Recent news from Stanford and RICE Universities have focused on results of advanced research being undertaken to improve battery performance. Both projects have made use of carbon fibre nanomaterials in the form of nanotubes and Graphene sheets to achieve the results.

The paintable battery project from RICE University allows the possibility of turning any surface into a battery. They employ carbon nanotubes in the paint along side lithium. Examples of use include painting the exterior surface of the house and then covering with solar panels or the same could be done for a car by covering the entire surface interior and exterior that has the potential for greatly increasing the travel range of a single charge. When combined with Spray on solar it seems likely that future vehicles will become self charging with a constant supply of energy from the sun to keep them topped up throughout the day.

The results from the Stanford research focus on using Graphene sheets to increase by 1000x the efficiency of nickel-iron batteries. As the components are abundant, cheap and long lasting this approach should enable very powerful batteries for industrial purposes.

Clearly this technology has been kept under wraps for a while and the US is allowing it to be brought to market. The question remaining is will they make it to manufactured stage before we run out of the energy to manufacture them?

In related news it seems that nanomaterial research is going to take it’s spot this year for the solar industry too in the shape of two improvements to thin film technology that utilise nanomesh and dielectric nanostructures to greatly reduce the thickness of the thin film panels and even to go so far as to allow for completely transparent surfaces that are able to absorb technically perfectly across the specific spectrum of light that they are designed to absorb.

Tags: Construction, e=mc2, Research, Resources, Solar by sparky
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This blog article provides a detailed and clear breakdown of the hazards faced by the entire planet for the next 400,000 years since the advent of Nuclear technology and the ongoing release of radionuclides of less than 1 micron in size or “fuel fleas” as they have also been named.

As previously discussed in detail here the emissions at Fukushima will have an ongoing impact on all life on earth for the next 400,000 years. Do we really think we can stop the next big one from happening?

It refreshing to see the Japanese are not simply letting their Political leaders get away with restarting the idled nuclear reactors. There are regular weekly protests outside the Prime Ministers residence with the last one having over 40,000 people attend to voice their disapproval of the pending decision to restart two of the idled reactors.

However the Japanese are facing a severe existential crisis. Do they want to continue propping up the status quo and targeting exponential growth requiring ever greater amounts of energy to enable to constant growth rate or do they want to find a new way to live peacefully and sustainably on this planet?

It’s a difficult decision for society to while it’s painfully obvious for individuals. Japan is faced with the urged to retain their status as one of the worlds largest economies while attempting to become the most forward thinking and enlightened society on the planet. Does enlightenment come through greed and power or through cooperation and ever greater efficiency in the distribution and use of precious non renewable resources.

Japanese love their tuna and seafood is the staple diet but do the Japanese want to eat radioactive rice and fish and become the foremost example of genetic mutation due to radiation from their own lust for economic growth? Will the ensuing drop in population cause a major change in thinking or will it just mean the survivors don’t have to share so much with their neighbours.

Tags: Disaster, e=mc2, Environment, Nuclear, Society by sparky
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In this period of transition it seems inevitable that the great minds of the world would be spending their time on the pressing issues of how to make things better across the board. An enlightened mind realises that it is not acceptable to be greedy with progress. Taking everything for oneself results in a zerosum gain. Whereas sharing the results of advancements in knowledge and education benefit the multitudes while also nourishing the source of the advancements. this creates a feedback loop otherwise known as the Singularity.

When the global consciousness becomes aware of itself and commits to progressing itself we achieve a global enlightenment. The singularity is the result of global enlightenment. The machines and sentient beings on the planet combine their intelligence into a symbiotic relationship the mutually benefits the whole.

The realisation that war and insanity are simply unnecessary results of an immature grasp of reality in the global consciousness. By leveraging the experience and knowledge of the most advanced thinkers we see an exponential leap forward in solutions that provide meaningful and humane answers to global issues. Efficiency is achieved by careful planning and forethought. With the extension of lifespan we see an immediate requirement to be generous to our cohabitants on this planet with the objective of enabling everyone to enjoy a peaceful existence without threat of abuse.

Tags: Resources, Society by sparky
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