STEM

[Cadavre Exquis]

https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12718661/03/24/la-solucion-china-para-que-los-coches-electricos-se-carguen-todos-a-la-vez-edificio-bateria-que-usa-la-gravedad.html

Saludos.

[Saturio]

https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12718661/03/24/la-solucion-china-para-que-los-coches-electricos-se-carguen-todos-a-la-vez-edificio-bateria-que-usa-la-gravedad.html

Saludos.

No sé que tiene que ver este sistema de almacenamiento con la carga de miles de coches a la vez.

[el malo]

https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12718661/03/24/la-solucion-china-para-que-los-coches-electricos-se-carguen-todos-a-la-vez-edificio-bateria-que-usa-la-gravedad.html

Saludos.

No sé que tiene que ver este sistema de almacenamiento con la carga de miles de coches a la vez.

Imaginemos que ese edificio se compone de cientos de torres independientes agrupadas para formar un cubo. Cada torre es un peso que almacena energia y esta conectada a una salida de corriente independiente.

Se podrian cargar a la vez tantos coches como torres haya, sin dependencia de la red electrica ni de picos de tension.

Espero que tenga sentido.

Disculpen las tildes, teclado ingles.

[Saturio]

https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12718661/03/24/la-solucion-china-para-que-los-coches-electricos-se-carguen-todos-a-la-vez-edificio-bateria-que-usa-la-gravedad.html

Saludos.

No sé que tiene que ver este sistema de almacenamiento con la carga de miles de coches a la vez.

Imaginemos que see edificio se compone de cientos de torres independientes agrupadas para formar un cubo. Cada torre es un peso que almacena energia y esta conectada a una salida de corriente independiente.

Se podrian cargar a la vez tantos coches como torres haya, sin dependencia de la red electrica ni de picos de tension.

Espero que tenga sentido.

Disculpen las tildes, teclado ingles.

Ya sí, pero no creo que sea la idea, ¿no?. La logística (de los coches) no tendría sentido.
Lo que veo es una noticia sobre un gran sistema de almacenamiento, cuya utilidad sería entrar en red como lo hace cualquier instalación productora cuando se necesitase (o en un mercado abierto cuando el precio fuese interesante) y una vez que los electrones estén en la red que se usen donde esté la demanda, que ha sido redirigida por un periodista a hablar de coches eléctricos y de una posible solución al problema de carga.

No sé, es que producirías la energía donde fuese, la transportarías a la batería y luego tendrías que llevar miles de coches allí (o cerca) a cargarlos.
Lo normal es que esos cubos se pongan justo al lado de sitios donde se produce la energía, por ejemplo un gran parque eólico o instalación fotovoltaica (del estilo de las que tienen los chinos) y que acumulen mientras no vendan.

[el malo]

https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12718661/03/24/la-solucion-china-para-que-los-coches-electricos-se-carguen-todos-a-la-vez-edificio-bateria-que-usa-la-gravedad.html

Saludos.

No sé que tiene que ver este sistema de almacenamiento con la carga de miles de coches a la vez.

Imaginemos que see edificio se compone de cientos de torres independientes agrupadas para formar un cubo. Cada torre es un peso que almacena energia y esta conectada a una salida de corriente independiente.

Se podrian cargar a la vez tantos coches como torres haya, sin dependencia de la red electrica ni de picos de tension.

Espero que tenga sentido.

Disculpen las tildes, teclado ingles.

Ya sí, pero no creo que sea la idea, ¿no?. La logística (de los coches) no tendría sentido.
Lo que veo es una noticia sobre un gran sistema de almacenamiento, cuya utilidad sería entrar en red como lo hace cualquier instalación productora cuando se necesitase (o en un mercado abierto cuando el precio fuese interesante) y una vez que los electrones estén en la red que se usen donde esté la demanda, que ha sido redirigida por un periodista a hablar de coches eléctricos y de una posible solución al problema de carga.

No sé, es que producirías la energía donde fuese, la transportarías a la batería y luego tendrías que llevar miles de coches allí (o cerca) a cargarlos.
Lo normal es que esos cubos se pongan justo al lado de sitios donde se produce la energía, por ejemplo un gran parque eólico o instalación fotovoltaica (del estilo de las que tienen los chinos) y que acumulen mientras no vendan.

No necesariamente. El cubo se puede construir al lado de una autopista o de cualquier vía con mucho tránsito de vehículos y la energía puede llegar por cables de alta tensión desde el parque eólico más cercano (a kilómetros de allí).

[Cadavre Exquis]

TSMC Unveils 1.6nm Process Technology With Backside Power Delivery
Posted by BeauHD on Thursday April 25, 2024 @11:30PM from the new-and-shiny dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Tom's Hardware:

TSMC announced its leading-edge 1.6nm-class process technology today, a new A16 manufacturing process that will be the company's first Angstrom-class production node and promises to outperform its predecessor, N2P, by a significant margin. The technology's most important innovation will be its backside power delivery network (BSPDN). Just like TSMC's 2nm-class nodes (N2, N2P, and N2X), the company's 1.6nm-class fabrication process will rely on gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet transistors, but unlike the current and next-generation nodes, this one uses backside power delivery dubbed Super Power Rail. Transistor and BSPDN innovations enable tangible performance and efficiency improvements compared to TSMC's N2P: the new node promises an up to 10% higher clock rate at the same voltage and a 15%-20% lower power consumption at the same frequency and complexity. In addition, the new technology could enable 7%-10% higher transistor density, depending on the actual design.

The most important innovation of TSMC's A16 process, which was unveiled at the company's North American Technology Symposium 2024, is the introduction of the Super Power Rail (SPR), a sophisticated backside power delivery network (BSPDN). This technology is tailored specifically for AI and HPC processors that tend to have both complex signal wiring and dense power delivery networks. Backside power delivery will be implemented into many upcoming process technologies as it allows for an increase in transistor density and improved power delivery, which affects performance. Meanwhile, there are several ways to implement a BSPDN. TSMC's Super Power Rail plugs the backside power delivery network to each transistor's source and drain using a special contact that also reduces resistance to get the maximum performance and power efficiency possible. From a production perspective, this is one of the most complex BSPDN implementations and is more complex than Intel's Power Via.

Volume production of A16 is slated for the second half of 2026. "Therefore, actual A16-made products will likely debut in 2027," notes the report. "This timeline positions A16 to potentially compete with Intel's 14A node, which will be Intel's most advanced node at the time."

Saludos.

[Cadavre Exquis]

Two Lifeforms Merge Into One Organism For First Time In a Billion Years
Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday April 27, 2024 @12:34PM from the one-plus-one-equals-one dept.

"For the first time in at least a billion years, two lifeforms have merged into a single organism," reports the Independent:

The process, called primary endosymbiosis, has only happened twice in the history of the Earth, with the first time giving rise to all complex life as we know it through mitochondria. The second time that it happened saw the emergence of plants. Now, an international team of scientists have observed the evolutionary event happening between a species of algae commonly found in the ocean and a bacterium...

The process involves the algae engulfing the bacterium and providing it with nutrients, energy and protection in return for functions that it could not previously perform — in this instance, the ability to "fix" nitrogen from the air. The algae then incorporates the bacterium as an internal organ called an organelle, which becomes vital to the host's ability to function.

The researchers from the U.S. and Japan who made the discovery said it will offer new insights into the process of evolution, while also holding the potential to fundamentally change agriculture. "This system is a new perspective on nitrogen fixation, and it might provide clues into how such an organelle could be engineered into crop plants," said Dr Coale.

Two papers detailing the research were published in the scientific journals Science and Cell.

Thanks to Slashdot reader fjo3 for sharing the news.

Saludos.

[Cadavre Exquis]

China Launches World's Largest Electric Container Ship
Posted by BeauHD on Wednesday May 01, 2024 @06:00AM from the green-transportation dept.

AmiMoJo shares a report from Tech Times:

China has reached a major landmark in green transportation with the launch of the world's largest fully electric container ship. Developed and manufactured by China Ocean Shipping Group (Cosco), the vessel is now operating a regular service route between Shanghai and Nanjing, aiming to reduce emissions significantly along its journey. The Greenwater 01, an all-electric container ship, is positioning itself to be a shipping industry pioneer. Equipped with a main battery exceeding 50,000 kilowatt-hours, the vessel can accommodate additional battery boxes for longer voyages. These battery boxes, each containing 1,600 kilowatt-hours of electricity and similar in size to standard 20-foot containers, provide flexibility in extending the ship's travel range. With 24 battery boxes onboard, the Greenwater 01 can complete a journey consuming 80,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. This is equivalent to saving 15 tons of fuel compared to a standard container ship, highlighting the efficiency of electric propulsion systems.

According to Cosco, the vessel can reduce CO2 emissions by 2,918 tons per year, which is equivalent to taking 2,035 family cars off the road or planting 160,000 trees.

Saludos.

[Cadavre Exquis]

Lithium-Free Sodium Batteries Exit the Lab, Enter US Production
Posted by BeauHD on Saturday May 04, 2024 @06:00AM from the environmentally-friendlier dept.

Natron Energy, a pioneer in sodium-ion battery technology, has officially commenced mass production of its lithium-free sodium batteries in its Holland, Michigan facility, offering an alternative energy storage solution with benefits such as faster cycling, longer lifespan, and safer usage compared to lithium-ion batteries. New Atlas reports:

Not only is sodium somewhere between 500 to 1,000 times more abundant than lithium on the planet we call Earth, sourcing it doesn't necessitate the same type of earth-scarring extraction. Even moving beyond the sodium vs lithium surname comparison, Natron says its sodium-ion batteries are made entirely from abundantly available commodity materials that also include aluminum, iron and manganese. Furthermore, the materials for Natron's sodium-ion chemistry can be procured through a reliable US-based domestic supply chain free from geopolitical disruption. The same cannot be said for common lithium-ion materials like cobalt and nickel.

Sodium-ion tech has received heightened interest in recent years as a more reliable, potentially cheaper energy storage medium. While its energy density lags behind lithium-ion, advantages such as faster cycling, longer lifespan and safer, non-flammable end use have made sodium-ion an attractive alternative, especially for stationary uses like data center and EV charger backup storage. [...] Natron says its batteries charge and discharge at rates 10 times faster than lithium-ion, a level of immediate charge/discharge capability that makes the batteries a prime contender for the ups and downs of backup power storage. Also helping in that use case is an estimated lifespan of 50,000 cycles.

Saludos.

[Saturio]

Lithium-Free Sodium Batteries Exit the Lab, Enter US Production
Posted by BeauHD on Saturday May 04, 2024 @06:00AM from the environmentally-friendlier dept.

Natron Energy, a pioneer in sodium-ion battery technology, has officially commenced mass production of its lithium-free sodium batteries in its Holland, Michigan facility, offering an alternative energy storage solution with benefits such as faster cycling, longer lifespan, and safer usage compared to lithium-ion batteries. New Atlas reports:

Not only is sodium somewhere between 500 to 1,000 times more abundant than lithium on the planet we call Earth, sourcing it doesn't necessitate the same type of earth-scarring extraction. Even moving beyond the sodium vs lithium surname comparison, Natron says its sodium-ion batteries are made entirely from abundantly available commodity materials that also include aluminum, iron and manganese. Furthermore, the materials for Natron's sodium-ion chemistry can be procured through a reliable US-based domestic supply chain free from geopolitical disruption. The same cannot be said for common lithium-ion materials like cobalt and nickel.

Sodium-ion tech has received heightened interest in recent years as a more reliable, potentially cheaper energy storage medium. While its energy density lags behind lithium-ion, advantages such as faster cycling, longer lifespan and safer, non-flammable end use have made sodium-ion an attractive alternative, especially for stationary uses like data center and EV charger backup storage. [...] Natron says its batteries charge and discharge at rates 10 times faster than lithium-ion, a level of immediate charge/discharge capability that makes the batteries a prime contender for the ups and downs of backup power storage. Also helping in that use case is an estimated lifespan of 50,000 cycles.

Saludos.

Parece que la densidad energética es de un 50%.
Buenas para almacenaje de backup, como dicen, pero no si tienen que ser transportadas (como en los EV).

[Cadavre Exquis]

NASA's Proposed Plasma Rocket Would Get Us to Mars in 2 Months
Posted by BeauHD on Friday May 10, 2024 @03:00AM from the future-of-space-travel dept.

Last week, NASA announced it is working with a technology development company on a new propulsion system that could transport humans to Mars in only two months -- down from the current nine month journey required to reach the Red Planet. Gizmodo reports:

NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program recently selected six promising projects for additional funding and development, allowing them to graduate to the second stage of development. The new "science fiction-like concepts," as described by John Nelson, NIAC program executive at NASA, include a lunar railway system and fluid-based telescopes, as well as a pulsed plasma rocket.

The potentially groundbreaking propulsion system is being developed by Arizona-based Howe Industries. To reach high velocities within a shorter period of time, the pulsed plasma rocket would use nuclear fission -- the release of energy from atoms splitting apart -- to generate packets of plasma for thrust. It would essentially produce a controlled jet of plasma to help propel the rocket through space. Using the new propulsion system, and in terms of thrust, the rocket could potentially generate up to 22,481 pounds of force (100,000 Newtons) with a specific impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds, for remarkably high fuel efficiency. [...]

The pulsed plasma rocket would also be capable of carrying much heavier spacecraft, which can be then equipped with shielding against galactic cosmic rays for the crew on board. Phase 2 of NIAC is focused on assessing the neutronics of the system (how the motion of the spacecraft interacts with the plasma), designing the spacecraft, power system, and necessary subsystems, analyzing the magnetic nozzle capabilities, and determining trajectories and benefits of the pulsed plasma rocket, according to NASA.

Saludos.

[Cadavre Exquis]

The Most Detailed 3D Reconstruction of Human Brain Tissue
Posted by BeauHD on Friday May 10, 2024 @09:00AM from the unprecedented-detail dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Interesting Engineering:

Imagine exploring the intricate world within a single cubic millimeter of human brain tissue. It might seem insignificant, but within that tiny space lies a universe of complexity -- 57,000 individual cells, 230 millimeters of blood vessels, and a staggering 150 million synapses, the junctions where neurons communicate. All this information translates to a mind-boggling 1,400 terabytes of data. That's the kind of groundbreaking achievement researchers from Harvard and Google have just accomplished.

Leading the charge at Harvard is Professor Jeff Lichtman, a renowned expert in brain structure. Partnering with Google AI, Lichtman's team has co-created the most detailed 3D reconstruction of a human brain fragment to date. This intricate map, published in Science, offers an unprecedented view of the human temporal cortex, the region responsible for memory and other higher functions. Envision a piece of brain tissue roughly half the size of a rice grain but magnified to reveal every cell and its web of neural connections in vivid detail. This remarkable feat is the culmination of nearly a decade of collaboration between Harvard and Google. Lichtman's expertise in electron microscopy imaging is combined with Google's cutting-edge AI algorithms. [...]

The newly published map in Science reveals previously unseen details of brain structure. One such discovery is a rare but powerful set of axons, each connected by up to 50 synapses, potentially influencing a significant number of neighboring neurons. The team also encountered unexpected structures, like a small number of axons forming intricate whorls. Since the sample came from a patient with epilepsy, it's unclear if these formations are specific to the condition or simply uncommon occurrences.

Saludos.

[Cadavre Exquis]

Biotech
UK Toddler Has Hearing Restored In World First Gene Therapy Trial
Posted by BeauHD on Friday May 10, 2024 @11:30PM from the groundbreaking-trials dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian:

A British toddler has had her hearing restored after becoming the first person in the world to take part in a pioneering gene therapy trial, in a development that doctors say marks a new era in treating deafness. Opal Sandy was born unable to hear anything due to auditory neuropathy, a condition that disrupts nerve impulses traveling from the inner ear to the brain and can be caused by a faulty gene. But after receiving an infusion containing a working copy of the gene during groundbreaking surgery that took just 16 minutes, the 18-month-old can hear almost perfectly and enjoys playing with toy drums. [...] The girl, from Oxfordshire, was treated at Addenbrooke's hospital, part of Cambridge university hospitals NHS foundation trust, which is running the Chord trial. More deaf children from the UK, Spain and the US are being recruited to the trial and will all be followed up for five years. [...]

Auditory neuropathy can be caused by a fault in the OTOF gene, which makes a protein called otoferlin. This enables cells in the ear to communicate with the hearing nerve. To overcome the fault, the new therapy from biotech firm Regeneron sends a working copy of the gene to the ear. A second child has also recently received the gene therapy treatment at Cambridge university hospitals, with positive results. The overall Chord trial consists of three parts, with three deaf children including Opal receiving a low dose of gene therapy in one ear only. A different set of three children will get a high dose on one side. Then, if that is shown to be safe, more children will receive a dose in both ears at the same time. In total, 18 children worldwide will be recruited to the trial. The gene therapy -- DB-OTO -- is specifically for children with OTOF mutations. A harmless virus is used to carry the working gene into the patient.

Saludos.

[Cadavre Exquis]

'Tungsten Wall' Leads To Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough
Posted by BeauHD on Saturday May 11, 2024 @03:00AM from the record-breaking dept.

A tokamak in France achieved a new record in fusion plasma by using tungsten to encase its reaction, which enabled the sustainment of hotter and denser plasma for longer periods than previous carbon-based designs. Quartz reports:

A tokamak is a torus- (doughnut-) shaped fusion device that confines plasma using magnetic fields, allowing scientists to fiddle with the superheated material and induce fusion reactions. The recent achievement was made in WEST (tungsten (W) Environment in Steady-state Tokamak), a tokamak operated by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). WEST was injected with 1.15 gigajoules of power and sustained a plasma of about 50 million degrees Celsius for six minutes. It achieved this record after scientists encased the tokamak's interior in tungsten, a metal with an extraordinarily high melting point. Researchers from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory used an X-ray detector inside the tokamak to measure aspects of the plasma and the conditions that made it possible.

"These are beautiful results," said Xavier Litaudon, a scientist with CEA and chair of the Coordination on International Challenges on Long duration OPeration (CICLOP), in a PPPL release. "We have reached a stationary regime despite being in a challenging environment due to this tungsten wall."

Saludos.

[pollo]

https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12718661/03/24/la-solucion-china-para-que-los-coches-electricos-se-carguen-todos-a-la-vez-edificio-bateria-que-usa-la-gravedad.html

Saludos.

No sé que tiene que ver este sistema de almacenamiento con la carga de miles de coches a la vez.

Imaginemos que ese edificio se compone de cientos de torres independientes agrupadas para formar un cubo. Cada torre es un peso que almacena energia y esta conectada a una salida de corriente independiente.

Se podrian cargar a la vez tantos coches como torres haya, sin dependencia de la red electrica ni de picos de tension.

Espero que tenga sentido.

Disculpen las tildes, teclado ingles.

No creo que vaya por ahí la cosa. Para que esto sea útil se tiene que poder utilizar como una batería de red, literalmente, y la cuestión de subir o bajar pesos es algo que controlaría automáticamente la maquinaria del propio edificio según la demanda agregada. Es una cuestión de control electrónico que no debería tener mayor misterio.

El titular entiendo que se refiere a que para que las energías con producción irregular e hasta cierto punto impredecible (renovables) necesitan de algo como esto para tener utilidad real a gran escala, y este tipo de batería lo posibilita.

Si se hiciera como tú propones limitaría enormemente la utilidad de este invento, que es para estabilizar la red con producción renovable. Se entiende que los coches cargarán en su mayoría de noche, y la producción de energía solar por ejemplo sería de día, pero la electricidad tienes que consumirla en el acto si no la guardas, problema que esto resuelve.