Solar Sails and Comet Tails: How Sunlight Pushes Stuff Around
It seems crazy, but light actually exerts a physical force on objects. It could power a new generation of spacecraft for deep-space missions......»»
Expect Auroras, Solar Flares and More Space Weather from the Solar Maximum
Space weather is heating up in our current solar cycle peak.....»»
The Most Efficient Solar Panels Ever Have Been Found—In Giant, Sparkly Clams
Inside giant, iridescent clams are algal farms that could inspire highly efficient bioreactors.....»»
Coupling excitons to polaritons for better solar cells and higher intensity LEDs
In solar cells and light-emitting diodes, maintaining the excited state kinetics of molecules against annihilation is a race against time. These systems need to strike a careful balance between different processes that lead to loss of energy and thos.....»»
China begins launching a megaconstellation, and it sounds a lot like Starlink
Like Starlink, China's Qianfan satellites have an easy-to-pack flat-panel design. Enlarge / A Long March 6A rocket launches the first 18 Internet satellites for China's Qianfan, or Thousand Sails, broadband network. (credit: VCG.....»»
This Jackery solar generator combo is on sale for a limited time
Amazon has a huge discount on the Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus which is perfect for camping fans or those planning ahead......»»
Scientists discuss why we might not spot solar panel technosignatures
One of NASA's key priorities is understanding the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. NASA has not found any credible evidence of extraterrestrial life—but NASA is exploring the solar system and beyond to help us answer fundamental questi.....»»
Silicon plus perovskite solar reaches 34 percent efficiency
There are still longevity problems, but things continue to get better. Enlarge / Some solar panels, along with a diagram of a perovskite's crystal structure. (credit: Subhakitnibhat Kewiko) As the price of silicon panels.....»»
Researchers identify useful emission lines in the sun"s outer atmosphere
When studying the solar spectrum, researchers often search for specific emission lines: prominent wavelengths emitted by ions as their electrons transition from higher to lower energy levels. Emission spectra of two iron ions, Fe IX and Fe X, are par.....»»
How solar panels went from ’50s satellites to your backyard
From Einstein's theories of light to Bell Lab's revelations about doping silicon, solar power has been inching toward its current craze for more than a century. Here's how we got here......»»
A few weeks with the Pocket 386, an early-‘90s-style, half-busted retro PC
AliExpress retro laptop doesn't always live up to its promise. Enlarge / The Pocket 386 is fun for a while, but the shortcomings and the broken stuff start to wear on you after a while. (credit: Andrew Cunningham) The B.....»»
Study of comet A117uUD data suggests it was put on a "hyperbolic trajectory" during pass by Saturn
A pair of astrophysicists from Ciudad Universitaria and Universidad Complutense de Madrid, both in Spain, report evidence that comet A117uUD was put on its current "hyperbolic trajectory" when it passed close to Saturn two years ago......»»
NASA pushes Boeing Starliner return meeting to at least next week
Despite NASA officials last week stating a return readiness review might happen this week for Boeing's Starliner, teams instead continue to go over data for the spacecraft before any decision on its departure from the International Space Station......»»
Ram CEO Christine Feuell pushes through 1500 production hiccups, guides Chrysler"s future
Christine Feuell is juggling two brands, Chrysler and Ram, with a distinct set of hurdles and vastly different positions within the Stellantis portfolio. Feuell assumed leadership of Ram in June at a challenging time for the truck brand while guiding.....»»
Chemical and transportation industries could boost with new catalyst coating
Coupling electrochemical conversion of the greenhouse gas CO2 with renewable electricity sources—such as solar and wind—promises green production of high-demand chemicals and transportation fuels. Carbon dioxide coupling products such as ethylene.....»»
Predicting solar storms before they leave the sun
When giant solar storms hit Earth, they trigger beautiful auroral displays high in Earth's atmosphere. There's a dark side to this solar activity, though. The "space weather" it sets off also threatens our technology. The potential for damage is why.....»»
A new study shows how the sun could permanently capture rogue planets
Interest in interstellar objects (ISOs) was ignited in 2017 when 'Oumuamua flew through our solar system and made a flyby of Earth. Roughly two years later, another ISO passed through our solar system—the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov......»»
Getting to the root of a plant"s success
Plants are powerful factories—they can turn basic ingredients like carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into oxygen, sugars, and plant mass. But plants don't do all of this work on their own......»»
How Kepler’s 400-year-old sunspot sketches helped solve a modern mystery
A sharp decline in sunspot activity in the 17th century has long puzzled astronomers. Enlarge / A naked-eye sunspot group on May 11, 2024. There are typically 40,000 to 50,000 sunspots observed in ~11-year solar cycles. (credit:.....»»
Green hydrogen: "Artificial leaf" becomes better under pressure
Hydrogen can be produced via the electrolytic splitting of water. One option here is the use of photoelectrodes that convert sunlight into voltage for electrolysis in so-called photoelectrochemical cells (PEC cells). A research team at HZB has now sh.....»»
What’s new on Hulu in August 2024 and what’s leaving soon
Hulu's August 2024 lineup includes Only Murders in the Building season 4, Solar Opposites season 5, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Suitable Flesh, and more......»»