Swiss Researchers Develop Wooden Flooring That Generates Electricity When You Walk on It
Wood is a bad conductor of electricity. But scientists in Switzerland have found a way to generate electricity using wood and it is said to be safe and not give a shock. They have developed a new type of wooden flooring that generates power when a person walks on it. As surprising as it may seem, this new technology can give a self-sustainable option to power buildings. In many homes and commercial spaces, wood is used for flooring. The Swiss researchers layered pieces of wood and electrodes under the floorboard to turn it into a nanogenerator. When a person walks on it, the layers become electrically charged.
Describing their feat in the journal Matter, the researchers said when a person walks on the floorboard, it generates a pattern of electrical connection and disconnection with the lower layer. This pattern leads to the triboelectric effect, which enables the flow of electrons and generates electricity.
Lead research author Guido Panzarasa explained the challenge they faced in a statement. He said wood is triboneutral, meaning it has no real tendency to acquire or to lose electrons. So, the researchers coated one of the wood layers with polydimethylsiloxane, which easily acquires electrons. In the other layer, scientists embedded nanocrystals called zeolitic imidazolate framework-8, which willingly loses electrons.
To demonstrate the technology, the researchers used a floorboard generator the size of a paper to turn footprints into electricity and power a lightbulb. In a home setting, the flooring could be used to power lights and small electronics. The researchers are currently trying to find the most eco-friendly option to use wood-based nanogenerators on floors of residential homes and smart buildings.
However, the ultimate goal of the researchers is to understand the properties of wood beyond those that are already known. This will enable them to harness the potential of wood for future sustainable smart buildings with the self-sustainable capacity to generate a significant part of their power needs. If this experiment shows further potential, then we could soon see reduced dependency on outside sources of power generation.
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Researchers at the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, led by Professor Shaofeng Liu, have shed light on the mysterious transformation of the North China Craton (NCC). This research, published in Nature Geoscience, presents a breakthrough model that explains the processes behind the craton’s gradual erosion, which began in the Mesozoic era. Using detailed mantle-flow modelling, Liu’s team has traced how tectonic forces deep within the Earth have destabilised this ancient portion of continental crust, challenging long-held assumptions about craton stability.
Reconstructing Ancient Tectonic Forces
In a recent study published in Nature Geoscience, the model suggests subducted beneath the Eurasian plate where the NCC is located. Unlike typical subduction, this plate didn’t immediately sink into the mantle. Instead, it slid horizontally under the NCC’s crust, weakening its foundation in a process known as flat-slab subduction. Using seismic and stratigraphic data, the team reconstructed this tectonic behaviour, revealing how the unusual movement triggered chemical reactions that steadily eroded the NCC’s once-stable base.
Three Stages of Deformation
The research identifies three key stages in the NCC’s deformation. First, as the Izanagi plate began to subduct, it exerted horizontal pressure that altered the composition of the NCC’s foundation. In the second stage, the plate eventually rolled back, sinking deeper and creating a thinning effect on the lithosphere. This rollback phase also caused surface uplift and the formation of rift basins. The final stage saw the development of a “mantle wedge”—a zone of partially melted material—between the sinking plate and the craton, further eroding the base and promoting volcanic activity.
Implications for Geological Understanding
This study provides a more nuanced view of how tectonic and mantle forces interact to erode stable crustal structures over time. Liu’s model offers insight into the NCC’s transformation and makes our understanding of craton stability better, with practical implications for exploring mineral deposits essential to technology. The research paves the way for future studies on the complex life cycles of Earth’s crustal plates, offering a window into ancient geological processes that shape the modern landscape.
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Scientists at the University of Tokyo have made a major discovery by creating animal cells that can draw energy from sunlight. This achievement was made possible by embedding chloroplasts, photosynthetic structures found in algae, into animal cells, a process previously thought impossible. The researchers believe this new method could open doors to innovative solutions in artificial tissue development, especially in low-oxygen conditions.
The Experiment and Its Unique Approach
The team selected the CHO-K1 cell line, derived from a Chinese hamster, as the host for the chloroplasts due to its high receptivity to foreign materials. By using chloroplasts from Cyanidioschyzon merolae, a red algae that tolerates warmer environments, the scientists circumvented a key challenge. Unlike other chloroplasts that lose function below 37°C, these algae chloroplasts can stay active at body temperature, making them a suitable choice for integration with animal cells.
New Ground in Cell Integration
For years, attempts to incorporate chloroplasts into animal cells faced a persistent obstacle: these foreign structures were typically broken down within hours. However, the University of Tokyo team observed that, with the right conditions, these chloroplasts maintained photosynthetic activity in hamster cells for up to 48 hours. Through sophisticated imaging techniques, they tracked the photosynthetic process, showing that these chloroplasts continued to generate energy when exposed to light—a significant milestone in cellular biology.
Implications for Future Research
The findings hint at more possibilities for the future. The researchers noted that cells with chloroplasts showed improved growth, possibly due to an additional energy source within the cells. This boost could pave the way for further exploration into how chloroplasts might support cell function and growth. The mechanisms behind the interaction between chloroplasts and animal cell components remain undiscovered. The researchers are keen to understand this dynamic.
Professor Sachihiro Matsunaga, leading the team, envisions these hybrid “planimal” cells as valuable tools in advancing a more sustainable, carbon-neutral approach in biotechnology. With continued research, these hybrid cells could become a crucial element in developing energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies.
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