Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Technology
Published

Flexible nanoelectrodes can provide fine-grained brain stimulation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have developed ultraflexible implantable nanoelectrodes that can administer long-term, fine-grained brain stimulation.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water
Published

New catalyst lowers cost for producing environmentally sustainable hydrogen from water      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team has developed a new catalyst composed of elements abundant in the Earth. It could make possible the low-cost and energy-efficient production of hydrogen for use in transportation and industrial applications.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

The next generation of solar energy collectors could be rocks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The next generation of sustainable energy technology might be built from some low-tech materials: rocks and the sun. Using a new approach known as concentrated solar power, heat from the sun is stored then used to dry foods or create electricity. A team has found that certain soapstone and granite samples from Tanzania are well suited for storing this solar heat, featuring high energy densities and stability even at high temperatures.

Chemistry: General Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Hidden in plain sight: Windshield washer fluid is an unexpected emission source      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Exhaust fumes probably come to mind when considering vehicle emissions, but they aren't the only source of pollutants released by a daily commute. Researchers report that alcohols in windshield washer fluid account for a larger fraction of real-world vehicle emissions than previous estimates have suggested. Notably, the levels of these non-fuel-derived gases will likely remain unchanged, even as more drivers transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Absolute vs. relative efficiency: How efficient are blue LEDs, actually?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The absolute internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at low temperatures is often assumed to be 100%. However, a new study has found that the assumption of always perfect IQE is wrong: the IQE of an LED can be as low as 27.5%.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General
Published

Hydrogen battery: Storing hydrogen in coal may help power clean energy economy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The quest to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source that could curb our dependence on fossil fuels may lead to an unexpected place -- coal. Scientists have found that coal may represent a potential way to store hydrogen gas, much like batteries store energy for future use, addressing a major hurdle in developing a clean energy supply chain.

Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Forging a dream material with semiconductor quantum dots      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have succeeded in creating a 'superlattice' of semiconductor quantum dots that can behave like a metal, potentially imparting exciting new properties to this popular class of materials.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Twisting under the stroboscope -- Controlling crystal lattices of hybrid solar cell materials with terahertz light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To overcome global energy challenges and fight the looming environmental crisis, researchers around the world investigate new materials for converting sunlight into electricity. Some of the most promising candidates for high-efficiency low-cost solar cell applications are based on lead halide perovskite (LHP) semiconductors. Despite record-breaking solar cell prototypes, the microscopic origin of the surprisingly excellent optoelectronic performance of this material class is still not completely understood. Now, an international team of physicists and chemists has demonstrated laser-driven control of fundamental motions of the LHP atomic lattice.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Snapshots of photoinjection      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Ultrafast laser physicists from the attoworld team have gained new insights into the dynamics of electrons in solids immediately after photoinjection.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Quantum scientists accurately measure power levels one trillion times lower than usual      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have developed a nanodevice that can measure the absolute power of microwave radiation down to the femtowatt level at ultra-low temperatures -- a scale trillion times lower than routinely used in verifiable power measurements. The device has the potential to significantly advance microwave measurements in quantum technology.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Scientists propose revolution in complex systems modelling with quantum technologies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have made a significant advancement with quantum technologies that could transform complex systems modelling with an accurate and effective approach that requires significantly re-duced memory.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

Engineers harvest abundant clean energy from thin air, 24/7      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of engineers has recently shown that nearly any material can be turned into a device that continuously harvests electricity from humidity in the air. Researchers describe the 'generic Air-gen effect'-- nearly any material can be engineered with nanopores to harvest, cost effective, scalable, interruption-free electricity. The secret lies in being able to pepper the material with nanopores less than 100 nanometers in diameter.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Quantum matter breakthrough: Tuning density waves      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have found a new way to create a crystalline structure called a 'density wave' in an atomic gas. The findings can help us better understand the behavior of quantum matter, one of the most complex problems in physics.

Computer Science: General Energy: Technology Physics: Optics
Published

Breakthrough in computer chip energy efficiency could cut data center electricity use      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have made a breakthrough toward reducing the energy consumption of the photonic chips used in data centers and supercomputers.

Chemistry: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Calcium rechargeable battery with long cycle life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

With the use of electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems on the rise, the need to explore alternatives to lithium-ion batteries has never been greater. Researchers have recently developed a prototype calcium metal rechargeable battery capable of 500 cycles of repeated charge-discharge -- the benchmark for practical use. The breakthrough was made thanks to the development of a copper sulfide nanoparticle/carbon composite cathode and a hydride-based electrolyte.

Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Researchers examine cooling power plants with brackish groundwater      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Nontraditional water sources can be deployed to help cope with climate-induced water risks and tackle the increasing water demand for decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power plants, but that could increase the cost of electricity generation by 8 percent to 10 percent.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Boost for the quantum internet      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A quarter of a century ago, theoretical physicists proposed a way to transmit quantum information via quantum repeaters over long distances which would open the door to the construction of a worldwide quantum information network. Now, a new generation of researchers has built a quantum repeater node for the standard wavelength of telecommunication networks and transmitted quantum information over tens of kilometers.

Computer Science: General Energy: Technology
Published

Effects of crypto mining on Texas power grid      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists are working to understand how cryptocurrency mining impacts the power grid and how to use this information for further research, education and policymaking.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Communities should reconsider walking away from curbside recycling, study shows      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers took a deep dive into the economic and environmental value of community recycling efforts and compared it to the value of other climate change mitigation practices, concluding it provides a return on investment.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New supply chain model to empower seabound hydrogen economy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has created a new supply chain model which could empower the international hydrogen renewable energy industry.