A University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90% of available light, capturing both sunlight and heat for electricity generation. The team plans to make prototypes available within five years, with potential commercial applications in various industries.
Solar activity has increased significantly after a three-year period of minimal sunspot activity, signaling the start of Solar Cycle 24. The longest recorded period of inactivity began in 2008 and lasted until this year.
Researchers identified a new treatment for periodic fever syndrome, targeting the body's immune response. The therapy shows promise in reducing fever and inflammation symptoms without increasing flare-ups, differing from current corticosteroid treatment. A larger clinical trial is planned to validate the findings.
Researchers have mixed nanoparticles into heat-transfer oils to increase the efficiency of solar collectors. This could lead to significant revenue gains for solar power plants. The use of nanoparticles also has potential applications in filtering out pollutants from coal power plants.
A new polymer-based solar-thermal device collects both solar energy and heat, providing a more efficient way to heat homes. The device has shown 30% efficiency in converting solar energy to power, outperforming standard solar cells with a conversion efficiency of up to 8%.
China's solar greenhouses use southern-facing designs to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The study found that these greenhouses can produce a wide range of vegetables, even during winter months, providing a sustainable solution to the global energy crisis.
A new study by the University of Hawaii at Manoa found that combining on-Oahu wind farms and solar energy could meet over 25% of Oahu's projected electricity demand. The study suggests that implementing large-scale wind and solar projects on Oahu can maintain system reliability while eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels.
Scientists have discovered that calcium, aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) formed far away from the sun and later fell back into the mid-plane of the solar system. The findings provide new insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system, suggesting turbulent conditions during its early stages.
Computer simulations suggest that changes in plasma flow within the Sun, which resembles ocean currents, contribute to prolonged solar minima. The team discovered that a faster flow during the first half of the solar cycle can lead to an extended period without sunspots and weak polar magnetic fields.
Solar panel manufacturers are transitioning towards more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes to replace toxic materials with eco-friendly alternatives. The goal is to ensure that photovoltaics not only produce renewable energy but are also renewably produced.
Researchers found that adding an organic molecule layer can increase quantum dot solar cell efficiency three-fold. The layer helps keep electrons apart, preventing recombination and increasing electrical charge production.
Researchers at the University of California - Davis have developed a new approach to solar cells by constructing them from extremely small nanoparticles. The team aims to achieve an efficiency of 42-65%, surpassing the current theoretical maximum of 31%.
Researchers have demonstrated a solar cell that responds to virtually the entire solar spectrum and can be manufactured using one of the semiconductor industry's most common methods. The new design promises highly efficient solar cells with practical production costs.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new method for reporting solar data, allowing policymakers and businesses to understand solar resources. The method presents solar data in a geographic information system (GIS) format, providing daily, monthly, and yearly averages.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a more accurate solar map for California, suggesting that west-facing solar panels can increase energy production. By optimizing panel orientation, households and businesses can maximize their solar power output during peak demand hours.
A Tel Aviv University researcher has challenged recent 'charge' measurements for increasing solar panel efficiency, suggesting that current predictions are unfounded. However, his research also identifies potential new strategies for improving solar energy technology and storing solar energy.
A new clinical test that predicts lupus flares has been licensed for development, providing patients and physicians with a crucial tool for managing the disease. The test, which measures chemokine levels in blood, may help reduce corticosteroid exposure and prevent flare intensity.
Polymeric solar cells face challenges due to their interpenetrating structures, which impede the travel of energy-carrying excitons. The team hopes to develop more efficient solar cells by understanding and addressing this structural issue.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will send a robotic spacecraft to the sun's atmosphere to answer long-standing questions about its outer layers. The probe will measure magnetic and electric properties, helping to understand how solar wind is generated and better comprehend the heliosphere.
The new facility will help scientists better understand solar flares, which affect technologies like GPS systems and power grids. The expanded array will increase the number of available radio frequencies, allowing researchers to decode flare spectra and make new discoveries.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will explore the sun's corona and solar wind in unprecedented detail. The NRL's Wide-field Imager will provide direct measurements of the plasma and create 3-D images of clouds and shocks.
Stanford engineers discovered that ultra-thin solar cells with nanoscale roughness can absorb more energy than predicted by conventional theory. Light trapping technique increases energy absorption beyond the theoretical limit, opening a new door to designing highly efficient solar cells.
A team at North Carolina State University has created water-gel-based solar devices that produce electricity, mimicking nature's solar cells. The devices use light-sensitive molecules and electrodes to generate power, potentially replacing silicon-based solar cells with a more environmentally friendly option.
A research team from Rochester Institute of Technology conducted a life-cycle assessment of organic solar cells, revealing lower embodied energy compared to conventional inorganic devices. The study also found potential benefits for manufacturing, including low-cost solution processing.
The Center for Astrophysics (CfA) will play a major role in NASA's Solar Probe Plus mission by deploying the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) Investigation. SWEAP will directly sample the Sun's outer atmosphere, providing unprecedented insights into the Sun's effects on the solar system.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Schock received the prestigious Becquerel Prize for his outstanding work in solar energy technology, particularly in developing efficient thin-film solar cells. His research has led to significant advancements in solar cell efficiency and material combinations, paving the way for a more sustainable energy future.
Researchers developed self-dusting solar panels using technology from Mars space missions, reducing dust impact on solar energy output. The new coating can remove up to 90% of deposited dust within two minutes, minimizing maintenance costs and increasing efficiency.
The inaugural issue of OSA's Energy Express highlights research on solar concentrators, which aim to increase the efficiency of solar energy generation. New devices and technologies are being developed to concentrate sunlight, making solar power more economical and efficient.
Researchers at University of California, San Diego developed a new solar concentrator design that minimizes materials, alignment, and assembly costs. The innovative system collects sunlight with thousands of small lenses imprinted on a common sheet, reducing the need for individual photovoltaic cells.
Two studies by Queen's University researchers suggest southeastern Ontario has enormous solar energy potential, producing nearly as much power as the US nuclear grid. The studies, led by Professor Joshua Pearce, estimate 95 gigawatts of potential power in the region.
Professor Benoît Marsan's research solved two long-standing issues in solar cell development: a corrosive electrolyte and expensive platinum cathode. His innovative solutions use new molecules and cobalt sulphide, increasing photovoltage and stability.
A team of scientists from Caltech has created a new type of flexible solar cell that enhances the absorption of sunlight and efficiently converts its photons into electrons. The solar cell uses only a fraction of the expensive semiconductor materials required by conventional solar cells, making it potentially cheaper to produce.
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of blood clots, even when not hospitalized. A new study found that IBD sufferers who manage their flare-ups outside the hospital environment are 16 times more likely to develop a blood clot than non-sufferers.
Researchers observed the sun's outer atmosphere during eclipses, capturing the first images of the solar corona in a near-infrared emission line of highly ionized iron. The observations revealed localized regions of enhanced density and extended beyond three solar radii above the sun's surface.
A new, inexpensive method for solar energy storage has been developed, enabling personalized solar energy at the individual or home level. This innovation uses a practical catalyst to split water molecules into hydrogen, producing clean electricity in a fuel cell.
Boston College researchers successfully harvested elusive charges using ultra-thin solar cells, opening a potential avenue to improved solar power efficiency. The team developed a mechanism able to extract hot electrons in the moments before they cool, effectively opening an escape hatch for these highly energized particles.
Researchers at Monash University have developed a new way to increase the output of next-generation solar cells, achieving a three-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency. The breakthrough uses a new, more efficient type of dye that enables the operation of inverse dye-sensitised solar cells.
NJIT researchers are awarded nearly $4.3 million in NSF funding to improve the Big Bear Solar Observatory and study various aspects of solar energy, including its impact on terrestrial telecommunications and power systems.
Researchers propose EIT wave analysis as an alternative approach to measure the solar coronal magnetic field. They demonstrated that the profile of EIT wave propagation velocity can be utilized to probe the coronal magnetic field, potentially unveiling the nature of solar flares and CMEs.
The University of Central Florida has received a $7.5 million research grant to enhance the efficiency of hybrid photovoltaic solar cells. Researchers will focus on increasing the absorption capability of organic materials to capture a broader spectrum of sunlight, leading to more flexible and efficient solar panels.
Concordia University will construct an Environmental Chamber with a solar simulator to test innovative building-integrated solar systems and materials. The facility aims to develop solar buildings with net-zero energy, generating as much electricity as they use.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that adding silver nanoparticles to plastic boosts electrical current generation in polymer semiconductors, increasing efficiency. The new fabrication technique allows for a wider range of wavelength absorption, promising advancements toward commercially viable solar cells.
Researchers have detected a surge in galactic cosmic rays, reaching a Space Age high, attributed to the solar minimum. The increase poses a risk for astronauts and satellite systems, requiring re-evaluation of radiation shielding.
Scientists have found that the number of sunspots provides an incomplete measure of changes in the Sun's impact on Earth over the course of the 11-year solar cycle. High-speed streams of wind from the Sun intensify the energy of Earth's outer radiation belt, posing hazards to satellites and space travelers.
Research by NSF-funded scientists reveals a scientifically feasible link between the 11-year solar cycle and ENSO, influencing climate variability globally. The study suggests that maximum solar activity can drive La Niña-like events with similar impacts on global temperature and precipitation patterns.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where it will undergo final testing before its anticipated November launch. The mission aims to study the sun in unprecedented detail and its effects on Earth, collecting 1.5 terabytes of data daily.
Researchers at SRNL are investigating nanostructured coatings to enhance the efficiency of solar cells by reducing reflection. These coatings have shown promise in mimicking nature's ability to absorb light, with potential applications in commercial, home-based, and space-based solar cells.
The new flexible solar cell technology installed at McMaster University's bus shelter generates up to 4.5 Watts of power from two solar strips with 720 one-centimetre square cells each. The system captures sunlight during the day and recharges batteries to light the shelter for a significant part of the night.
Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology are developing laser technologies to improve the manufacturing of solar cells, increasing their performance and reducing costs. The goal is to achieve grid parity within a few years, making solar energy competitive without subsidies.
A new study finds that hypnotherapy can significantly improve the quality of life for ulcerative colitis patients, with 80% reporting increased control over their disease and a 76% increase in overall well-being. The treatment also reduces flare-ups, with only two of 12 subjects experiencing relapses after one year.
The study found that solar lanterns significantly reduced kerosene and electricity costs, with annual savings ranging from $150 to $250. Solar lanterns also improved household work efficiency for women and increased school hours for children, benefiting rural Indian communities.
The Fermi telescope captured a hypnotic froth of gamma rays, revealing active galaxies called blazars flare up and fade out. The movie shows the entire sky as northern and southern halves, with bright colors indicating greater numbers of detected gamma rays.
The NRL's SoloHI instrument will provide revolutionary measurements to pinpoint solar storms, offering a pristine view of the solar wind plasma. The Solar Orbiter mission aims to understand how the sun varies and its impact on planetary systems.
The new California Solar Energy Collaborative aims to establish consensus among key stakeholders, develop efficient solar technologies, and create an ambitious energy policy for the state. UC San Diego and UC Davis will utilize the grant to collect existing research, facilitate gap areas, and track evolving solar technology development.
The Solar Orbiter mission will explore the Sun's plasma properties and composition using the SPICE instrument, advancing our knowledge of the Sun's dynamics. The data will help understand the effects on Earth and the solar system.
A solar water-heating system has a payback period of just two years and effectively pays for itself five times over within its twenty-year lifespan. Researchers found that solar heating is 57% of the internal rate of return compared to electrical energy approaches.
Researchers at the University of Alberta and NINT have made a breakthrough in plastic solar cell technology, achieving a 30% increase in efficiency through a novel approach. The development of inexpensive, mass-produced plastic solar panels could make solar energy accessible to everyone in the near future.
The three-year project aims to develop cost-effective, reel-to-reel printable plastic solar cells that can be printed like money. The technology has enormous potential for the solar industry in Australia and could lead to a world-leading Australian industry in printable electronics.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working on a three-year project to improve the efficiency of thin film solar cells, with a goal of boosting efficiency to around 10%. The project aims to develop new silicon alloys and organic semiconductors for improved performance.
Concordia University has unveiled a world-first in solar technology, combining heat and power in its new John Molson School of Business building. The innovative system will generate electricity and provide fresh air during heating season, setting a new standard for construction.