“Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a December press conference. “…This milestone moves us one significant step closer to the possibility of zero carbon abundant fusion energy powering our society. If we can advance fusion energy, we could use it to produce electricity, transportation fuels, power heavy industry, [and] so much more.”

The revolutionary leap forward took place on December 5th in the National Ignition Facility at California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where scientists have been trying to generate fusion since 2009.

“The pursuit of fusion ignition in the laboratory is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever tackled by humanity, and achieving it is a triumph of science, engineering, and most of all, people,” says LLNL Director Dr. Kim Budil. “Crossing this threshold is the vision that has driven 60 years of dedicated pursuit — a continual process of learning, building, expanding knowledge and capability, and then finding ways to overcome the new challenges that emerged. These are the problems that the U.S. national laboratories were created to solve.”

The experiment consisted of physicists pointing 192 of the world’s most powerful lasers at a pencil eraser-sized fuel pellet wrapped in a diamond. The pellet, made up of deuterium and tritium (both isotopes of hydrogen), was blasted with 2.05 megajoules of energy and heated up to 3 million degrees Celsius for a fraction of a second. The heat vaporized the hydrogen nub and released a wave of neutron particles that produced 3 megajoules of energy.

This is the first time that scientists have been able to breach the dividing line of “ignition,” the point at which the amount of energy created equals the amount of energy required to start the reaction.

“You see one diagnostic and you think maybe that’s not real and then you start to see more and more diagnostics rolling in, pointing to the same thing,” says Annie Kritcher, a physicist at Livermore who reviewed the data immediately after the experiment. “It’s a great feeling.”

By breaking the ignition barrier, scientists have proved that reproducing the same energy that creates stars is possible and could eventually lead to a sustainable form of energy that doesn’t require harmful carbon dioxide or other polluting byproducts.

Of course, it could still be years before clean energy on is available on a mass scale. “Probably decades,” said Dr. Budil during the press conference. “Not six decades, I don’t think. I think not five decades, which is what we used to say. I think it’s moving into the foreground and probably, with concerted effort and investment, a few decades of research on the underlying technologies could put us in a position to build a power plant.”

To make nuclear fusion viable as a global energy source, scientists will have to develop more efficient lasers and better containment options. Current power plant designs can’t handle the kind of heat and energy created by nuclear fusion.

The December 5th breakthrough in nuclear fusion gives us hope that truly clean energy is in our planet’s future. “This is a great day,” said Energy Secretary Granholm, one that “will go down in the history books.”

The post New Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Could Lead to Limitless Clean Energy first appeared on Dornob.

When she got the commission to build the central pavilion for northern Europe’s largest design event, Dutch architect Marjan van Aubel immediately looked for collaborators to help her highlight the power of the sun.

“Marjan van Aubel called us in May, asking: can you help? …Of course, it was short notice, so we had to move quickly,” explains Michiel Raaphorst, co-founder of V8 Architects. “Three days later, we met with Marjan and Miriam van der Lubbe, the Creative Head of DDW. While sketching, we came up with a surface that allows you to harvest solar energy but also forms a meaningful part of the environment.”

“We use technology to represent a natural phenomenon, and to do so, we harvest the energy from that natural phenomenon itself. So the solar pavilion represents the energy of the sun and cooperation,” Raaphorst adds. “All these parties worked together to realize this project because we all believe in Marjan van Aubel’s message: the time for a solar revolution is now.”

The two groups came up with a gazebo whose shape followed the slope of a cloth beach chair. Supported by four steel masts, the roof was fashioned from 380 wafer-thin glass solar panels in happy shades of red, orange, yellow, and blue. From above, it looked like a sun rising in a blue sky.

The collection of colorful photovoltaic tiles produced roughly 7.5 kilowatts of energy during peak performance hours, sending enough juice to an onsite battery to provide light and heat for all evening visitors. The intended effect was to allow guests to experience the sensation of sitting in the sun even in its absence.

The underside of the roof was left exposed for maximum technological transparency. “The structure contains about five thousand kilos of solar panels,” Raaphorst explains. “We deliberately left all the connections, wires, and discs visible so visitors can see how everything works. A practical view of the structure.”

The design teams also included two connecting staircases that led to a viewing porthole where visitors could have their picture taken via an app. “Up there, you suddenly find yourself in this other world: the solar field,” Raaphorst muses. Underneath the pavilion, a reflective circular bench and steel and wood seats provided places for observers to rest throughout the day.

V8 Architects and Marjan van Aubel Studio also pulled in a dozen other companies to help with parts and assembly. In keeping with the eco-friendly ethos, they borrowed most of the standard building and energy components, returning each part to its owners after the event for a circular resource design.

The architects were excited for the chance to show how earth-conscious technology like solar can and should be incorporated into everyday life. Says Raaphorst, “Currently, energy is only harvested in a techno-functional way. We explore how to integrate the sun’s energy into our daily lives so that we can love and embrace it.”

“Solar energy needs a new, more personal perspective that is part of our culture,” adds Marjan van Aubel. “This pavilion demonstrates that solar energy can be experienced and used in a new way.”

The post Colorful Solar Pavilion Brings Shade to Dutch Design Week first appeared on Dornob.

Semi-Solid State Batteries

The SuperBase V claims to be the first home energy storage system using semi-solid state batteries. Offering 228 Watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), they provide up to 42 percent more energy per pound than a traditional lithium-iron phosphate battery. Zendure says that customers who use their battery management software can expect the SuperBase V internal battery to last for at least 10 years.

“Semi-solid state batteries also pose less of a safety risk if damaged, which is critical for home energy management,” the company says. “The extra capacity is ideal for long-term outages.”

Stackable Power

The SuperBase V can be scaled for several different power needs. A single unit can provide up to 3,800 watts (W) of power, while two connected units can supply up to 7,600 W. That amount is enough to power a typical washer, dryer, heater, and refrigerator at one time. For maximum wattage, two SuperBase V units can be stacked with four Satellite Batteries each for a total capacity of 64 kilowatts (kWH).

Power Your Home for a Week

With the maximum battery configuration, the SuperBase V has enough juice to power a typical household for a week or more. This means you never need to fear a power outage, since the SuperBase V will automatically kick on in the event of a power grid failure. You can also use Zendure’s “Time of Use” app to monitor, manage, and customize your energy usage and save money on normal energy bills.

If a natural disaster ever strikes your area, you’ll still have enough power to get you through the worst of it. Alternatively, if you’re simply ready to go off-grid, you can hook up the SuperBase V to a solar panel system and figuratively cut the cord to your power company.

Untethered RV Life

The Zendure Satellite Battery also boasts an Anderson port to meet any RV and camper electrical needs. Through the XT90 port, the modules can also glean up to 600W of solar power. For those looking to truly get some peace and quiet in remote areas, the SuperBase V TT-30 port can provide up to 30 amps to 120V camper or RV appliances.

Charge EVs on the Go

With its 2 EV outlets and up to 12,000W of power distribution, the SuperBase V can charge two electric vehicles quickly and at the same time, so you’ll never have a dead car battery in the event of emergencies. In addition to powering up your cars at home, Zendure’s plug-and-play system can recharge your EV on the go and in between charging stations, extending your driving range indefinitely.

Smart Virtual Assistance Interface

For added ease of use, the SuperBase V can interface with smart home assistants like Alexa and Google, allowing customers to turn it on or perform other functions with voice commands.

Zendure’s Kickstarter campaign blew way past its initial goal of $10,000, attracting over a thousand backers and over $5.3 million in pledges. The basic SuperBase V model is currently going for $2,699 and is expected to start shipping in December 2022.

The post Kickstarter Campaign for First Plug-and-Play Home Energy Storage System Garners Over $5 Million first appeared on Dornob.

Newsubstance and the Unboxed crew moved the retired oil rig from its former location in the North Sea to the Somerset coast and transformed it into a new public art installation and visitor experience this summer. It was transported by sea on a barge the size of a football field and then lifted over the seawall by crane and set onto prefabricated legs.

The four-story, 450-tonne rig is set within a shallow pool on the beach. Its top platform hosts the garden, while a 6,000-piece kinetic installation featuring the work of Ivan Black and Trevor Lee shimmers across the front. The vegetation was chosen to stand up to the Atlantic gales and corrosive saltwater sprays. The waterfall, dubbed the “SEE MONSTER’s roar,” recirculates via the pool at the base, and the kinetic art moves along with the wind.

Lee’s installation, WindNest, was designed in collaboration with Land Art Generator initiative and consists of two rotating airborne pods that generate clean energy through wind and solar technologies, powering the irrigation systems for the “Garden Lab” on the upper platform. Black’s installation features 6,000 aluminum tiles representing the “monster’s scales,” fluttering in response to weather conditions. Three drone shows by SKYMAGIC light up the skies above the shores of the town, drawing people in to see the installation after dark.

The creators hope SEE MONSTER will inspire conversations about how our industrial history has shaped our climate (mostly for the worse), and what we can do about it.

“SEE MONSTER is a celebration of how we can use our past to shape our future,” the creators say. “Harnessing renewable energy from the great British weather, this reimagined platform will feature experiments, performances, gardens, and even waterfalls — showcasing local innovation and showing how creativity can challenge and change the status quo.”

“SEE MONSTER is being brought to life on the site of Weston’s iconic Tropicana lido by Leeds-based studio Newsubstance with support from Weston-super-Mare Town Council and North Somerset Council. Throughout the UNBOXED summer, it will stand as a vivid reminder of our shared past — and a symbol of our united journey towards a more sustainable future.”

As for Unboxed’s connection to Brexit, The New York Times explains that the $132 million festival was meant to display the best of British creativity after the nation voted to leave the European Union. It’s now being investigated as a “waste of money” by the government’s spending watchdog. The festival has attracted 238,000 visitors since it opened in March; organizers had predicted it would draw up to 66 million people from then until its closure in November.

The post An Abandoned Oil Rig Became a Massive Art Installation in England This Summer first appeared on Dornob.

In conventional batteries, there’s a positive electric terminal at one end and a negative terminal at the other, with either lead or lithium in between as the liquid, paste, or gel electrolyte substance that propels ions back and forth to generate electricity. Scientists and engineers at the University of Maryland found a way to replace that lead and lithium with chitosan, a polysaccharide sugar that gives the outer skeletons of shellfish their strength and flexibility. Even better, that chitosan can be sourced from materials that are usually thrown away as a byproduct of the food industry. The researchers published their discovery this month in the journal Matter.

“The most abundant source of chitosan is the exoskeletons of crustaceans, including crabs, shrimps, and lobsters, which can be easily obtained from seafood waste,” said lead author and Materials Science and Engineering Professor Liangbing Hu, director of UMD’s Center for Materials Innovation. “You can find it on your table.”

Chitosan can be synthesized into a firm gel membrane with the addition of acetic acid aqueous solution, combined with zinc, and then used as an electrolyte for a battery. Zinc is an abundant naturally occurring metal found in more than 50 countries around the world. It’s used to make batteries safer, and it’s recyclable. That means the major components of the batteries are cheap and readily available, a crucial consideration when so many so-called “sustainable” innovations require the mining of rare minerals.

“Zinc is more abundant in Earth’s crust than lithium,” notes Hu. “Generally speaking, well-developed zinc batteries are cheaper and safer.”

The UMD researchers found that their chitosan-based battery is 99.7-percent energy efficient even after 1,000 battery cycles (about 400 hours of use). That means they can be quickly charged and discharged without affecting their performance. They’re also not flammable, and two-thirds of their composition can break down in the soil within a mere five months, leaving the zinc behind to be recycled. The next step will involve testing the batteries on a larger scale and under commercial use conditions. If successful, these biodegradable batteries could be used in tandem with solar panels, wind farms, hydropower, and other green energy solutions.

“In the future, I hope all components in batteries are biodegradable,” said Hu. “Not only the material itself but also the fabrication process of biomaterials.”

The post Discarded Crab and Lobster Shells Fuel a New Biodegradable Battery first appeared on Dornob.

The Eiffel Tower is currently illuminated by 20,000 exterior LED light bulbs that use approximately 7.8 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Until September 23rd, the world-famous landmark glowed from dusk until 1 am, putting on a special flickering light show for five minutes every hour. Lightbulbs flash on and off in random patterns to mimic the effect of a fireworks display for visitors.

More recently, The Paris city council decided to turn the lights off every night at 11:45 pm, potentially saving up to four percent of the tower’s annual energy consumption. Originally constructed in 1887, the Eiffel tower was first illuminated by 10,000 gas lights and external spotlights projecting from the base. It was updated to more modern lightning in 1985, with the sparkle effect being added to ring in the millennial year 2000.

Gas and Oil Shortage

The Eiffel Tower’s light restriction comes in response to the growing energy crisis across Europe caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Before the war, Russia had supplied roughly 40 percent of all of the European Union’s gas needs, but now only provides nine percent, causing skyrocketing prices and fuel shortages across the continent. Even those countries that were not heavily reliant on Russia for their energy needs are now feeling the pinch. For example, Germany depended on Russia for 55 percent of its gas needs in the past, but is currently buying more from Norway, reducing the amount available for other faithful customers like Great Britain.

What Else is Being Done?

In addition to dimming the tower lights a littler earlier, the City of Paris is also instituting several other energy-saving measures. For starters, all city-managed buildings will have their temperatures lowered from 19 to 18 degrees Celsius (roughly from 66 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit), except for in elderly care homes and baby day care facilities. Public pools will lower their water temperature from 27 to 26 degrees Celsius (from about 80 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit), and lighting on all public monuments will be turned off at 10 pm.

Around Europe, other countries are taking their own measures to cut energy usage. Germany is turning off spotlights on its over 200 public monuments and government buildings at night, shutting down fountains, requiring all state employees to wash their hands with cold water only, and even cancelling the traditional Christmas lighting along Berlin’s glitzy shopping district.

Spain has put limits on air conditioning and heating temperatures for all shops, offices, and other commercial venues. The Netherlands and Denmark are urging their citizens to take short showers to save on gas. And to ease the burden for their residents, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France have all set caps on electricity and gas prices. Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, average household energy costs have jumped to nearly five times their previous level.

Even if the Eiffel Tower light reduction is largely symbolic in nature, it shows solidarity with people across Europe who are having to cut back on energy use. Despite the latest measures, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has assured the public that nation’s capital “will always be the City of Light.”

The post Paris Pulls the Plug on Eiffel Tower Lights to Ease Energy Crisis first appeared on Dornob.

Not only does the Tower of Light make this industrial facility a lot more beautiful on the outside, it puts on light shows by day and by night in two very different ways. When the sun shines on it, polished reflectors inside it move in the wind, reflecting patterns of light into the tower’s chambers to create a natural sparkling effect. After dark, LED lights directed at the reflectors amp up the drama with animated, programmed light sequences every 15 minutes to mark the passage of time.

The tower’s unusual form derives from “Shell Lace Structure,” a biomimetic structural technique developed by Tonkin Liu in collaboration with engineers at Arup. This innovative technique uses digital design, engineering analysis, and advanced manufacturing tools to achieve complex organic shapes without compromising structural stability. The technique is inspired by the structures of mollusk shells, which gain their strength from optimized curvilinear geometry. Strategically placed perforations give the shell a lightweight quality while spreading loads in multiple directions. The Tower of Light is now the largest Shell Lace Structure ever built.

“The Shell Lace Structure technique represents an adaptive approach to architecture that allows for enhanced means of expression as well as additional opportunities to respond to site, structure, and climatic requirements,” say the architects. “The technique is multi-faceted and by involving both the hand and the machine in its design process, Shell Lace Structure enables us to regain intuition whilst wielding the speed, craft, and precision inherent in digital tools.”

The architects call the street facade enclosing the new energy center “Wall of Energy.” Visually complementing the tower, this facade features glazed ceramic tiles to reflect light and movement from clouds in the sky as well as human activity on the street to give it an ever-changing appearance. The shape of the tiles is inspired by “the dynamic energy of earth’s movements, as seen in patterns left in the sand by ocean waves,” Tonkin Liu explains.

The energy center itself is known as the Civic Quarter Heat Network (CQHN) and Energy Center, providing the neighborhood with low-carbon energy. It’s powered by an engine and two gas boilers, and designed so that future energy technologies can add or adapt to the power supply without disrupting the flow of electricity. Heat from the power-generating engine is harnessed to create hot water, which then runs through insulated district pipework across the city network, improving energy efficiency by as much as 45 percent.

The post Manchester’s Tessellated Tower of Light Puts on LED Light Shows to Tell Time first appeared on Dornob.

“If we think outside the box, feces has precious value to make energy and manure,” Cho told Reuters. “I have put this value into ecological circulation.”

The BeeVi toilet (a portmanteau of the words “bee” and “vision”) uses a vacuum pump to send feces to an underground storage tank without the use of water. In the tank, microorganisms break the waste down into methane, which in turn supplies energy for the building and powers a gas stove, a hot water boiler, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The average person produces 500 grams of feces per day, which can be converted to 50 liters of methane gas, generating 0.5kWh of electricity. That’s roughly the amount you need to drive an electric car about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles). Essentially, this means we’re all flushing valuable material down the toilet every day. Why not make money off it instead?

So far, the project is paying off. Students who might have been hesitant to use the toilet without an incentive are now lining up to get their Ggool. The toilet provides a QR code after each use, which can then be redeemed at the “feces market” for stuff like fruit and instant cup noodles. Maybe the term “feces market” is a tad unnecessary, but hey, it’s getting the project global attention, and that’s what counts. Unsurprisingly, this story has resulted in headlines like “This Toilet Turns Your Sh*t into Sh*tcoins” and “Crap to Crypto.”

“I had only ever thought that feces are dirty, but now it is a treasure of great value to me,” postgraduate student Heo Hui-jin told Reuters at the Ggool market. “I even talk about feces during mealtimes to think about buying any book I want.”

It might be funny and a little gross, but the BeeVi toilet could make a big impact, especially in Korea, where water is scarce. North Korea in particular has suffered a lack of rural water supply exacerbated by recent heat waves, putting future crop harvests in peril. Even highly efficient toilets use 1.28 gallons of water or more per flush, and most people flush their toilets at least five times per day. Toilets like the BeeVi would not only eliminate all that water usage, but produce renewable energy at the same time.

Professor Cho Jae-weon directs the Convergence Research Center, named “Science Walden,” which focuses on the overlap of science and the arts, and has designed small water purification units that operate without electricity for distribution to villages in various countries. He’s also one of the founding members of North Korea Water Society under the Ministry of Unification to research potential ways to collaborate on water issues in both Koreas.

The post This Waterless Toilet Makes Cryptocurrency Out of Human Waste first appeared on Dornob.

Italian gelato and frozen dessert brand Sammontana commissioned international design firm Carlo Ratti Associati and architect Italo Rota to create an artistic beach umbrella that does a lot more than just provide a bit of shade. Taking inspiration from aerospace technologies and the ancient art of origami, the Sammontana Beach Umbrella dramatically unfurls its “petals” to reveal solar arrays used to power small refrigerators and air conditioners.

The designers worked with Chuck Hoberman, a professor at Harvard University who specializes in transformable structures, to create the foldable photovoltaic array. They work similarly to the solar panel systems on NASA’s spacecrafts. Each umbrella stands 8.2 feet high with a diameter of 10.5 feet. When closed up, its “petals” stand upright in a column, taking up very little space. When you want to use it, all you have to do is pull on a rope and the petals will glide upward to offer shelter.

The photovoltaic arrays power individual mini refrigerators so users can keep their drinks cool even on the hottest days, as well as small cold water misters for relief from the heat. You can even plug in your phone to top off your battery. When grouped together, the Sammontana beach umbrellas produce enough electricity to power larger, power-hungry items like commercial refrigerators at beach resorts. Sammontana is making these beach umbrellas available to the public for free at BAM-Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano Park this summer, and if the trials go well, they hope to bring them to many of Italy’s beaches in the future.

“Can we use the power of the abundant summer sunshine to make our holiday experience more sustainable?” says Carlo Ratti, founder of CRA and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “The design concept of this project starts from using the sun to produce electricity to cool the space under the umbrella – and then scale it up to provide power to any beach resort. We are delighted that Sammontana invited us to develop this project, as both our organizations share a strong commitment to environmental values and human well-being.”

“The project builds on Sammontana’s objective to lower the environmental impact potentially applicable to Italian beaches – which are the iconic backdrops where Sammontana is served, marking the most pleasant and joyful moments of summer,” says Sibilla Bagnoli, Head of Communication and Image at Sammontana Italia. “For many years, our company has been focusing on such special environments, experimenting with new ways to welcome the public, manage services, and innovate while protecting the environment.”

The design of the umbrella is cool enough in its own right, especially since it’s basically a kinetic sculpture with a practical purpose. But the fact that these sun shelters are offered up to he public for free is what makes them such a noteworthy design. Imagine what it would be like if we had these all over public spaces around the world, from beaches to inner city parks. Free solar energy for everyone!

The post Sammontana’s Sustainable Solar Beach Umbrellas Unfurl Like Giant Origami Flowers first appeared on Dornob.

Travel wind turbine kits do exist, like this $168 unit on Amazon, but they’re far from robust, only generating up to 15 watts. The Wind Catcher blows that figure out of the water while weighing just 22 pounds, and it still only takes 15 minutes to set up. The Wind Catcher Lite produces 200 watts of power at a 12 mph wind speed, which is enough to run a small fridge, some lights, your laptop, and a router. The larger Wind Catcher produces 600 watts, reaching full speed at 17 mph. That means you can also juice up your e-bike, power tools, water pumps, sound systems, game consoles, drones, or small cooking appliances.

Unlike solar panels, the Wind Catcher turbine works day and night, even at wind speeds of just 8 mph. Don’t worry, though – it’s still compatible with a host of portable generators usually used with portable solar panels, including those made by Jackery, Goal Zero, Rainier, and Bluletti. Jackery’s Explorer 300, for instance, features multiple outputs, a 293 watt-honor battery pack, a carrying handle, and a DC input, and it’s also lightweight at just 7.1 pounds.

The creators explain that they’ve “taken the best of the ideas from flying turbines and have created a hybrid between a flying system and a more traditional wind turbine. By doing so, we’ve reduced the weight of materials by almost 90 percent. No more big poles supported by concrete or lifting cranes! We’ve made Wind Catcher to be easy and fast to assemble. It’s so simple and easy that you can do it just by yourself. Just set it up, and start charging your devices instantly. Wind Catcher requires no complicated knots. We’re using quick and easy-to-use belts for adjustments where it’s needed. It’s simple, effective, and quick to setup.”

“Wind Catcher Lite will start making usable energy e.g. charging a laptop (50W) at around 4 meters per second [9 mph] wind speed. This means you don’t have to camp in the most windy places to start producing usable power. When you need it, simply unpack it, set it up, and start generating power. Everything can be stored and transported with ease. We made Wind Catcher to have very low noise. It’s not silent like solar panels, but 20 meters away you won’t hear it!”

So what happens when the wind isn’t blowing? Just use solar! The Wind Catcher is a great way to augment a good portable solar panel system that plugs into the same type of portable generator, allowing you to assemble an impressively powerful renewable energy system that takes up very little space. That makes it perfect for extended travel, off-grid tiny houses, and even #vanlifers. The Kickstarter campaign for this handy gadget has already ended, but if you’re hoping to snag one for yourself, you can still sign up for email updates at the KiteX website.

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The post Wind Catcher: Lightweight Travel Turbine Provides Power on the Go first appeared on Dornob.

Recently, researchers have taken the meaning of “future projects” to the next level by printing an actual living material that could have many exciting applications— including on the planet Mars.

A number of international researchers worked on the project, which was led by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Using a new bioprinting technique, they were able to print living “artificial leaves” made of algae and capable of photosynthesis. Kui Yu, a Ph.D. student involved in the project, explains that “the biodegradable nature of the material itself and the recyclable use of microalgal cells make it a sustainable living material.” This means that it can produce energy and still break down naturally over time. Neat, huh?

Printed on bacterial cellulose, the microalgae is also extremely durable. Super strong and sustainable, it’s the best of both worlds all in one eco-friendly little package.

So where does Mars come in? As you may or may not know, space is pretty much not amenable to growing things, as it’s an oxygen-less vacuum. However, in recent years, scientists have been researching ways to grow plants in space to support future colonies, including ones on the red planet. In 2017, for instance, Germany’s space agency tested growing tomatoes on the International Space Station by recycling astronaut urine. Other scientists have been trying to determine what vegetables are the most likely to grow in space, with the best answer so far being Española peppers.

The main reason scientists are so interested in growing things in space is because it’s a much more sustainable option than sending goods and supplies from Earth, which can get expensive quick (about $10,000 for a single pound of materials!). Additionally, they see potential paths to creating oxygen and energy in space, an environment not necessarily known for its hospitality.

The 3D printed microalgae can be used to harvest energy as sugars, which could then be converted into fuels. And since the microalgae is capable of photosynthesis, it’ll also be producing oxygen as an extremely beneficial byproduct.

The success of this project may also have other implications for the future of 3D printing beyond future Mars and space colonies. Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam, an associate professor involved in the project, is enthusiastic about the future of the sustainable tech, adding that “the printing of living cells is an attractive technology for the fabrication of engineered living materials. [This material] has the unique advantage of being sufficiently mechanically robust for applications in real-life settings.”

While not entirely clear on what these “real-life settings” might be, it’s not hard to imagine how useful this type of technology could be here on Earth. Sustainable, biodegradable, and able to be produced via 3D printing, this microalgae may be an answer to a host of energy-related problems here on our own beleaguered planet. To learn more about this amazing technology, check out the Delft University of Technology’s research in the scientific journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The post Researchers 3D Print Biodegradable “Leaves” Capable of Producing Oxygen on Mars first appeared on Dornob.

Bourgnon of all people understands how crucial such designs are for the health of the planet’s waterways. With 20 years of experience setting world-records in solo expeditions and transatlantic competitions, the Franco-Swiss ocean adventurer has observed a dramatic rise in ocean waste. In fact, Bourgnon had to quit the Trans Jaques Vabre yacht race in 2015 when his ship was assaulted by floating rubbish.

“During my racing career, I’ve missed out on records and broken my boat 12 times from hitting ocean debris,” he said in an interview with the Robb Report. “I’ve circumnavigated the world twice in my life, once at the age of 12 with my parents, and another 30 years later. The difference in the amount of plastic pollution was alarming. I knew something had to be done.”

“To fold your arms and say ‘No, we’ll do nothing, we’ll leave it, we’ll focus on dry land, we’ll leave the waste in the ocean,’ is totally irresponsible,” he added.

His solution? A185-foot sea-cleaning catamaran that will be partially powered by the garbage it eats.

Called the Manta – once its solar “wings” are extended, it resembles the swimming ray fish – the concept was developed in collaboration with an NGO thinktank of 58 engineers, technicians, and researchers that Bourgnon assembled in 2016.

The sailing vessel is designed to be traverse the seas removing plastics and other garbage with its large nets that can span 151 feet across and three feet deep. It’s estimated that the Manta will be able to collect up to three tons of waste each hour. With a crew of 22 rotating in two 12-hour shifts, each haul will be pulled in (larger debris will get help from two onboard cranes) and immediately sorted: organic matter back in the ocean, glass and metal sent ashore to recycling facilities, and plastic turned into energy for the ship. The boat’s Waste-to-Electricity Conversion Unit (WECU) will melt the plastic, creating gas to power an electricity-generating turbine.

Additionally, the Manta will incorporate two wind turbines at the stern, 500 square meters of solar panels at the bow, and two hydro-generators under the ship, enabling it to be roughly 70 percent self-sustaining while creating enough power for sailing speeds between two and three knots.

With a goal of operating his sea-cleaner 300 days a year, Bourgnon says it could eliminate up to 10,000 tons of ocean trash every year. If 400 such boats were set to the task, he and his team guess they could clear one-third of the world’s floating garbage. And even though it is fully capable of negotiating ocean waters, the Manta’s focus will be on clearing the estuaries of the planet’s major rivers. Two smaller, more nimble cleaning boats, the Mobula 8 and 10, will be stored on the catamaran to navigate more shallow and narrow inlets.

“The 20 largest rivers in southeast Asia account for 60 percent of ocean plastic, so that’s where we’re concentrating our effort,” Bourgnon says. “We’ll be collecting dense areas of macro-plastic pollution before it sinks or disintegrates into micro-plastics. Hurricanes and tsunamis cause massive inflows of pollution into the ocean, and it’s imperative that this pollution is dealt with quickly before it drifts, sinks, and becomes irrecoverable.”

Bourgnon expects the first model to be finished in two years, with the Manta’s initial sea trials occurring in Europe before it begins its work in southeast Asia in 2025.

He also hopes the concept will encourage more innovation and similar fabrications. “I’m not in competition with other boat builders to be the only one with a Manta,” Bourgnon explains. “Our hope is that hundreds of Mantas will be built around the world to help with the great ocean cleanup.”

The post This New Yacht Eats Ocean Trash for Breakfast first appeared on Dornob.

A new innovation in the photovoltaic realm was recently discovered by Carvey Ehren Maigue, an electrical engineering student in the Philippines. The concept involves harvesting ultraviolet light that can’t be seen, but is stored in materials the sun has touched.

This opens up opportunities in the solar-capturing field by allowing us to collect solar power even when the clouds roll in. Officially called AuREUS, which stands for Aurora Renewable Energy and UV Sequestration, the idea is to absorb UV light into organic luminescent particles. From there, the collected particles are converted into visible light and then into energy.

Referring to the solar film he created to complete this task, Maigue explains that “it’s similar to how we breathe in oxygen and we exhale carbon dioxide. It takes in ultraviolet light, and then after some time it would shed it as visible light.”

The innovation takes shape as a type of resin film that can be used on windows, walls, and building exteriors. Maigue created the material using waste from vegetable crops that he combined with resin. He then coated it with solar film and turned it into a 3 x 2-foot prototype he installed in a window of his apartment. That panel produces enough energy to charge a few smartphones, and he’s optimistic about the scalability of the material.

And he’s not the only one who’s optimistic, considering the fact that the project recently won the first James Dyson Sustainability Award. Recognizing the potential for the material, the informational release about the project says AuREUS is basically a vertical solar farm. All previous solar farms have been built horizontally, which takes up real estate in fields or rooftops. But by cladding buildings with the material, it can turn them into sources of clean and passive solar energy.

As an added bonus on the sustainability front, the technology relies on waste from farmers that they would otherwise have to deal with disposing of themselves. This support of the local agriculture industry mitigates financial loss by the farmers and provides an upcycling opportunity for ruined or unsold crops.

This symbiotic relationship seems an especially good fit considering the fact that this technology is based on nature. More specifically, the “Aurora” part of the system’s name comes from a process that results in the spectacular Aurora Borealis. Maigue explains that “Both AuREUS devices (Borealis Solar Window and Astralis Solar Wall) use the same technology derived from the phenomena that governs the beautiful Northern and Southern lights. High-energy particles are absorbed by luminescent particles that re-emit them as visible light.”

He continues: “When hit by UV light, the particles absorb and re-emit visible light along the edges due to internal reflectance. PV cells are placed along the edges to capture the visible light emitted. The captured visible light is then converted to DC electricity.”

Maigue plans to invest the $35,000 awarded from his Dyson Awards win into further research and development. 80 percent of his dyes currently come from fruits and vegetables, though he would eventually like to up that to 100 percent and eliminate chemical additives from the process altogether. This means finding a natural blue alternative, the only of the five total colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue) he’s yet to source wholly from plants.

The manufacturing process is already underway, with a current production of about 30 panels per month. Maigue notes that “additional funding can allow the creation of a team and facility that can increase current capacity.”

The post This Solar Panel Technology Doesn’t Require Sunlight first appeared on Dornob.

Developed by a team at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturer Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, POWERPASTE stores hydrogen at normal temperature and pressure, keeping it chemically locked until it mixes with water. That means it can be easily transported and safely handled without requiring expensive new updates to filling stations. All drivers would have to do is change a cartridge full of this goo every now and then, and add tap water into a water tank.

Conventional hydrogen-powered vehicles keep hydrogen in a reinforced tank fueled at a pressure of 700 bar (more than 10,000 pounds of pressure per square inch), while a fuel cell converts the hydrogen into electricity, driving the electric motor. It’s too heavy and bulky as it is to adapt to smaller vehicles. The new POWERPASTE consists of magnesium powder combined with hydrogen to form magnesium hydride, with an ester and metal salt added to form its thick consistency. When the paste is fed to a scooter or motorbike’s propulsion system using a built-in plunger system and water from the onboard tank, it creates a similar reaction to a conventional hydrogen fuel cell. Crucially, the system remains safe even when vehicles are sitting in the hot sun for hours.

“POWERPASTE thus has a huge energy storage density,” says Dr. Marcus Vogt, research associate at Fraunhofer IFAM. “It is substantially higher than that of a 700 bar high-pressure tank. And compared to batteries, it has ten times the energy storage density.”

As a result, POWERPASTE offers a range comparable to or greater than gasoline, and a higher range than compressed hydrogen at a pressure of 700 bar. In addition to scooters and motorcycles, it could be useful for the kinds of tiny cars that usually operate on electricity, like meter maid trucks and urban car share fleets, as well as large drones. Fraunhofer IFAM is currently building a POWERPASTE production plant in Germany, scheduled to go into operation in 2021, which will produce up to four tons of the stuff per year.

Elon Musk may call hydrogen fuel cells “stupid,” but the hydrogen industry is projected to generate $2.5 trillion in revenue by 2050, posing stiff competition for Tesla’s electric vehicles. Some hydrogen-powered cars are already on the market, like Toyota’s Mirai, Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell, and Hyundai’s Nexo, all “plug-free” EVs that can refuel at gas stations equipped with hydrogen fuel in less than five minutes. The 2021 Mirai gets 402 miles of range, and more than 6,500 of this model have been sold or leased in California since 2015. For now, they’re only available in the Golden State, which has 42 hydrogen fueling stations in various stages of completion.

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Computer science undergraduates Anita Nti and Jacob Buaful, his brother Caleb Buaful (who is studying industrial systems and engineering), and doctoral mechanical engineering student Danny Freudiger teamed up on the project, eventually founding a company called Electrion.

Motivated to combat the pollution created by running generators that power TVs, slow cookers, mini-fridges, and grills, the team developed a rechargeable battery pack with more than enough power to handle the job. They call it “energy storage as a service.”

When they ran a cost analysis, however, they quickly decided it would be cost prohibitive for individuals to buy personal battery packs. Instead, the students created a rental system that allows fans to charge up their tailgate activities sustainably using the rechargeable option.

“We really thought about the user experience. Because you are providing this as an alternative, you want that transition to be smooth. If it’s too hard, they’ll just keep using the generator because it’s easy to use,” Caleb Buaful explains.

Once the battery pack was developed, the students focused on a delivery system and decided on electric bikes that could easily zoom throughout the parking lots, quickly delivering batteries as needed. They then developed a mobile app that allows users to see when their battery is running low and instantly order another for delivery. The system has since found support at Ohio State, itself an eco-minded campus with big goals of its own (primarily to become carbon neutral by 2050).

Nti is president of a student organization called Smart Campus, which was founded by Freudiger. The mission of the group is to develop innovative solutions to improve communities at the university, and it’s safe to say that this project fits that bill pretty well. Mentor to the group BJ Yurkovich also expressed enthusiasm for the work the students are doing, saying: “It’s been exciting to watch this talented team of students not only develop cutting-edge technology, but also navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and business development.”

The university showed support to the initiative by awarding Electrion an $89,000 Ohio State Sustainability Fund grant. Outside of campus, MegaJoule Ventures, an investment firm focused on sustainability, also invested $250,000 to help get the company off the ground.

While they started small by hoping to motivate their fellow Buckeyes, the team estimates each tailgating day results in about 120,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted, which means their system could really be useful in cleaning up sporting venues all across the country.

Nti adds that: “We came back and started talking and thinking, ‘If that’s just from one day, that’s thousands of pounds of CO2 being emitted at just one Ohio State game, how much more would be over a season and then at other schools across the nation as well? We saw that as a very significant impact, so we thought about how we could possibly be a solution.”

The idea for this generator alternative was born during the 2019 football season, and the team founded their company shortly before the pandemic hit. They are currently working up prototypes and hope to have a finished product available by the time tailgating is back in session.

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“Tesla Solar Inverter completes the Tesla home solar system,” the company website says. “Tesla’s renowned expertise in power electronics has been combined with robust safety features and a simple installation process to produce an outstanding solar inverter that is compatible with both Solar Roof and traditional solar panels. Once installed, homeowners use the Tesla app to manage their solar system and monitor energy consumption, resulting in a truly unique ecosystem experience.”

For those unfamiliar with the technology behind solar, an inverter is the part of a solar energy system that converts the direct current (DC) power coming in through the rooftop panels into alternating current (AC), the kind of power supported by utility companies and used by household electronics. By adapting the incoming power, homeowners can generate their own electricity and even sell some back to the utility providers where permitted.

Thus far, Tesla, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, has been installing third-party inverters with its Solar Roof and Powerwall packages. But with the development of its own proprietary device, the company can have greater command over the full system, including design and monitoring aspects. Plus, this addition could potentially bring down the cost of the complete solar system by tapping into their already extensive charging station and EV power production capabilities.

Here’s what’s under the hood of Tesla’s latest offering:

Power

Built on Powerwall 2 technology, two versions of the new inverter are available: a 3.8 kW type with two maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) and a 7.6 kW edition with four, with the latter being a huge bonus in systems where the solar modules are positioned on different parts of the roof and connected by several strings.

Connectivity

Linking with Wi-Fi, ethernet, and cellular connections, the inverter is capable of over-the-air updates, making it more adaptable than those offered by Tesla’s competitors. This creates the possibility of improved software over the device’s lifetime. It’s also designed to integrate with the Tesla mobile app for full user control and visibility, and with the Tesla Powerwall where applicable.

Efficiency

The product webpage asserts that the new inverter has a 97.5-percent efficiency rating. Unfortunately, it’s not made clear if that’s the maximum efficiency or the California Energy Commission’s weighted rating. If it’s the latter, the company’s inverter can beat out the Delta version with its 97 percent, but not SolarEdge’s 99 percent weighted efficiency (both inverters that Tesla has installed previously with its solar systems).

Safety

The new device is equipped with integrated rapid shutdown capabilities, as well as arc-fault ground protection. It meets all the US-required safety regulations.

Other Device Specifications

The new inverter can handle a broad range of temperatures from -22°F to 113°F (sorry Alaska and Arizona), and can be installed either inside or out. The box measures 26 inches tall by 16 inches wide and six inches deep, which is slightly thinner than many competitors.

Finally, Tesla is offering a 12.5-year warranty on its inverter, besting Delta’s five-year and SolarEdge’s 12-year guarantee. That long-term promise of support – along with the company’s reputation for high quality standards – may help allay any buyer fears about going with a newer, less-tested product.

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