'Holy Grail' of science, MIT unveils world's first practical 'artificial leaf'

Wikimedia Commons Image

Yahoo/ANI

Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have finally developed the world's first practical artificial leaf that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight at an economical cost, thereby achieving one of the milestones in the drive for sustainable energy.

They have described an advanced solar cell the size of a poker card that mimics the process, called photosynthesis, that green plants use to convert sunlight and water into energy.

"A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades. We believe we have done it," said Daniel Nocera, who led the research team.

The new discovery shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries.

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Scientists' Research Warns Humanity May be Facing 'Vortex of Death'

Solar Cycle 24 - worst yet? - Wiki/NOAA image

Terrence Aym
Helium

Professor Raymond Wheeler, from the University of Kansas, at first almost stumbled into the frightening data. The connection was initially discovered by noted Russian scientist Alexander Chizhevsky during 1915: solar storms trigger conflict, wars and death. A vortex of death.

Chizhevsky found after intense research that the rise and fall of solar activity—interacting with the earth's magnetic field—causes mass changes in human's perspective's, moods, emotions and behavioral patterns. All are affected by sunspots and solar flares.

Building upon the Russian scholar's research, Wheeler applied a numerically weighted ranking system during the 1930s to separate wars and even individual battles assessing them on length and severity.

He then correlated the impressive data he'd amassed with the 11-year sunspot cycle.

The results were revealing…and horrifying.

Device uses sunlight to make liquid fuel

Eric W. Dolan
Raw Story

Scientists from the US and Switzerland have created a prototype machine that harnesses the sun's energy to make liquid fuels from water.

"We have a big energy problem and we have to think big," Prof Sossina Haile, who led the study, told The Guardian.

The solar device uses sunlight and cerium oxide to break down water or carbon dioxide into hydrogen or carbon monoxide.

Cerium oxide, an oxide of the rare earth metal cerium, is almost as abundant as copper and when heated the chemical strips oxygen molecules from water and carbon dioxide.

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Hot new discovery: Rare metal that stores heat from sun makes the 'rechargeable solar battery' possible

Ruthenium, a rare metal related to platinum

Niall Firth
Daily Mail

Scientists have discovered how a rare metal is able to absorb sunlight and store it as pure heat until it is needed.

The breakthrough paves the way for the next generation of solar power devices that are able to harness energy and heat collected from the sun and store it indefinitely.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say it could be used to create a ‘rechargeable heat battery’ that could be used to heat a home.


The remarkable material is known as fulvalene diruthenium. When a molecule of the substance absorbs sunlight it changes shape into a semi-stable, but perfectly safe, state.

It can stay like this indefinitely until combined with a catalyst when it will snap back to its original form releasing a huge amount of heat. This heat could then be used to heat a home.

Most solar power device used today convert energy from the sun into electricity or heat but do not store the energy that is not used.

When the heat is released, fuel made from fulvalene diruthenium is capable of becoming as hot as 200C.
This is known as the thermo-chemical approach, and would be far more effective than conventional solar-thermal systems which need insulation and which gradually let the heat leak away.

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