Recent research has revealed that floating solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have the potential to meet the entire electricity demands of certain countries. These innovative systems, which are installed on bodies of water such as reservoirs, lakes, and oceans, can take advantage of vast unused surfaces to generate significant amounts of clean energy. By reducing land use and taking advantage of cooler temperatures over water to increase efficiency, floating PV panels represent a promising solution for sustainable energy production. This breakthrough highlights the potential for renewable energy technologies to play a crucial role in addressing global energy needs and mitigating climate change.

Despite variations in output due to factors such as altitude, latitude, and season, the potential annual electricity generation from floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems on lakes is remarkable. Research indicates that these FPV installations could produce 1302 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually, which is approximately four times the total annual electricity demand of the United Kingdom. This significant potential underscores the capability of FPV technology to contribute substantially to the global energy supply, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional energy sources.

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems present a significant opportunity for many countries to meet a substantial portion of their electricity needs. In regions such as Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Central Asia, FPV installations could supply between 40% and 70% of the annual electricity demand. In Europe, Finland could meet 17% of its electricity needs through FPV, while Denmark could achieve 7%. These figures highlight the diverse potential of FPV technology to enhance energy security and support the transition to renewable energy across various geographical and climatic conditions.

Researchers have found that the UK could generate 2.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually from floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems. Although this accounts for just under 1% of the country’s overall electricity demand, it is still a significant contribution. This amount of electricity would be sufficient to power approximately one million homes, based on the current Ofgem estimate of average household electricity usage at 2,700 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. This potential highlights the role FPV could play in enhancing the UK’s renewable energy portfolio and supporting sustainable energy initiatives.

A small brain sample was broken down into 5,000 pieces and reassembled using artificial intelligence. The discoveries even surprised experts. The map is freely accessible on the Neuroglancer platform.

An atlas of the human brain is neuroscience’s dream. Scientists from Harvard and Google have now come a little closer to this. They created a nanoscale 3D map of a single cubic millimeter of the human brain. Although this only covers a fraction of the organ – a whole brain is a million times larger – this piece alone contains around 57,000 cells, 230 millimeters of blood vessels and around 150 million synapses. It is the highest resolution image of the human brain to date.

To create such a detailed map, the team cut a tissue sample into 5,000 slices and scanned them with a high-speed electron microscope. A machine learning model was then used to electronically reassemble and “label” the sections. The raw data set alone took up 1.4 petabytes. “This is probably the most computationally intensive work in all of neuroscience,” says Michael Hawrylycz, a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science who was not involved in the research. “It’s a herculean task.”

All previous brain atlases contain data with much lower resolution. On the nanoscale, however, researchers can trace the wiring of the brain neuron by neuron right down to the synapses, the places where they connect. “To truly understand how the human brain works, how it processes information and stores memories, we ultimately need a map with this resolution,” says Viren Jain, a senior researcher at Google and co-author of the paper published in the journal Science . The data set itself appeared in 2021.

NASA has now managed to create an interactive video that allows each of us to experience the feeling of getting very close to one. “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly into a black hole?” This is the question that starts an interactive video that NASA has published – and that brings us closer to the fascination of black holes.

NASA has now managed to create an interactive video that allows each of us to experience the feeling of getting very close to one of their most fascinating missions. This groundbreaking video uses advanced virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree imaging technologies to immerse viewers in a simulated space environment. Users can navigate through the intricate details of spacecraft, explore celestial bodies, and even feel as though they are part of the crew on a space mission. This innovation not only enhances public engagement and education about space exploration but also provides a unique perspective on the complexities and wonders of NASA’s work. So he simulated two different scenarios: one in which a camera replacing an astronaut narrowly misses the black hole and shoots back out, and one in which it crosses the border and falls into it.

In order to create such impressive videos, special basics are required. Schnittman and his colleagues used the Discover supercomputer at the NASA Center for Climate Simulation . The project generated around ten terabytes of data, which the supercomputer worked on for around five days, according to a NASA statement . For comparison: According to NASA, this work would have taken more than a decade with a normal laptop .