A recent M-class flare from Sunspot 1515 caused a moderate radio blackout, affecting high- and low-frequency radio communication and GPS signals. The flare was classified as an M6.1, approximately half the size of weakest X-class flares.
A group of KIT researchers has been granted €4.25 million to enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells to over 10% using tandem architectures and novel materials. The new generation of solar cells is light, flexible, semi-transparent, and can be produced at low cost.
The Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation (SUMI) mission aims to study the intricate magnetic fields in the sun's chromosphere, a hard-to-observe area of the sun's low atmosphere. By observing ultraviolet light, SUMI will create a three-dimensional magnetic map of the region.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a nano-sandwich technique to create thinner solar cells while maintaining their ability to absorb solar energy. The new design, which uses a thin active layer surrounded by dielectric materials, significantly improves efficiency and decreases manufacturing costs.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center detected a new solar active region, AR1504, which fired off two M-class flares and two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on June 13-14, 2012. The CMEs are traveling towards Earth at speeds of 375 and 800 miles per second.
Fermi detects the highest-energy gamma rays ever associated with a solar flare, surpassing visible light by two billion times. The discovery showcases Fermi's capabilities as a solar observatory, providing insights into solar outbursts and charged particles acceleration.
A rare ground level enhancement (GLE) event was triggered by a May 17, 2012 M-class flare. Scientists are excited to analyze data from the PAMELA mission, which measured high-energy solar particles that caused the GLE.
The University of New Hampshire is poised to analyze a unique dataset from the PAMELA European satellite, which recorded a moderate solar flare and produced a ground-level enhancement (GLE). This rare event has puzzled scientists, but the PAMELA data will provide fresh insights into the evolution of high-energy particles.
Scientists have discovered that the moon's presence affects the solar wind, creating turbulence and changes in direction and density. Computer simulations explain this phenomenon by showing an electric field near the lunar surface generated by sunlight and solar wind flow.
A new high-throughput method identifies promising electrocatalysts for water oxidation, enabling the efficient storage of solar energy. The technique uses ultraviolet light and a fluorescent paint to test metal-oxide electrocatalysts, accelerating the discovery process.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new, all-solid-state solar cell that exceeds the performance of traditional Grätzel cells. The device achieves an impressive conversion efficiency of approximately 10.2 percent and is stable over time, addressing key limitations of current solar technology.
Researchers found that nearly three-quarters of asthma patients with well-controlled symptoms can safely reduce their ICS dose by half. However, common respiratory measurements are not effective in determining which patients will tolerate lower doses without risk of flare-ups or exacerbations.
Researchers are working on a space-based solar power system that can beam energy back to Earth through microwaves or lasers, providing a constant delivery of solar energy. The project aims to target remote areas difficult to reach by traditional means, such as disaster zones or outlying regions.
Scientists at USC have created a pathway to affordable solar cells made from tiny nanocrystals that can be printed onto clear surfaces. The new method overcomes a key challenge in liquid solar cell technology by stabilizing the nanocrystals and allowing for efficient electricity transmission.
Researchers at Kansas State University have developed greener solar cells that use bacteria to improve efficiency and reduce toxicity. The new technology, led by Ayomi Perera, combines a less toxic dye with a harmless bacterium to generate electricity from sunlight.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a new technology to predict solar energy output, which could help utilities generate significant savings. The system uses sky imagers to capture cloud conditions and forecast power output in 15-minute increments.
Researchers from SRI International and the University of Michigan have taken the first-ever measurement of naturally occurring auroral turbulence recorded using a nanosatellite radar receiver. The RAX CubeSat measured turbulence over Fairbanks, Alaska in response to a geomagnetic storm triggered by the largest solar flare in five years.
NASA's models predict two CMEs will impact Earth and Mars, causing severe geomagnetic storms and aurora at low latitudes. The flares, part of the sun's normal 11-year solar cycle, were triggered by an active region named AR 1429.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a new type of solar cell that can harness more of the energy from the sun. The hybrid cell absorbs red light and uses blue light to boost electrical current, enabling it to capture 44% of incoming solar energy.
A recent potent follow-up solar flare delivered a powerful radiation punch to Earth's magnetic field due to existing energetic particles and a magnetic connection. This highlights the potential for space weather events to disrupt daily life and pose risks to astronauts, despite not being in direct path.
The study provides a glimpse into the mysterious neighborhood beyond our home, revealing an environment that doesn't match up with what we see in the solar system. IBEX's observations shed light on the formation of our solar system, the forces that shape it, and even the history of other stars in the Milky Way.
A new NASA study finds that Earth's energy budget remained out of balance despite unusually low solar activity between 2005 and 2010. The planet continued to absorb more energy than it returned to space, with carbon dioxide levels needing to be reduced to restore equilibrium.
The NRL SoloHI instrument will study coronal mass ejections and their effects on the solar wind, impacting power lines, satellite communications, and cell phone service. The Solar Orbiter mission will provide scientists with increased understanding of the Sun's influence on its environment and the solar dynamo.
Researchers found that a daily dose of skimmed milk enriched with glycomacropeptide and G600 milk fat extract can significantly reduce gout flare-ups. This is matched by improved pain levels, reduced uric acid in urine, and fewer tender joints.
A new analysis by Michigan Technological University researchers suggests that solar photovoltaic systems can make electricity cheaper than what consumers pay their utilities. The study reveals that previous assumptions about the cost of solar energy were overly conservative, and that the true cost of photovoltaic technology is lower th...
Recent solar panel cost reductions have led to a significant decrease in system costs, making solar energy comparable to traditional energy sources. The study estimates the true cost of solar panels at under $1 per watt, with system and installation costs varying widely.
Researchers from Fraunhofer ISE and CEA-LETI develop new substrate technology to reduce cost of producing multi-junction solar cells by up to 20%. This breakthrough enables more efficient and affordable solar energy solutions.
Oregon State University researchers have found compounds that offer new, cheap and promising options for solar energy, using the abundant element pyrite. The materials have most of the advantages of pyrite but none of its problems, making them a promising alternative.
Pitt researchers are working on a new method to produce solar cells with higher energy efficiency rates using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. The goal is to create plastic solar cells that can be used to charge devices simply by stepping into sunlight, reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable energy.
Researchers propose that Jupiter may have 'jumped' out of its orbit to avoid disturbing the inner solar system. The 'jumping-Jupiter' theory suggests one planet was ejected from the solar system, leaving four giant planets behind.
The conference, 'At the Interface of Natural and Artificial Photosynthesis,' brought together researchers from academia, government, and industry to discuss innovative solar technology based on nature's perfect green machines. The research focuses on replicating photosynthesis' power to create efficient and cost-effective bio-inspired ...
Despite predictions of a giant solar flare, NASA confirms it's physically impossible to destroy Earth. In fact, scientists have studied the sun's activity for millennia with no harm.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a new technology that combines conventional fuel with lower-temperature steam produced by solar power, allowing power plants to operate with 25-50% green energy. This hybrid cycle is highly efficient and uses cost-effective materials, making it a more realistic option for the short-term.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new material that absorbs a wide range of wavelengths, enabling more efficient solar cells. The innovative trapezoid shape could be replicated in semiconducting materials to lead to thinner, lower-cost, and more efficient solar technology.
Scientists at NRL refurbish VAULT2.0 to double its cadence and reduce noise, enabling higher-resolution Lyα imaging of the solar chromosphere-corona interface. This will help uncover clues on coronal heating and provide valuable insights for future space missions.
The University of New Hampshire will provide instruments for the ESA's Solar Orbiter and JAXA's SCOPE missions. The Solar Orbiter will study the Sun's influence on its environment, while the SCOPE mission will investigate magnetosphere processes and solar flares.
Scientists from the University of Gothenburg have launched a GIS system called SEES to determine solar energy potential for existing structures. The system analyzes geographical data and simulates shadows to calculate annual solar radiation on roof surfaces.
Researchers have developed a new type of thin film solar cell that is cheaper but still efficient, using nanostructures to improve its power conversion efficiency. The cells can produce a current close to that of traditional solar cells made from costly silicon.
The European Space Agency (ESA) will collaborate with NASA on the Solar Orbiter mission, a spacecraft designed to study the powerful influence of the sun. The mission aims to understand how solar activity affects Earth's magnetic environment and potentially damaging satellites.
A powerful X1.9-flare has been recorded from sunspot 1302, which is growing and showing no signs of quieting down. The flare could deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on September 26.
Solar activity impacts UARS satellite re-entry due to changes in thermosphere density caused by sunspots and solar flares. The satellite's predicted re-entry time is uncertain due to the dynamic environment, with ongoing solar events potentially affecting its trajectory.
Sunspot 1283 has erupted with multiple flares, including an X1.8 flare on September 7 and a moderate M6.7 flare on September 8. NASA predicts that the latest coronal mass ejection may cause some aurora on the morning of September 11.
New data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows that radiation from some solar flares can continue for up to five hours beyond the initial minutes. The total energy from this extended phase sometimes has more energy than the initial event, increasing our understanding of flare physics and its impact on Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers found 15% of flares have a late phase with increased energy output. This discovery could improve predictions of space weather affecting Earth's communications and GPS signals.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have demonstrated a promising approach to creating high-efficiency nanowire solar cells using solution-based cation-exchange chemistry. The new technique produces core/shell nanowires with superior open-circuit voltage and fill factor values compared to conventional planar solar cells.
A team of researchers at the University of Warwick has found a solution to a 40-year-old problem in understanding solar wind turbulence. By analyzing data from the Cluster mission and creating a virtual model, they discovered that turbulence is not affected by the direction of travel of the solar wind, resolving a long-standing issue.
New images show the solar wind's dynamic interactions, including piling up at the leading edge of a CME, voids in the interior, long thread-like structures, and V-shaped structures centered on the current sheet. These findings are changing the way scientists think about space weather.
Researchers from Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft develop innovative production methods using lasers to increase efficiency and reduce costs of solar cells. Thin-film solar cells with improved quality and reduced material usage are also being produced.
X-class flares are the largest explosions in the solar system, producing as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs. These powerful events can cause long-lasting radiation storms that harm satellites, communications systems, and ground-based technologies.
A new solar cell design boosts electricity generation by 26% through bouncing light, increasing the potential of dye-sensitized solar cells. The layered structure, consisting of micrometer-scale spheres and nanoscale particles, enhances light absorption and conversion efficiency.
A new study by UC San Diego researchers found that solar photovoltaic panels can cool buildings by up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing cooling costs by 5% over the panels' lifetime.
Researchers at Oregon State University have successfully created CIGS solar devices using inkjet printing, reducing raw material waste by 90% and potentially lowering production costs. The new technology has the potential to produce high-performing, rapidly produced, and ultra-low-cost thin film solar electronics.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have created a tandem solar cell based on colloidal quantum dots, which can convert a broader range of sunlight into electricity. This breakthrough aims to increase efficiency and reduce costs for solar cells.
The Genesis mission has provided the first oxygen and nitrogen isotopic measurements of the Sun, showing significant differences from those on Earth. These results suggest that the solar system was formed through a complex process, with different astrophysical mechanisms contributing to the composition of space dust.
A University of Michigan study found that a heightened immune response to colds can exacerbate asthma symptoms. By tempering the immune response, asthma patients may experience reduced inflammation and bronchoconstriction following a cold infection.
Researchers at George Mason University have discovered a phenomenon called magnetic ropes, which are believed to trigger solar storms. These rope-like structures heat up to extreme temperatures and can produce a strong electric current that powers the eruption.
A medium-sized solar flare, S1-class radiation storm, and spectacular coronal mass ejection were observed on June 7, 2011. The event was recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, showing a large eruption of cool gas with temperatures less than 80,000 K.
A Chinese study shows that HPV vaccine Gardasil does not increase disease flares or antibody measures in inactive SLE patients receiving stable medications. The study confirms the safety of Gardasil vaccination to prevent HPV infection in this population.
The company aims to develop third-generation organic solar cells using sustainable materials and flexible sheets. The new technology has the potential to provide low-cost, lightweight, and efficient solar-powered solutions for various applications.
The California Energy Commission is funding $1.4 million in renewable energy research at UC San Diego, including advanced solar forecasting and energy storage systems. The investment will help accelerate the development of clean energy technologies and achieve California's 33% Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard by 2020.