Solar Lab to Be Built in Southern Nevada

Part of the Nevada Test Site -- once used to test the world's first nuclear weapons -- will be used to help make the United States a leader in solar power. 25 square miles of the land will host a real-world laboratory that will be used to research emerging concentrating solar technology.

Nevada politicians (including Harry Reid), solar companies, and renewable energy experts believe that the new testing area will give the US a huge boost in solar technology -- especially in concentrating solar thermal power.

State leaders hope that the solar "lab" will also help bring new jobs to the Las Vegas and Southern Nevada areas. He said:

"It's hard to imagine a better place to capture the heat from the sun than right here."

Learn some mo': New solar test zone brightens the future of Las Vegas

Solar-Powered Plane Completes 24-Hour Trip

A solar-powered airplane completed the first ever 24-hour non-stop flight today, confirming that it is possible to gather enough energy from the sun during the daytime to remain flying at night. Experts believe that the plane and others like it could possibly stay in the air indefinitely by charging its batteries with built-in solar panels.

The "Solar Impulse" is a very large aircraft with a 207-foot wingspan. It's the product of 7 years of planning and engineering by a group of scientists based in Switzerland. Their next goal is to circle the globe using nothing but sun-powered electricity.

Learn some mo': Solar plane completes historic 24-hour flight

Big Solar Energy Investment Coming from US Stimulus Program

President Obama has announced that the US will provide nearly $2 billion in loan guarantees to two large solar companies -- Abengoa Solar and Abound Solar -- in a bid to boost clean energy development and, hopefully, create thousands of new jobs. He said that he hopes the investment will help the United States create a bigger "clean energy economy" and lead to the creation of hundreds of thousands of solar energy-based jobs in the near future.

According to the President:

"We're going to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America."

The $1.85 billion in loan money will come out of the $862 billion economic stimulus package already in place. Experts believe that the announcement is a reaction to the recent bad news showing that private industry is not creating nearly as many new jobs as expected and that the US economy continues to falter greatly.

Learn some mo': Solar power funding will create jobs, Obama says

US Stimulus Benefits Nearly Over

The huge $787 billion US stimulus program that was launched in 2009 is peaking without providing the big jumpstarts needed in the job market and overall economy. The Obama administration's "Summer of Recovery" will see thousands of temporary jobs created due to large highway improvement, water, and home weatherization projects, not to mention those thousands of "census" jobs.

But after that, it's all downhill for the stimulus-based recovery. And unfortunately the US economy will almost definitely still be in serious trouble. Some global economic and financial experts say that the stimulus has provided very little if any significant long-term benefits.

The only hope for a real recovery is that private companies will see profit levels increase and will therefore begin to hire Americans in large numbers once again. Until then, the United States and the world as a whole will continue to sputter along with little real economic growth.

Learn some mo': Stimulus: The big bang is over

New Peptide Gel Kills Cavities, Regenerates Teeth (and Green Tea Protects)

Researchers have developed a special new gel that appears to be able to regenerate tooth enamel, allowing cavities to be heeled without painful drilling or root canals. Some experts believe that the gel may eventually be used to heal bones and other tissues inside of the body.

The gel contains a powerful peptide -- called MSH or melanocyte-stimulating hormone -- that causes cells inside of teeth to regenerate within a month. The peptide can also be integrated into a thin film that can be attached to teeth over a period of time. It may eventually eliminate the need to do all kinds of painful dental work, including drilling, filling, and root canaling!

Oh, and here's some more good news for people who want to avoid the dentist: drinking green tea every day appears to protect the teeth significantly. Scientists think that powerful anti-oxidant and antimicrobial compounds found in green tea called catechins provide the protection. Just one cup of sugar-free green tea per day appears to be enough to provide long-term protection.

Learn some mo': Tooth Regeneration Gel Could Replace Painful Fillings and Green Tea May Strengthen Your Teeth