Saturday, January 16, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
"Star Power comes to California"
Both the title of this blog and the content come from #78 in Discover magazine's Top 100 Science Stories of 2009. Text by Amy Barth.In the heart of the National Ignition Facility (NIF - left), a technician inspects the optics assembly where 192 powerful laser beams will zap a pellet filled with deuterium and tritium, two heavy forms of hydrogen. The pellet will immediately implode, reaching a temperature of more than 100 million degrees at a pressure 100 billion times that of Earth's atmosphere. Under those conditions the hydrogen will be fused into helium, releasing a vast amount of energy and creating the kinds of processes that occur deep inside the sun. The NIF, dedicated in May in Livermore, Calif., will also mimic the detonation of nuclear weapons and will perform astrophysics experiments. Research at the facility could speed the development of abundant, clean fusion power - literally the stars brought down to Earth.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Leap-Frogging hydrogen hurdles
#74 on Discover's Top 100 Science Stories of 2009 is hydrogen power.
The only "waste" created by hydrogen fuel cells are water and heat. This makes them tremendously attractive as energy producers. Two of the main problems are that they currently require expensive platinum catalysts and the source is often fossil fuels.
Jean-Pol Dodelet of the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec has looked to the human body for inspiration. Within our organic construct, iron-based molecules extract energy from food. Dodelet and his team are looking at enhanced iron-based catalysts to use in fuels cells. It works just as well as platinum but is obviously less expensive.
MIT's Daniel Nocero is also using nature for his work, this time looking at plants. When his catalyst is combined with photovoltaic cells like the ones used in solar panels, it splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, mimicking photosynthesis. He wants to use this technology to provide power to those living off the grid.
With Nocera's system, only dependency is on the sun.
The only "waste" created by hydrogen fuel cells are water and heat. This makes them tremendously attractive as energy producers. Two of the main problems are that they currently require expensive platinum catalysts and the source is often fossil fuels.
Jean-Pol Dodelet of the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec has looked to the human body for inspiration. Within our organic construct, iron-based molecules extract energy from food. Dodelet and his team are looking at enhanced iron-based catalysts to use in fuels cells. It works just as well as platinum but is obviously less expensive.
MIT's Daniel Nocero is also using nature for his work, this time looking at plants. When his catalyst is combined with photovoltaic cells like the ones used in solar panels, it splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, mimicking photosynthesis. He wants to use this technology to provide power to those living off the grid.
With Nocera's system, only dependency is on the sun.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Geographer Mark Serreze predicts outcome of Arctic melt
Coming in at #60 on Discover magazine's Top 100 science stories of 2009 is Mark Serreze, a geographer that states that the Arctic will be ice-free during the summer as early as 2030.
Since 1979, satellites have measured the extent of Arctic sea ice accurately, giving us a view of change. The region has lost 40 percent of its ice since the 70s, he says.
The ice will still be there in the winter, but during the summer, the area will be free of obstacles. On the upside, this means Japanese cars will be able to make it to the East Coast quicker and cheaper, but the downsides far outweigh any economic advantages it may incur.
And there's no going back.
Things we have to "look forward to":
1). Cascading effects through the food chain, from predators to plankton.
2). Coastal erosion. Villages in Alaska and coastal Siberia are slowly falling into the sea.
3). Weather. Normally waves caused by storms are dampened by Arctic ice. This will no longer be the case and waves will just get bigger and more likely to cause damage. See #2.
4). Rising temperatures. Ice normally reflects a lot of sunlight back into space. With it gone, the seas will absorb much of that solar energy, causing further warming trends and playing more havoc with the weather. Citrus crops in Florida may be safe from freezing but winter wheat, which relies on precipitation from snow, will take a hit.
5). Water supply. The western US relies on melting snow for much of its water supply. No snow, no water.
6). Carbon cycle. This is a biggie. As permafrost thaws, carbon deposits from millenia old plants and animals will defrost, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere in an ever-warning feedback loop. There is growing evidence that the effect will be quite strong.
7). Loss of species. While humans are supremely adaptable, many species are not. Say good-bye to even more of them.
As Dr. Serreze says, "We're looking at a different world. That world is coming fast, and the Arctic is leading the way."
Since 1979, satellites have measured the extent of Arctic sea ice accurately, giving us a view of change. The region has lost 40 percent of its ice since the 70s, he says.
The ice will still be there in the winter, but during the summer, the area will be free of obstacles. On the upside, this means Japanese cars will be able to make it to the East Coast quicker and cheaper, but the downsides far outweigh any economic advantages it may incur.
And there's no going back.
Things we have to "look forward to":
1). Cascading effects through the food chain, from predators to plankton.
2). Coastal erosion. Villages in Alaska and coastal Siberia are slowly falling into the sea.
3). Weather. Normally waves caused by storms are dampened by Arctic ice. This will no longer be the case and waves will just get bigger and more likely to cause damage. See #2.
4). Rising temperatures. Ice normally reflects a lot of sunlight back into space. With it gone, the seas will absorb much of that solar energy, causing further warming trends and playing more havoc with the weather. Citrus crops in Florida may be safe from freezing but winter wheat, which relies on precipitation from snow, will take a hit.
5). Water supply. The western US relies on melting snow for much of its water supply. No snow, no water.
6). Carbon cycle. This is a biggie. As permafrost thaws, carbon deposits from millenia old plants and animals will defrost, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere in an ever-warning feedback loop. There is growing evidence that the effect will be quite strong.
7). Loss of species. While humans are supremely adaptable, many species are not. Say good-bye to even more of them.
As Dr. Serreze says, "We're looking at a different world. That world is coming fast, and the Arctic is leading the way."
Monday, January 11, 2010
Smartly making over the Electrical Grid
According to Discover magazine, "the basic technology that transports electricity around the United State is more than a century old."
This is pathetic. In a century, everything from information technology to medicine has advanced exponentially and so has our power usage, so why should the backbone be so antiquated?
Obama has announce $3.4 billion in economic stimulus and private holdings are investing another $5 billion in bringing the infrastructure up to date, a necessity when the country hopes to produce at least 20 percent of its power from alternative sources like energy and wind.
Basically, the hope is to establish a two-way power structure where currently only one way exists.
In other words, electrical customers would be able to determine peak usage and pay as it comes. It there is excess, it would be sent back to the power company for discounts. No power would be lost and only be applied when needed. Customers would have control over their meters and be able to "budget" accordingly.
Grids will soon be able to store and redirect power.
Ford has even announced that its hybrids would have smart capability, charging during off-peak hours and sending back excess as needed.
This is pathetic. In a century, everything from information technology to medicine has advanced exponentially and so has our power usage, so why should the backbone be so antiquated?
Obama has announce $3.4 billion in economic stimulus and private holdings are investing another $5 billion in bringing the infrastructure up to date, a necessity when the country hopes to produce at least 20 percent of its power from alternative sources like energy and wind.
Basically, the hope is to establish a two-way power structure where currently only one way exists.
In other words, electrical customers would be able to determine peak usage and pay as it comes. It there is excess, it would be sent back to the power company for discounts. No power would be lost and only be applied when needed. Customers would have control over their meters and be able to "budget" accordingly.
Grids will soon be able to store and redirect power.
Ford has even announced that its hybrids would have smart capability, charging during off-peak hours and sending back excess as needed.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Highly useful eyesores
According to an article on the Environmental News Network's website, the ugly sound barriers between highways and neighborhoods have many positive effects, including keeping pollution on the roadways and reducing cancer in the neighborhoods.
And communities can always plant vines, giving the walls a more natural look while helping to absorb CO2.
And communities can always plant vines, giving the walls a more natural look while helping to absorb CO2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
