Latest news with #UniversityofPotsdam
Sustainability Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
"Only the Oldest Oceanic Plates Can 'Transport Water Deep Into the Mantle'" Reveals New Olivine Heat Conductivity Breakthrough
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Olivine 's unique heat-conducting properties allow only the oldest oceanic plates to transport water deep into the Earth's mantle . 's unique heat-conducting properties allow only the oldest oceanic plates to transport water deep into the . 🔬 Researchers measured infrared transparency of olivine under extreme conditions, revealing its significant role in heat transfer within the mantle. of olivine under extreme conditions, revealing its significant role in heat transfer within the mantle. 🌊 The Mantle Transition Zone is the largest water reservoir, potentially holding three times more water than Earth's oceans. is the largest water reservoir, potentially holding three times more water than Earth's oceans. 📊 The study offers numerical tools to model thermal anomalies, providing insights into Earth's geodynamic behavior. In a groundbreaking study, researchers have unveiled new insights into how water is transported deep into the Earth's mantle. This discovery, revolving around the mineral olivine, suggests that only the oldest and fastest-sinking oceanic plates can carry water to significant depths. Conducted by a team from the University of Potsdam and the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, the study highlights the unique heat-conducting properties of olivine, which plays a critical role in this subterranean water transport. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could reshape our understanding of geological processes and deep-earth water reservoirs. Understanding the Role of Olivine in Subduction The Earth's surface is composed of tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid mantle beneath. These plates, when colliding, often lead to one plate being forced under another in a process called subduction. Oceanic plates, which are denser due to their olivine content, are more prone to subduction. Olivine, a mineral constituting about 80% of the oceanic lithosphere, is pivotal in this process. As subducting oceanic plates descend into the mantle, they undergo a transformation influenced by the surrounding heat. The mineral olivine plays a significant role in this transformation due to its ability to conduct heat through radiation. This characteristic means that only older oceanic plates, aged over 60 million years and sinking faster than 10 centimeters per year, can efficiently transport water into the mantle. This discovery sheds light on the intricate relationship between plate age, descent speed, and their capacity to carry water to profound depths. Jaya Anand Singh's Research Path : A Journey from Curiosity to Contribution Infrared Transparency of Olivine: A Groundbreaking Discovery The research team, led by geodynamicist Enrico Marzotto, measured the transparency of olivine to infrared radiation under the extreme conditions found within the Earth's mantle. This marks the first time such measurements have been conducted, revealing that olivine remains infrared transparent even under high pressure and temperature conditions. This transparency is crucial because it affects how heat is transferred in the mantle. Radiation accounts for approximately 40% of the total heat diffused in the upper mantle, making it a key factor in the thermal evolution of subducting slabs. The ability of olivine to conduct heat through radiation accelerates the heating of descending slabs, influencing their density, rigidity, and capacity to transport water-bearing minerals deep into the Earth. 'Like a Human Hand' as New Robot Tech Can Sense Slippage Before It Happens Fueling Fears of Machines Gaining Touch as Precise as People The Implications for Deep Earthquakes and Water Reservoirs The rapid heating induced by radiative heat transport can lead to the breakdown of water-bearing minerals at shallower depths. This phenomenon could potentially explain the occurrence of deep earthquakes in the slabs. These earthquakes, occurring at depths greater than 70 kilometers, are influenced by the thermal and mechanical properties of the subducting slabs. Only slabs older than 60 million years and sinking at speeds greater than 10 centimeters per year remain cold enough to transport water-bearing minerals to the Mantle Transition Zone (MTZ), located between 410 and 660 kilometers in depth. The MTZ is believed to be the planet's largest water reservoir, potentially containing up to three times more water than the Earth's oceans. This revelation underscores the importance of understanding the dynamics of subduction and the role of olivine in the Earth's water cycle. 'China Wants to Catch Ghosts Under the Sea': World's Largest Underwater Telescope Could Unlock the Most Dangerous Secrets of the Universe Future Directions and Geodynamic Implications The study not only provides insights into the thermal dynamics of subduction but also offers numerical tools to model thermal anomalies in the mantle. These anomalies, whether hot or cold, play a significant role in Earth's geodynamic behavior. The research offers a framework for understanding the lifetime and impact of these anomalies on the Earth's interior processes. Enrico Marzotto and his team have laid the groundwork for future research into the thermal and mechanical properties of the Earth's mantle. As scientists continue to explore the implications of these findings, the role of olivine and its heat-conducting properties will remain a focal point in understanding the complex interactions within our planet's interior. This study opens new avenues for understanding the Earth's internal processes and the dynamic behavior of tectonic plates. As researchers delve deeper into the mysteries of the Earth's mantle, one question remains: How will these findings influence our understanding of the planet's geological and hydrological cycles in the years to come? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (26)
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Astronauts could make 'Moonglass' solar panels from lunar dust
Could moonbases be powered by solar panels made from melted moon dust? That's what a team of scientists led by Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, in Germany, have been trying to have made a 'moonglass' solar panel prototype. A prototype is an early version of a design which you can use to test out what works and what doesn't hope is that astronauts living on the Moon could make moonglass solar panels to provide them with power. Why not use solar panels instead? 'Why not make solar panels on Earth and put them on board a rocket to the Moon?' - we hear you ask!Well, that is what astronauts and engineers have been doing over the last few years. "The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price," says researcher Felix solar panels are quite heavy, and transporting them to space increases the weight of the rocket carrying them, meaning it needs more power to blast off, which costs more money."They are very expensive and are relatively heavy because they use glass or thick foil as cover. It's hard to justify lifting all these cells into space." said Felix Felix's team are looking into the possibility of making solar panels on the Moon using materials available on the lunar surface. This change could reduce a spacecraft's launch weight by 99.4%, cut 99% of transport costs, and make long-term living on lunar bases more possible. What is moonglass, and how have scientists made it? As part of their research the scientists made a synthetic - or man-made - version of moon dust and melted it down to make then mixed in a crystal material called perovskite - which is able to cheaply, easily and efficiently turn sunlight into scientists say this could be done by astronauts on the Moon, using concentrated sunlight to melt the materials the team put their prototype panels to the test, they zapped them with space-grade radiation, and found that the moonglass versions performed better than the Earth-made ones. This is because standard glass slowly turns brown in space, blocking sunlight and meaning it doesn't work as well. However, moonglass has a natural brown tint, which prevents it from further darkening, and makes the solar panels more resistant to radiation. The scientists still have a few unanswered questions from their research, including how the Moon's environment would affect the making like the Moon's gravity being different to on Earth, and whether the Moon's changing temperatures could affect the team hopes that one day they can launch a small experiment to the moon to test out their solar panels in real lunar conditions."From extracting water for fuel to building houses with lunar bricks, scientists have been finding ways to use moon dust," said lead researcher Felix Lang. "Now, we can turn it into solar cells too, possibly providing the energy a future moon city will need."
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
99% savings: Radiation-proof solar cells made from moon dust to power lunar bases
The same dust that settles on astronauts' boots might one day provide energy for their Moon habitats. Researchers have developed solar cells crafted from simulated Moon dust that efficiently convert sunlight into electricity, withstand radiation damage, and reduce the need to transport heavy materials into space. This breakthrough could address one of space exploration's biggest challenges: ensuring a reliable energy source for future lunar settlements. 'The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price,' says lead researcher Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, Germany. 'They are very expensive and are relatively heavy because they use glass or a thick foil as cover. It's hard to justify lifting all these cells into space.' Rather than sending solar panels from Earth, Lang's team is diving into exploration aimed toward existing materials on the Moon. They aim to replace Earth-made glass with 'moonglass,' or glass derived from lunar regolith. This shift alone could cut a spacecraft's launch mass by 99.4%, lower transport costs by 99%, and make long-term lunar settlements more feasible. To try their idea, the researchers melted simulated moon dust into moonglass and constructed a new type of solar cell. They then paired moonglass with perovskite—a range of highly efficient, low-cost solar materials. With these new cells, it was possible to generate up to a hundred times more energy for every gram sent to space when compared to conventional space solar panels. 'If you cut the weight by 99%, you don't need ultra-efficient 30% solar cells, you just make more of them on the Moon," says Lang. "Plus, our cells are more stable against radiation, while the others would degrade over time.' Radiation is a major challenge for solar panels in space. Over time, standard glass darkens from radiation exposure, blocking sunlight and reducing efficiency. But moonglass, already naturally tinted by moon dust impurities, remains stable and resists further darkening, giving it a distinct advantage. Another major benefit is that moonglass is easy to manufacture. It does not require complicated purification processes, and concentrated sunlight can melt lunar regolith into glass. By refining the glass's thickness and the solar cells' composition, the team achieved 10% efficiency, which is a promising start. The researchers think that using clearer moonglass will enable efficiency to reach 23%, making it comparable to solar panels made on Earth. Still, challenges remain. The Moon's lower gravity could affect how moonglass forms, the solvents used for perovskite processing won't work in a vacuum, and extreme temperature swings could threaten material stability. To test their solar cells in real lunar conditions, the researchers hope to send a small-scale experiment to the Moon. "From extracting water for fuel to building houses with lunar bricks, scientists have been finding ways to use Moon dust," says Lang. "Now, we can turn it into solar cells too, possibly providing the energy a future Moon city will need." The study has been published in Device.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Make solar panels out of the Moon to let us live in space, scientists say
Astronauts could build solar panels using the Moon to allow us to live in space, scientists have suggested. The new research would allow future explorers of space to build their own ways of gathering energy – and save us from having to use up fuel and resources to blast them into space. Those are the findings of researchers who were able to create solar panels out of simulated Moon dust and suggest that it could be possible to do the same with the real thing. The work follows similar research that has looked at possibilities for extracting water from the Moon's surface, and building bricks for houses out of the dust that is found there. Like other solar cells, the researchers' creations are able to convert sunlight into energy, and withstand damage from radiation. But they do so without having to carry heavy solar panels into space. 'The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price,' says lead researcher Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, Germany. 'They are very expensive and are relatively heavy because they use glass or a thick foil as cover. It's hard to justify lifting all these cells into space.' Instead, the researchers examined ways of making those solar cells into space. To do so, astronauts would swap the glass made on Earth with that made from lunar regolith, or the loose, rocky surface that is found on the Moon. That would allow them to reduce the mass of a spacecraft by 99.4 per cent, they say, slashing costs by 99 per cent. That in turn would allow us to more easily, quickly and cheaply build lunar settlements, they suggest. To test the plan researchers gathered a substance that is designed to simulate the dust found on the Moon. They made that into a kind of glass – moonglass – and then built solar cells with it. They did so by pairing the moonglass with perovskite, which has sometimes been referred to as a miracle material because of its ability to cheaply, easily and efficiently convert sunlight into electricity. 'If you cut the weight by 99 per cent, you don't need ultra-efficient 30 per cent solar cells, you just make more of them on the Moon," said Lang. "Plus, our cells are more stable against radiation, while the others would degrade over time.' They tested the radiation capabilities by shooting space-grade radiation at the solar cells. They found that the moonglass cells were actually better than those made on Earth, because standard glass turns brown in space but the natural brown tint of moonglass allows it to be more stable. It is relatively simply to make that moonglass, they found, without requiring complex purification and needing only concentrated sunlight to melt. But there may yet be further challenges. The lower gravity on the Moon might make it form differently, and it would not be possible to process perovskites in the vacuum on the Moon, for instance. The research is described in a new paper, 'Moon Photovoltaics utilizing Lunar Regolith and Halide Perovskites', published in the journal Device.
