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Researchers Develop Battery That Runs on Renewable Organics
Swedish scientists have created a smart, eco-friendly battery that runs on alfalfa and pine resin. The recyclable power source provides about as much power as a regular lithium battery.
Despite their relative efficiency, modern lithium batteries come with a lot of environmental baggage. Scientists at Sweden's Uppsala University, seeking to develop a more eco-friendly alternative, have created a new smart battery made from organic materials that they say produces just as much power as its lithium counterpart. Plus, it's recyclable:
"Components of the battery are made of renewable organic biomaterials from alfalfa and pine resin, and can be recycled with a low energy input and non-hazardous chemicals, such as ethanol and water."
The recycling aspect is revolutionary as it allows for a simple process to extract materials from a drained battery in order to create a new one that works 99% as well as its predecessor. Previously, any leftover lithium remaining in a spent battery would end up in a landfill.
The scientists' study heralds the innovation as a major step forward for lithium-efficiency. Modern lithium batteries are wasteful, cannot be easily recycled, and rely on non-renewable resources. The smart battery exceeds its competitor in all three of those ways. Dr. Daniel Brandell, one of the lead researchers, also told Science Daily that a turn toward batteries made of renewable resources will also prove to be cost-effective in the long run.
Read more at Science Daily
Check out the study here
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Stand up against religious discrimination – even if it’s not your religion
As religious diversity increases in the United States, we must learn to channel religious identity into interfaith cooperation.
- Religious diversity is the norm in American life, and that diversity is only increasing, says Eboo Patel.
- Using the most painful moment of his life as a lesson, Eboo Patel explains why it's crucial to be positive and proactive about engaging religious identity towards interfaith cooperation.
- The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of the Charles Koch Foundation, which encourages the expression of diverse viewpoints within a culture of civil discourse and mutual respect.
Here’s how to curb your impatience once and for all, and finally feel less stressed
"Having a high level of patience often isn't something that comes naturally; instead, it is something that improves over time"
You're waiting for the elevator at the office, sitting in a meeting that's late to start, or checking your phone with the hope that a co-worker finally responds to your email.
NASA's idea for making food from thin air just became a reality — it could feed billions
Here's why you might eat greenhouse gases in the future.
- The company's protein powder, "Solein," is similar in form and taste to wheat flour.
- Based on a concept developed by NASA, the product has wide potential as a carbon-neutral source of protein.
- The man-made "meat" industry just got even more interesting.
Where the evidence of fake news is really hiding
When it comes to sniffing out whether a source is credible or not, even journalists can sometimes take the wrong approach.
- We all think that we're competent consumers of news media, but the research shows that even journalists struggle with identifying fact from fiction.
- When judging whether a piece of media is true or not, most of us focus too much on the source itself. Knowledge has a context, and it's important to look at that context when trying to validate a source.
- The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of the Charles Koch Foundation, which encourages the expression of diverse viewpoints within a culture of civil discourse and mutual respect.
