efficient

China has a nuclear reactor 100 times more efficient than traditional ones. The trick is to shoot atoms with an accelerator

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China has had one goal in mind for some years: to have a voice in the nuclear race. In the weaponsyes, but also in energy. As Europe argues and the United States attempts to rejuvenate its critical infrastructure to meet AI needs, China has been on the accelerator for months. Recently they have not only approved 10 new reactorsbut they are one step away from turning on a new generation nuclear power plant to provide ‘green’ energy for 1,000 years. This is the CiADS system, or Throttle Actuated System. It is a type of reactor that China has been developing for more than 15 years and that promises to convert waste into energy. Their trick is to convert “garbage” into fuel, and it is a very interesting twist for nuclear energy. And even more so in a China that wants to dominate the atom and renewables as a basis for the development of another of the great ambitions of the country. Artificial intelligence. A twist to nuclear energy In a releasethe Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences gave some details of how this accelerator-driven nuclear reactor works. Uranium is still the fuel, but “reactor driven by an accelerator” is literal. Using a particle accelerator, protons are “shot” at a heavy metal target at a speed of 0.8 times that of light. This generates neutrons that drive a reactor that operates somewhat below the critical threshold to be self-sustaining. The reactor generates energy and this violent reaction causes the long-lived radioactive isotopes that are normally generated in a conventional nuclear power plant to transmute and become materials with a shorter life. As its managers explain in SCMPthe CiADS is a hybrid between a nuclear reactor and a particle accelerator. The main advantage is that greatly reduces the risk of uncontrolled reactionsbut it has another: you can reuse the radioisotopes that normally would be treated as nuclear waste to continue producing energy. Firing beams of protons through these accelerators to bombard the heavy metal makes the uranium-238 give way to a new nuclear fuel: plutonium-239. According to the state media Science and Technology Daily, it is basically turning waste into treasures. According to those responsible, this method is 100 times more efficient than conventional fission and would allow nuclear energy to be converted into “a source of green, safe and stable energy for 1,000 years”, ensuring part of the necessary energy supply for the future. Furthermore, since what would previously be long-lasting waste is reused, the resulting CiADS has a useful life of less than one thousandth compared to conventional waste. The CiADS under construction They are two birds with one stone: China is wildly expanding its nuclear capacity, but it is estimated that it does not have as much uranium of its own and would continue to depend on imports… or to fish it in the sea. With “100 times more efficient” plants, you can get more juice out of what you have. And then there’s the fact that nuclear waste is less dangerous. If everything goes as planned, China will have its first MW-scale CiADS in 2027. It will be then when we check if those theoretical promises achieved by scale prototypes are fulfilled. The CiADS comes at a time when China has emerged as a contradiction in energy matters. They carry years fighting pollution and emissions, but they burn coal. They are a powerhouse in renewables with megastructures and deserts covered by panels. But in the age of AI, it is precisely that coal and gas that is the fuel that allows us to satisfy the demand of data centers at the peak of training. With nuclear weapons, China seeks further reduce your CO2 footprintbut ensuring a future in which it must feed the population, artificial intelligence and a network of technology companies that are doing the most difficult: fighting Western companies without the technological resources of the West. Because right now China doesn’t have the chips or the AI, but yes the energy. And that investment in new generation nuclear plants and, above all, in nuclear fusionrepresents the foundation of what is to come. Everything, that is, if the CiADS works as expected. Images | Sahaza Delis, Tighef In Xataka | There is a global race to be the first to reach nuclear fusion. And Germany just gave it an optimistic date

China makes them almost as efficient as silicon ones

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For years, polymer solar cells (popularly known as organic or “plastic” plates) have promised a real revolution in the renewable energy sector. Being light, flexible and even printable, their potential seemed limitless. However, in practice they had a big Achilles heel: they degraded quickly when exposed to air and their capacity to generate energy was far below that of the classic and heavy silicon panels. They were, in the eyes of the industry, almost a laboratory toy. But this narrative has just taken a historic turn. A team of scientists has managed to simultaneously overcome the barrier of performance and degradation, finally bringing these flexible plates closer to their long-awaited large-scale commercialization. A milestone that comes from China. Until today, manufacturing flexible solar panels meant taking a toll: either you lost efficiency or the material degraded quickly in the open air. Researchers at Wuhan University of Technology just broke that rule. Its new polymer cell reaches an efficiency of 19.1% – close on the heels of commercial silicon – and, above all, solves the problem of wear. As endorsed by the scientific journal matterthe device supports more than 2,000 hours of outdoor operation while retaining 97% of its initial capacity. In technical jargon, they have achieved a “T97 lifetime”, a metric that definitively takes this technology out of the experimental phase. The step definitive towards marketing. In statements to the magazine PV MagazineTao Wang, co-author of the research, highlights the magnitude of the finding: the stability demonstrated in these 2,000 hours allows us to extrapolate a useful life of the device that would exceed 100,000 hours of operation. Furthermore, this breakthrough puts an end to organic photovoltaics’ historic dilemma of the war between “efficiency vs. stability.” As the research indicatesUntil now, polymers (formed by long molecular chains) were very thermally stable and flexible, but inefficient; On the contrary, the “small molecules” were more efficient but too fragile and tended to crystallize over time, ruining the plate. This new development manages to combine the best of both worlds. The “invisible comb” at the microscopic level. Therein lies the secret of its success. Wei Li, another of the study’s lead authors, explains in PV Magazine that polymers have a mechanical problem: their long molecular chains tend to tangle, forming “disordered aggregates.” That disorder not only blocks the flow of electricity (reducing efficiency), but it exposes weak chemical bonds that accelerate the degradation of the board in sunlight. To solve this, the Wuhan team applied a strategy that was as elegant as it was effective: they introduced a small fraction of “small acceptor molecules” (SMA) into the polymer matrix. According to the studythis mixture acts as an invisible comb that “untangles” the long chains of the polymer, forcing them to pack together in a linear and orderly manner. This reduces empty spaces in the material, creating direct “highways” for electricity to flow without being lost, boosting efficiency and stopping photochemical deterioration in its tracks. A high-tech “sandwich”. For this chemical cocktail to work, the design of the plate was not left to chance. The cell was literally built like a sandwich on a microscopic scale. Instead of complicated heavy metal alloys, they used a transparent base on which they applied several ultrathin layers: one that captures light (the improved polymer), others that act as guides so that electrons do not escape and, finally, a very thin layer of silver to conduct electricity. The whole set results in a high precision, but extremely light device. And what does all this mean for the average user? According to the portal Interesting Engineeringthese findings pave the way to integrate highly efficient panels into tents, backpacks, clothing or covering the curved facades of buildings, without having to support the immense weight of silicon. This vision of the future is already taking its first commercial steps. As we saw a year ago at CESbrands like Anker Solix are already experimenting with prototypes of jackets that integrate solar panels and power banks to keep a mobile phone charged, or beach umbrellas capable of charging a portable refrigerator using continuous photovoltaic cells. The difference is that, thanks to the new molecular advances achieved in China, this “wearable” and portable self-consumption technology will take a brutal leap: it will be much more stable, durable and easier to mass produce. The future is already flexible. The absolute hegemony of silicon – rigid, heavy and with a high manufacturing energy cost – is beginning to have a real alternative on the horizon. Research from Wuhan University of Technology shows that understanding and manipulating how molecules behave and intertwine was the master key to getting organic technology out of the laboratory. The future of solar energy no longer only seeks to be efficient; Now it is ready to be flexible, ultralight and, finally, durable. Image | RawPixel Xataka | Solar panels have an invisible and very brief moment in which they do not work. And solving it is key to your future

Germany wanted to see if working four days a week was efficient. 70% of companies think so

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The four-day work week started in Germany as an experiment to search for the maximum productivity of companies without having an impact on an exhausted workforce and without the ability to reconcile family life. Two years after the start of this test, the data confirms that for the companies that participated it was not a simple test, but rather it has materialized in a change in the way of working that many companies have decided to consolidate. Now the monitoring report prepared by researchers from the University of Münster together with the consulting firm 4 Day Week Global. It analyzes what happened after the pilot test that began in 2024 and what subsequent effects it has had. The main conclusion is that around 70% of the companies that participated in that test continue to apply some model of reduction of working hours a year later. A known formula and a varied sample. The original four-day week project in Germany was built around to the 100-80-100 model: 100% of salary, 80% of time and 100% of productivity. This model of reduction of working hours is the same one that was carried out in Valencia in 2023, Portugal either United Kingdom. In the initial phase, 45 companies from different sectors participated, dedicated to manufacturing, insurance, technology, media, commerce or education. Furthermore, to be as representative as possible of the German industrial fabric, companies of different sizes were chosen: from micro-businesses with 1 to 9 employees, to large companies with more than 250 employees. The first data already gave clues. Researchers have been collecting data from participating companies and their employees since day one. A few months after starting the test, the companies were delighted with the results, to the point that in preliminary results73% said they would not return to the traditional five-day week. The new report provides the perspective that time gives and whether that initial impetus has been consolidated. Two years after the start of the test, seven out of ten companies that participated in the test not only maintain the four-day workdaybut they have integrated it into their normal operation. More than four days: flexible reduction of working time. One of the most interesting findings from the monitoring is that the four-day workweek model has evolved and every organization has implemented it adapting it to your needs. Not all companies have opted for a Monday to Thursday work week. Around 22% of the participating companies have adapted the initial scheme towards more flexible formulas: reduction of annual hours, alternate weeks or internal adjustments according to workload. The report itself speaks less of a “four-day week” and more of “reduction of work time“. The label matters less than the redesign of the work day and the elimination of superfluous tasks, fewer unnecessary meetings and greater autonomy of the teams. No impact on profits or productivity. In business terms, the German test has been a success since, despite having maintained 80% of the initial day, there have been no drops in either the level of profits or in productivity or slightly improved with respect to the starting point. That is, they have managed to do the same thing in less time. What it did have a strong impact on was the well-being of employees, where 90% reported improvements in the balance between personal and professional life. As a result of this improvement, employees reported feeling less stress and greater commitment to the company. 38% of companies indicated that sick leave and absenteeism of their employees had been reduced, while 56% claimed to have detected no changes. Lights and shadows in the reduction of working hours. Progress was also observed in job satisfaction and in the perception of the company as an attractive place to work. The study indicates that 87% of companies detected improvements in talent retention. For their part, 75% claimed that their companies now had a greater capacity to attract talent in selection processes. This, in a scenario of labor shortagerepresents a competitive advantage. However, as happened in other tests of the four-day work week, not all companies have followed the same evolution. About 30% stopped applying the initial scheme or returned to the traditional five-day week. The main reasons were operational, difficulties in coordinate with your clientswork peaks that are difficult to absorb or inflexible internal structures. In Xataka | Employees in Spain clear up doubts: working fewer days is better than working fewer hours, according to a survey In Xataka | Spain already has its first municipality with a four-day work week. It is not in Madrid or Barcelona, ​​but in a corner of Cádiz Image | Unsplash (Gonzalo Leon Jasin, Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa)

It is more efficient to learn how your brain works

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The ability to be productive is not only in the ability to make the most The available time. You can also improve that capacity by understanding some cognitive biases and “psychological triggers” of the brain to use them in your favor. Such and as they point out in Fast Companyyou don’t need more hours in the day. You need to adapt your work to match the cognitive peaks of your brain and “deceive it” to Maintain motivation. These are some cognitive strategies to be more productive with less effort. 1- tune in with your ultradian rhythms Unlike Circadian cycleswhich last 24 hours delimiting rest periods, Ultradian cycles They are much shorter and repeated every 90 or 120 minutes. The brain is Designed to work in cycles of high concentration limited to those periods between 90 and 120 minutesfollowed by small laps of lower energy. Trying to give the maximum beyond those cycles is a waste of time. The brain needs to rest To recover energy. Ignoring that rest makes mental fatigue appears, worsens concentration and, with it, stress increases because tasks are extended more than expected. The key is in Organize the day in blocks of deep work 90 minutes with pauses of 10 to 20 minutes between them. Implementing three of these daily cycles usually translates into greater productivity and better quality of the tasks performed. 2- The most difficult first Would you run an Ironman just after a marathon had run? Not to be That you are Verdelissthe most likely answer is not, because the first test has already burned all your energy. In this case, the brain works in a similar way. The prefrontal cortexresponsible for complex executive functions, shows its greatest efficiency in the early hours of the day when we have rested well. The key is think about your brain as a battery. Which is 100% at the beginning of the day, but little by little it reduces its load (cognitive capacity). Use that energy strategically. Take advantage of the first two or three hours of your day to address demanding or very creative tasks that will consume “more energy” or that require greater concentration. Administrative, routine tasks or those meetings in which relevant decisions should not be made, they can wait for later. Doing it backwards would be to waste that valuable energy throughout the day, to get exhausted to the marathon. 3- Sorry, the brain is not multitasking Although everything points to doing several things at once is the best way to advance them all, scientific research They have demonstrated That is not so. In fact, trying to do several things at once is even 40% less efficient What to do them one after another. According to a Published study in Nature By scientists at Stanford University, he points out that those who perform multiple tasks at the same time, often They get worse results in tests of attention, memory and alternation of tasks that those who perform only. Therefore, instead of trying to move all the tasks at the same time, it is convenient to make groups of similar short tasks and reserve blocks of time to complete them (one after another). Thus, small distractions are reduced that interrupt your concentration With the excuse of “it’s just a minute.” 4- Concentration triggers Although sometimes it costs us to recognize it, the human being It is an animal of customsand our brain is able to detect signals from the environment to prepare to face certain tasks. An example is the “cognitive triggers” described by James Clear, author of the best seller ‘Atomic habits‘, as a method To create habits. To give you an example, the way back to your house at the end of the work prepares your brain to enter a “rest mode”, in the same way as preparing a bath with candles and aromatic salts predisposes to entering a mental state of relaxation. Create fixed signals or rituals to immerse yourself in deep work, such as order the table Before starting it, putting certain music or systematically opening your task app, can help you make the brain entered the right state. The research From the University of California they demonstrated that these actions, apparently small and symbolic, act as psychological switches that tell your brain: “It’s time to concentrate.” The repetition of these habits reinforces the approach and reduces the adaptation time that the brain needs between one task and another. 5- The brain is not to remember A joint study of the University of Waterloo (Canada) and the University College London, says the Human working memoryIt can only handle between four and seven simultaneous elements. The research demonstrates that by downloading information, either In writing in a notebook or digitally In an apptension in the cognitive system is reduced and bandwidth for problem solving and creativity is released. To the free the brain from the burden of having to remember thingsthe Zeigarnik effect is avoided, a phenomenon that puts a name to the brain obsession to end The tasks that you have already started. If you have to remember, for example, that you have to go looking for a laundry jacket, your brain will be constantly recovering that information until you complete it, interrupting your concentration in that process. 6- A carrot for your brain Maintain motivationin addition to physical factors, it is also very conditioned by the brain. Again, our animal instinct responds to positive stimuli. As an ass that needs to follow an unattainable carrot to continue walking. The human brain reacts to immediate and visible rewardsso marking an objective as completed activates the Dopamine system that provides well -being and happiness. Taking that into account, Do not plan your tasks as long -term achievementsbut as small frequent achievements that activate the brain reward system. These frequent awards reinforce behavior and generate the impulse to continue with the project and avoid falling into boredom and loss of motivation. In Xataka | If the question is where to … Read more

Tricks to use car air conditioning in the most efficient way

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Summer, 40 degrees in the shade and desire to return home to throw us the deserved nap that we all deserve when we come from taste a paella. The same one that can be indigented if we ride in the car and do not apply some simple tricks to cool the cabin as soon as possible. Here is the difference between cope with the return home or make the car seat a real hell. First of all, be foresee. You cannot always but it is evident that the longer the car passes in the shade, the better it will go later. Keep in mind that if there are extreme temperatures on the street, these are much higher inside our car, overheated without an escape to come out all that hot air. Therefore, before leaving the car to his fate, he tries to leave it under a shadow and, whenever possible, with the parasol placed. The RACC calculates That when the sun makes its own, the interior temperature of the car can rise at up to 20 degrees. Especially in those cars with black upholstery. Then, A parasol helps reduce temperature Interior in up to 11 degrees, what we like to reduce the suffocating heat as soon as possible. Also, small Offtopic, Heat can damage the dashboard materials. The windshield makes of magnifying glass and the temperature that the upper plastics reach can be very high. With a parasol we will reduce the risk of premature wear such as the steering wheel “peel” and lose part of the plastic or break the leather that covers it. The Japanese “trick”. Some time ago what was called as “the Japanese trick” was viral. The truth is that I could carry the word “trick” but The Japanese thing seemed a bit free. Anyway, the case is that it works. If you get to the car and you are burning, it is a good idea to lower the windows and open the doors for a few minutes. Thus the hot air will escape little by little from the inside. To accelerate this process, what we can do is take a couple of doors and “fan” with them the car. Moving them with some momentum we will generate a current of air that will lower the temperature faster. Click on the image to go to the original post “The first thing, go down the windows”. If, on the contrary, you want or need to get the car as soon as possible, Juan José, one of the Ebenezer workshops mechanics that follow more than 300,000 people in Tiktok, more than 300,000 people, recommends That “the first thing, when riding you, is to lower all the windows of the car.” The council follows the same logic that before but is applied in motion, during the first meters, the car in progress generates an air stream that will help the heat escape from the interior and the temperature is reduced as soon as possible. What is recommended is that when we win speed, Let’s keep the driver or passenger window open and the opposite. If we keep all the windows at the same time open or only one of them we generate that annoying noise caused by the displacement of the air inside the car. The air, up or down? It is one of the big doubts. Juan José recommends putting the cold air down, “towards the feet” because “the cold air weighs more and the hot air will tend to climb and go through the windows.” Indeed, Cold air weighs More so it is interesting to put this system into practice as long as we keep the windows of the car open a few meters. In this way, it will help air the interior. Of course, then Juan José talks about climbing the cold air to the roof. Although in the video it is not mentioned, this should be done when we have already closed the windows. The idea is that the air that escapes for them is hot and if we have them open and put the air to the ceiling, it will escape part of that cold air. With them closed, the cold air “falls” to being denser and cools before the air conditioning. Maintenance. Finally, do not forget that all this works as long as we have done adequate maintenance. Before going on a trip, it’s always good take an eye on filters To have them in the best state, which will help us to cool more and breathe a better quality air. Likewise, if the car cools little, it may be due to problems with the load of air conditioning gas. Similarly, it is important to review it before summer because, if you do not, you can find that All workshops are completely full. Photo | Verse engine and Xataka In Xataka | Solving one of the great debates of the summer: if the car consumes more with air conditioning or not

There are thousands of more efficient systems to create a “white smoking”. The Vatican refuses for a reason: the Holy Spirit

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On October 26, 1958, one of the More Rocambolescas stories Around al smoke that announces The choice of a new Pope. That morning, smoke appeared clearly white leaving the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and the crowd gathered in the Plaza de San Pedro exploded in jubilation. However, shortly after the smoke became dark, and the faces became disbelief. That confusion stressed the need to improve the clarity of the signal and not leave everything in Holy Spirit hands. A choice between the human and the divine. When the cardinals today enter the Sistine Chapel for Start the conclave, will invoke the Holy Spirit With the song Veni Creator Spiritusan ancestral prayer that summarizes the tension between human reason and spiritual discernment. In Catholic theology, the Holy Spirit It is one of the three people of the Trinity and is considered the true guide of this process. Although the election of the Pope involves politics, strategy and human relations, it also presents itself as a Cooperation with the Divine. Some describe it as a silent presence that guides, does not impose, as a “good educator”, As Benedict XVI saidthat inspires, but does not make decisions for men. Some of it remains in the essence of the final announcement through the white smoke. One thing seems clear: the Church rejects any technification of the moment. The conclave that confused everyone. The unusual scene that we commented at the beginning should choose the successor of Pope Pius XII. That day, during one of the votes, it appeared clearly white smokeHabemus Papam, or so they thought. The people gathered in San Pedro shouted for joy, the bells of the Basilica began to repair and some media came to announce the choice. However, minutes passed, then hours, without the official announcement or the new Pontiff appeared. Finally, the Vatican clarified that he had tried to An error: The white smoke had been the product of incomplete combustion or a poorly calculated mixture, and in reality the consensus necessary to choose potatoes had not yet been reached. The confusion made it clear that some things had to be improved, something that the Vatican corrected in part over time and, since 2005, with the accompaniment of the bell repique to confirm the choice. The language of smoke. It is part of the ritual: every time the Catholic Church chooses a new Pope, millions of people look towards the small chimney from the Sistine Chapel Waiting for the signal: Black smoke if there is no agreement, white smoke if the successor has been chosen. What seems like a simple symbolic gesture is, in reality, a Extremely precise operation and loaded with engineering, chemistry, symbolism and tradition. Burning ballots and the use of smoke as a form of communication They date back to the fifteenth centurywhen a way to transmit the result of the choice without breaking the secret of the conclave. The image of smoke ascending to heaven evokes ancient religious and biblical rites, where smoke was understood as a spiritual bridge between the human and the divine. Preparations and technology. After the Death of Pope Francis At 88, the Vatican confirmed that The conclave It would begin today May 7 with a special mass in San Pedro, followed by secret votes in the Sistine Chapel. There have been installed Two stoves: One to burn ballots and another to generate the visible smoke. These stoves are connected through A metallic ductcarefully assembled and inserted by technicians who work without damaging the Renaissance structure of the chapel. Each tube union is sealed, previous smoke tests are carried out and firefighters are available in alert in case any technical failure occurs. Everything must work without error margin: an escape or an ambiguous signal would turn the liturgical act into a global crisis broadcast live. The 1958 example does not forget. The chemistry of the message. To ensure that the world clearly sees what happens within the conclave, smoke is not exclusive product of ballot combustion. The BBC counted that chemical compounds packaged and electronically activated are used. To generate black smoke, potassium, anthracene and sulfur perchlorate is mixed, and for white, potassium, lactose and pine resin is used. In the past He tried with wet and dry strawbut the results were inconsistent. Since 2005, the Vatican also sounds like those bells of San Pedro to visually and loudly confirm that a new pontiff has been chosen, avoiding confusion such as those that have occurred in the past. Negative to modernize. The truth is that the system could be much easier if the Church would like to take advantage of some of the new technologies. However, despite the advances and suggestions of implementing colored lights, digital alerts or more modern electronic systems, the Vatican insists on Keep the ritual as it is. If you want and from your perspective, for your excellence it is not just about communicating a news, but about preserving a liturgical experience with deep theological burden. As The historian Candida Moss explainedthe smoke not only informs: it incorporates the faithful to the mystery, makes them feel participants of a transcendental moment in the life of the Church. The papal choice is not (alone) an administrative event, but a ceremony full of centuries of faith, solemnity and spiritual continuity. Image | blues_brotherWikimedia In Xataka | Just before locking themselves in the conclave, the cardinals have done one last thing in the Vatican: to give a binge In Xataka | Francisco I has died, so the most strange and fascinating ritual of the Church begins: the funeral of a Pope

All solar panel technologies that exist and which are more efficient, in a graph that goes 1975 until today

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The fastest energy transition in history is not the industrial revolution, as many think, but the one that is happening now With renewable energies. Renewables are being installed at a rate five times greater than all other combined energy sources. And although the great habilitator is the worldwide commitment to zero net emissions, it is the brutal evolution of solar panels that has allowed to reach this point. Photovoltaic panels have been so much that solar energy Start leaving wind energytraditionally more efficient. Throughout the last decades, solar cells have experienced a radical transformation, driven both by advances in material engineering and in innovations in manufacturing techniques; mainly from the Chinese industry, although Japan is trying to lead The next generation. The National Renewable Energies Laboratory (NREL) has Published a graph that illustrates at a glance How each photovoltaic technology has advanced since the 70s and which cells are more efficient today. Traditional cells: crystalline silicon Crystalline silicon cells The crystalline solar cells of silicon (blue in the graph) have dominating the market for several decades. The polyristaline silicon (the one used in solar panels with bluish crystals) is cheaper, but monochronic silicon (with black crystals) is the current standard of the industry thanks to continuous improvements in purification and production processes, which have approached their efficiency to an ability to convert 27.6% of sunlight into energy. Thin film technologies (green in the graph) emerged as an alternative to the crystalline silicon for facilities that require greater flexibility, lower weight or a large -scale manufacturing. The most efficient thin film cells are currently those of copper, Indian, Gallic and Selenium (CIGS) with an efficiency of 23.6%, closely followed by those of cadmium teluro (CDTE). The emerging: organic and perovskitas Emerging technologies cells Red in the graph, they are the photovoltaic cells that have tried to remove the throne from the silicon. Organic cells and coloring sensitized cells (DSSC) use organic compounds to absorb light. Its efficiency is modest (around 19%), but they have the advantage of their low cost and the possibility of integrating them into flexible devices and buildings with varied colors. One of the most revolutionary innovations in recent years has been the development of Perovskita cells (red with yellow filling in the graph). Thanks to its crystalline structure inspired by the mineral of the same name, these cells have been achieving exponential increases in efficiency in a short time, even if they were invented in Japan in the 80s. Perovskita cells are already as efficient as silicon, with an efficiency of 27%, but they have the problem of degrading much earlier. The tandem, the best of both worlds Tandem two materials cells The photovoltaic cells that make up silicon and perovskita in tandem are the most promising for generalized use today. The secret of combining both materials is that the upper perovskita layer absorbs high -energy wavelengths and the lower silicon layer captures the rest of the spectrum. With an efficiency of 36.1%, Tandem cells (brown in the graph) have left behind the theoretical limit of traditional silicon cells (33.7%). Although in the laboratories we still try to look for alternatives to the silicon, which is a more expensive material and with a supply chain controlled by China. All photovoltaic cells and their evolution By the latter, triple or more layers (multijunction) unions are the cells that have reached the greatest efficiencies in laboratory conditions: up to 47.6%. Its cost is high and its production is complex, but these cells are useful in solar concentrators, where maximum performance is sought. Images | NREL

the fastest and most efficient transistor that exists

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Transistors are the cornerstone of Integrated circuits. The first as we know them were currently invented in 1947 by John Bardeen, William Shockley and Walter Brattain, three physicists from Bell laboratories. A simple way to define a transistor invites us to describe it as A semiconductor electronic device which is capable of responding to an input signal by giving us a certain exit. An electronic amplifier, for example, will increase the power, voltage or the current of the signal that we place at its input, using an external power supply. There are several types of transistors (bipolar, specific contact, field effect, uniunion, unique electron, phototransistors, organic electrochemicals, etc.), but, fortunately, we do not need to deepen them much more to be able to move forward with this article. It is enough for us to know two more data about these devices. On the one hand, what They are active elements within the integrated circuits. And, in addition, that those that have allowed us to achieve the level of integration used by current lithographic techniques are those of field effect (FET). Bismuth transistors promise us to change the rules of the game of chips The Spanish physicist Pablo Jarillo-Herrero and his MIT colleagues (Massachusetts Technology Institute), in the US, they talked about the potential of Boro Nituro in a scientific article that they published in Science In 2021. At that time his proposal was only theoretical, but three years later They brought their ideas to practice. And yes, they have enormous potential. What they did, in short, is to manufacture a new type of transistors using an ultra -elapsed ferroelectric material constituted of boron nitride (it is an extremely hard compound formed in the same proportion by boron and nitrogen). This Chinese transistor is 40% faster and 10% more efficient than the most advanced Finfet transistors of Intel and TSMC The starting point of the researchers of the University of Beijing we are talking about in the head of this article is different. In the scientific text they have published in Nature Materials They argue to have designed A GAAFET type field effect transistor (Gate-Lall-Around Field-Effect Transistor) that is 40% faster and 10% more efficient from an energy point of view than the most advanced finger transistors that use Intel and TSMC today. Sounds good. GaaFet technology is already The present of the semiconductorsso TSMC, Intel and Samsung have been working on it for several years. However, these Chinese transistors have a characteristic that clearly unchecks them from the devices that are using the three companies I just mentioned: they use bismuth instead of silicon. The use of this chemical element, according to these Chinese scientists, allows these transistors to solve the limitations imposed by silicon when implementing integrated circuits that They go beyond the 3 nm. These statements by Peng Hailin, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Beijing and leader of this research, express with roundness Why these transistors are important: “It is the fastest and most efficient transistor ever created (…) If innovations in chips based on existing materials are considered a shortcut, then our transistors based on 2D materials are like ‘changing lane’ (…) Our research shows that the GaaFet 2D exhibits a performance and energy efficiency comparable to silicon commercial transistors, which makes them promising candidates for The next generation of semiconductors“Hopefully it is like that. I hope these transistors succeed when leaving the laboratory and be adopted by the industry. Image | TSMC More information | Nature Materials In Xataka | Cobalt is one of the most coveted metals. And it is because it is essential in lithium batteries

A study has discovered a much more efficient activity for your brain than writing by hand or walking: sewing

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We spent the day with hurry to finish tasks pending, accumulating stress and with an excess of dopamine caused by the Infinite social media scroll that, in the long term, ends up undermining our Capacity for concentration. For this reason, neuroscientists recommend performing activities that give a breath to the brain and reduce stress levels. One of the most popular activities to get the body and mind down It is walkingbut a team of researchers from the University of Cardiff have found A curious alternative that, in fact, it has been put Very fashionable worldwide: sew or weave. The relaxing power of sewing In the midst of that maelstrom of things to do to what they call adult life, the brain needs to find A PEACE OF PEACE in relaxing activities capable of reducing daily stress levels. The hobbies They are not just hobbiesbut they are also valuable tools to exercise the brain activating areas related to creativity, psychomotor skills, coordination and even memory. Either sew, Write to Manoo readthese activities offer a healthy escape for stress and a way of exercising our brain in a pleasant way. An investigation of the Faculty of Occupational Therapy of the University of Cardiff published in the magazine Journal of Occupational Science He points out that sewing or weaving, is not only a mechanical movement, but an exercise that stimulates the brain and exercises the ability to concentrate in a single activity. This ability to focus all the attention on a precision motor activity makes stress levels reduce. For its part, the coordinated and constant movement of the hands activates neurotransmitters, keeping neurons working and our dynamic mind. This activity, far from being only for grandmothers, is a valuable therapy that improves the quality of life and helps to achieve a state of mental calm. As with other activities that involve Coordination skills Eye hand, sew or weaving favors the activation of different areas of the brain and releases neurotransmitters associated with well -being. In fact, the effects of weaving or sewing described by researchers at the University of Cardiff are very similar to those discovered by another group of researchers from Florida State University When washing the dishes. It is true that, after an exhausting day at work, the least can feel like it is to wash the dishes. However, the Study data They revealed that carrying out this monotonous and repetitive activity plunged the brain in a state of full attention that increased up to 25% the abstract thinking activity for the generation of new ideas and reduced by up to 27% the levels of stress and anxiety. In fact, as confessed in a Round of Questions in Redditthis is one of Bill Gates’s favorite activities to get rid of stress. Additional benefits for well -being Apart from the obvious mental benefits, sewing and weaving offer physical advantages that can improve the quality of life. These types of repetitive and mechanical activities provide effects similar to meditation: Reduce stress. When concentrating all the attention on the hands and in the creative process, it is possible to reduce blood pressure, which at the same time decreases the risk of cardiovascular problems. This physical and mental relaxation effect helps to disconnect from the accelerated rhythm of daily life. Analytical thought. Measure fabrics or threads, design garments, choose colors, plan projects, etc. All this contributes to strengthening analytical thinking and developing logical processes by establishing an order of priorities in the steps. Increase concentration. The activity requires attention to details, so the capacity for mental approach and attention is enhanced. Immediate tangible reward. Unlike other activities such as meditating, sewing or knitting provides a reward at the end of the work, which contributes to improving self -esteem. In addition to all that, sewing will allow you to repair the damage of your clothes, so, in addition, you are going to save some money while you relax. How much they knew Our mothers and grandmothers. In Xataka | Feeling over at work is normal, but it is not ideal: six techniques to avoid it and be much more productive Image | Pixabay (Wal_172619), Freepik

It is safer, efficient and hard more

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During the last five years the modular and compact fission reactorsknown as SMR for its English denomination (Small Modular Reactor), have monopolized all the prominence. These machines are called replace reactors of nuclear fission Conventional because, without investigating their peculiarities, they are smaller, clean, safe and cheap. However, it is currently innovating in this field beyond the reactors. Another area to which some research and companies are dedicating their resources is the fuel used in this form of electricity generation. As we explain in the article we publish after visiting The fuel bars factory That the Spanish public company enusa advanced industries in Salamanca, the fuel usually used in the fission reactors is made up of slightly enriched uranium oxide (never above 5%). This means that at most only 5% of the total mass of uranium is the Uranium-235 isotope (which is the “easily” fistable), while the rest is mostly Uranium-238. It may seem that there is very little uranium-235 in front of the total mass of uranium, but in reality this amount is sufficient to sustain the reaction of nuclear fission. On the other hand, this is the proportion set by international regulations for the production of fuel for nuclear power plants. An interesting note: nuclear weapons use high enrichment uranium, so more than 90% of the total mass is Uranium-235. Lightbridge Fuel is ready to replace the conventional fuel To manufacture the fuel bars used by most of the reactors in operation, it is necessary to subject the uranium to the mixing, pressed, sintering, rectified and inspection processes. These procedures are carried out in an area of ​​the factory known as the ceramic area, and the mechanical area takes over to manufacture the combustible elements that will finally go to nuclear power plants. What the American company Lightbridge Corporation proposes with its Lightbridge Fuel nuclear fuel is different. The main contribution of the Lightbridge Fuel fuel is that in its production a process known as coextrition is involved Its fuel has been designed to be used in light water reactors and existing heavy water pressurized, so it has been developed with the vocation of replace traditional fuel bars. The main contribution of the Lightbridge Fuel fuel is that in its production a process known as coextrition is involved. It consists of covering the cylindrical pills of impoverished uranium and zirconium with an alloy of zirconium and then subdue this structure at high pressure in a die with the purpose of shapeing a cylindrical rod of approximately 2.4 meters long. Circonium alloy used in the coating is crucial to confine radioactive fuel within the nuclear reactor. In any case, the really important thing is that according to its creators the Lightbridge fuel fuel Stop in several key parameters to the conventional fuel. “By integrating the uranium and zirconium alloy with a nuclear degree coating material we are improving the safety, efficiency and fuel performance,” Assures Scott HolcombeVice President of Engineering of Lightbridge Corporation. If this fuel finally exceeds all relevant security tests and is approved by the regulatory authorities in the future, it can also be used in modular and compact reactors (SMR). More information | Interesting Engineering In Xataka | China advances at a dizzying speed in nuclear fusion. It already has something ready that until now only had the Netherlands

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