Solar energy that doesn't block the view

Transparent solar panels developed that can be placed over windows

It is called a transparent luminescent solar concentrator and can be used on buildings, cell phones and any other device that has a clear surface. What makes this latest leap forward so brilliant is that, unlike previous designs, these are as clear and colourless as a piece of glass meaning we won't even notice they are there!

Richard Lunt of MSU's College of Engineering and his team have developed a series of small organic molecules to absorb specific rays of non-visible light, such as those around the ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. The organic molecules then 'glow' at a specific infrared frequency which is harvested at the edge of the plastic by thin strips of photovoltaic cells which covert the energy into usable electricity.

The potential for this technology to revolutionise the way we get energy to run our buildings and devices is huge. Be prepared to see these everywhere within a few years, but you may have to look carefully as the intention is that we won't even notice that they are there!

For the full article please visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140819200219.htm

Would you like to ride to school on a Hoverbike?

Manned quadcopter reaches testing



What was once confined to Science Fiction movies could now be a step closer to being a reality as the UK based Malloy Aeronautics unveil their latest aviation sensation, the mini Hoverbike drone.

The bike that you see being flown via remote control in the above video is one-third the size of the manned Hoverbike which is still in development but scheduled for testing within a few months. The drone has been developed for sale to bring in further revenue to complete the manned Hoverbike and has already caught the public interest and brought in significant investment via the crowd sourcing site Kickstarter.

In actual fact these vehicles are more closely related to a helicopter than they are a traditional hovercraft, and are capable of reaching altitudes of several thousand feet. The drones and the manned craft have many potential uses including search and rescue or military use. Perhaps in the not too distant future they may also be available for the general public as a fun and fast alternative to traditional road vehicles!

For the full article please visit: http://www.gizmag.com/closer-look-malloy-aeronautics-hoverbike/33414/

Is this the end for the African elephant?

Could poachers bring about the extinction of the African elephant in your lifetime?

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that given the current rate of poaching there may be no elephants left in the wild in Africa within 100 years.

Lead author George Wittemyer of Colorado State University reports, "We are shredding the fabric of elephant society and exterminating populations across the continent." The study shows that the elephant population is declining by 7% each year due in large to illegal poaching by ivory traders. It is estimated that in Central Africa elephant numbers have fallen by 60% over the last decade and predictions are bleak for the survival of these majestic animals if this situation continues.

Endangered species convention Cites consider that the world now has to make a decision on whether to invest in efforts to tackle the ivory trade and save these animals or condemn them to extinction through inaction. 

For the full article please visit: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28842965