Text 6 Scientists Revisit Power from Potatoes

July 12th, 2010

This could very well be the magic formula for future power generation. Yes, scientists are busy crafting what is now called as “solid organic electric battery based upon treated potatoes.” These are absolutely eco-friendly batteries – based on the hidden powers of potatoes – which will be an economical answer to the growing power needs of developing and developed countries.

There are still places in the world where basic infrastructure for lighting and other electrical needs is insufficient. The researchers at Hebrew University are now trying to create magic out of humble common potatoes to provide a solution for generating power to meet this need.

It is the salt-bridge capacity that is latent in treated potato tubers which makes them the ideal medium for generating power easily and economically. An easy process of electrolysis is used in the construction of the simple yet efficient battery. A slice of our ordinary potato, zinc and copper electrodes are all that go to make the battery. By boiling the potato, the electric power is increased 10 times more than with the non-boiled potatoes, and the longevity is also greatly increased.

The principle scientists use to better the performance of the traditional batteries is almost similar. The less the salt-bridge resistance in the potato-power battery, the longer and more efficient the batteries are.

The treated potato power batteries (with low power electricity) were used to power LEDs. These telecommunications transfer information in the developing non-OECD populated areas. Where there is insufficient access to proper electrical infrastructure, these eco- and environmentally friendly green generators of power will be found useful.

Prof. Haim D. Rabinowitch, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment and Alex Golberg, School of Computer Science & Engineering, Hebrew University, jointly with Prof. Boris Rubinsky, University of California, Berkeley, carried out the research – sponsored by Yissum Research Development Company Ltd, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The research was into electrolytic process in living matter that can be used for many applications, including generation of electric energy like for self-powered implanted medical electronic devices.

Cost-wise also potato-powered batteries are more viable. The 1.5 volt D cells and Energizer E-91 cells proved to be more costly – about 5-50 times more than these vegetable powered cells. Not only potatoes but other treated vegetables can be utilized to provide clean and inexpensive green energy. But potatoes win hands down as vegetable of choice to power the battery due to their high production and easy availability.

Text 7 New Earth-Size Planet Found

April 17, 2014

Not too big, not too small. Not too hot, not too cold. A newly discovered planet looks just right for life as we know it, according to an international group of astronomers.

Orbiting a star about 500 light-years away, the planet called Kepler-186f is about the same size as Earth. As this artist’s interpretation shows, it orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface. That is an essential condition for life as we know it.

But it is not exactly like Earth, NASA planetary scientist Elisa Quintana said via Skype.

“It’s more of an Earth’s cousin. It’s not an Earth’s twin. It shares the same characteristics as Earth, but their parent stars are very different," said Quintana.

Kepler-186f orbits a star that is smaller and cooler than our sun.

But, writing in the journal Science, the astronomers say the planet appears to be a closer relative than most of the hundreds of others discovered so far.

Some are massive gas-covered giants with thick, crushing atmospheres. Others orbit too closely to their stars and are too hot for life.

Two planets discovered last year are in the right orbit and might be good candidates for life, Quintana says, but they are a bit bigger than Earth.

“For the first time, we can actually say we now have a planet that is both Earth-sized and orbits in its star’s habitable zone," she said.

It may be the first time, but it probably is not the last, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology astrophysicist Sara Seager. 

“We’ve been waiting decades to understand how common habitable planets might be, and it’s looking like they’re really common. And this gives us excitement and motivation to take the next step," said Seager.

The next step would be to look for traces of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds. That would take a more sophisticated space telescope. But budget cuts threaten that mission, says University of California at Los Angeles astrophysicist Ben in this Skype interview. “In principle, we could do this in the next couple decades.  But in practice, because there’s no money, it’s not gonna happen. It’s not gonna happen in my lifetime, for example," said Zuckerman.

Leaving earthbound concerns behind, NASA’s Elisa Quintana believes that when the next-generation space telescope is launched, it will find that we are not alone in the universe. “I guess I’m an optimist. I think that life is definitely out there. Just looking at the abundance of stars. I mean, hundreds of billions of stars. The likelihood that one of them might have some form of life to me seems rather high. But everyone has their own opinion about that, I’m sure," she said.

In the meantime, the search continues for other worlds where life may find a home.