Geothermal energy potential in the U.S.

Over the span of three years, Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, supported a project run by the SMU Geothermal Institute intended to map out the potential for geothermal energy use in the United States. Below is the result of their research.

This map incorporates tens of thousands of new data points measuring the potential of Enhanced Geothermal Systems, and is the most comprehensive map of such data to date. There is a wealth of untapped geothermal energy in the nation's ground, just waiting to power our houses!

Read more about the results of the study (and Enhanced Geothermal Systems) here, and see some 3D models of Enhanced Geothermal Systems here.

Art from maps

We all know and love art on maps, from monsters lounging in the sea to vignettes showing Roman gods and goddesses. But most of that art seems to exist on older maps, saved from a different time. Where is the art in maps today?

Matthew Cusick thought that maps today had their own kind of beauty, though they are often not illustrated like older maps are, and decided to turn the maps themselves into collages.

Here's a close-up of one of his collages:

Part of me admires his handiwork and the beauty of his final product; part of me mourns the cutting up of maps to make the art. Since maps started being mass-produced, I suppose it's not as much of a deal... And I guess you can't make a map omelet without breaking a few map eggs, right?

See more of Mr. Cusick's map art here.