Free Republic

No need for software if you can learn from nature, at least that's what my ancestors did. Take the ancient Temple of Borobudur for example. Borobudur - Wikipedia If this colossal structure were to be build today the amount of computation and simulation required to complete it would be very great. But because there were no computers in the 9th century what my ancestors did to complete this beautiful edifice was quite interesting in it self. The learn from observation and harnessing everything that nature has given them in order to complete this temple. Borobudur is located on the South...

Nigeria's secret service said on Tuesday it had intercepted 13 containers of weapons from Iran in what Israeli defense sources believe may be part of a new smuggling route from Iran to Hamas in Gaza. Rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives camouflaged as building material were seized in the Nigerian port of Lagos after being unloaded from an Iranian ship. Nigerian media reports said the ship, which came from Iran, docked in Lagos port for a few hours only, unloaded 13 containers and sailed on.

Kansas State University civil engineers are developing the right mix to reduce concrete's carbon footprint and make it stronger. Their innovative ingredient: biofuel byproducts. "The idea is to use bioethanol production byproducts to produce a material to use in concrete as a partial replacement of cement," said Feraidon Ataie, doctoral student in civil engineering, Kabul, Afghanistan. "By using these materials we can reduce the carbon footprint of concrete materials." Concrete is made from three major components: portland cement, water and aggregate. The world uses nearly 7 billion cubic meters of concrete a year, making concrete the most-used industrial material after...

Cooper Trading Inc., a construction materials supplier in Irwin, Pa., since its founding in 1992, is expanding into the South Side of Pittsburgh. "We are getting ready to open (our new location) there," said Pete Cooper, the company's president and founder. "Probably the middle of next month, (we will be) up in running." The company, which currently has a 5,000-square-foot corporate office and 14,000-square-foot warehouse in North Huntingdon, will set up shop at 1001 Muriel St., on the south side of the 10th Street bridge.