Researchers have been working on harnessing body heat to produce electricity. A new generation of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) is more efficient and uses cheaper, less toxic materials that convert both heat and kinetic energy to electricity. The result is electrical current, which can be used to power devices. The TEGs could be woven into fabrics, allowing clothes to double as power outlets for portable electronic gadgets. Elve Speed is a startup that aims to reduce the cost of millimeter-wave power amplifiers. The company has taken to 3D printing these amps, sidestepping the manual, high-precision manufacturing processes that make them expensive. This move could make ultrahigh-speed wireless connectivity accessible to remote and urban areas. Finally, IEEE Spectrum’s The Big Picture Magazine showcases stunning technology images taken by photographers worldwide. The latest edition features technology that harnesses wind energy on rooftops, converts body heat to electricity, and 3D-printed wireless amps.
The Latest Innovations in Renewable Energy Generation
The use of renewable energy has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. It offers a sustainable and clean source of energy that can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, for many years, the concept of net-zero-energy buildings seemed like a far-off dream. Efforts were made to make buildings more energy-efficient by improving heating, cooling, and lighting systems. Still, it wasn’t enough to reach the net-zero target.
Today, however, innovations in renewable energy generation have made it possible for buildings to generate their own power on-site. Rooftop boxes and solar panels, for instance, can be installed to harness the power of the sun. Meanwhile, low-profile units like the WindBox turbine can transform wind gusts into electric current. One such turbine in Rouen, France, has a 4-square-meter footprint and is 1.6 meters tall. It weighs 130 kilograms and can generate up to 2,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to meet approximately one-quarter of a typical US household’s energy needs.
The Big Picture Magazine
IEEE Spectrum’s The Big Picture Magazine showcases stunning technology images taken by photographers worldwide. Each month, they select images that reflect significant advances, trends, or are simply mesmerizing to look at. These images are then featured on their site, with one selected to appear on their monthly print edition.
The latest edition features technology that harnesses wind energy on rooftops, converts body heat to electricity, and 3D-printed wireless amps. If you have any suggestions for the magazine, leave a comment below.
Threat to a Nobel Prize-Winning Discovery
The giant horn antenna used in physics research that led to the discovery of background cosmic radiation, providing support for the big bang theory, is under threat of being dismantled. The Holmdel, N.J., research site where the antenna is located is now in private hands and could be rezoned and redeveloped, which might doom the instrument that made the discovery possible.
Harnessing Body Heat and Kinetic Energy to Produce Electricity
The generation of heat is an inevitable part of our metabolic processes, and researchers have been looking for ways to turn that heat into electricity. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have been around for some time, but the latest generation of TEGs is more efficient and uses cheaper, less toxic materials. They convert both heat and kinetic energy to electricity, and the result is electrical current. The TEG pictured in the article uses hot and cold regions represented by the zebra’s stripes, which create a temperature gradient that produces a voltage difference. Researchers at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea envision weaving these devices into fabrics, so our garments could one day double as power outlets for our portable electronic gadgets.
3D-Printed Millimeter-Wave Amplifiers to Lower Cost
Millimeter-wave power amplifiers are crucial for high-speed wireless connectivity across vast distances, but their cost, topping US $1 million each, makes them an unaffordable option. However, startups like Elve Speed are looking for innovative ways to reduce production costs. Elve Speed, a Davis, California-based startup, has taken to 3D printing millimeter-wave amps, sidestepping the manual, high-precision manufacturing processes that make the price of the amps so high. This move could bring the cost down significantly and help to make ultrahigh-speed wireless connectivity accessible to remote and urban areas.
IEEE Spectrum’s Willie Jones
Willie Jones is an associate editor at IEEE Spectrum, where he manages several newsletters and contributes to the monthly Big Picture section that appears in the print edition.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
