SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

China Launches New Disaster Reduction Satellite

China launched a new satellite for disaster reduction from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province on August 9.

The satellite was launched by aLong March-2Ccarrier rocket at 6:53 a.m.(Beソing Time) and entered its planned orbit.Its primary users will be the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

The satellite will form an in-orbit network with a similar one launched into space last October,making up a preliminary satellite constellation for emergency management and environmental monitoring.

The S-band synthetic aperture radar system aboard the satellite can work on cloudy and rainy days,effectively overcoming the shortfalls of optical satellites.

The emergency data processing system on the satellite can also process on-board real-time imaging,as well as information extrac-tion and pre-processing for hot-spot areas.

The satellite will provide basic data for disaster relief and also contribute to land resources surveys,water conservancy,agriculture,and forestry.

The launch was the 482nd mission to use theLong Marchrocket series.

Biolite FirePit+

The FirePit+eliminates smoke by making your fire hotter.Battery-powered fans at the bottom of the fire basket stoke the flames from beneath,while the meshed sides let plenty of air in.The improved airflow means the flame burns hotter and more efficiently,therefore producing less smoke.Plus,you can put some charcoal in and place a grill on the top.The fans last between seven and 30 hours depending on how high they are turned up,and the battery can be recharged via USB.

Sonos Arc Soundbar

Offering up a hard-to-beat balance of features,design,ease of use,and performance,the Sonos Arc is an easy product to love.No matter what you are watching,it offers superb sound quality.There is a stunning clarity to dialogue,a fullness to bass and richness of detail across the frequency range.But when you listen to an Atmos soundtrack,you really hear the added breadth and depth you’d expect from a more immersive 3D soundstage,with sound effects that are placed precisely around and above you,delivered by the Arc’s carefully angled drivers.

Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100

Sunrise alarm clocks can help make waking up on very early mornings more bearable,and less groggy.This offering from Lumie fills your bedroom with a simulated sunrise effect — it starts as a warm red glow and gradually gets brighter — over a 30-minute time period,so you feel refreshed by the time your alarm goes off.When it is time for bed,you can drift off to the hues of sunset and pretend you’re reading a book on a beach as sleep approaches.