The Science of Solar: Photovoltaics

The Naked Scientists Podcast

Dr Chris Smith

Science Radio, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Science, Medicine, Life Sciences, Technology, Health & Fitness, Naked Scientists

4.6 • 893 Ratings

🗓️ 7 March 2010

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Shedding some light on new advances in solar technology, this week's Naked Scientists explores how nanotechnology can boost solar cell efficiency and how flexible photovoltaics can be rolled up - and rolled out - to help power military operations. In Kitchen Science we reveal how to make your very own solar cell from some old electronics, and in this week's news, the gene combination that's perfect for tuberculosis, the methane time-bomb ticking off the Siberian coast, the first human writing and how doctors are knocking migraines on the head with a magnet. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Transcript

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0:00.0	Boldly going where no science show has gone before.
0:05.0	The Naked Scientists.
0:10.0	Well this week, what do TB and Goldilocks have in common? Well scientists have
0:17.9	found that some people have a gene combination that is just right for the bug
0:21.8	to flourish in them and we'll find out what it is
0:24.2	and how it might help to tackle the disease in future. Also why a new discovery
0:29.3	lurking off the coast of Siberia could spell disaster for the Earth's climate.
0:34.0	Sounds spooky, we'll hear more in a second, and also
0:37.0	knocking migraines on the head with magnetism.
0:40.0	We'll be hearing our doctors have found that a burst from a magnet can stop a migraine in its
0:45.2	tracks which is eminently more attractive than actually having the headache.
0:48.6	Hello welcome to this week's naked scientists I'm Chris Smith and also here to help present the program this week is Diana O' Carroll.
0:55.0	Yes, it's me and also this week we're looking at the science of solar energy.
1:00.0	We'll be hearing how scientists are developing new materials to maximize power production,
1:05.2	how architects are drawing up better buildings to minimize electricity bills and make the most of the
1:10.4	free energy from the sun, and a new flexible solar material that can be
1:14.7	rolled up and even turned into a tent. Perfect for my camping holidays. Not sure if it
1:18.6	works in Scotland though. We'll find out. Thank you very much Diana. Now also on
1:22.2	the subject of solar cells in this week's
1:24.3	kitchen science Ben and Dave will show you how you can make one of your very own
1:28.8	that's coming up so if you have any questions or you just want to say hi have some feedback for us to get in touch.
1:34.9	The email address is Chris at the naked scientist.com
	...

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