Check out today's Hacker News: http://news.ycombinator.com/news

You can click on the comments links for good discussions:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4772481
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4772971

Unlike /. the comments here generally stay on-topic.  :)

   -- Owen


On Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 10:04 AM, Mike Orshan <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi:
>
> Since solar is my business I have a few comments.  First, this is the holy
> grail of solar.  If you can adhere films to windows and skylights etc. and
> get enough to power a house or building that's good.  However, the two main
> issues are still issues.  One is spectrum.  Infrared is good because it is
> cool light.  Still getting more spectrum will be important  to increase
> efficiency that needs to get to 15%.  I think commercial panels are closer
> to 17%, the article says 12%, but it is arguable.  If this can
> attract diffused light that would be very critical because windows are all
> over the house and rarely in direct sunlight.  The other issue is to move
> current via a conductor.  Nano deals with different particles that need new
> metals.  Years ago gold was the only metal capable, now, probably with nano
> powders, maybe they came up with something new.  This also needs to be
> affordable.
>
> I think it is great movement forward.  I do track this and appreciate the
> article.
>
> Mike
>
> On Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 9:50 AM, Owen Densmore <[email protected]>wrote:
>
>> Cool! Spray your windows and power your house!
>>
>>    -- Owen
>>
>> http://phys.org/news/2012-08-ucla-transparent-solar-game-changer.html
>>
>> One of the holy grails of solar cell technology may have been found, with
>> researchers at UCLA announcing they have created a new organic polymer that
>> produces electricity, is nearly transparent and is more durable and
>> malleable than silicon.
>>
>> The applications are mind-boggling. Windows that produce electricity.
>> Buildings wrapped in transparent solar cells. Laptops and phones ?- or even
>> cars or planes ?- whose outer coverings act as chargers. It might even be
>> sprayed on as a liquid. The promise of cheap and easy-to-apply
>> site-generated solar electricity might now be a lot closer to reality
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
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>
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Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
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