Florida man’s house hit by NASA’s space junk

In March of 2024, an ususpecting Florida man’s house was hit by a solid metal projectile jettisoned from the ISS in 2021.

The Debris

It was after an installation of fresh lithium-ion batteries that NASA decided to eject a pallet of the old nickel-hydride batteries from the Internation Space Station in 2021. The debris was expected to burn up during the re-entry into the atmosphere as to not cause damage. However, a small piece of the scrap metal survived and decended upon the unsuspecting Florida man’s house in tremendous speed, causing small holes in the roof and two floors, nearly hitting the Florida man’s son, playing in the next room.

The projectile meassured 4-inch by 1.6-inch and weighed 1.6 pound.

The aftermath

Florida man filed an unprecendented lawsuit against NASA for the damage but has of writing (June 22th, 2024) not received any compensation from the trash-tossers.

The lawsuit is ongoing and could set a very interesting precedent for future damage caused by any of the millions of objects flying around over our heads. Currently there are over 29,000 objects measuring more than 10 cm, 670,000 objects 1-10 cm large, and more than 170 million objects larger than 1 millimetre.

Luckily, for Florida man, his home insurance covered some of the costs – about $15,000 – and he’s now hoping for another $80,000 from the lawsuit, should he win.

“Scientists at University of British Columbia, New Scientist reports, calculate that the odds are one in ten of “casualties being caused by falling debris over the next decade.””

Environmental Law Institute

This might be a good time to complement the volcano insurance with space junk insurance!

Do you think this is a big problem going forward, and who should pay for the damage caused by space junk falling on people’s houses and properties?

2024-06-22 10:09

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Smart mirrors and hygiene robots – is your bathroom ready?

He predicted the advances in AI and self-driving cars and has an 85% accuracy rate in his predictions. Now futurist Dr. Ian Pearson also predicts major changes in our bathrooms.

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Smart mirrors and hygiene robots – is your bathroom ready?

He predicted the advances in AI and self-driving cars and has an 85% accuracy rate in his predictions. Now futurist Dr. Ian Pearson also predicts major changes in our bathrooms. How about mirrors with built-in cameras that scan your face and see how healthy and fit you are? Or maybe a personal robot that takes care of your daily hygiene?
Dr. Ian Pearson
Dr. Ian Pearson has long predicted how we will live and interact with technology in the future, from cities and homes to our digital everyday lives. He has also predicted that our most cherished possession – the smartphone you may be reading this on – will become obsolete by the year 2025. According to him, the title “futurologist” is a bit “wacky” and he prefers to call himself an engineer who draws logical conclusions for tomorrow based on today’s trends and developments.
Bathroom Predictions
Many of today’s leading mirror manufacturers have heating fields to reduce condensation, light control, and perhaps a Bluetooth speaker. The bathroom of tomorrow will truly step into our comfort zone!
Smart bathroom mirror as a window to our health
Back in 2015, Panasonic showed off a smart mirror that could project different makeup looks onto the person looking into the mirror. This, combined with ever-improving cameras and facial recognition, means we will soon be able to use our bathroom mirror to check our health, give us styling tips, analyze our breath, and even as a way to communicate with our doctor.
Your personal robot assistant
According to Dr. Pearson, we only need to wait another 15 years before robots are in every bathroom. By 2040, robots will be able to help us with everything from taking care of our homes to taking care of ourselves. They will help us stay clean by bathing, styling our hair, beards, or applying makeup and, perhaps best of all, they will clean our bathrooms!
Criticism of predictions
Dr. Pearson’s prediction about smart mirrors is something that would become a reality by 2025, which is certainly not the case for the average person. But is the technology there? We have cameras and sensors that, together with AI, can see incipient cancer earlier than the majority of well-trained doctors. For example, we have TikTok filters that can make you look like a cat or a monkey – why not program it to change the color of your lipstick? We have smart displays that can show what the mirror camera sees. Most of the components for smart mirrors already exist, but they are still very rare. Although technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, there is a certain inertia in the market where people do not fully accept anything that intrudes on their comfort zone, of which the bathroom is very much a part. Whether it’s that the technology isn’t quite there yet, that no one dares to invest in manufacturing the smart mirror in Pearson’s vision, or whether there simply isn’t enough demand for that type of product is unclear. Are we ready to let mirrors analyze our health and robots take over our bathroom routines? Or is the future still a long way off?

Categories: AI, Bathroom & VVS, Construction, Culture, Futurism, Mirrors, Robots, Technology
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Calacatta Marble: Exclusive and Expensive, but Highly Sought-After Natural Stone

Calacatta marble is a highly sought-after type of marble from Italy, known for its dramatic veins in gray, gold, or brown. If you want to decorate your home with genuine Calacatta, you can expect to open your wallet a lot.

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Calacatta Marble: Exclusive and Expensive, but Highly Sought-After Natural Stone

Calacatta marble is a highly sought-after type of marble from Italy, known for its dramatic veins in gray, gold, or brown. If you want to decorate your home with genuine Calacatta, you can expect to open your wallet a lot. Some varieties cost over 10,000 per square meter, which is more than four times the price of a comparable high-quality slab of Carrara marble.
Why the high price?
Genuine Calacatta is only mined in one place in Italy, in the Apuan Alps in Carrara, which makes it naturally rare and difficult to obtain. In order to obtain not just a ton of crushed stone but whole, continuous slabs and blocks, it takes experienced and skilled workers who can assess the quality of the marble and avoid damage to the final product. Skilled craftsmen require high-precision machinery and equipment. Despite this, there is still a high demand, which helps to drive up prices even further.
Exudes luxury and elegance
The biggest contributing factor to marble’s popularity is its natural and vibrant veining. The veins themselves are larger and more distinct than on a Carrara slab, which is more “plotty” than Calacatta. Many people also choose to match tiles so that two or more tiles are connected, which can create a very impressive effect. If you want matching tiles, the cost also increases significantly, just like if you prefer gold veins. The patterns and veins of Calacatta marble can vary somewhat, but are known to create a very dramatic pattern
Alternatives to Calacatta
If you want the Calacatta look but don’t want your kitchen countertop to cost more than the rest of your house, there are plenty of alternatives! For floors and walls, there are stylish and well-made tiles and clinker tiles that look like real marble, but at a much more affordable price. Countertops are available in a variety of natural stone and natural stone-like materials, such as quartz, granite and quartzite. Granite is a good choice if you want real stone that is also very durable and comes in many different colors and patterns. Quartz is a man-made material that can be manufactured to look like real marble, while being both durable and more stain-resistant. Quartzite, like marble and granite, is a natural stone that resembles marble, but is significantly harder and more durable. Is real Calacatta marble worth the price or can you get the same feel with other alternatives?

Categories: Construction, Marble, Materials
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Trump attacks water-saving bathroom fixtures in new executive order

Even during Trump's first presidency, he expressed his dissatisfaction with how water-saving products work worse than older models. He has claimed, among other things, that showers have too low pressure…

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Trump attacks water-saving bathroom fixtures in new executive order

Even during Trump’s first presidency, he expressed his dissatisfaction with how water-saving products work worse than older models. He has claimed, among other things, that showers have too low pressure, toilets have to be flushed multiple times, and modern dishwashers use too little water to clean the dishes properly. This is in stark contrast to his broader line of “America First” and freedom of choice agenda that won him the presidency. Although Trump has no direct authority to demand that Swedes also be allowed to choose their own shower heads, decisions made in the Western world’s largest economy – the United States – affect Swedes afterwards. There is a risk that the pace of innovation and the thinking around energy and water conservation will decrease if people are given the opportunity to choose for themselves – and choose non-water-saving products.
Uncertainty in the American market
Effect on product development. More small and new companies will have the opportunity to manufacture and sell cheaper and more interesting products that are not water-saving. It may also affect manufacturers who have already invested in water-saving technology. Conflicts with existing environmental commitments. Companies that have already committed to investing in product development for water and energy-saving products may have to choose between their sustainability commitments or the potential benefits of deregulation. Uncertainties about standards. Many bathroom products are designed to last for many years and are difficult to replace. Too many changes in different standards can be very problematic and create ripples in the water for homebuilders, plumbing companies and retailers. The international market. Since Trump’s focus is diametrically opposed to the global trend, there is a great risk that markets will start to close. American showerheads without the right certification may not be allowed to be sold in the EU and EU water-saving nozzles will not meet any demand in the American market.
Has Trump created a tidal wave of energy liberalism that could wash over the rest of the world?
An ongoing trend in Sweden and the rest of the EU is that more and more companies have started to move their operations “home”, often as a result of increasing uncertainty in the world. Problems with both transport links and crises have led to many companies having difficulty delivering their sought-after products to customers. This also means that Swedish companies are gaining better control over their production lines and can adapt their goods to the domestic market in a way that was not as easy to achieve with factories in several different countries. Therefore, it is uncertain what impact Trump’s potential policy changes may have on the Swedish market, at least in the short term. Swedish legislation and consumer trends have long been characterized by a drive for energy efficiency and resource conservation, which is reflected in both regulations and company strategies. Many Swedes see water and energy conservation as a natural part of sustainable development, and Swedish manufacturers of bathroom products have built a strong international reputation by combining innovation with environmental concerns. With a “local” production, a desire to save water, and producers who solve the biggest problems with this type of product, it may be difficult to break this trend in Sweden.
The long-term development
In the long term, it remains to be seen whether deregulation in the US can create a global backlash or whether they instead lead to increased acceptance of less restrictive water and energy regulations. For the Swedish part, the trend towards sustainability and resource efficiency seems to remain strong, which suggests that the current standard will persist. However, economic and political changes in the world may affect the development of how we should relate to international trends.

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February 19, 2025 | 0 comments | America, Bathroom & VVS, Business, Construction, Economy, Politics, World
Zuckerberg sees future with no more smartphones
Meta's Mark Zuckerberg believe the days of smartphone use might be counted and a new replacement is on the horizon.

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Zuckerberg sees future with no more smartphones

Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg believe the days of smartphone use might be counted and a new replacement is on the horizon. Here are some of the main takeaways of the interview hosted by Verge deputy director Alex Heath:

New technology is enabling the shift: With the rise of AI there are now a better use for the smartglasses: having your own personal assistant looking at the world through your eyes.

New capabilities: With an assistant sitting on the tip of your nose, you’re just a short voice command away from having instant translations, explanations, and digital overlays on your field of view.

Some use-cases: Gives you navigation directions directly before your eyes, looking up restaurant reviews before entering a new place, and discreet message notifications.

What are the obstructions that keeps us from ditching the phone for a new pair of Ray Bans with AI?

The technology is not quite there yet:considering battery life, processing power, and privacy concern.

Gradual Transition: People won’t give up their phones immediately. Some users will still feel more comfortable with- and find use cases for the smartphone, as with desktops vs. laptops.

Historical Precedent: We started with landlines, which evolved to mobile phones and flip phones, and currently we’re on smartphones. It’s not hard to imagine there will be another shift in how we communicate with each other and the world around us; smart glasses could be the next big thing.

Have the innovation for smartphones stagnated? Perhaps it’s time for a change in the way we interact with our favorite gadget?

Categories: AI, Privacy, Technology, Wearable devices
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February 16, 2025 | 0 comments | AI, Privacy, Technology, Wearable devices
Comeback for colored porcelain in the bathroom

You may remember when you were younger and would go and wash your hands before dinner when you were visiting your grandparents. It was not uncommon to find a colored washbasin, sometimes even with a matching bathtub or toilet! Colored porcelain…

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Comeback for colored porcelain in the bathroom

You may remember when you were younger and would go and wash your hands before dinner when you were visiting your grandparents. It was not uncommon to find a colored washbasin, sometimes even with a matching bathtub or toilet! Colored porcelain washbasins seem to have lain dormant and bided their time before making a comeback two generations later.
Where did the color go?
Many people today are looking for “retro” interior design details, at flea markets, second-hand and other places. Often people are looking for interior design details with personality, something that stands out in the crowd and can lift an otherwise everyday room. At the end of the 20th century, many people instead went for the minimalist and timeless direction in their design choices, which made white porcelain the obvious choice. White gives a feeling of space, light, purity and a generally fresh environment. The white trend was not only aesthetically pleasing – it was also practical. Manufacturers were able to simplify production, reduce inventory and reduce prices by focusing on a single colour instead of several different variants. The few coloured washbasins that were still produced rose sharply in price compared to their white counterparts and were phased out. Many other factors also contributed to the phase-out, including resale value, environmental and health regulations and an increasingly international market with global standards.
Coloured porcelain on the way back
Many design trends are cyclical and return at regular intervals. Coloured porcelain, specifically, fits quite well into the times with a return to more personality, factories increasingly moving “home” to Sweden again, and people increasingly renovating for themselves and long-term living. After a long period of stripped-down design, clean, straight surfaces and easy-to-sell minimalism, it is natural that many people turn it around when choosing to renovate. You want something that suits you and not renovate to resell. As we read in Houzz’s large survey, more and more people are choosing to renovate to stay in their houses instead of constantly chasing resale value. This also means that many people dare to make more interesting design decisions in their homes.
The premium segment is driving the trend
Many premium manufacturers, such as Duravit and Villeroy & Bosch, have already started to offer porcelain in different colors, where matte deep colors such as anthracite, blue and green are especially popular. This in interesting combinations with natural materials such as wood, stone, brass and copper will become increasingly common in today’s and tomorrow’s Swedish bathrooms.

Categories: Bathroom & VVS, Construction, Materials, Porcelain, Sinks
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February 14, 2025 | 0 comments | Bathroom & VVS, Construction, Materials, Porcelain, Sinks

Florida man’s house hit by NASA’s space junk

The Debris

The aftermath

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Recent notes

Smart mirrors and hygiene robots – is your bathroom ready?

Smart mirrors and hygiene robots – is your bathroom ready?

Dr. Ian Pearson

Bathroom Predictions

Smart bathroom mirror as a window to our health

Your personal robot assistant

Criticism of predictions

Calacatta Marble: Exclusive and Expensive, but Highly Sought-After Natural Stone

Calacatta Marble: Exclusive and Expensive, but Highly Sought-After Natural Stone

Why the high price?

Exudes luxury and elegance

Alternatives to Calacatta

Trump attacks water-saving bathroom fixtures in new executive order

Trump attacks water-saving bathroom fixtures in new executive order

Uncertainty in the American market

Has Trump created a tidal wave of energy liberalism that could wash over the rest of the world?

The long-term development

Zuckerberg sees future with no more smartphones

Zuckerberg sees future with no more smartphones

Comeback for colored porcelain in the bathroom

Comeback for colored porcelain in the bathroom

Where did the color go?

Coloured porcelain on the way back

The premium segment is driving the trend