Today in Science Express, some MIT scientists announced experimental confirmation for a method of relatively efficient non-radiative wireless power transmission.

Basically, they lit up a 60W lightbulb even though the power source was 2 meters away without making anyone sterile in the process, and it only took 150W of power to pull it off. Imagine setting things on your desk (or on a Microsoft Surface) and having them charge automatically. Imagine never having to plug anything into a cigarette lighter, ever. I doubt you’d want to use it for lights or your air conditioner because of the inefficiency and waste involved, but for small, power unintensive appliences it could be pretty convenient.

I would really like to have access to read this paper for free to figure out how they did it, but maybe later I’ll see if the internet has the info. I’d like to know how the efficiency scales with range. I’m also totally into trying to replicate what they did as long as it doesn’t require a superconducting electromagnet or anything because, seriously, plugging things in is a serious drag. Actually, even if it does require a superconducting electromagnet, I could maybe see if my old physics lab has an old one and, like, some liquid helium sitting around.

Indeed.

The greatest part about this NYT article praising Richmond is that it doesn’t start with “Richmond, former capital of the Confederacy” The article makes for good reading and may remind you to get out there and do some of the great things in our city. For me that’s the American Civil War Center — I just haven’t made the time to go down there since it opened.

I mean yeah they remind readers that Southerners owned slaves, we get it. We remember too. We can’t all be perfect.

Lets just hope that real New Yorkers don’t find out about Richmond and move down here. We barely have enough room for all the ex-Richmonders moving back from NYC after they realize how much it sucks.