The Trippy Powers of Graphene

Aug 3, 2015 4:18 PM

theshopliftingseagull

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13171

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Graphene is going to change the world. It’s a non toxic substance composed of carbon atoms (basically a single atomic layer of graphite), and it is harder than a diamond, more conductive than copper, more flexible than rubber, essentially transparent, and its aerogel is the lightest material engineered thus far.

According to Columbia University mechanical engineering professor and early graphene researcher James Hone, it is so strong it would take an elephant, balanced on a pencil, to break through a sheet of graphene the thickness of plastic wrap.

Here's some of the things we're gonna use it for:

All manner of wiring, electronics, computers, smartphones, medical technologies, revolutionary broadband and solar technologies- even condoms! The Gates Foundation just handed scientists a hundred grand to make them.

Money is being invested in graphene around the world. Britain recently allocated 60 million pounds (93,600,000 dollars) towards graphene research after two physicists at University of Manchester in the UK won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in graphene.

Graphene aerogel is basically solid smoke and completely recyclable. *Edit: The picture above is not graphene aerogel. Here is the correct image: https://imgur.com/Xjn18bl

It’s cheap and easy to make too: Scientists in Ireland and the UK just figured out how to make graphene in a kitchen blender. All they had to do was pour powdered graphite (basically pulverized pencil leads) and dish soap into the blender and hit puree.

Good times are coming to planet earth, graphene is one of the reasons why.

source: http://kimcampion.com/natureenvironmentscience/the-trippy-powers-of-graphene/

Why is this upvoted so much when virtually all the top comments disprove all the information put forth?

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

The length of time graphene has been showing up on FP, you'd think we'd have seen it in action already.

10 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 1

Or the stock of the companies who have it go up:/

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Lmao big oil isn't going anywhere

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Googled "graphene in a kitchen blender" http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-make-graphene-in-your-kitchen-blender/ OH SNAP!

10 years ago | Likes 60 Dislikes 0

I think the first graphene was made by ripping scotch tape off of a block of graphite. No joke.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Imagine the capacitors....

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Getting the graphene they are talking about here is way, way more complex and really expensive.

10 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

Coleman works in my university. He is a funny man.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Simple as a cookie recipe. E.g. 1 to 17 cups of flour, 2 to 8 eggs, 1 to 15 cups of milk. Bake for 15 to 96 minutes at 350 to 500 degrees.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I bet people used to talk the same way about asbestos. What are the health implications of graphing? Lighter than air carbon is safe?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yes, yes they did. And it was. Fireproof nay REFRACTORY paper, all sorts of fun shit. Then suddenly: cancer :<

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

those 2 scientists must be the strongest human beings in the history of the world.

10 years ago | Likes 58 Dislikes 2

that's the power of graphene

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Scientists are known to be bodybuilders in their spare time.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Looks like a pot-belly elephant, but I know pig and elephant DNA just won't splice. It's a fake.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Now don't try this at home kids!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This makes me hopeful for the future.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Most millennials are.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Question, if it is so strong, what do we do with it when we no longer want it? Can it be reused?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

well, it's pure carbon. So yes, it possibly could be reused.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Bit if it is so strong how does it get broken down?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Graphene is pretty exciting, but people are overestimating it's value. Lots of speculation, little results. Don't get too excited.

10 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 1

I'll get excited if I want to, thank you very much

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

NO! I SAID DON'T GET EXCITED!

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Solar will not be able to take over oil. The growth in energy consumption outpaces the growth in Solar and Wind energy. We NEED all sources.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Sorry, you're wrong. Saudi Arabia, China, Germany etc big players are already investing more to solar than fossil fuels.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That means nothing other than that they are invested in solar growth and research. The fact is that the growth in solar can barely cover 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Cover the growth in energy demand. Oil doesn't need investment because it is already profitable and self reliant, unlike solar or wind. 2/2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Hurry

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Look at how many jimmies get rustled by just mentioning that solar could overtake oil. What a bunch of puppets.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

How the hell can it harder than diamond AND more flexible than rubber?

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

It's the Power of Love!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Hardness as in resistance to being penetrated or scratched.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Theyre different measurements.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

How can something be "harder than diamonds" and yet flexible? Aren't the two mutually exclusive?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Or do they mean it can be manufactured to be one or the other?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No. They're different properties and have different measurements.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You think companies are going to want to make things that break less often? Lol. No.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

If they charge enough for it, and "update" it enough for people to keep buying.. Yeah, probably.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Nontoxic in the sense that asbestos is nontoxic to touch. But if you were to breath the particles in, it becomes bad.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Imagine a knife. It cuts things because the tip of a blade is microns thick. Now imagine the edge of the blade that's hard as diamond but 1?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thick as an atom. It can shred at a molecular level and then be very hard to get expelled. Then add that to the water supply and fish will 2

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Be next. This is what some speculate the dangers of graphene are.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Clark Kent checkin in... So when will those condoms be available at Walgreens?

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I work with graphene, a lot of this stuff is WAY into the future, academics will promise anything for funding

10 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

Solar isn't taking over big oil for a long time, not unless world rapidly changes its energy consumption...

10 years ago | Likes 75 Dislikes 4

Big Oil is going to stick around until it is all used up. Oil isn't just used for energy, its also used to make a ton of stuff.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Solar is just waiting on the battery technology to catch up at this point. Need a stable way to build it into the grid, and batteries are it

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Actually it can happen rapidly, look up "energy cost death spiral".

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Not unless we stop SUBSIDIZING aka giving tax dollars, to OIL and instead subsidize clean energy (and food!)

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Solar, nuclear, hydro, etc. are all very dirty to make but produce cleanly. There's no magic bullet.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What about plastics?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah the growth of wind and solar can only cover the growth of energy consuption. This means we will still have the same need for oil/coal.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Nuclear may be a viable replacement for oil/coal, if we can get past the political and regulatory issues.

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

I would genuinely support nuclear energy - the issue is there is a much bigger stigma attached to it than even oil and gas.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

THANK YOU! And with the next gen of reactors we can reach a whole new level of clean, long lasting, cheap energy.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Unfortunately it still isn't cheap - even 50 years of R&D and proliferation.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

OP apparently owns nothing made of metal, doesn't like air conditioning, and doesn't own a fridge.

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 5

Not to mention the plastics in their smartphone and in their computer/laptop that they are using to browse imgur.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah, a lot of people fail to realize just how much of an impact the shit I pump out of the ground has on every little thing.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 3

how much graphene is there, is that actually some in the guys hand? How expensive would a vehicle body of graphene be?

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Solar power doesn't have an efficient way for storing collected energy. As long as batteries suck, so will solar power.

10 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 1

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10 years ago (deleted Aug 4, 2015 3:21 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Nice. Now make the stuff twice as good for half the price, and increase production 1000x +

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

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10 years ago (deleted Aug 4, 2015 3:06 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Source? I was opining that it has to be even better than it is. The 250kWh number may be technically accurate (the Best Kind!), but 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

2/2 the general public needs more flash to get moving. Unless someone packages it for them. Probably the utilities selling "upgrades" 2/3

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You are aware there are pretty powerful batteries installed in the grid in California (among other places) already? Pls keep up people...

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Those batteries are prohibitively expensive and cannot be mass produced quickly. They need to be cheap and portable.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Pretty sure that's a pic of silica aerogel, which is itself cool stuff. It has great insulation properties and is translucent.

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

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10 years ago (deleted Aug 6, 2015 2:58 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

I am well aware of that. I was in no way calling into question the existence of graphene aerogel. I'm not even sure how you thought I was.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Put it between two panes of class and you have a translucent panel (allows natural light in), but insulates as well as the solid walls.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The two who discovered Graphene work for Manchester Uni, I will likley meet them whem I start studying there in September (Engineering)

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Well, they work in the school of material sciences, is that what you plan on doing?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

im probably going to end up doing one of the engineerings, so there is a fair chance i think.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I already study there, Manchester is a great city :D Also I study Mechanical Engineering

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's worth noting that Brian Cox is also a lecturer there, though I've never met him.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I study biology there, I accidentally bumped into him as I was leaving the lecture Hall he was about to lecture in!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

So basically when we throw it out it will never decompose?

10 years ago | Likes 94 Dislikes 5

With decades of recycling being pushed combined with a new campaign when these things get going, maybe we will be cautious?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's not water resistant :/

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

isn't that a bonus? The only thing that can pass through it is water

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I was thinking of Graphite oxide pape. My bad :p

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I guess that because it's carbon and related to diamonds and coal, you maybe burn it like any other combustible carbon when done?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Does carbon burn? Oxygen and hydrogen are usually the burning parts.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

Well, when coal burns it turns and disintegrates into soot, doesn't it.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Carbon oxidize into carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, in a chemical reaction commonly known as fire.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

When do you burn diamonds?

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

When they get caught in fire. Diamonds, particularly ring diamonds, go up in house fires. They're shiny coal, after all.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You need the heat of a welding torch to burn a diamond.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Wrong. Diamond can be used as barbeque fuel, if you own enough of them.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

In a water based state, ultraviolet light will decompose the graphene into water and CO2. As a sheet of the stuff, hopefully yes to CO2....

10 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 1

"Aqueous solution" to be precise

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Hopefully

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Otherwise it's just like plastic... Lots of uses but still extremely bad for the environment.. Square one

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Plastic wouldn't be half as bad as long as people don't litter

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's a rock. Other than the shape potentially being dangerous, there are no chemicals or toxins leeching into things.

10 years ago | Likes 59 Dislikes 0

In one gram of graphene there is exactly one gram of chemicals. Everything is chemicals.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Are those chemicals leeching? Cool.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Dwayne Johnson is a rock

10 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 0

I don't think anyone is gonna throw him anywhere anytime soon.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Uranium is a rock.

10 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 7

"Uranium is a chemical element"

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

So is carbon

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

God dammit, Marie!

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

a radio-active rock, if I'm ot mistakeb

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Everything is radioactive. Carbon just decays at a very slow and constant rate which is why we use it to measure thing's age.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's a non toxic rock that doesn't leek radiation.

10 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

Thank you.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

uranium's radiation isn't THAT bad. if you ate it you'd die from its lead-like chemical properties, not radiation. that shit takes 1-5 /2

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

million years to decompose depending on which isotope it is. compare that to Astatine with less than a second to 8 hours depending on isotop

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

e

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Graphene isn't actually a rock, it's a formation of atoms in a pattern similar to chicken wire, but on an atomic scale. 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

We need to break the links before we throw it out or the poor little viruses will get their necks caught in them.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

At least, that's the more proper term. That formation does make a rock like substance.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not a single mention of The University of Manchester? I'm sickened.

10 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 1

University of Manchester represent!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

University of Manchester represent!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Logged in to upvote you, appreciate MF!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

University of Manchester represent!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Harder than a diamond and more flexible than rubber are mutually exclusive. Graphene is tough and strong, not hard. It's a flexible lattice

10 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 5

Shallow and pedantic

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 3

Hardness when applied to metals at least is a measure of resistance to penetration.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm a physicist. I've worked with Graphene. Yes, it is fucking awesome. No, this will not happen anytime soon. It's too hard to make in bulk

10 years ago | Likes 696 Dislikes 2

BUT, is it biodegradable?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

We all have blenders and pencils at home. It'll be easy.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

As a chemist, I'm inclined to agree. I have high hopes for it, but certainly not anytime soon.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

But OP says we just need a really big blender...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I did a paper on this last year, I'm super excited for its potential uses in the industries

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yep. None of the ways we can make it can upscale and still be economically viable. Bioengineering of bacteria might have promise though.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

economically viable? The guy clearly said all you need is a blender some pencils and dish soap. Im sure he has more knowledge than you

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

I can comprehend ideas and explanations pretty well. All I got from this post was, "magic". Thank you for reassuring me I wasn't losing it

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

Well, as someone whose worked with it, when are the thousands of dollars in stock i've allocated going to pay off?!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

the guy clearly said you could make it with a blender some pencils and dish soap. I'm sure he's has more knowledge in the subject than you

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Making graphene and making usable graphene are two different things. Not to mention considerations of mono vs bi-layer or more

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Just to clarify: you know allahuakbar95 was joking, right?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I had hoped as much, but I just wanted to also say that since I hadn't said it in my comment chains yet.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Alrighty then. Good day, madwookie.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Three years later, you have been proven correct so far

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm a doctor and I dont believe you.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 2

I am also not a doctor.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

also those researchers in UK just found an easy way to make graphene oxide... which is nowhere near the properties of normal graphene.

10 years ago | Likes 48 Dislikes 1

because that where you take from to make graphene: http://hackaday.com/2012/12/21/making-graphene-with-a-dvd-burner/

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Not really, graphene oxide is made from pure graphene by blasting it with oxidizers, it results in easier processed materials but destroys

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

electronic and mechanical properties breaking up the long range conjugation

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Why? And how can we fix that.

10 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 0

*science hands*

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Why? Dunno. How can we fix that? Throw money at people smarter than us. Fuck-tonnes of money. We may need pallets, and a crane.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Mechanical engineer here, also have worked with graphene. To have the desired properties (strength, conductivity, etc.) it literally needs/1

10 years ago | Likes 28 Dislikes 0

How we fix all problems in science: methodically teasing out part after part and trying hundreds of bad ideas until somebody has a good one.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Size if around 200 microns wide. Chemical and laser-printing methods are showing promise for making larger sheets, but yet to have made /3

10 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 1

To be one atomic layer thick, which has proven to be pretty much impossible so far for people to make unless you want to make flakes the /2

10 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 0

Any sheets of graphene of any practically useful size

10 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 1

So we need to find a way to mass produce super-thin materials before we can start capitalizing on it?

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Yep. Graphene is amazing, but it's the torment of Tantalus for researchers everywhere right now

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

The standard process for growing graphene needs a vacuum and 30+ hours. And Copper substrate. It's also a bitch to work

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

There is some research that has fast grown graphene in a matter of hours and had it be monolayer, but that's still early work 1?

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

That said, all of these properties of it are only experimentally of note so far. Getting from the research lab to the industrial 2?

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Scale that is required to be fiscally reasonable is a whole other matter. Look at Silicon. It's actually a bitch to process and expensive 3?

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

And single layer by itself is only really useful in electronic applications, the graphene condoms are a waste of time/money

10 years ago | Likes 132 Dislikes 2

Someone's allergic to them.....

10 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 0

or I've worked with them while completing my PhD....

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Noooope, Chuck Testa; graphene is nearly pure carbon, which I doubt it is possible to be allergic to.

10 years ago | Likes 38 Dislikes 0

Nearly, so part isn't. Therefore it's possible!

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 16

Humans are carbon based so is it possible to be allergic to what your mostly made of?

10 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 1

I appreciate that Chuck Testa

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Pretty sure someone on tumblr will be

10 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 0

But I already spent my life savings on mechanical pencil refills and dish soap. Fuck me.

10 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

Then keep tweaking it until you make it work awesomely!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Time to get a Vitamix

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Isn't that how all new technologies start out?

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

The Wright brothers said: no plane will fly from USA to EU ever, look where we are now,prooving that even some1 who knows stuff can be wrong

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Generally, yes. Keep in mind the rate at which information flows today versus the past. Now you hear about new tech upon discovery (1/2)

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

(2/2) whereas in the past you might never have heard about new tech UNTIL it reached viability. The information age has made us impatient.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

yes, and it's also how a lot of new technologies end too.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm a materials engineer who spent 2.5 years researching 2D materials/semiconductors. (MoS2, mainly.) Cool, but won't make it to industry.

10 years ago | Likes 30 Dislikes 1

you people always seem to forget the most important word in technology. "Yet"

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Except "yet" in this case will be decades. Graphene is just useless as a semiconductor because it's metallic. It just conducts electrons 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Graphene is great for structural applications. For electronics, you want those other 2D semiconductors, but the trouble is scaling up.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Graphene, the material that can do anything, except leave the laboratory.

10 years ago | Likes 538 Dislikes 0

It has no bandgap. It won't be used for electronics in the way everyone hoped. Moly disulfide? Maybe.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It's predicted to be on the shelves of your local store in just a couple years. Literal billions of dollars are being poured into R&D

10 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 4

It's been around for a while and no ones figured out a way to commercialize it. Investors are losing interest.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

The Materials Science equivalent to Duke Nukem Forever...

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

According to California anything can cause cancer. Soon they'll probably have humans with warnings that they may contain cancer.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

It's called HPV

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thats not true at all. According to the state of California, it can cause cancer.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

According to the state of California, damn near everything causes cancer...

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

lol Right? Pretty sure Water is on their list of Cancer causing agents. XD

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That explains why they don't have any.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Pretty sure they'll label the cure for cancer as a carcinogen...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As a chemist. This remark pleases me. I hate graphene

10 years ago | Likes 88 Dislikes 2

As a chemist, I work with graphene (and other 2d materials). These articles are always way too optimistic about consumer uses.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

why? health issues?

10 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

Frustrations in the consumer-industrial side production.

10 years ago | Likes 41 Dislikes 0

It's still expensive to make

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

I thought there was a recent huge drop in cost, thus the resurgence of buzz

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

They've found cheap ish ways to make low quality graphene, but most of its exciting applications need the high quality type.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The media will jump on anything that will give a buzz.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Huge, but not enough.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

So throw some pencils and dish soap in a blender. I know what I'm doing tonight.

10 years ago | Likes 1770 Dislikes 2

Unless you also have centrifuges and spectrometers there's no point. Sorry love.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Scientists in Ireland and the UK, as well as Imgur dude, just figured out how to make graphene in a kitchen blender.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"Ooh, pencil smoke, don't inhale that!"

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

same

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Favoriting this for later and never visiting it again?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

GETTIN' RICH! *read in a Rick James voice*

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And that ass in a circle!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 4

Instructions unclear: pencil lead stuck in dick. Send help

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

1) The recipe requires rather exact proportions, (2) the resulting flakes are microns in size, and (3) the blender won't be food-safe after.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm doing this

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Me three. Surprise the wife with veined graogebe in the morning

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And get an elephant, we have a theory to test

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Will it blend?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Don't breathe this.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I know what I JUST DID BITCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0&app=desktop

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 8

It turned out pretty good

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Are you a man? This sounds like man experiment time.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Instructions unclear, accidentally created dickbut. I... I need an adult.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Friends unclear, accidentally created instructions.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

If you want to make graphene super easily grind up a lot of graphite and pick up some with scotch tape and stick and unstick over and over

10 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

IIRC, you can make a large smudge with a pencil on paper and use the tape on that. Graphene is stuck to the tape, but it's there.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Hail graphene

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

GRAPHENE FTw

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Blendtecs next challenge - blend graphene into pencil lead and dish soap

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Just have the blades rotate the opposite direction... will totally work, I promise.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

That's called "revers engineering." I guess it would work.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Please make a videó!

10 years ago | Likes 366 Dislikes 1

Make sure you use your best cam-arr-ah

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

HOW TO BASIC

10 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 3

Ṕĺéáśé ḿáḱé á v́íd́éó!́

10 years ago | Likes 185 Dislikes 1

Ṕ̗́́ĺé̗̗̗́́á̗́́́ś́é̗̗ ḿ̗́́á̗̗́́́́ḱ̗̗̗̗́é̗́ á̗̗̗́́ v̗́́́́í̗̗̗́d̗̗́́́é̗̗́́́́ó̗́́!̗̗̗́́

10 years ago | Likes 118 Dislikes 0

P̰̠͛ͥ͋̄̏̔ͅl̳̱̪̰̲͍͕e̜̹͇̯ͩ̍̈́̉́as̰͊e̓͂ͮͣ̾̉ ͉͔̞̦̰̉ͨ͛ͤ͆͊m̪̼̮ͣ̿̅̉aͩͫͮ̎̓ͧ̑k̘̩̀͆ͪͅě̲̫ ̻̯̘̩͋ȃ̩̱̜ͣ̄ͧͅ ̳̺̼͈͌ͫ̒v͙͓̹̽i̼̖̫͙̿͐̑d̲͎̹̟e̅͐͊̑o̯̹̰̩̘͍̼!̤̠̻̈̃

10 years ago | Likes 105 Dislikes 0

It got better.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

10 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 2

Oh god yes!

10 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 0

MISSINGNO

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

H̻͎̳͕̀͑͛E͚̪͖͖͉̳̖͓ͪ̓ͅ ̼̲̩̱̥̩̐ͤ̓̓ͬ͛͌ͭC̮̺͚̲̱̰̼̏ͨ̿̌ͅŌ̻͈̠͍͎ͣͬ̀͛̆̾̿M͉̺̱̯̗̏ͯͣ̿̍̌͐̃Ȅ̜͎̈̑͋̋͌ͬ̈́S̰͇̠̳̖̍̑̇̓̎ͧ͛ͨͣ

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Oh god, no.

10 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 1

Videóh

10 years ago | Likes 74 Dislikes 2

Óh

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

Opps, autocorrect

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

its time to DUDUDUDU

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Is that a Darude Sandstorm joke?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

yu-gi-oh

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Óh

10 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

Yu-Gi-Óh?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Óh it's magic

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

You know

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

"Solar power will take over in just a gory couple of years." I like your optimism, also I have a bridge to sell you.

10 years ago | Likes 1065 Dislikes 18

As the person wot posted that nuclear power comic a few days ago HAHAAHAHAHAAHAH oh I love you hippie princess you're so cute.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 8

Large industry struggles to run on renewable energy. If you want anything made of metal you need a foundry, and thus, steam turbines.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 3

And? There are plenty of renewable energy sources that can run rankine- cycle plants (e.g. Most biofuels)

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Which have just as shitty an output as coal and gas ffs you're not getting anywhere with regards to global warming.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 4

Uh, no they don't. Biofuels are actively part of the carbon cycle (carbon neutral) fossil fuels are outside of the active cycle (add carbon)

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

God, I would love it if it were true. Then we think of how much the infrastructure still depends on it, both for materials and jobs.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yep. OP lost me here. OP is just quoting fun facts without actually know what OP is talking about.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

SOLAR FREAKIN ROADWAYS

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

At least he didn't say wind power. Fucking wind power.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 2

And I've got some ocean front property in Arizona.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Australian capital city electricity prices have be thrown into chaos due to the amount of private solar being pumped into the grid.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I like that we're advancing in solar energy. I just don't want to force it on anybody.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Accurate typo is accurate.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Oops!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

I come to Imgur for the funny stuff. That sentence had me rolling. Thanks OP.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I mean... assuming this fusion generator they're working on succeeds, it's basically a small sun. it's KINDA solar power.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

For residential electric it will. Automotive and plastic production likely decade(s)

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

So he can get over it?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Nah, some guy said the same thing and sold me the Golden Gate bridge already, don't think you can top that. Thanks for the offer though!

10 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

Shit, I can beat his price, and I'll throw in a pet rock!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

hmm... Only if it's house trained!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

It isn't, but I have a DVD of how to do it for only $3.50

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

done! man this is such a steal.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

This. I immediately started looked for this comment.

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 1

You found us!

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Just like how The next year is always going o be the one Linux makes it big.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

This is the one!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It already did years ago. Android.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Could you explain the bridge part of the joke? I don't really get it...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Summer child

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Maybe for power generation but there will always be a need for oil. If the market were that rich, wouldn't oil companies invest in solar?

10 years ago | Likes 46 Dislikes 3

They indirectly do, for wrong reasons. Oil companies for years now have been purchasing patents related to battery/solar technology

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Oil companies have. For right now, people still buy oil so oil remains.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

oil is also in literally everything: ships, cars, trains, plastics, everything on earth that has moving parts. It's impossible not to buy it

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

solar is too expensive takes a long time to pay for itself natural gas on the other hand

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

This may have been true as little as 5 years ago, but read up on it; there've been BIG drops in cost of late.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

yea i should i didn't know solar tech was jumping so much

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

"Studies show...solar panels return 2-4 times their cost in saved electricity bills & pay for themselves completely within 7 to 15 years"

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Hydrocarbons are used for more than power/fuel. They are also necessary for plastics

10 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

As an engineer, thank you.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

They are necessary for almost everything we use day in, day out. Nuts

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Medicines are a huge one as well

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Polylactic acid can be made from fermented agriculture waste, breaks down to its molecular level (100% recyclable), can replace most plastic

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

could probably replace that with bio-oils.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Nah, I already bought property on the moon. My investments have been made!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I have nice, beachfront slots up on Pluto!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Plot twist, they meant the dog

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Damn, discovered!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Honestly wish we would jump to Thorium reactors.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

to what now?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thorium Reactors. Thorium's one of the rarer earth metals that can be used to sustain nuclear fission. At one point we were working on--

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

-- designs for thorium reactors that could fit on aircraft. They're smaller and much more powerful than our current reactor designs, but--

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

THORIUM REACTORS!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

-- the whole scene got the axe when people heard "Nuclear" and "Flying" in the same sentence. Airforce couldn't keep funding it since then.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

If this is true, WHY ARE WE NOT FUNDING THIS?!?!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Because the fear of anything related to the word "nuclear".

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

thanks for the info!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Don't take it for 100%. What I relayed was tidbits that I remembered from talking to my buddy in the airforce. May have inaccuracies.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thats where they lost me, nuclear all the way!

10 years ago | Likes 76 Dislikes 4

I'm a huge proponent of nuclear, but you gotta understand that this has to be done with a balance of all renewable energies, not just one.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

Yes! We have to learn to harness energy in all it's forms.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah buddy! Clean, near limitless nuclear power! Why waste time with panels?!

10 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

Because Nuclear.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Because hippies

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 3

it takes a lot of fossil fuels to mine uranium and a lot of money to dispose of the waste (currently). Only production is clean and cheap.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 2

Go build some electric vehicles.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

as in electric mining trucks? no idea if that is possible.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It'll be cool if we can get fusion down. Optomists say that could be 2017

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I've heard someone say it will always be 5 years away, I want it to be true.....

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The optimists are probably wrong on this one.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I doubt it. Fission works just fine anyway. Waste isn't even an issue anymore, we know how to handle it safely. Fusion for space travel tho.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah but the chance exists that we never get it right. Some massive initial energy input is needed. Which is why funding is lacking :(

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Look up "thorium reactor"

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

less waste, not none. also carbon intensive to mine it. Maybe with more research though, who knows.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A lot of money... you know they're just kept in containers out the back, right?

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

You know people said the same thing about coal when oil started becoming a thing. It takes a while, but obsolescence is very sudden.

10 years ago | Likes 37 Dislikes 13

Solar panels are extremely inefficient, extremely carbon heavy in their production, and completely impractical in many places. (1/2)

10 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 4

The energy ROI exceeds wind and coal in some areas now, actually. Still nowhere near oil/hydro/nuclear, however. And that's only some places

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

(3) easy in that you can adjust the power production to match quotas. It'll be a long time before we can store excess from solar.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

(2) Moreover, the major problem they have currently is our poor methods of energy storage. Hydro is the only renewable that is efficient/

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Carbon heavy in their production?

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Production of solar panels is a very energy intensive process, releasing a lot of greenhouse gases in the process

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

LOL. You should change your user name to Jon Snow.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 3

It'll be better if the energy they need comes from green sources.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

They will get better though.

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

Use solar panels to make solar panels. Duh. Infinite power. ;)

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

not enough to make them worth it.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Even if they were free the sun only shines half of the day, there will need to be some other source for power, renewable or not.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

The sun always shines.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Let's hope so!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Wait, you mean how coal still produces most of the world's electricity?

10 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 2

except plastics are derived from oil, and I haven't seen an efficient electric semi truck yet

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I'm all for clean energies but solar power in its current state is a waste of resources and space

10 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 6

Agreed.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Nuclear power FTW

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Production is clean, getting the materials and building the infrastructure, not so much. Scrubbed coal (clean stuff) is much better.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Agreed

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

"It takes a while" and "very sudden" in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 10

Slow buildup to a sudden shock.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not really, there is such thing a breaking/tipping point. You think every band that makes it big just started playing.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Most bands start by starting to play...

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Lol. Practice.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

140 character limit dude. "It takes a while to get started" "But once it starts Obsolescence is very sudden".

10 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 1

Calm down man, I'm just making a joke.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 3

I'm scratching my head at your post. We very much do use coal still.

10 years ago | Likes 46 Dislikes 0

Coal is on its way out in all wealthy countries and developing countries will follow suit in a decade or two. Keep up.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Maybe, but oil did not make coal obsolete like the user is implying. We've been using coal since before oil, and still do.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It is on the way out, but it'll be a while.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It is on the way out, but it'll be a while.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Cool report, I still think its a bit optimistic.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Electrical power is far the only use for oil. Its not even its number one use.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Yes. Everyone knows that. What's your point?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 6

So solar power will not "number" big oil's days.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

It will be a part of it. But you should probably tell OP that, not me, as he made that contention, not me.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Apparently not the OP

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Please. Despite its HUGE investments, Germany is at a paltry 4-5% of electricity generation through solar, let alone total energy.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

And getting to 10-20% is the easy part, after that you need to start dealing with solar's inherent variability.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And that has tripled in 5 years. If it keeps growing at that rate, it will be the dominant power source by 2030 EASILY.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

If there's one thing that doesn't continue endlessly, it's exponential growth. The curve is already dropping off.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

We'll see.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah no. I'll bet money that that's not going to happen. Solar is the least viable of all renewables.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I don't agree with that, but others will probably flourish sooner.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Solar is great but not as a primary energy source, the sun only shines half the day after all. There will always need to be something else

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah, the trouble with electricity is that it is difficult to store in large quantities. Most electricity is used as it is generated.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Which is why solar (and wind to a lesser extent) sucks. It's variable output, which then has to be transmitted to population centers

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

If we could figure out how to store it, it'd work wonders though. That concept of converting roads to solar panels would be neat.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0