Tag Archives: Physical sciences

18Mar/23

Green Hydrogen: IDTechEx Asks if It Can Be Cost Competitive

The clean hydrogen market is poised for growth, driven by decarbonization efforts and concerns around energy security. A number of ambitious targets and roadmaps are being set out by different governments and regions. Clean hydrogen can refer to a number of routes for producing hydrogen, but the primary among them are green and blue hydrogen. Blue hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced from natural gas or coal but with carbon emissions captured. Green hydrogen refers to the splitting of water via electrolyzers powered by renewable power sources. IDTechEx forecasts that the water electrolyzer market will grow to over US$120B by 2033. Continue reading

24Jan/23

Researchers from University of Birmingham, U.K., show novel adaptation for existing furnaces could reduce steelmaking emissions by 90%

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, U.K., have designed a novel adaptation for existing iron and steel furnaces that could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the steelmaking industry by nearly 90%.

This radical reduction is achieved through a ‘closed loop’ carbon recycling system, which could replace 90% of the coke typically used in current blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace systems and produces oxygen as a biproduct. Continue reading

22Nov/22

How to test if we’re living in a computer simulation

Melvin M. Vopson, University of Portsmouth

Physicists have long struggled to explain why the universe started out with conditions suitable for life to evolve. Why do the physical laws and constants take the very specific values that allow stars, planets and ultimately life to develop? The expansive force of the universe, dark energy, for example, is much weaker than theory suggests it should be – allowing matter to clump together rather than being ripped apart.

Continue reading

01Nov/22

Omicron BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 – an expert answers three key questions about these new COVID variants

Manal Mohammed, University of Westminster

Two new omicron subvariants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, are quickly gaining traction in the US, collectively accounting for 27% of infections as of October 29. Both are descendants of BA.5, the omicron variant that has dominated around the world for some months.

Continue reading

27Oct/22

IDTechEx Asks if Thin Film PV Is an Answer to Today’s Energy Threats

Thin film photovoltaics (PV) currently comprises a relatively small proportion of the total photovoltaics market yet offers extensive opportunities for applying solar power in new applications. The simplicity in design, the ease of manufacturing, and the cost-competitiveness with conventional silicon photovoltaics make it exceptionally well-suited to both high-volume manufacturing and regional manufacturing. The variety of thin film PV technologies, including perovskite, dye-sensitized, organic, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide, and their potential for a wide selection of promising applications is assessed in IDTechEx’s latest report, “Thin Film Photovoltaics 2023-2033”. Continue reading

05Oct/22

Nobel prize: physicists share prize for insights into the spooky world of quantum mechanics


Members of the Nobel Committee for Physics announce the winners of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics (L-R on the screen) Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger.
TT News Agency / Alamy Stock Photo

Robert Young, Lancaster University

The 2022 Nobel prize for physics has been awarded to a trio of scientists for pioneering experiments in quantum mechanics, the theory covering the micro-world of atoms and particles.

Continue reading

26Sep/22

To reach net zero the world still needs mining. After 26 years, here’s what I’ve learned about this ‘evil’ industry

Bridget Storrie, UCL

On the wooded hill above the Stan Terg lead and zinc mine in Kosovo, there is an old concrete diving platform looming over what was once an open-air swimming pool. Before the break-up of Yugoslavia, people who worked at the mine would bring their families here to swim, sunbathe on the wide terrace with its view across the valley, and picnic among the trees. Now the pool is slowly disappearing into the forest, the view obscured by birch saplings.

Continue reading

02Sep/22

TECNO LAUNCHES FIRST LAPTOP MEGABOOK T1 AT IFA, BERLIN

TECNO, the global premium smartphone and smart device brand, debuts its first laptop product MEGABOOK T1 at the IFA in Berlin today. TECNO MEGABOOK T1 is designed for the young generation Z with a lighter but better MEGA performance laptop in a cost-effective price of this range. Designed for their carry-by usage, MEGABOOK T1 features the ultra-thinner up to 14.8mm, featherweight 1.48kg of 15.6 inches with a shining design. It also provides a 17.5 hours long-lasting battery satisfying up to 3 days of work, plus the 65W smallest size with gallium nitride (GaN) charger to carry-free. The MEGABOOK T1 will be available at retail in Q3, 2022. Continue reading