It’s funny how research efforts in one area can have surprising spin-offs in others. Techniques to map stars in astronomical images can be reapplied to locate cancer cells in tissue samples. Advances in molecular genetics can end up catching criminals. Now-potentially- such happy accidents may lead to the biggest game-changer of all. Electric power from thin air.
That at least is the promise of this fascinating article by Ned Carter-Miles of The Guardian. [1] Researchers looking into the development of new humidity sensors found that charges were building up in their machines even when they were accidentally switched off. To quote Ned:
Each nanowire was less than one-thousandth the diameter of a human hair, wide enough that an airborne water molecule could enter, but so narrow it would bump around inside the tube. Each bump, the team realised, lent the material a small charge, and as the frequency of bumps increased, one end of the tube became differently charged from the other
As the article makes clear, they seem to have a new type of battery.
Our thoughts? It’ll be nice if they can scale it up. Any sort of green energy on this scale will be a life saver for the whole planet. But, as we write these words at 03.48 am UK time, the Devil whispers a few words in our ear. This article is all about unintended consequences, he says. Is it possible that suddenly removing huge quantities of electrical potential from the clouds could suddenly upset the whole balance of the weather? Be careful what you wish for.
#renewables #electricity #atmospheric power #climate #climate change
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