From reading the article, it appears that they hypothesize the mats were formed by cyanobacteria based on carbon isotope ratios. However these ratios change over time as C-13 and C-14 decay. I would think that presence of nitrogen and/or phosphorus residues would be a much more definitive indication that the carbon layer is organic in origin.
OTOH, the article perhaps exagerates the findings & claims of the study. I wish they provided primary references of some sort!
I vaguely remember an proposal to use the temperature difference between the deep sea & water close to the surface to generate electricity using the Seebeck effect. Does anybody have any more concrete information on this?
Of course, the downside is that you also wind up cooling the surface of the sea and heating water two miles down...
On the upside, the kinetic energy of the oceans is normally dissipated as heat. Draining kinetic energy will cool the oceans, keeping the Earth cool in the process. Also the fish yields around Cuba will decrease sharply, causing the people to rise up against their communist overlords;-)
Hey... that is how we do it! For instance, I can tell from residual DNA on your mouse that you are a middle-class white male from suburban New Jersey named Ralph. You will name your son Bob, and he will get in a fight in his 9th grade. You like chili dogs... I could go on and on. The movie was a satire, get it?
I thought it was a very subtle satire - look at the caliber of actors & the director. It was making fun of itself all the way through, and managed to be respectful yet funny. Either that, or it was just the stupidest movie in history.
Slashdot Mirror
It is more properly spelt "nawab"
From reading the article, it appears that they hypothesize the mats were formed by cyanobacteria based on carbon isotope ratios. However these ratios change over time as C-13 and C-14 decay. I would think that presence of nitrogen and/or phosphorus residues would be a much more definitive indication that the carbon layer is organic in origin.
OTOH, the article perhaps exagerates the findings & claims of the study. I wish they provided primary references of some sort!
I vaguely remember an proposal to use the temperature difference between the deep sea & water close to the surface to generate electricity using the Seebeck effect. Does anybody have any more concrete information on this?
Of course, the downside is that you also wind up cooling the surface of the sea and heating water two miles down...
On the upside, the kinetic energy of the oceans is normally dissipated as heat. Draining kinetic energy will cool the oceans, keeping the Earth cool in the process. Also the fish yields around Cuba will decrease sharply, causing the people to rise up against their communist overlords ;-)
...the glass is half full...
Most people who share occupations tend to do that... like doctors, scientists. We just want to exclude the stupid people ;-)
Hey... that is how we do it!
For instance, I can tell from residual DNA on your mouse that you are a middle-class white male from suburban New Jersey named Ralph. You will name your son Bob, and he will get in a fight in his 9th grade. You like chili dogs... I could go on and on.
The movie was a satire, get it?
I thought it was a very subtle satire - look at the caliber of actors & the director. It was making fun of itself all the way through, and managed to be respectful yet funny. Either that, or it was just the stupidest movie in history.