Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining water content in a bulk heterogeneous material using electromagnetic radiation. A radiation source and a radiation receiver are positioned such that the material to be measured is located between them. As the radiation signal is transmitted from the source to the receiver, the signal experiences a path loss due, at least in part to the presence of the material located between the source and the receiver. The path loss in the transmitted signal, when recorded over time may be used to determine the water content of the material.

Abstract: A method for drawing electricity from a non-animal organism, the method including coupling a first electrical conductor to the non-animal organism, coupling a second electrical conductor to a ground rod, embedding the ground rod into soil at a predetermined depth as a function of a desired current level, whereby the current available from the non-animal organism is increased by increasing the depth that the ground rod is embedded into the soil, coupling an electrical load between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor, the electrical load being configured to draw electricity from the non-animal organism via the first electrical conductor, and operating the electrical load using electricity drawn from the non-animal organism.