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Smartflower, the Smartest Sunflower Solar Panel that Collects Energy from the Sun

They bloom in the daytime to get as much solar energy as possible!

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Solar energy-gathering technology is on the rise which absolutely means good news for our environment! More and more people are embracing this earth-friendly source of energy and innovators are working on creating some of the most efficient means of gathering energy from the sun.

Now let us introduce the Smartflower, which is a smart solar panel that follows the sun throughout the day. As opposed to the static solar panels you may be used to seeing on rooftops or lawns, the Smartflower, much like a sunflower, follows the direction of the sun to ensure that it gathers as much sunlight as it can throughout the day. This means it is capable of producing 40% more energy than regular solar panels.

The Smartflower adjusts to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

Source: Smartflower

The Smartflower is capable of generating up to 4,000 kWh a year. That’s the equivalent of an average household’s daily use of electricity. And it’s not even an eyesore, as the Smartflower looks like a whimsical ornament that stands at 16 feet tall.

Its daily routine consists of unfolding at the break of dawn and instantly facing the direction of the sun. As it unfolds, tiny brushes on the back of each panel dust off the panel beneath it, so you won’t have to manually clean each panel. Keep in mind that something as seemingly trivial as dust can reduce the efficiency of solar panels. The Smartflower then automatically moves to face the sun throughout the day. And at night or during strong winds, it folds itself up back into its base.

While it may look huge at 16 feet, it automatically folds up at night.

Source: Smartflower

The Smartflower is designed with a plug-and-play system. Installers can quickly move the solar panel from one place to another, which makes it easy for those who are on the move. And as an aesthetic touch, it comes in a variety of colors – berry, lavender, mermaid, amber, porcelain, pearl, jungle, and ocean.

Visit the Smartflower website to learn more.

Sci/Tech

Newly Discovered Material Can Convert Heat, Light, and Movement to Electricity All at Once

This mineral may just be the next big thing in green energy!

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A new material capable of instantly converting various types of energy, including light and heat energy, into electricity all at once has just been found. Researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland have recently discovered a mineral with a structure akin to that of a perovskite crystal, a material that can turn multiple energy sources into electricity.

Perovskite come from a family of minerals known for possessing properties that allow conversion of at least two types of energy - not simultaneously, though, to usable power. Some types may be efficient in converting solar energy while others may harness energy from heat and motion. This means that to create a device that can efficiently transform multiple types of energy into electricity all at once, multiple materials must likewise be used.

Perovskite crystals are ferroelectric.

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Sci/Tech

Japan is Set to Build the World’s Largest Floating Solar Power Plant

With the move towards green energy on its way, Japan has made a bold move by creating this giant floating power plant!

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Tokyo Leasing Corporation, along with Kyocera Corporation, has announced plans to build the world's largest floating solar power plant. Kyocera is a Kyoto-based manufacturer of advanced ceramics, and has expanded to creating semiconductor packaging and electronic components, alongside solar power generation systems. Japan is the third country to create a floating solar power plant so far, with India and Australia as its predecessors.

The 13.7 megawatt power plant will be placed on the Yamakura Dam reservoir, and another 7.5 megawatt power plant will be build on Umenokifurukori reservoir. There has been no word on exactly how much this project will cost the government.

The Yamakura Dam floating solar power plant can generate enough electricity to sustain up to 4,700 households!

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Sci/Tech

Nokia 3310, The World’s Most Reliable Phone, to be Relaunched This Year

Shut up and take my money!

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Amidst all the news about exploding mobile phones, we bring you some good news. Nokia 3310, the sturdiest and most reliable mobile phone ever invented, is set to have its comeback sometime this year - 17 years after it was first launched. The ultra-resilient phone is known for its seemingly infinite battery life and almost indestructible body.

The unit reincarnation, which is rumored to be sold for around $62, will be unveiled later this month at the Mobile World Congress. It is still unknown, though, if we'll see the same, exact 3310 model that we knew almost two decades ago, or if the manufacturer will add new features. However, based on the phone's description on Amazon, it seems that original features, including a calculator, a clock, and games we have so loved: Snake II, Pairs II, Bantumi, and Space Impact, will be retained.

Nokia 3310 - the "most resilient" phone ever.

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