Author: Isaac Gendler

Quantum Dots for Solar Panels

Quantum Dots for Solar Panels

Quantum Dots for Solar Panels

02/25/19

“Why are quantum dots for solar panels so useful?”

 

Quantum dots are bringing a revolution into the world of semiconductors. And since semiconductors are the backbones of solar panels, things will be greatly changed for them as well. The extra emissivity offered by quantum dots means that two and possibly three electrons can be generated for every photon received, vastly increasing its potential! Quantum dot solar panels can achieve as much as 65% efficiency, nearly double of the theoretical limit of normal panels. This is why Quantum Dots for Solar Panels are so exciting.

Image link https://upload.wikimedia.org

Quantum Dots

Quantum Dots

Quantum Dots

02/24/19

“What is the next big revolution in semiconductors?”

 

Semiconductors technology is going through a revolution. Nanosize semiconductor materials known as Quantum Dots which can give off light when illuminated are starting to be developed. Their small size allows them to be much more efficient than typical semiconductors and can give off a broader range of lights.

 

Image credit i.ytimg.com

Wholesale Electricity Markets

Wholesale Electricity Markets

Wholesale Electricity Markets

02/23/19

“How do utility companies purchase electricity generation?”

 

Utility companies are responsible for transmitting electricity. However, they do not always own generation facilities. Instead, they may purchase it on a competitive platform known as a wholesale electricity market. This decoupling of electrical generation and transmission can create a multitude of opportunities for Power Purchase Agreements.

How Grid Defects Can Increase Climate Change Resilience

How Grid Defects Can Increase Climate Change Resilience

How Grid Defects Can Increase Climate Change Resilience

02/22/19

“How can grid defection increase infrastructure resiliency to climate change?”

 

Grid-islanded systems are typically thought of as expensive alternatives to their grid-depended counterparts. But with the advent of ever-increasing storms and floods induced by climate change, their constant reliability will make them a more reliable alternative. Since they can provide power in the case of natural disasters, they can provide extra resilience to communities such as Puerto Rico who experienced a grid shutdown from Hurricane Maria.

How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience

How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience

How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience

02/21/19

“How could trimming trees help prevent blackouts?”

 

Grid failure happens all the time. But one of the most common causes actually stems from something very simple, trees! Tree foliage produces an area that is sensitive to burning and is also liable to falling down, crushing distribution. By taking away some of this foliage, some of this resiliency liability. This is How Tree Trimmings Could Help Build Power Resilience.

 

High-level Radioactive Waste

High-level Radioactive Waste

High-level Radioactive Waste

02/20/19

“What is the byproduct of nuclear energy?”

 

Nuclear energy is one of the promising power sources for the decarbonized future. However, like everything in this world it comes with serious consequences. The spent Uranium fuel rods will still give off enough radiation to kill a person for a quarter of a million years, meaning that this High-level Radioactive Waste must be contained somewhere.

 

Image credit http://www.world-nuclear.org

How Engineering Simulations Can Save Companies a lot of Money

How Engineering Simulations Can Save Companies a lot of Money

How Engineering Simulations Can Save Companies a lot of Money

02/19/19

“How can engineering simulations save companies a lot of money?”

 

Before the ascent of computers, most engineering modeling had to be done with physical experiments. These were arduous, costly, and prone to failure. But with the invention of simulation, companies can now simulate their designs’ performance without having to actually build it. This is How Engineering Simulation Can Save Companies a lot of Money.

On Convergence of Infinite Sums

On Convergence of Infinite Sums

On Convergence of Infinite Sums

Matthew Hanna

02/18/19

“What is so special about infinite sums coming to a specific value?”

 

1

We have all seen the classic sum.

2

Which is often represented as…

3

We, in our high school careers, have been taught that this sum is 2. This is
most often done so with an algebraic manipulation of both sides of the sum. We
haven’t been taught how to verify this sum. But how would we go about doing
this?
The basic idea is that if I end my sum at nite point, my result will deviate
from the actual sum by some error (which we will call ε. This error is some
positive real number. To verify that this sum indeed approaches 2, it suffices
to show that for any error, there exists a nite point in the series in which the
difference between 2 and this point is less than the error AND all further points
will also be less than the error.

Our Very First Guest Post!

Our Very First Guest Post!

Hello fellow science fans,

 

We here at Isaac’s Science Blog are very pleased to announce our first guest post done by no other than Matthew Hannah! Matthew is a 4th-year mathematics student at
the University of California, Riverside. His current research interests include
Functional Analysis and Representation Theory. You can read his post about the Convergence of Infinite Sums here.