Mr. Fork, with all due apologies, there is actually extensive recylcing & reclamation of solar cells. The Si-cells, which are the most common commercial solar cells, are 99.999% pure Si, and, as you mentioned, take a fair amount of energy to produce (more on this later). Solar cells typically take 10-20 years for any noticable drop in performance, and, even then, the drop is slight. Typical drops in yearly performance is dust/debis on the panels, which can be removed easily enough. If/when a panel needs replacing, those panels are used as raw materials for new panels (why waste the purity?). New technologies have also significantly reduced the energy required from 75-125 kWh / kg Si all the way down to 10 - 30 kWh / kg Si. These new technologies also eliminate the need for silanes, which are both toxic and dangerous. Improvements in effiencies & technology have also reduced the thickness of panels from 300 microns down to 180 microns, resulting in substantially less Si needed for the same power generated.
The more exotic (and more efficient) solar panels are CdTe, CuInSe2, and GaAs. These panels are incredibly thin, on the order of 1 - 3 microns, and encased to glass to protect it. If & when a panel needs to be replaced, there are extensive procedures already in place to leach & precipitate out the above elements resulting in a mineral-rich filter cake and clean glass, which are both used in the generation of new panels.
One of the major factors to keep photovoltaics competitive is sustainability, thus there are very aggressive recylcing efforts and new technologies to minimize the environmental impact.
The cost of generating power via photovoltaics has dropped significantly...even below $1.00 per watt generated, making it very competitive.
Yes, I am studing photovoltaics at the graduate level, and my office at work is next door to the photovoltaics division.
I was in the 8th grade when the Challenger exploded. I was sitting in Math class, and the principal, who looked very distant or distracted, walked into the room and announced that the Space Shuttle had exploded. She said that there was a television in the library, and if anyone wanted to watch, they could. She wasn't saying this to be ghoulish, but sort of matter-of-factly. The look on her face was unforgettable: pure shock and disbelief...no sadness...just shock. Needless to say, the math teacher essentially cancelled class, and I made my way to the library. There were about 20 or so chairs in a loose jumble around the TV, and most of these were full. I took a seat in front of the 6th grade English teacher, and turned to watch. I don't remember what channel it was...I suspect it was CNN, but it could have been network coverage. There was a man on talking very quietly and sadly, but looking down constantly at notes, not even looking at the camera. There was a graphic in the upper right that may have said "Challenger Explodes". After about 2-3 minutes of reading notes outloud, the man finally looked up and said they were going to show video of the event. The video showed a routine take-off and liftoff. As Challenger got further and further, the image got shakier and slightly grainy, as if they were switching to cameras with higher and higher zooms. Suddenly, Challenger exploded. No warning. Nothing. The most vivid memory was that the teacher sitting behind me actually jumped in her seat pretty hard. She'd been watching so intently that she was more surprized than I, if that was possible. I could do nothing other than stare blankly at the TV in disbelief. I couldn't even register a coherent thought at that point. My whole body and mind was simply numb. The rest of that day was a total fog...I think I sat in front of the TV for another 15-20 minutes. I don't remember speaking to anyone the rest of the school day, but no one else seemed to be in the mood to talk. Even today, I was shuddering reading the recount of this tragic event that happened 20 years ago.
Heh. You hope it seems instantateous, at least. Until we thaw one of those suckers out and reanimate 'em, we won't know if they wake up saying "what was that?" or "OH MY GOD WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, THE ETERNAL FREEZING LIMBO!!!!!!!!!"
Very similar to a short Steven King story called "The Jaunt". The premise of the story is that mankind has invented instantaneous teleportation devices, however, the user must be unconsious. While it took the physical body a fraction of a fraction of a second to teleport, it took a near-inifinite amount of time for the mind.
Pure (100%) H2 is *not* flammable. Hydrogen gas is flammable in concentrations ranging from 4% to 96% in air. Less than 4% is too dilute to burn, and greater than 96% leaves too little oxygen to support combustion.
This is a rating that has been sorely needed, IMO. Parents shopping for games for their not-quite-teenaged children may balk at picking up games rated "T", but also do not want to get most of the "E"-rated games that only pre-schoolers would enjoy.
Most (not all of course) 8-12 year olds have outgrown Bob the Builder, Barbie, and other Cute & Cuddly (TM) characters and shows. They want to start sinking their teeth into whatever their big brother/sister or parents are doing...it's simply a stage of their growing up. This will defintely help parents puchase more age-appropriate games.
Smart move, ESRB.
(Cue to "Block-O Land")
Homer: "See. I can eat healthy. I just made an apple from these ham cubes."
(Rubs ham-apple on shirt which leaves a huge grease stain)
My 9th grade history teacher told me about 15 years ago to buy up cases of motor oil and store them in the attic, claiming that we'd be out of the stuff in 30 years.
With the new alternate fuels and new methods of oil extraction (eg. steaming oil sands in Canada), doesn't look like that's going to happen too soon......good thing he's sticking to studying the past and not the future. *grin*
Given the superior capabilities of laptops these days (and sprinkle in a bit of RIAA angst), it's no wonder you're seeing this more and more.
Hopefully, this will give many garage bands the ability to get their music recorded the way they wanted it to sound in a large recording studio without all the $$$ involved. This in turn may lead to hearing a much better selection than the dreck on radio these days...
No, really!
Check out the following link:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/09/30/china.wan hu/index.html
From the sounds of it, the explosion certainly sent him onto outer space, and he (most likely) flamed down in the outback......can the X-Prize be awarded post-humously?;)
Slashdot Mirror
Er...your gold values are WAY off. I'll happily buy your gold for $5k/kilo right now...as much as you can supply.
At roughly $1350/ troy oz., gold is approximately $43k/kilo., so your 300+ tons is more like 16 toms.
If neither works, use a hammer.
Mr. Fork, with all due apologies, there is actually extensive recylcing & reclamation of solar cells. The Si-cells, which are the most common commercial solar cells, are 99.999% pure Si, and, as you mentioned, take a fair amount of energy to produce (more on this later). Solar cells typically take 10-20 years for any noticable drop in performance, and, even then, the drop is slight. Typical drops in yearly performance is dust/debis on the panels, which can be removed easily enough. If/when a panel needs replacing, those panels are used as raw materials for new panels (why waste the purity?). New technologies have also significantly reduced the energy required from 75-125 kWh / kg Si all the way down to 10 - 30 kWh / kg Si. These new technologies also eliminate the need for silanes, which are both toxic and dangerous. Improvements in effiencies & technology have also reduced the thickness of panels from 300 microns down to 180 microns, resulting in substantially less Si needed for the same power generated. The more exotic (and more efficient) solar panels are CdTe, CuInSe2, and GaAs. These panels are incredibly thin, on the order of 1 - 3 microns, and encased to glass to protect it. If & when a panel needs to be replaced, there are extensive procedures already in place to leach & precipitate out the above elements resulting in a mineral-rich filter cake and clean glass, which are both used in the generation of new panels. One of the major factors to keep photovoltaics competitive is sustainability, thus there are very aggressive recylcing efforts and new technologies to minimize the environmental impact. The cost of generating power via photovoltaics has dropped significantly...even below $1.00 per watt generated, making it very competitive. Yes, I am studing photovoltaics at the graduate level, and my office at work is next door to the photovoltaics division.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYeL3fowrHg [youtube.org]
Be careful with using those to reproduce. Remember: one species love-lubricant can be another species caustic death sauce...
"Tonight, on a very special Star Wars, Jar Jar #TK-421 undergoes a short, quick, pain-free death."
Fans can't get enough of those Jar-Jar deaths.
I was in the 8th grade when the Challenger exploded. I was sitting in Math class, and the principal, who looked very distant or distracted, walked into the room and announced that the Space Shuttle had exploded. She said that there was a television in the library, and if anyone wanted to watch, they could. She wasn't saying this to be ghoulish, but sort of matter-of-factly. The look on her face was unforgettable: pure shock and disbelief...no sadness...just shock. Needless to say, the math teacher essentially cancelled class, and I made my way to the library. There were about 20 or so chairs in a loose jumble around the TV, and most of these were full. I took a seat in front of the 6th grade English teacher, and turned to watch. I don't remember what channel it was...I suspect it was CNN, but it could have been network coverage. There was a man on talking very quietly and sadly, but looking down constantly at notes, not even looking at the camera. There was a graphic in the upper right that may have said "Challenger Explodes". After about 2-3 minutes of reading notes outloud, the man finally looked up and said they were going to show video of the event. The video showed a routine take-off and liftoff. As Challenger got further and further, the image got shakier and slightly grainy, as if they were switching to cameras with higher and higher zooms. Suddenly, Challenger exploded. No warning. Nothing. The most vivid memory was that the teacher sitting behind me actually jumped in her seat pretty hard. She'd been watching so intently that she was more surprized than I, if that was possible. I could do nothing other than stare blankly at the TV in disbelief. I couldn't even register a coherent thought at that point. My whole body and mind was simply numb. The rest of that day was a total fog...I think I sat in front of the TV for another 15-20 minutes. I don't remember speaking to anyone the rest of the school day, but no one else seemed to be in the mood to talk.
Even today, I was shuddering reading the recount of this tragic event that happened 20 years ago.
Heh. You hope it seems instantateous, at least. Until we thaw one of those suckers out and reanimate 'em, we won't know if they wake up saying "what was that?" or "OH MY GOD WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, THE ETERNAL FREEZING LIMBO!!!!!!!!!"
Very similar to a short Steven King story called "The Jaunt". The premise of the story is that mankind has invented instantaneous teleportation devices, however, the user must be unconsious. While it took the physical body a fraction of a fraction of a second to teleport, it took a near-inifinite amount of time for the mind.
Bender: {on phone with Leela's agent} Put a "1" and two "0"s after that figure or we're through. [Pause] Deal! {Hangs up}
Leela: Wow! How much money do you get me?
Bender: $100!
You insensitive clod!
Pure (100%) H2 is *not* flammable. Hydrogen gas is flammable in concentrations ranging from 4% to 96% in air. Less than 4% is too dilute to burn, and greater than 96% leaves too little oxygen to support combustion.
Here's a proud engineer with his hoverboard and details on materials/construction: http://www.designnews.com/article/CA414124.html
really inspires us all
smoke is from server
This is a rating that has been sorely needed, IMO. Parents shopping for games for their not-quite-teenaged children may balk at picking up games rated "T", but also do not want to get most of the "E"-rated games that only pre-schoolers would enjoy. Most (not all of course) 8-12 year olds have outgrown Bob the Builder, Barbie, and other Cute & Cuddly (TM) characters and shows. They want to start sinking their teeth into whatever their big brother/sister or parents are doing...it's simply a stage of their growing up. This will defintely help parents puchase more age-appropriate games. Smart move, ESRB.
Inspector! Gotta love that theme song...
In Soviet Russia, climate warms *you*! Oh, wait...
I kicker is that they'll get higher TV ratings than the actual NHL games...
...Pintos, for example. Problem with them was that they disposed of the owners too...
...what's it extruding now?.....EWWWWWWW!!!
(Cue to "Block-O Land") Homer: "See. I can eat healthy. I just made an apple from these ham cubes." (Rubs ham-apple on shirt which leaves a huge grease stain)
...in Soviet Russia, minimun wage makes YOU!
My 9th grade history teacher told me about 15 years ago to buy up cases of motor oil and store them in the attic, claiming that we'd be out of the stuff in 30 years. With the new alternate fuels and new methods of oil extraction (eg. steaming oil sands in Canada), doesn't look like that's going to happen too soon... ...good thing he's sticking to studying the past and not the future. *grin*
Given the superior capabilities of laptops these days (and sprinkle in a bit of RIAA angst), it's no wonder you're seeing this more and more. Hopefully, this will give many garage bands the ability to get their music recorded the way they wanted it to sound in a large recording studio without all the $$$ involved. This in turn may lead to hearing a much better selection than the dreck on radio these days...
...products place YOU!!
No, really! Check out the following link: http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/09/30/china.wan hu/index.html
From the sounds of it, the explosion certainly sent him onto outer space, and he (most likely) flamed down in the outback... ...can the X-Prize be awarded post-humously? ;)