A simple, clever twist in solar tower design produces power 24/7
Unlike conventional unidirectional towers, which rely on hot air rising, the new design combines the upward and downward flow of air, more than doubling power output
Dec 2023 14
Prachi Patel
Prachi Patel is a Pittsburgh-based freelance journalist who writes about energy, materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and computing. Writes for Scientific American, IEEE Spectrum, Chemical & Engineering News, and MRS Bulletin. Find her at www.lekh.org.
Dec 2023 6
Bluebird feathers inspire battery and filter material
A microscopic network of channels in bluebird feathers gives it its characteristic hue; mimicking that structure could give better batteries and water filters
Nov 2023 30
Which is better for climate: creating a new forest or a new solar farm?
In a side-by-side comparison, researchers found that it makes more sense to cover the drier parts of the world with solar panels than new forests.
Nov 2023 16
People drive EVs less than gas-powered cars, and that’s a problem
We may be overestimating the emissions savings from EVs and under-utilizing them to reap benefits, a new study finds.
Nov 2023 9
Parking garages are a huge wasted heat source
Waste heat from over 5,000 underground parking lots in Berlin could meet the demand of of 14,660 average German households, scientists found, while helping improve groundwater quality and biodiversity
Nov 2023 2
This ‘living paint’ traps carbon dioxide and produces oxygen
By encasing bacteria in a tough but porous coating, researchers have made paint that could be used to capture carbon and produce biofuels
Oct 2023 26
Solar farms in space could be commercially viable
Engineers sent novel low-cost, lightweight solar cells into space and found that they worked for six years--the mission was meant to last for one.
Oct 2023 19
Sustainable AC is possible, even with Covid ventilation
Architects show that it is possible to cool a ventilated building below outside temperatures using an uninsulated roof that sends heat to the sky day and night, while regularly changing indoor air for health
Oct 2023 12
What if a car frame, boat hull, or phone case could store energy
Using a clever combination of materials and design, engineers have made a battery-like device that is strong enough to provide mechanical support.
Oct 2023 5
Natural sponges could be a cheap, green power source
Lightweight, biodegradable loofah sponges can produce enough electricity to power LEDs when repeatedly squeezed, hinting at green power sources of the future
