通りすがり

In January 2007, Wim Hof ran a half Marathon (21 km) above the polar circle in Finland. He wore only a pair of shorts and no shoes. The ground (snow) temperature was 35 below.

Wim Hof is commonly nicknamed Iceman. He holds nine world records including a world record for longest ice bath. In 2007, he attempted, but failed, to climb Mount Everest wearing nothing but shorts. He plans another attempt in 2008. He broke his previous world record by staying for 1 hour and 12 minutes immersed in ice outside of the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City on Saturday January 26, 2008.

YouTube - Extraordinary people - Iceman
Fogonazos: Iceman

Iceman の異名をとるオランダ人男性ヴィム・ホーフが、半ズボンのみ(靴も履かずに！)で北極圏でハーフ・マラソンを行いましたよと言うお話。

2007年に挑戦した半ズボンでのエベレスト登頂は失敗したようですが、こちらはうまくいったようです。

In the works for a decade and a half, this insect like walking machine constructed by a Finnish subsidiary of John Deere is supposed to be an eco-friendly, log-hauling monstrosity; its six massive legs spreads the weight of the machine evenly, the company claims, to minimize any impact on the forest soil. When the machine confronts obstacles, it simply steps over them, avoiding significant ground disturbance and minimizing damage to tree roots.

LiveLeak.com - Strange car
Spluch: Giant Spiderbot Antbot

環境にやさしい多脚歩行マシンのお話。
森林を破壊せずに丸太を運ぶことができます。

環境にやさしいかどうかはともかく、動きがかっこいいですね。

This skyscraper, to be built in Dubai, is called the Burj al-Taqa (’Energy Tower’), and it will produce 100% of its own power. The tower will have a huge (197 foot diameter) wind turbine on its roof, and arrays of solar cells that will total 161,459 square feet in size. Additional energy is provided by an island of solar panels, which drifts in the sea within viewing distance of the tower.
New Skyscraper Creates All Its Own Energy : MetaEfficient

ドバイに建築予定のすべての電力を自家発電する摩天楼のお話。
ビルに取り付けられた直径197フィート(60m)の風力タービンと、総計16,1459平方フィート(15,000平方メートル)のソーラーパネルですべての電力をまかなう予定だそうです。

大きいことはいいことだ。

ustralia is focusing on developing a German designed Solar Tower technology. This revolutionary technology will be used to create the world’s first large-scale solar thermal power station capable of generating enough electricity to supply 200,000 typical Australian homes! Click on the following video link for an illustration of the Solar Tower.

Spluch: 1,000 meters Solar Tower

1,000m のタワーを建て、根元と頂上部の温度差で上昇気流を発生させ、タービンを回して発電しましょうと言う話。
引用元に寄れば、オーストラリアで実際に計画があり、20万世帯分の電力をまかなえる予定だとか。
YouTubeにプロモビデオあり。
いや、とんでもないことを思いつくもんである。

この手の巨大建築物は結構好きで、軌道エレベータ計画なんか、大好物である。