July 30, 2017

Scooping out oil spills made easy by IISER (Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research)

No solvent is required for spraying the gelator and hence it is environment friendly

More efficient and quick absorption of crude oil from the sea following marine spill has now become possible thanks to scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER) in Thiruvananthapuram who have developed a hydrophobic sorbent that can suck up oil and congeal it. A hydrophobic material automatically becomes oil-loving and takes up oil when it comes in contact with it. The results were published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

Hydrophobic sorbent

A two-member research team led by Prof. Kana M. Sureshan from the School of Chemistry at IISER developed the hydrophobic sorbent by using a cheap raw material (mannitol) and cellulose pulp as a matrix. Mannitol was converted into a hydrophobic gelator through a one-step process and a solution was made using this compound. Cellulose balls the size of marbles were then dipped in the solution and dried.

“The gelator gets adsorbed on the cellulose fibre through hydrogen bonding. This process of adsorption of gelator on the cellulose fibre matrix changes the cellulose matrix from being very hydrophilic (water-loving) to hydrophobic (water repelling),” says Prof. Sureshan. A hydrophobic material naturally becomes oleilophilic (oil-loving).

Unlike other alternatives, the sorbent can be easily applied over oil-water mixture ,and no solvent is needed for spraying the gelator thus making it environmental benign.The gelator adsorbed on the surface of cellulose fibre is able to absorb oil when it comes in contact with it.


More: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/scooping-out-oil-spills-made-easy-by-iiser-thiruvananthapuram/article19385272.ece

July 30, 2017

Skeptics in oil industry question whether Keystone XL pipeline is still needed

LINCOLN — On Friday, the developer of the Keystone XL pipeline said what more and more people in the oil industry have been saying: that the Keystone XL pipeline might be unnecessary.

Some opponents of the controversial tar sands pipeline have suggested this, but more and more people inside the oil industry are saying time has passed by the project.

Consider this:

» A column on oilprice.com questioned whether the Keystone XL had become “obsolete” due to low oil prices and cheaper sources of oil than Canada.

» “A New Problem for the Keystone XL: Oil Companies Don’t Want It” was the headline in a Wall Street Journal story last month about the shortage of oil producers willing to sign long-term contracts to finance the XL.

» Jeff Share, editor of Pipeline & Gas Journal out of Houston, wrote that the revival of the pipeline by President Donald Trump was “the biggest fake news story of the year.”

“As much as I would like to see it get built, I have serious doubts that it ever will,” Share said in an interview with The World-Herald. “Too much time has passed, too much controversy, the economics no longer work, and the need is far less.”


More: http://www.starherald.com/news/regional_statewide/skeptics-in-oil-industry-question-whether-keystone-xl-pipeline-is/article_48e2cc9a-e90d-53e5-beef-d44dfbd2de75.html


In this February 2012 photo, miles of pipe for the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline are stacked in a field near Ripley, Oklahoma. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 29, 2017

Stephen Colbert - 7/28/17

The President Of The United States (Except Alaska!)



The Trump administration allegedly told Alaska its relationship with the White House was 'in jeopardy' over the healthcare vote of its state's Senator Lisa Murkowski.




This Little Girl Has Her Own Letter For The President



After seeing Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a letter addressed to the President from nine-year-old Dylan AKA 'Pickle,' Stephen gives one young girl the platform to do something similar.




The Beginning Of The End Of The Trump Presidency



Sen. Lindsey Graham threatened 'holy hell' if Trump fires Jeff Sessions and warns of the 'beginning of the end' if he fires Robert Mueller.




Get A Hot Date With Al Gore's Climate Change Pick-up Lines



Former Vice President Al Gore offers up some steamy climate change-themed pick-up lines that might land you a date to his film 'An Inconvenient Sequel.'




One Week Older, The Rise Of Scaramucci

July 29, 2017

Seth Meyers: White House Suspects Reince Priebus Is Leaker, Gin and Tonic Sausage - Monologue 7/27

July 28, 2017

Stephen Colbert Monologue - 7/27/17

Stephen Takes A Front-Stab At Scaramucci's Phone Interview



Anthony Scaramucci's call to The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza was on the record and off the wall.

July 28, 2017

Stephen Colbert: Guest Samantha Bee - 7/27/17

'Full Frontal' host Samantha Bee has dual citizenship, and yet has bravely chosen to resist Trump rather than returning to the welcoming arms of Justin Trudeau.



Samantha Bee's Homage To Jared Kushner's Iraq Photo

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Groundbreaking 'Full Frontal' host Samantha Bee traveled to Iraq for her show and took a photo that was inspired by Jared Kushner.

July 28, 2017

Seth Meyers - Scaramucci Lashes Out, GOP Scrambles on Health Care: A Closer Look - 7/27/17

Seth takes a closer look at the backlash the Trump White House continues to face over the President's cruel and sudden decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

July 28, 2017

The Daily Show: Turmoil in the Trump Administration - 7/27/17

New White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci lashes out at his coworkers, and President Trump escalates his verbal attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

July 27, 2017

Stephen Colbert: Guest Michael Moore Calls For An 'Army Of Satire' Against Trump

'The Terms of My Surrender' star Michael Moore says the best way to get under Trump's skin is with an army of satire, and wants Stephen to enlist.

July 27, 2017

Stephen Colbert Monologue - 7/26/2017

Stephen Makes A Change To Trump's 'Trans Ban' Tweet



Stephen makes a correction to the last two words of the President's three-part Twitter announcement banning transgender Americans from the military.



Trump Claims His Ohio Rally Broke All Records. Every. Single. One.



President Trump doesn't shy away from making bold claims. But claiming a rally broke 'all records' is bold, underlined and italicized.



Stephen Helps 'The Mooch' Scaramucci Find 'The Leaks'



Anthony Scaramucci appeared on CNN to discuss loyalty, leaking and his stabbing preferences.