Techstination

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. With the start of summer…NASA says the coming year will be a big one for watchers of the sun. There will be two solar eclipses…one that is partial on October 14th from Oregon to Texas…and then a total solar eclipse on April 8th next year…visible as it crosses from Texas to Maine. NASA Heliophysics Division Director Peg Luce says there will be lots of programs for everyday folks to get involved…

“ We’ll provide people with information about all the ways they can get involved. We will have broadcast sites along the path of the eclipses and opportunities to speak with scientists.”

Meanwhile, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe continues to study the sun…providing new details about the nature of solar wind. You can check out our full interview online.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Make a difference in the world, starting right in your own backyard! If you are looking for a way to get your kids involved and outside, Doug Tallamy’s young readers’ edition of Nature’s Best Hope is the perfect way to inspire them to get started. From planting trees and native plants to joining local conservation efforts, kids can make an impact right at home. In fact, Tallamy advocates Homegrown National Parks..

“We’re going to create a little park right where we live and the easiest way to do that, depending on where you live, is simply plant a tree, plant two trees, plant an acorn, it’s free. And any child can do that and watch it grow.”

The adult version of Nature’s Best Hope, by the way, has been a New York Times best seller. And you can learn more at www.homegrownnationalpark.org. You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

With two eclipses in the year ahead, the summer solstice marks the start of Heliophysics Big Year at NASA. Division Director Peg Luce chats with Techstination's Fred Fishkin the events ahead and what NASA hopes to learn.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. OtO is a company that makes an installation free solar powered watering system for the yard. Attach a hose…set up watering zones with an app and OtO takes care of the rest with a range of thirty to forty feet. Founder and CEO Ali Sabti…says you use your phone to define zones..

“So it’s a point for trees or they can create lines for rows of shrubs or bushes. In addition to that, OtO can also apply people, planet and pet safe solutions right through that water stream.”

It is smart. Keep in mind, since this is an Internet connected device, your WiFi will have to reach that far. And it does operate only on the 2.4 GHz frequency. Learn more at www.otolawn.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. Reliefband is a company that has continued to innovate with what is called transdermal neuro modulation…to prevent nausea and travel sickness. No pills to take…just wear the Reliefband. And the new Flex model is designed to attach to smartwatch bands. CEO Rich Ransom..

“You’re on a boat, you get imbalanced, your brain says..hey stop this. What the Reliefband does is stop that signal from going out. So wealgorithm to alternate the signal that’s going through your nervous system so the brain can never exactly catch up with it. And what that does is it calms the stomach.” actually use an

It can’t help with viruses but does work with other forms of nausea. The price…under 180 dollars. Find more at www.reliefband.com.

You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear. I’m Fred Fishkin. With kids home from school for the summer months…what can you do to cut down on screen time? Google Internet Safety Expert Alex Joseph says U.S. statistics show kids 8 to 12 spent an average 8 and a half hours a day in front of a screen last summer. And that is leading to parental concerns. One of Google’s answers is a tool called Family Link..

“And what Family Link does is lets you set some digital ground rules. And this means anything from the bed time that you need to stop using your phone by or it limits the amount of screen time for your device or any particular app. But it can also go even further. It can make sure that certain apps may not have access to the camera or that you have alerts set for when your child leaves or arrives at a location.”

The tools are free at families.google. You can find us at Techstination.com. I’m Fred Fishkin.

Techstination, your destination for gadgets and gear.   I’m Fred Fishkin.     The American Lung Association is out with a report on the potential health and monetary benefits of zero emission cars and electricity.   Will Barrett is national senior director of advocacy…

“One of the key things we’re trying to get across here is that while there are major public health benefits to be had through this transition over the decade, and again it is over the decade…it’s not an immediate transition happening right now.  It’s going to roll in over time and create major clean air benefits.   The reason that’s so important is that today, 120 million Americans continue to live in communities with unhealthy levels of air pollution.”

Barrett says while clean energy is a key to getting the most from electric vehicles…even with the existing power grid the adoption of EVs is beneficial.

You can find us at Techstination.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.