Posted on 07/05/2024 4:40:18 PM PDT by Jonty30
Scientists have been striving to tackle the accelerating climate crisis by developing novel ways to develop sustainable cooling materials.
Recently, a team of researchers from Sichuan University in China has devised an aerogel composed of gelatin and DNA that surpassed 100 percent solar reflectance.
Additionally, an official statement by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) noted that the aerogel is biodegradable and provides exceptional radiative cooling.
Aerogel crossed over 100% solar reflectivity Jian-Wen Ma, the first author of the study researching and developing the aerogel material told Interesting Engineering that the material has a reflectivity of 104 percent in the visible region which is brought by the photoluminescence effect.
“The reflectivity is obtained by testing with a post-spectroscopic UV/VIS/NIR device,” he told IE.
“The luminescence of the aerogel originates from the tightly cross-linked network formed by gelatin and DNA, which allows the chromophores to come together and inhibit the non-radiative leaps of the system.”
In simple terms, the cooling material possesses the ability to reflect a lot of sunlight due to its special layered design and its unique way of glowing when exposed to light.
Not only is the material biodegradable but is also reparable, and recyclable, presenting an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooling materials.
(Excerpt) Read more at interestingengineering.com ...
It sends 4% of dark back at the sun?
While we are waiting for Chinese solution, why aren’t we painting or finishing our roofs in white?
No surprise it’s China as they graduate 10 engineers for every 1 engineer that the US graduates, plus the Chinese graduates actually are Chinese and thus stay in the country (in the vast majority of cases).
By the way, how’s the Graduate Program on Vaginal Studies going over there at ESU?
I would look into white shingles, so you don’t have to repaint every few years.
I appreciate the post. But it’s ChiCom research. So only maybe it’s true. But if it is true, it’s a ‘Great Leap Forward’ (to coin a phrase).
As for me, I’ll wait until it’s confirmed by some institution that has absolutely no connection to ChiCom money. I just don’t trust the ChiComs.
“It sends 4% of dark back at the sun?”
Read the article.
I agree with you that it should be confirmed.
Unfortunately our politicians betrayed us by not keeping engineering developments homegrown.
America could catch up within a few years if our politicians got serious about developing engineers.
> America could catch up within a few years if our politicians got serious about developing engineers. <
Absolutely correct. Unfortunately, they are more concerned about making sure we all use the proper pronouns.
Side story: I once visited the Engineering Department of a university near me. It was a nostalgia thing. Because as a chemistry major, I had taken some classes there. On one wall was a picture of the 40 Mining Engineering students.
One student had an English last name. One was Polish. All the rest were orientals. No way can that be good.
“Read the article”
I did. Still don’t get it. How can it reflect more energy than impinges on it?
There have been paints that radiate back more than they receive for decades. I remember my tech mentor describing one to me, and that would have been circa 1968.
Those of European descent are generalists. We can do everything and we are at the near top of every human category. It’s a trade-off we have made to be at the near top of everything.
But we need to be unshackled from our masters to optimize what we are capable of.
I would look into white shingles, so you don’t have to repaint every few years.
= = =
Test some. Find a white shingle roof, and measure the temp (IR) device, and/or put your hand on it. Or put some outside in the sun for a while at the shingle store.
Then try a ‘blazingly’ white roof.
PS my white painted roof is about 30 years old, and finally starting to show a little gray (the mid coat color used to show if the painter covered everything).
And the paints have gotten way better since then (and more costly).
> There have been paints that radiate back more than they receive for decades. <
Then where does that additional radiant energy come from? That’s the part I just don’t get.
I did. Still don’t get it. How can it reflect more energy than impinges on it?=
= = =
Did you ever play with a “Super Ball”? They seemed to do that.
Our climate is very complex and to interfere with normal solar radiation could create a real climate apocalypse. The Climate Change Cultists tell us that part per million changes in CO2 levels will bring climate disaster, but are willing to undertake making a significant change in solar radiation with impunity as remedy for a non existent problem
“”I did. Still don’t get it. How can it reflect more energy than impinges on it?”
It doesn’t. The article refers to the visible light spectrum.
Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoluminescence
I didn't quite get it either, which left Bill kinda frustrated with me. But it has to be extracting heat from the substrate. Exactly how that happens is still a mystery to me. Quantum mechanics or something. I'm just an ancient, retired, dirty-fingernail machine tool engineer.
Didn’t see that explained, but found the gelatin and DNA biomass stock interesting in a disturbing sort of way.
Maybe it’s engineered to reflect nearly 100% of direct light, but absorbs the cool to combine to 104%?
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