Big power from tiny wires

MIT News Office ^ | 3-8-10 | David L. Chandler

[bigbob]

A team of scientists at MIT have discovered a previously unknown phenomenon that can cause powerful waves of energy to shoot through minuscule wires known as carbon nanotubes. The discovery could lead to a new way of producing electricity, the researchers say.

The phenomenon, described as thermopower waves, “opens up a new area of energy research, which is rare,” says Michael Strano, MIT’s Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, who was the senior author of a paper describing the new findings that appeared in Nature Materials on March 7. The lead author was Wonjoon Choi, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering.

[bigbob]

It's way too early to know what this discovery means, but I thought it was worth passing along as proof that there's still plenty of new things under the sun. And good old-fashioned American Exceptionalism and free enterprise will be the best way to commercialize new technologies, without help or interference from government "czars".

[Gaffer]

Ah!!!! Star Trek’s ‘plasma conduits’.......

[darkwing104]

Also, the present versions of the system have low efficiency, because a great deal of power is being given off as heat and light. The team plans to work on improving that efficiency.

That is the key...