wolfyvegan

joined 2 weeks ago
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cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/156474

It started when [Mitxela] was faced with about a hundred incorrectly-placed 0603 parts. Given that he already owned two TS101 soldering irons, a 3D printer, and knows how to use FreeCAD (he had just finished designing a custom TS101 holder) it didn’t take long to create cost-effective DIY soldering tweezers.

Two screws allow adjusting the irons to ensure the tips line up perfectly.

The result works great! The TS101 irons are a friction-fit and the hinge (designed using the that-looks-about-right method) worked out just fine on the first try. Considering two TS101 irons are still cheaper than any soldering tweezer he could find, and one can simply undock the TS101s as needed, we call this a solid win.

One feature we really like is being able to precisely adjust the depth of each iron relative to each other, so that the tips can be made to line up perfectly. A small screw and nut at the bottom end of each holder takes care of that. It’s a small but very thoughtful design feature.

Want to give it a try? The FreeCAD design file (and .stl model) is available from [Mitxela]’s project page. Just head to the bottom to find the links.

We’ve seen DIY soldering tweezers using USB soldering irons from eBay but the TS101 has a form factor that seems like a particularly good fit.


From Blog – Hackaday via this RSS feed

 

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20737457

In the summer of 2023, a dozen people willingly walked into a steel chamber at the University of Ottawa designed to test the limits of human survival. Outfitted with heart rate monitors and temperature probes, they waited in temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius, or 107 degrees Fahrenheit, while the humidity steadily climbed, coating their bodies in sweat and condensation. After several hours, their internal body temperatures began ratcheting upward, as the heat cooked them from the outside in.

“Few people on the planet have actually experienced temperatures like this,” said Robert Meade, a postdoctoral researcher in epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health who led the study. “Imagine moisture condensing on the skin like a glass of water on a hot day. That’s how hot it was, compared to skin temperature.”

Their experiment tested the body’s ability to cope with extreme heat by exposing participants to temperatures at which they could no longer cool themselves. Their study confirmed that this dangerous threshold is much lower than scientists had previously thought: a so-called wet-bulb temperature, which accounts for heat and humidity, of 26 to 31 degrees C.

https://archive.ph/Lj16Y

 

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20737457

In the summer of 2023, a dozen people willingly walked into a steel chamber at the University of Ottawa designed to test the limits of human survival. Outfitted with heart rate monitors and temperature probes, they waited in temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius, or 107 degrees Fahrenheit, while the humidity steadily climbed, coating their bodies in sweat and condensation. After several hours, their internal body temperatures began ratcheting upward, as the heat cooked them from the outside in.

“Few people on the planet have actually experienced temperatures like this,” said Robert Meade, a postdoctoral researcher in epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health who led the study. “Imagine moisture condensing on the skin like a glass of water on a hot day. That’s how hot it was, compared to skin temperature.”

Their experiment tested the body’s ability to cope with extreme heat by exposing participants to temperatures at which they could no longer cool themselves. Their study confirmed that this dangerous threshold is much lower than scientists had previously thought: a so-called wet-bulb temperature, which accounts for heat and humidity, of 26 to 31 degrees C.

https://archive.ph/Lj16Y

 

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20734606

Like many African nations, Nigeria has lagged behind Global North countries in shifting away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Solar power contributes just around 3 percent of the total electricity generated in Africa — though it is the world’s sunniest continent — compared to nearly 12 percent in Germany and 6 percent in the United States.

At the same time, in many African countries, solar power now stands to offer much more than environmental benefits. About 600 million Africans lack reliable access to electricity; in Nigeria specifically, almost half of the 230 million people have no access to electricity grids. Today, solar has become cheap and versatile enough to help bring affordable, reliable power to millions — creating a win-win for lives and livelihoods as well as the climate.

That’s why Nigeria is placing its bets on solar mini-grids — small installations that produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 1,700 American homes — that can be set up anywhere. Crucially, the country has pioneered mini-grid development through smart policies to attract investment, setting an example for other African nations.

Nearly 120 mini-grids are now installed, powering roughly 50,000 households and reaching about 250,000 people. “Nigeria is actually like a poster child for mini-grid development across Africa,” says energy expert Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, managing director of EnergyInc Advisors, an energy infrastructure consulting firm.

 

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20734606

Like many African nations, Nigeria has lagged behind Global North countries in shifting away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Solar power contributes just around 3 percent of the total electricity generated in Africa — though it is the world’s sunniest continent — compared to nearly 12 percent in Germany and 6 percent in the United States.

At the same time, in many African countries, solar power now stands to offer much more than environmental benefits. About 600 million Africans lack reliable access to electricity; in Nigeria specifically, almost half of the 230 million people have no access to electricity grids. Today, solar has become cheap and versatile enough to help bring affordable, reliable power to millions — creating a win-win for lives and livelihoods as well as the climate.

That’s why Nigeria is placing its bets on solar mini-grids — small installations that produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 1,700 American homes — that can be set up anywhere. Crucially, the country has pioneered mini-grid development through smart policies to attract investment, setting an example for other African nations.

Nearly 120 mini-grids are now installed, powering roughly 50,000 households and reaching about 250,000 people. “Nigeria is actually like a poster child for mini-grid development across Africa,” says energy expert Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, managing director of EnergyInc Advisors, an energy infrastructure consulting firm.

 

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20734606

Like many African nations, Nigeria has lagged behind Global North countries in shifting away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Solar power contributes just around 3 percent of the total electricity generated in Africa — though it is the world’s sunniest continent — compared to nearly 12 percent in Germany and 6 percent in the United States.

At the same time, in many African countries, solar power now stands to offer much more than environmental benefits. About 600 million Africans lack reliable access to electricity; in Nigeria specifically, almost half of the 230 million people have no access to electricity grids. Today, solar has become cheap and versatile enough to help bring affordable, reliable power to millions — creating a win-win for lives and livelihoods as well as the climate.

That’s why Nigeria is placing its bets on solar mini-grids — small installations that produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 1,700 American homes — that can be set up anywhere. Crucially, the country has pioneered mini-grid development through smart policies to attract investment, setting an example for other African nations.

Nearly 120 mini-grids are now installed, powering roughly 50,000 households and reaching about 250,000 people. “Nigeria is actually like a poster child for mini-grid development across Africa,” says energy expert Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, managing director of EnergyInc Advisors, an energy infrastructure consulting firm.

 

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20734606

Like many African nations, Nigeria has lagged behind Global North countries in shifting away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Solar power contributes just around 3 percent of the total electricity generated in Africa — though it is the world’s sunniest continent — compared to nearly 12 percent in Germany and 6 percent in the United States.

At the same time, in many African countries, solar power now stands to offer much more than environmental benefits. About 600 million Africans lack reliable access to electricity; in Nigeria specifically, almost half of the 230 million people have no access to electricity grids. Today, solar has become cheap and versatile enough to help bring affordable, reliable power to millions — creating a win-win for lives and livelihoods as well as the climate.

That’s why Nigeria is placing its bets on solar mini-grids — small installations that produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 1,700 American homes — that can be set up anywhere. Crucially, the country has pioneered mini-grid development through smart policies to attract investment, setting an example for other African nations.

Nearly 120 mini-grids are now installed, powering roughly 50,000 households and reaching about 250,000 people. “Nigeria is actually like a poster child for mini-grid development across Africa,” says energy expert Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, managing director of EnergyInc Advisors, an energy infrastructure consulting firm.

 

Like many African nations, Nigeria has lagged behind Global North countries in shifting away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Solar power contributes just around 3 percent of the total electricity generated in Africa — though it is the world’s sunniest continent — compared to nearly 12 percent in Germany and 6 percent in the United States.

At the same time, in many African countries, solar power now stands to offer much more than environmental benefits. About 600 million Africans lack reliable access to electricity; in Nigeria specifically, almost half of the 230 million people have no access to electricity grids. Today, solar has become cheap and versatile enough to help bring affordable, reliable power to millions — creating a win-win for lives and livelihoods as well as the climate.

That’s why Nigeria is placing its bets on solar mini-grids — small installations that produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 1,700 American homes — that can be set up anywhere. Crucially, the country has pioneered mini-grid development through smart policies to attract investment, setting an example for other African nations.

Nearly 120 mini-grids are now installed, powering roughly 50,000 households and reaching about 250,000 people. “Nigeria is actually like a poster child for mini-grid development across Africa,” says energy expert Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, managing director of EnergyInc Advisors, an energy infrastructure consulting firm.

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

As meaning dry summer? Oof. Those droughts are the worst. Here's a quick-and-dirty list. For the sake of easy management, I won't list any vines or short-lived plants. Trees and shrubs and palms only. This is by no means exhaustive. No guarantees of accuracy.

More Suitable

Depending on the exact temperatures and precipitation at your site, as well as the soil, these would probably do well.

  • Adansonia digitata (savanna / dry forest)
  • Anacolosa frutescens (mixed forest)
  • Annona senegalensis (savanna / gallery forest)
  • Antidesma bunius (mixed forest)
  • Breynia androgyna (humid forest edge)
  • Byrsonima crassifolia (savanna / open woodland)
  • Canarium schweinfurthii (rainforest or gallery forest)
  • Carissa macrocarpa (open woodland / scrub)
  • Chrysophyllum lacourtianum (semi-deciduous forest)
  • Citrus hystrix
  • Citrus japonica
  • Citrus × latifolia
  • Citrus × limon 'Improved Meyer'*
  • Citrus × nobilis*
  • Citrus × sinensis*
  • Cordiera sessilis (gallery forest / savanna woodland)
  • Dillenia indica (evergreen rainforest or gallery forest)
  • Ficus carica* (dry forest / savanna)
  • Flacourtia indica (dry forest)
  • Garcinia xanthochymus (humid forest)
  • Limonia acidissima
  • Mangifera indica*
  • Morinda citrifolia
  • Morus macroura
  • Mouriri guianensis (rainforest, mixed forest, savanna)
  • Myrciaria tenella (seasonal forest)
  • Pometia pinnata (open woodland / gallery forest)
  • Pouteria gardneriana (gallery forest)
  • Pouteria macrophylla (coastal moist forest)
  • Pouteria venosa (savanna / dry forest / moist forest)
  • Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (dry forest / savanna woodland)
  • Sonneratia caseolaris (tidal muck)
  • Spondias dulcis (secondary forest / dry forest)
  • Spondias purpurea (secondary forest / open woodland)
  • Syzygium samarangense (rainforest or high water table)
  • Terminalia catappa (dry forest / mixed forest)
  • Ximenia americana (dry forest / scrub)
  • Ziziphus mauritiana* (dry forest / savanna / scrub)

More Questionable

These plants might be suitable depending on the specific climate conditions at your site. Some of them would not do well with too much rain in the wet season, while others would always require irrigation in the dry season. Some of them could survive the climate just fine, but fruiting is questionable due to the wet and dry seasons being inverted. Many more plants native to Aw regions could probably be included here, but these seem (potentially)more suitable for dry summers.

  • Alibertia edulis (savanna / open woodland)
  • Allagoptera arenaria (sand dunes / scrub / coastal forest)
  • Allagoptera caudescens (savanna / open woodland)
  • Annona squamosa* (secondary forest / open woodland)
  • Ardisia compressa (humid forest)
  • Artocarpus heterophyllus* (rainforest / gallery forest)
  • Canarium album (mixed forest)
  • Ceratonia siliqua (dry forest)
  • Dovyalis caffra (savanna / scrub / open woodland)
  • Eugenia luschnathiana (deciduous forest / open woodland)
  • Flacourtia jangomas (mixed forest)
  • Genipa americana (moist forest / gallery forest)
  • Inga spectabilis* (moist forest / gallery forest)
  • Malpighia emarginata (moist forest)
  • Manilkara zapota* (moist forest / gallery forest)
  • Morus alba
  • Nauclea xanthoxylon (high water table)
  • Nephelium lappaceum (moist forest)
  • Nephelium ramboutan-ake* (moist forest)
  • Opuntia ficus-indica (open drylands)
  • Plinia cauliflora × aureana
  • Porcelia macrocarpa (secondary/seasonal moist forest)
  • Pouteria grandiflora (secondary/seasonal moist forest)
  • Punica granatum (steppe / dry forest)
  • Syzygium aqueum (moist forest / gallery forest)
  • Syzygium jambos (moist forest / gallery foret)
  • Vangueria madagascariensis (open woodland)

* highly recommended if your conditions are suitable

Without knowing where you are, I can't recommend any seed/plant sources, but feel free to ask for more information about any of the plants that I listed. I also recommend these resources for information about food forests, especially in your climate.

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 2 points 17 hours ago

Convert the pasture lands to syntropic food forests and native forests, and then the birds and other native animals will have a place to live again.

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 19 hours ago

Yes absolutely, though I find it a difficult spectrum between pure conservationism vs ecology. I want to plant as many natives as possible, but perfect is the enemy of good, and ultimately I believe creating habitat and restoring a functional ecosystem takes precedence over trying to wind back the clock on colonisation.

Reforesting with plenty of fruiting plants, both natives and non-natives that aren't too invasive, probably achieves the most reasonable balance. The land gets reforested, and you also get food, meaning that you don't need to buy produce that was grown by deforesting somewhere else.

Does your eco-community have any online presence?

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 20 hours ago

Let us not forget that this is primarily due to deforestation, whether directly (due to loss of tree cover for moisture retention) or indirectly (due to climate change).

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 20 hours ago

We need both, obviously. Ending animal agriculture is the most practical way to achieve it.

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 20 hours ago

Anyway all policy scenarios with any hope of staying below 2ºC, let alone 1.5ºC, include a lot of net reforestation. So we’ll have to turn this around, somewhere.

It seems like people are working on it in various places, especially in the Amazon:

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Did you sort this out?

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 21 hours ago

Did you ever find an answer to this re: reforestation projects? Could be useful to relocate termites in order to introduce the microbes to grasslands.

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 22 hours ago

You should have plenty of space if you can plant in the park! Public fruit trees are a great community service, and if you tell the park people that you want to plant native trees, they'd be foolish to say no. More fruit for you, more fruit for the birds, more fruit for anyone smart enough to harvest it, less grass and prickly stuff, more shade in the heat of summer. Everyone wins. Including the people at the persimmon nursery. :)

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 day ago

Projects like this are in desperate need of serious people to help them scale up. If even a small fraction of the people who see articles like this (or videos, or whatever) were to contribute some of their time and energy to the projects themselves, then the odds wouldn't be so against them, and that little bit of progress would become reforestation of entire regions. The question isn't whether it's possible for a project like this to succeed; the question is whether there are enough people willing to make it happen.

[–] wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 day ago

https://worldfloraonline.org/ is useful for verifying plant names and finding botanical descriptions.

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