Flying Hydrogen Taxi

Daily Upsider on July 18, 2024

Recently we wrote about both hydrogen power and the new eVTOL flying taxi’s. Now, those two worlds have collided in a fascinating way.

A flying-car-like vertical takeoff aircraft created by Joby Aviation has completed a groundbreaking 523-mile test flight using hydrogen power. The aircraft, which reportedly emitted only water vapor, is being promoted as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gas-powered jets for mid-range, regional travel. Although there are ongoing concerns about the long-term viability of hydrogen power at scale, this test flight demonstrates that it is possible to retrofit existing electric aircraft with hydrogen fuel cells to extend their range effectively.

Joby is among several companies developing air taxi services using vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (VTOLs). Previously, Joby focused on fully electric battery-powered aircraft with a range of about 100 miles, designed for intra-city transport and trips to major airports. For the new test flight, Joby modified a pre-production prototype of its battery-electric aircraft with a liquid hydrogen fuel tank and fuel system. This hydrogen-powered VTOL successfully completed a 523-mile flight above Marina, California, with no in-flight emissions and landed with 10% of its hydrogen fuel remaining.

Related: Flying Cars… Sort Of

Joby accelerated its hydrogen power exploration in 2022 by acquiring hydrogen-powered aircraft startup H2Fly, which completed the first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft last year. Since then, two other California startups have tested hydrogen fuel for propeller planes, with Universal Hydrogen reportedly flying at altitudes up to 10,000 feet and speeds around 170 knots (195 mph). Joby’s test flight, however, marks the first reported instance of a VTOL aircraft completing a test flight using hydrogen power.

“Traveling by air is central to human progress, but we need to find ways to make it cleaner,” Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said in a press release. “With our battery-electric air taxi set to fundamentally change the way we move around cities, we’re excited to now be building a technology stack that could redefine regional travel using hydrogen-electric aircraft.”

Hydrogen power has the potential to extend the range of VTOLs, making regional travel between cities more feasible. Joby envisions a future where hydrogen VTOLs could transport commuters between cities like Baltimore and Boston or Nashville and New Orleans. These hydrogen-powered aircraft could utilize much of the same infrastructure currently being built for electric models.

Despite the promising environmental benefits, hydrogen power remains significantly more expensive to produce than its electric or fossil fuel counterparts. Nonetheless, proponents believe it could help reduce CO2 emissions in the transportation sector. Aircraft accounted for around 2% of global CO2 emissions in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency, and this percentage is expected to rise as air travel rebounds from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In summary, hydrogen power could reduce emissions and extend the range of VTOLs, presenting a promising future for cleaner regional air travel. However, the high production costs of hydrogen fuel continue to pose a significant challenge.

Rare Genetic Mutation in Frogs

Daily Upsider on July 17, 2024

Scientists in Western Australia have discovered a blue tree frog, a deviation from the usual green caused by a rare genetic mutation.

The blue magnificent tree frog was found in the Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley region, as per the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).

This marks the first recorded instance of a blue mutation in the magnificent tree frog, according to AWC. “We found it after dark, perched on a bench near our research center,” said AWC field ecologist Jake Barker.

“It was exciting. Magnificent tree frogs are already impressive, but seeing a blue one is a rare opportunity.”

This mutation is extremely rare, noted Jodi Rowley, curator of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biology at the Australian Museum. “Occasionally, a green frog lacks yellow pigment, resulting in a blue frog,” she said. “I’ve seen thousands of frogs over the years, and only one blue frog before, which wasn’t as striking as this one.”

The magnificent tree frog, or Litoria splendida, is native to northern Kimberley and parts of the Northern Territory. It grows to about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches), making it one of Australia’s largest amphibians.

I think it is hilarious that they found right outside of their research center. They didn’t even have to go out looking for it.

An New Way of Tracking Hurricanes

Daily Upsider on July 17, 2024

Some tropical storms rapidly become category five hurricanes. Cutting-edge saildrones are revealing how this happens.

Hurricane Otis hit southern Mexico on October 25, 2023, with 165mph (270km/h) winds, killing at least 27 people and causing widespread damage and power outages in Acapulco. NOAA described Otis as a “life-threatening storm surge” with destructive winds and heavy rainfall, leading to flash flooding and mudslides. Otis intensified by 110mph (177km/h) within 24 hours.

Scientists aim to understand why these storms intensify so quickly. NOAA, partnering with Saildrone, uses seafaring drones to collect oceanic and atmospheric data. Saildrones, which resemble sailboats and range from 23ft (7m) to 65ft (20m), use wind propulsion and solar-powered sensors to measure hurricane paths and intensity changes. They also analyze ocean currents, creating a comprehensive picture of the air and water column.

The mission is not about predicting hurricanes but improving future hurricane modeling by studying their intensification. Hurricanes form over warm waters, where evaporating water creates low pressure, drawing in more air and forming storms. When wind speeds reach 74mph (119km/h), it becomes a hurricane. Kerry Emanuel from MIT notes the importance of understanding heat transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere, a gap the saildrones aim to fill.

Provide Free Tuition for Future Doctors

Daily Upsider on July 16, 2024

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $1 billion donation to make medical school free for most students at Johns Hopkins University and increase financial aid for students at its nursing and public health schools.

This announcement came in Michael R. Bloomberg’s (JHU ’64) annual letter on philanthropy in the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2023-2024 Annual Report.

Currently, nearly two-thirds of Johns Hopkins medical students qualify for financial aid, with an average total student loan debt of about $104,000. Starting in fall 2024, Johns Hopkins will offer free tuition for medical students from families earning less than $300,000 a year, covering about 95% of Americans. Additionally, living expenses and fees will be covered for students from families earning less than $175,000 a year.

“As the U.S. faces a shortage of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, the high cost of education often prevents students from enrolling,” said Mr. Bloomberg. “By reducing financial barriers, we can enable more students to pursue these essential careers.”

The donation is expected to reduce the average student loan debt for Johns Hopkins medical students to $60,279 by 2029, with most American families paying nothing. This initiative aims to ensure that talented aspiring doctors from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can graduate debt-free.

The gift will also increase financial aid for students at the School of Nursing and the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as for low and middle-income students pursuing graduate degrees in other Johns Hopkins schools, including the School of Education, Whiting School of Engineering, Carey School of Business, School of Advanced International Studies, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Peabody Institute, and the upcoming School of Government and Policy.

This donation follows Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2018 contribution of $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins to support need-blind admissions, which significantly lowered the net cost of attendance and increased economic diversity among students.

Last year, Michael Bloomberg donated over $3 billion to charity, making him one of the top American philanthropists.

The History of Olympic Mascot Design

Daily Upsider on July 15, 2024

For over fifty years, Olympic athletes have often been cheered on by mascots representing the host city’s culture and history. These mascots, chosen and finalized years before the Games, aim to spread a festive atmosphere and embody the spirit of the event, according to the International Olympic Committee.

Throughout the decades, mascots have ranged from snowmen and sasquatches to bears and aliens. This year, the mascot is a hat, specifically the red Phrygian cap worn by emancipated Roman slaves and later a symbol of freedom during the French Revolution.

The first Olympic mascot, created by designer Aline Lafargue for the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games in France, was named “Shuss.” Despite its iconic status, Lafargue designed Shuss in just one night. Host countries often hold contests to select mascots, such as the 2014 Sochi Winter Games competition, which received over 24,000 submissions. The winning trio of arctic mammals was chosen by public vote and announced on Russian TV. In contrast, Disney privately designed the mascot for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Mascots play a crucial role in merchandise sales, so designs aim to be cute and appealing. For instance, the panda mascot Bing Dwen Dwen from the 2022 Beijing Winter Games sold exceptionally well, and Disney’s Sam the eagle from 1984 was crafted to look friendly and appealing to children. Deviations from this trend have sometimes been poorly received, as with the silver cyclops mascots for the 2012 London Games. In a unique moment, the bear mascot Misha went to space on the “Soyuz” rocket in 1978, two years before the 1980 Moscow Games.

Character design becomes especially important during historically significant Games. For example, the 2000 Sydney Olympics featured three mascots, Syd, Olly, and Millie, referencing Sydney, the Olympics, and the Millennium. T-shirts from these Games are still popular on second-hand resale sites today.