Among the capabilities for open compute platforms are erasure codes but also control of HDD array energy use with drive spin-down (like the earlier MAID storage architectures that featured many idle drives).

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Cenovus Energy ( CVE), a spin-off from EnCana ( ECA), is one way for investors to play Canadian oil sands.

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The Russians perfected a far less energy-hogging method that uses centrifuges to spin the uranium hexafluoride at 50, 000rpm so that heavier u-238 separates from lighter u-235.

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He is following a lead set by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who was first to break with the political spin that it was possible to decarbonise the economy without putting up prices.

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Technologically, spin-offs from the space program have revolutionized fields from medicine to energy generation (solar panels were made to power satellites) to breakfast drinks.

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All that was needed to make a mechanical energy-storage system was a good enough rotational seal, so the flywheel could spin freely inside a vacuum chamber with no air resistance.

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