science:

The world’s first power plant based on osmotic power — a small prototype plant — recently opened in Norway. The plant generates electricity through osmotic pressure: when salt water and fresh water come together, like when a river meets the sea, there’s a difference in water potential. The fresh water and salt water are brought into distinct chambers, separated by a membrane that lets only water molecules through. The salt in the sea water draws fresh water through the membrane, building a pressure (corresponding to a water column of 120 m), which can then be harnessed to generate energy. The challenge in making this cost-effective lies in making the membrane efficient enough. Once it is, we’ll have a new, sustainable energy source — the only waste product is salt water. The total potential is estimated to be around 10 percent of the world’s current electricity consumption. More (pdf).

This is sort of relevant to what we’re talking about in Biology right now. And by right now, I don’t mean “in this unit.” I mean at this moment. Which reminds me, I should be paying attention.

Since I don’t feel inspired to explain ‘properly’ what this is, I’ll paste in the colloquial explanation I gave on facebook:

Alec Glassford y’all should click and sign up:http://balloon.media.mit.edu/alec/ basically, there’s a competition that involves finding red balloons: if you find one, you get $2,000 dollars. if you invite someone who finds one you get 1000. and if you invite someone who invites someone who finds it, you get 500, etc. there are 10 balloons. do it. no catch.

(via wylie, kthx!)