Like all great researchers, we love spending time learning about the latest breakthroughs across science and technology. Here's what we found this week.
Researchers developed wallpaper that generates electricity.
Binghamton University | Chris Kocher. The wallpaper uses small generators that absorb moisture from the air, which is used to split and move ions. The resulting ion-concentration gradient generates a voltage across the device that can be harnessed to power low-energy electronics, including smart devices and sensors. (More)
> Why is water so good at pulling apart molecules to create ions?
> Electrogenic animals, like electric eels, also generate electricity by displacing ions.
A Canadian telescope mapped light emitted by hydrogen in the early universe.
University of British Columbia | Alex Walls. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment detected for the first time hydrogen emissions from when the universe was about 5 billion years old. The result sets scientists up with a faster, cheaper method for examining dark energy and universal expansion. (More)
> In the dark about dark energy? Watch our favorite explainer.
> Hydrogen makes up about three-quarters of the normal matter in the universe, but where did it come from?
Wind tunnel experiments reveal how wind turbines can produce more power.
MIT | Zach Winn. Researchers used a wind tunnel with high pressurization to show how turbine alignment and tip speed affect power generation in field conditions. The results validated a computationally lightweight model and identified refinements that could yield thousands of dollars in additional annual revenue per turbine. (More)
> Take an interactive look at how a wind turbine's components generate electricity.
> Wind power is more efficient than fossil fuel systems, but it does have a limit.
Helped by lake algae, symbiotic microbes can mitigate methane emissions.
University of Liège| Staff. A study of 79 African lakes found that the presence of microalgae substantially increases the rate at which methanotrophs break down methane. The process was found to be crucial to managing the greenhouse gas in lakes, eliminating more than 70% of dissolved methane in surface waters. (More)
> What makes methane a significantly more potent greenhouse gas than CO2?
> Algae can capture CO2 at rates up to 50 times faster than land-based plants.
