BG Wire: Wiry scientists discover new energy producing wire, while wired

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

http://www.merid.org/NDN/more.php?id=2477

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, have discovered a previously unknown phenomenon in which carbon nanotubes can produce powerful waves that could be harnessed for new energy systems. The team found that when a carbon nanotube is coated with a layer of reactive fuel, and then ignited, the result is a fast-moving thermal wave traveling the length of the nanotube. The heat produced by the combustion will then push electrons along the tube, creating an electrical current. The energy produced by this novel system puts out energy, in proportion to its weight, which is about 100 times greater than an equivalent weight of a lithium-ion battery. According to Michael Strano, an associate professor of chemical engineering, and senior author of the paper describing the findings, the phenomenon "...opens up a new area of energy research, which is rare." Practical applications of the new discovery are hard to predict, says Strano, but include the enabling of new kinds of ultra-small electronic devices, environmental sensors that could be scattered like dust in the air, or energy storage systems. The findings were published in the March 7th edition of the journal Nature Materials. The article can be viewed online at the link below.

The original article may still be available at web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/thermopower-waves-0308

[GRT]

well played, sir

[Priran]

serendipitous discovery is always badass

[Correction]

When in doubt, set it on fire, huh?

[Silviya]

TUBES!

[Therin]

Well done on the title there.

[Eliseos]

Tags sound like an awesome ad.

[Acevalefor]

Can someone explain this to me in terms that don't make it sound so explosive?

To me it sounds like there will be huge problems with heat mitigation if you have to ignite this tube to move the data.

[Woozie]

I studied heat conduction in carbon nanotubes for two and a half years and nothing interesting happened (or at least not in my opinion). As soon as Dr. Buldum moves me to a new research topic, something (possibly) awesome happens. Why couldn't this happen a few months ago?

I don't know why, but for some reason I blame Shikorage for this.

Edit: Well, after looking at this, I don't think I even understand what's going on anyways, but this could have been something

Edit 2: nvm, they did cite. I'm an idiot.

Edit 3: Wait, no they didn't. What's wrong with me?

[Eliseos]

Edit: wtf, why don't news articles cite their sources?

Someone will post that comic on how newspapers misinterpret what scientists are saying. I also don't think news articles get peer reviewed

And to try to answer:

Can someone explain this to me in terms that don't make it sound so explosive?

To me it sounds like there will be huge problems with heat mitigation if you have to ignite this tube to move the data.

I would think it would be just like any other thermal engine: something explodes (makes heat), heat does work on the gas, energy comes out. Think something like a car or any other combustion engine. (I may also be entirely incorrect on this).

[Woozie]

Someone will post that comic on how newspapers misinterpret what scientists are saying. I also don't think news articles get peer reviewed

It was sort of cited indirectly. The posted article cited another article which cited the original journal. Now I'm trying to figure out if I actually have access to the journal through my school.

[Shiroikage]

I don't know why, but for some reason I blame Shikorage for this.

I'm not going to take credit for this and I'm not not going to take credit for this.

[Woozie]

Wow I butchered your name x_x

Well, you know who you are.

[Eliseos]

Wow I butchered your name x_x

Well, you know who you are.

Don't worry, Kepler didn't even spell Uranus in your sig pic.

[Max™]

Kepler wouldn't know Uranus if it bit him on the ass.


I suspect these aren't super explosive because of how tiny nanotubes are, think... sparklers.