Promising Advancements

Posted by Callaghan TysonMayer

Recently, engineers at California Institute of Technology made a huge discovery that will help improve fuel sources. They did so by developing a process that speeds up the recognition of new solar fuels. This means they can replace oil, coal, and other fossil fuels. New solar fuels are extremely important for the future improvement and reservation of our environment.

The new process these engineers developed involves splitting water molecules to produce hydrocarbon fuels. The energy is produced when the hydrogen atoms split from the oxygen, then are reunited. The problem is that these molecules need a solar-powered catalyst in order to split and create energy. These particular solar fuels that split water molecules are called photoanodes; the engineers at California Institute of Technology found 12 new photoanodes that can be used to speed up the reactions.

The addition of these 12 new photoanodes will create a multitude of solar fuels that can be used instead of fossil fuels. This doubles the number of materials known for having potential use for solar fuels. Using solar fuels instead of fossil fuels will create a safer and cleaner environment. This will work to slow down the damage humans are doing to the environment and help engineers continue to improve our ecological footprint.

It is important for our society, as a whole, to reduce the negative  impact humans have on the environment. The science behind our environment is complicated because it is always changing and we don't know everything about it. Discoveries like this new process for solar fuels, are detrimental to the growth of our population and this is all because of engineers like the ones at California Institute of Technology.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170306151722.htm

Technology Standstill

Written By: Adam Tarrant

         Even though technological advancements seem to be increasing exponentially in the last decade, it’s simply not true. In the last decade, we haven’t had a significant invention or idea that has changed the way humans live. The last main invention that comes to mind is the smart phone. Since then, engineers and inventors have failed to top, or even come close to the phone that almost every human being carries in their pocket. For example, the creation of the TV, nuclear power and the personal computer have all changed the way humans go about their everyday lives. 

           In the past ten years or so, no invention has done the same. There can be multiple reasons as to why this is the case. Many new ideas and inventions by engineers have been put on the back burner due to the recent economic and environmental challenges we have faced. Many engineers have been focused on making the world a greener place, trying to improve the already invented products. 

          Additionally, engineering students that have, or in the process of, graduating college haven’t been taught or given the skill set to think outside the box. We are taught to follow the rules, get a degree and achieve a successful job working in the field. Although this is a good thing, the jobs we obtain aren’t allowing us to work and research freely to invented and create new products. This certainty may not be the case for 100% of engineers, but from experience and observing the statistics, it’s clear we are at a standstill in terms of new revolutionary products. 

          With this reality in mind, we should all strive to achieve better and greater ideas than the last to improve the human ways of life. I’m sure, much like myself, you are looking forward to finally seeing a great new idea that effects every single human on this planet. For now, we wait.