Scientists at Stanford University have given the vision of cheap solar power another nudge along the path to reality. They are working with tiny particles called quantum dots, which can be adjusted or “tuned” to absorb different wavelengths of light. Quantum dots are relatively cheap because they can be churned … [continued]
When President Obama recently called for a “Sputnik moment” to inspire a new generation of American innovation, he probably did not expect researchers at Stanford University to answer with a waffle iron. However, that pretty much summed up what happened, at least in the nanoscale world of plasmonics. It could … [continued]
Hydrogen fuel cells offer a zero-emission way to power vehicles, but until now there’s been at least one obvious catch: getting the hydrogen requires energy, and lots of it. Now researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have found a way around it, by developing a pollution-free way to extract hydrogen … [continued]
With their vast potential for harvesting solar power and other forms of renewable energy, America’s highways are poised to become “road warriors” in the fight for clean energy. Now a U.S. company called Pureti, Inc. hopes to add another green job to the mix: air pollution fighter. The key will … [continued]
One solution to the world’s water pollution problems could be something you can’t taste, touch, see, smell, or hear. Especially hear. Ultrasound, the range of frequencies beyond the limits of human hearing, is starting to emerge as an effective water treatment that is more sustainable than chemical dosing. Researchers are … [continued]
Nano-engineering students at Rensselaer have created a solar power game-changer: more than 96% absorption of sunlight from all angles, from sunrise to sunset. The two biggest efficiency hurdles for solar efficiency have been: 1. Solar cells absorb only part of the light spectrum. 2. The sun always moves in relation … [continued]
A recent partnership between the steel industry and UK university researchers has led to the development of a unique photovoltaic paint that can be applied to steel.
Build plug-in or battery swappable hybrid ships. Get big battery range increases every few years of the vessel’s life. Run biofuels through a generator into the battery in diminishing tonnage.
Researchers at UCLA have created a super white paint that can reflect up to 98% of incoming heat from the sun.
Because I’m a minister long concerned for the ethics of how we get and use energy, my recent trip to tour the Tesla factory to the San Francisco Bay Area (Fremont) had an inspiring feel to it, like going on a pilgrimage to a shrine.
