2020-10-31 (Saturday)
Today, I learned about:
Something very interesting happened earlier this month:
Room-temperature superconductivity
Researchers at the University of Rochester demonstrated that a compound made of carbon, hydrogen and sulphur is able to carry electrical charges with no electrical resistance at such a high temperature as 15°C. This temperature is much higher than what any proven superconductivity has been performed at before.
There is however one catch. This demonstration could only take place because the material was under a pressure of 275 GPa, which is almost three million times higher than normal air pressure. But the research team is working on that, through a special technique called “compositional tuning”.
If they will be able to make this material more economical to produce, then it can lead to power grids that save millions of MWh, faster electronics and new ways to propel levitation and its use in transports.
More information about this exciting discovery can be found in references 1 and 2 below.
Before going over to some interesting updates to earlier posts I have made, some words about the following fabulous photo.
My friend Gustavo Winckler recently visited Gothenburg with his family. They got really amused about this cosy city, and who would not? You may remember my post of 2017-02-28, where Gothenburg was called the world’s best city regarding the social behaviour and attitudes of its residents.
His wife, Tatiana Winckler, took the photo in a central park from the 19th century, called the Garden Society of Gothenburg. This particular photo shows the Palmhouse and some nice treats at this time of the year. Thank you, Tatiana, for illuminating our world with this amazing photo!
See also reference #3 below.
Updates to earlier posts
Flying boat made of cashews
In my post of 2017-06-23, I wrote about a boat developed by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, which rides over the waves at astounding speed. And now they have done it again!
This time, 30 Chalmers students from different grades and educational tracks constructed a flying boat made of cashews to compete in the sailing race 1001VelaCup in Italy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was cancelled, but the boat won the replacement design competition. See the photo below and reference #4 further down.
Solar energy in EU project
In my post of 2019-12-31, I wrote about a groundbreaking use of solar panels in a system to store and retrieve energy. Now that project is on its way with developing prototypes for large scale applications. It has been awarded an EU grant of 4,3 million Euros for a start.
See also reference #5 below.
Video clip of Gripen’s presentation to the public
In my post of 2020-09-22, I wrote about the arrival and first days of the Swedish multifunction airplane Gripen E in Brazil. Now you can also see a video of its official presentation during the Aviator’s day in Brasília on 2020-10-23.
Click on reference #6 below to access the video.
That’s what I learned in school !
Ref.:
1: Scientists Have Created the First Room-Temperature Superconductor
2: Room-temperature superconductivity in a carbonaceous sulfur hydride
3: The Garden Society of Gothenburg
4: Flying boat of cashews won in Italy
5: Groundbreaking research into solar energy in EU project
What did you learn in School today? 