Tag Archives: electricity

Huntstown Power Station, Dublin

Gulp.

Anyone?

Update: figures disputed (see comments).

Previously: Irish Firms May Face Power Cuts at Hour’s Notice, Report Says

RollingNews

This Day in Irish History

This day 73 years ago – 5 November 1946 – the ESB (Electricity Supply Board) began its Rural Electrification Scheme to bring electricity to remote parts of Ireland.

It became known as “the Quiet Revolution.” The first electricity pole was erected at Kilsallaghan in County. Dublin…

Uncanny, in fairness.

ESB Group

Meanwhile…

Another fascinating science animation from German educational design studio Kurzgesagt. In this case, the electromagnetic radiation that surrounds us and whether it’s as dangerous as some think.

Previously: Is Meat Bad For You?

Screen Shot 2014-08-05 at 22.07.30

People around the world produce an estimated 6.4 trillion litres of urine every year. BRL, a collaboration between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, want to make the most of this abundant resource. At the core of urine-tricity are microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which contain live microbes. When urine flows through an MFC the microbes consume it as part of their normal metabolic process. This, in turn, frees electrons. Electrodes within the cell gather these electrons and when they are connected to an external circuit a current is generated.

It is early days, but the work—which is being supported by a number of organisations, including the Gates Foundation—shows that urine could have the potential to make a significant contribution to renewable energy. It might also provide a commercial incentive to build more toilets—over 2.5 billion people around the world have no access to proper sanitation.

There’s money in them thar ‘nals.

Pee power (The Economist)

woodvolts

Melanie Hoff, a student at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, connected cables to a large sheet of wood and passed 15,000 volts through it, resulting in some rather unexpected fractal-esque patterns, like slow motion lightning.

We have no idea what this means but we’re pretty sure things will never be the same again.

colossal