Good News Notes: “The idea of solar panels that don’t need sunlight might sound crazy, but it’s not completely impossible. As a cornerstone of the revolution to bring more clean energy to people, solar panels have become one of the best options out there. However, these energy conductors have one fatal flaw. They require direct sunlight to…
Tag: sunlight
Walmart makes an investment in vertical farming start-up Plenty
Good News Notes: “Walmart said Tuesday that it is investing in vertical farming company Plenty and plans to carry the start-up’s leafy greens in all California stores later this year. The big-box retail giant did not disclose the size of the equity stake or the terms of the commercial deal, but said a Walmart executive will…
S. Korea develops technique to recycle discarded solar panels into high-performance solar cells
Good News Notes: “Researchers have developed a non-destructive technique to recycle discarded solar panels to create high-performance solar cells. The technique will become crucial in a few decades when solar panels that are currently being used are discarded after their operational life of about 20 years. A solar panel is a photovoltaic module made of…
Engineer discovers how to extract water from air and sunlight
Good News Notes: “When you have sugar in a bowl, that sugar gets a little clumpy over time,” says Cody Friesen. “Have you ever thought about why?” Friesen, who teaches materials science at Arizona State University, explains that the sugar absorbs moisture from the air around it. “The science term for that is the sugar…
Australian researchers show next gen solar cells can beat the heat
Good News Notes: “Australian researchers have demonstrated that new solar panel designs and manufacturing techniques have the potential to solve some of the key challenges of operating in high temperatures, showing that they not only produce more useful electricity but have longer operational lives thanks to their ability to beat the heat. In new research…
Scientists create artificial plant that could spell the end of fossil fuels
Good News Notes: “A new device which mimics the ability of plants to photosynthesise could hasten the transition away from fossil fuels, say the Cambridge scientists who created it. The test unit converts light, carbon dioxide and water into a clean and stable fuel that can either be used directly or converted into hydrogen. It operates…
Laser-Etched Metal Purifies Contaminated Water Using Sunlight With Greater Than 100% Efficiency
Good News Notes: “By etching metal with ultrashort laser bursts, Rochester researchers demonstrate a way to purify water without wasting energy. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people in developed countries are assured of ample supplies of clean water to wash their hands as often as needed to protect themselves from the virus. And yet, nearly a…
Scientists to harness the sun to break down plastic
Good News Notes: “Scientists said Wednesday they have come up with an environmentally-friendly method that uses artificial sunlight to transform plastic into power-generating chemicals, as countries worldwide battle to reduce waste.” “Huge quantities of plastic have piled up on land and been dumped in the sea across the world, with Asian nations in particular facing…