Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology https://refractor.io/tag/royal-melbourne-institute-of-technology/ Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology en-AU Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:48:53 GMT New discovery might lead to laptops powered through typing https://refractor.io/science/new-discovery-might-lead-to-laptops-powered-through-typing/ A new discovery by Australian researchers could lead to laptops powered through typing (Photo: Dmitry Barsky, Flickr)

Everlasting batteries and self-powered portable electronics have come one step closer to reality, according to the results of new research by Australian scientists from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). The researchers successfully measured a piezoelectric thin film's capacity for turning mechanical pressure into electricity. It may sound like an idea from the realm of science fiction, but the discovery could eventually lead to laptops powered through typing.

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]]> Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:48:53 GMT https://refractor.io/science/new-discovery-might-lead-to-laptops-powered-through-typing/ Solar panels made three times cheaper and four times more efficient https://refractor.io/environment/solar-panels-made-three-times-cheaper-and-four-times-more-efficient/ The Concentrated Universal Energy Solar System (CUESS) to be commercialized by Technique Solar

As regular readers will know, we cover more than our fair share of breakthroughs promising next-generation super-efficient solar cells. Everything from growing photovoltaic crystals, applying special coatings or using carbon nanotubes teases us with cheaper, more efficient solar energy - eventually. In this latest news, scientists are using current technology in a new type of concentrating array which they say is four times more efficient and three times cheaper than current solar cells.

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Category: Environment, Science

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]]> Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:19:04 GMT https://refractor.io/environment/solar-panels-made-three-times-cheaper-and-four-times-more-efficient/ Darren Quick