An X-ray flash illuminates a molecule. Credit: Raphael Jay Topics: Chemistry, Climate Change, Green Tech, High Energy Physics, Research, X-rays The use of short flashes of X-ray light brings scientists one big step closer to developing better catalysts to transform the greenhouse gas methane into a less harmful chemical. The result, published in the journal Science,Continue reading “X-rays, Bond Breaks, and Climate…”
Category Archives: Green Tech
Organic Solar Cells…
Prof. Li Gang invented a novel technique to achieve breakthrough efficiency with organic solar cells. Credit: Hong Kong Polytechnic University Topics: Chemistry, Green Tech, Materials Science, Photonics, Research, Solar Power Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have achieved a breakthrough power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.31% with organic solar cells (OSCs), also known asContinue reading “Organic Solar Cells…”
Solid-State Cooling…
Topics: Global Warming, Green Tech, Materials Science, Solid-State Physics, Thermodynamics Researchers in China have shown that applying strain to a composite material using an electric field induces a large and reversible caloric effect. This novel way of enhancing the caloric effect without a magnetic field could open new avenues of solid-state cooling and lead toContinue reading “Solid-State Cooling…”
Quantum Charging…
Topics: Alternate Energy, Battery, Green Tech, Nanotechnology, Quantum Mechanics Note: I’m in the semifinals of the 3-Minute Thesis competition, so I decided to focus on my presentation. Wish me luck. This does, however, relate to our need as a species to get off fossil fuels as soon as possible, so things like Ukraine, Crimea, andContinue reading “Quantum Charging…”
OIPCs and Janus…
Topics: Battery, Energy, Green Tech, Research, Solid-State Physics Janus, in Roman religion, the animistic spirit of doorways (januae) and archways (Jani). Janus and the nymph Camasene were the parents of Tiberinus, whose death in or by the river Albula caused it to be renamed Tiber. Source: Encylopedia Britannica Over the past decade, lithium-ion batteries have seen stunningContinue reading “OIPCs and Janus…”
Peat Batteries…
Topics: Battery, Biofuels, Chemistry, Energy, Green Tech TARTU, Estonia, Oct 11 (Reuters) – Peat, plentiful in bogs in northern Europe, could be used to make sodium-ion batteries cheaply for use in electric vehicles, scientists at an Estonian university say. Sodium-ion batteries, which do not contain relatively costly lithium, cobalt, or nickel, are one of theContinue reading “Peat Batteries…”
ARPA-E, and Emission-Free Metal…
Topics: Climate Change, Green Tech, Materials Science, Research When it comes to making steel greener, “only the laws of physics limit our imagination,” says Christina Chang of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA–E). Chang, an ARPA–E fellow, is seeking public input on a potential new agency program titled Steel Made via Emissions-Less Technologies. During herContinue reading “ARPA-E, and Emission-Free Metal…”
Power Density…
Topics: Alternate Energy, Climate Change, Existentialism, Global Warming, Green Tech, Thermodynamics Optimizing the placement of turbines within a wind farm can significantly increase energy extraction – but only until the installation reaches a certain size, researchers in the US conclude. This is just one finding of a computational study on wind turbines’ effects on theContinue reading “Power Density…”
Recycled Plastics, Sustainable Fabrics…
Topics: Ecology, Environment, Green Tech, Materials Science Polyethylene is one of the most common plastics in the world, but it is seldom found in clothing because it cannot absorb or carry away water. (Imagine wearing a plastic bag – you would feel very uncomfortable very quickly.) Now, however, researchers in the US have developed aContinue reading “Recycled Plastics, Sustainable Fabrics…”
Argonne, Assemble…
Topics: Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Existentialism, Global Warming, Green Tech Thankfully, we’re not. Hat tip to Marvel, and Rotten Tomatoes. Scientists aren’t superheroes. Or are they? Superheroes defend the defenseless and save humanity from any number of disasters, both natural and unnatural, often using powers of logic and some really hip techno-gadgets. The Earth isContinue reading “Argonne, Assemble…”
Physics and Nano 