Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians created a blue pigment which they used in their depictions of gods and royalty. Derived from calcium copper silicate, the substance is now known as Egyptian blue – and it could be used to both save power and generate electricity.
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Most solar cells only capture the visible light. Now, researchers at Berkeley Labs have developed a way to use nanoparticles coated in special organic dyes to convert near-infrared light into visible light, which could allow solar cells to harvest more of the spectrum.
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A new technique developed at Berkeley Lab allows liquid 3D structures to be printed within other liquids. This new form of 3D printing could give rise to flexible and stretchable liquid electronics, aid chemical synthesis, or serve as a transport and delivery system for nanoscale particles.
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Two meteorites that fell in 1998 were found to contain traces of liquid water and organic compounds vital to life. Now, a comprehensive chemical analysis of them suggests their organic matter could come from an ancient ocean world, giving them the potential to kickstart life wherever they land.
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Magnesium-ion batteries have potential if scientists can crack the problem of finding an efficient electrolyte. Now scientists have developed a solid-state material that appears to be one of the fastest conductors of magnesium-ions, which could lead to safer and more efficient batteries.
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Ancient Roman concrete is still standing strong after thousands of years, and not only does it resist damage, but salt water actually makes it stronger. X-ray examinations have found the key to the mixture’s incredible longevity, which could help improve modern recipes.
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Metals that conduct electricity also produce heat, right? Well, no, not all of them, according to recent research led by Berkeley Lab. They've found one type of metal that keeps its cool as electrical current moves through it, and may lead to a range of new and super-efficient electrical devices.
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Researchers have developed tiny, glowing crystals that can both detect and trap toxic heavy metals at the same time. Similar research has been done on structures to either detect or remove such nasty substances, but this appears to be the first capable of doing both.
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A new study suggests that the Earth’s vegetation has upped its game to help offset carbon emission growth. After a 40-year upward trend, the rate at which atmospheric CO2 levels increased plateaued between 2002 and 2014, thanks to plants plucking more CO2 out of the air than they have previously.
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A new finding at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory could reveal the full potential of perovskite solar cells, approaching their theoretical maximum efficiency of 31 percent.
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