The solar-powered reactor is far cheaper than traditional carbon capture, using light rather than high temperatures or pressuresCharles R. Benedict/Wikimedia Commons/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Using solar energy for carbon capture
Cambridge researchers have developed a solar-powered reactor that can capture carbon dioxide to generate sustainable fuel. The reactor uses a bed of solid silica-amine which soaks up CO2 at night. During the day, a semiconductor powder can absorb UV radiation from sunlight to convert the carbon dioxide into ‘syngas’, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen that can be used for the production of many different fuels and chemicals.
Direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a promising technology for combating the climate crisis. However, so far its use has been limited, as it is energy-intensive and does not produce any valuable products. In addition, the CO2 captured using DAC so far has been stored underground, but it’s not clear what the long term impact of this could be. In contrast, the solar-powered reactor is far cheaper, using light rather than high temperatures or pressures to capture CO2. The production of fuel from CO2 means the reactor also generates value: the researchers hope this could change how we view this greenhouse gas from being a “harmful waste product” to “an opportunity”.
“This could change how we view this greenhouse gas from being a ‘harmful waste product’ to ‘an opportunity’”
Quantum computers could be years away
Microsoft has developed a chip that it believes could be used to build the first quantum computers. The firm’s ‘Majorana 1’ chip is powered by the world’s first topological superconductor, or ‘topoconductor’, which can create a new state of matter: not solid, liquid or gas but a topological state, which until recently had only been theorised. The chip uses indium arsenide to produce new quantum particles called Majoranas, which have unique properties which a technical fellow at Microsoft has said mean quantum computing could be possible within “years, not decades”.
Quantum computers use quantum mechanics to mathematically map the behaviour of nature, enabling them to solve technical and societal problems that today’s computers, which use classical physics, are unable to calculate accurately. For example, quantum machines might be able to calculate the properties of the substances that would be required to break down microplastics into valuable byproducts, or how enzymes could be used in agriculture to more efficiently produce food in harsh climates. The development of this chip brings us a step closer to this quantum-powered reality.
Screen time makes you short-sighted
A meta-analysis of 45 studies including more than 300,000 people has shown that increasing time spent looking at screens is associated with an increased risk of myopia.
Myopia, or short-sightedness, occurs when the eyeball is slightly elongated or the front of the eye is too curved, meaning light is focused slightly in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This means individuals can see close objects clearly, but far-away objects appear blurry. The prevalence of myopia is rising, with scientists suggesting that by 2050 nearly half the world’s population could be short-sighted. So far a clear cause for this has not been established, although it’s been suggested that focusing on close up objects for long periods, such as when using a screen, is the culprit.
The researchers conducted a meta-analysis, a method that uses statistical techniques to combine the results of different studies for more reliable results, and found there was a strong association between time spent on screens and risk of becoming short-sighted. The relationship was S-shaped, suggesting there was a safe level of screen exposure (less than 1 hour per day), but the risk of myopia then increased dramatically with every additional hour of screen time.
The researchers noted they could not be sure this correlation indicated a causal relationship, and acknowledged it could be down to other factors such as time spent outside. However, the study brings us a step closer to understanding how this condition, which increases the risk of more serious sight problems like retinal detachment and glaucoma, could be prevented.
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