determined that cheetahs can run twice as fast as Olympian Usain Bolt on a straightaway. Then they measured the energy a cheetah muscle produces compared to body size and calculated the same for Bolt, the sprinter. They found the cheetah had four times the crucial kick power of the Olympian.  http://www.boston.com/news/science/2013/06/12/cheetah-acceleration-power-key-their-success/fZh3Vq1x3QB1HYCcquYcOL/story.html

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Seth Borenstein/AP Science Writer

Transit set to offer Wi-Fi on trains, at stations

NJ Transit rail riders might soon be going wireless.

The agency's board is set to vote Wednesday on an agreement to provide free Wi-Fi on trains and at rail stations.  http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/nj_transit_trains_to_offer_wi-.html#incart_river

Article courtesy of NJ.com by The Associated Press