Solar Panel Recycling Solution Found

Daily Upsider on December 21, 2023

Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular option for supplemental power, particularly because of its reported environmental impact. However, as solar panels reach the end of their lifespan, the question of how to recycle these materials has become a pressing issue. Researchers from Australia’s Deakin University are working on a groundbreaking solution to this problem.

Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials has been at the forefront of this research, with Dr. Md Mokhlesur Rahman and Prof. Ying (Ian) Chen leading the charge. Their focus is on repurposing the silicon in used solar panels, which is the most valuable component of the panels. This breakthrough could be the missing piece in the puzzle of solar panel recycling.

The team has developed a process to extract silicon from discarded solar panels and then convert it into nano silicon for use in lithium-ion batteries. This innovative approach not only addresses the issue of solar panel waste but also provides a sustainable source of raw battery materials for the future.

The potential impact of this research is enormous. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be around 1.5 million tons of solar panels lying in waste. The ability to recycle and repurpose these materials could generate recovered materials worth $15 billion, based on the 78 million tons of solar panel waste expected to be generated globally by 2050.

The researchers have also found that the recovered silicon can be used in other applications, such as nano-fertilizers and innovative methods for carbon capture. This means that the technology has the potential to create a circular economy in the solar industry, where waste is minimized and resources are reused in a sustainable manner.

Deakin University’s efforts in solar panel recycling are part of a larger initiative called the Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH). This four-year, $380 million project aims to drive new technology in hydrogen, battery storage, and recycling for a circular economy.

These 1920 Inventions Will Shock You!

Daily Upsider on December 21, 2023

It amazes me to no end what we humans can come up with. There are many amazing inventions happening right now, but I think some of the most fascinating come to us out of the early to mid-20th century.

Some of these are seriously ingenious! Let us know if you got a favorite one. I think my favorite is the helicopter boat thing. That looks so fun.

Strange Christmas Traditions Around the World

Daily Upsider on December 20, 2023

Discover a variety of global Christmas traditions—from religious and secular to sweet and slightly menacing. Whether you’re into the festivity or using a Christmas demon to keep kids in line, there’s a tradition on this list for everyone.

Austria
St. Nicholas and his sinister companion, Krampus, visit children on December 5th to reward good behavior with treats and punish bad behavior. Krampus is often depicted as a half-human, half-goat creature with hooves, horns, and a long tongue. He carries a basket or bag, chains, bells, and birch branches for various menacing purposes.

In addition to this tradition, children in Austria submit their Christmas wish lists to Christkind (Baby Jesus) by burning them in the fireplace. Alongside these folklore elements, Austrians also engage in festive activities such as decorating Christmas trees, singing carols, baking cookies, and enjoying Christmas markets.

Philippines
San Fernando, dubbed the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, lives up to its name with a year-round Christmas-themed park and the famous Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu). The festival, which began in 1931, has gained immense popularity, featuring a competition among 11 villages to craft the most stunning star-shaped lanterns.

Originally, lanterns were made with paper on bamboo frames using rice paste. However, the modern versions are technicolor marvels, constructed with welded steel frames, plastic materials (replacing paper), and adorned with thousands of tiny lights.

Japan
Since a strategic 1974 ad campaign by KFC Japan, fried chicken has become a popular Christmas meal, with many families still following this tradition today. Due to high demand, pre-ordering is necessary, and some may even wait in long lines on Christmas Day for a bucket of boneless wings. In Japan, Christmas is mainly a secular novelty holiday, marked by dazzling Christmas light displays in Tokyo and the exchange of gifts among families.

Germany
In Germany, St. Nicholas travels on a donkey to deliver treats to children on Nikolaus Tag (December 6th), leaving goodies in their shoes. His devilish counterpart, Farmhand Rupert, accompanies him, wearing dark clothing with bells and carrying a stick for naughty children. Germany is home to renowned Christmas markets with billions of lights, gift shopping, live entertainment, and glühwein (hot mulled wine) for adults.

Google pays $700 million fine

Daily Upsider on December 20, 2023

Google has recently agreed to pay $700 million to settle an antitrust case with US states and consumers over its app store practices. The settlement was reached in September, but the finer details were made public on Monday with the company adding that it will allow more competition in its Google Play app store. This comes just a week after Google lost a lawsuit to Epic Games over its app store practices.

The settlement is for a lawsuit that accused Google of engaging in anticompetitive behavior through its Google Play store, which is how most people download apps on Android devices. The settlement includes a $630 million payout for U.S. consumers who utilized a payment system within the Google Play Store that the state attorneys general alleged magnified prices for in-app purchases.

The settlement requires Google to make changes to its app store, such as allowing app and game developers to implement alternative billing options alongside Google Play’s billing system for U.S. users. This will give developers more options and could lead to lower prices for consumers.

In the preceding lawsuit, Epic Games accused Google of maintaining a monopoly over the distribution of apps on Android devices through its Play Store. The court ruled in favor of Epic Games, finding that Google had indeed engaged in anticompetitive practices. This settlement is a significant win for Epic Games and for consumers, as it will lead to more competition in the app market and potentially lower prices for apps and in-app purchases.

Overall, these developments are a major shake-up for the app market and could have far-reaching implications for the way apps are distributed and sold on Android devices. It remains to be seen how these changes will play out in the long term, but for now, it seems that the app market is becoming more competitive and that consumers and developers are the ones who stand to benefit.

“Gypsy” Transforms Junk into Tiny Wonderland for Granddaughter

Daily Upsider on December 19, 2023

A Cheyenne Man— Known as Uncle Gypsy to some or just Gypsy to most, has been constructing his own tiny home south of Cheyenne for the past few years. His goal is to pass this on to his 21-year-old granddaughter, Kianna when the time comes.

In contrast to the average cost of $52,000 for a professionally built tiny home, Gypsy has invested only $5,000, primarily using salvaged materials from old RVs. He shouldered much of the construction himself, with a friend assisting in moving a 100-gallon water tank into place.

Living off the grid, Gypsy relies on a combination of ingenuity and community support. His tiny home features upcycled items, a 400-watt inverter, and a commitment to renewable energy once his solar panels and wind turbine are installed.

Gypsy’s journey doesn’t end there; he plans to take his tiny home on the road, settling on a friend’s property west of Cheyenne to oversee and exchange electrical work. Here’s some pictures of his tiny home if you would like to see them.