theshopliftingseagull
441489
13171
200
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/
Icantthinkatall
Why is this upvoted so much when virtually all the top comments disprove all the information put forth?
isherlaufer
The length of time graphene has been showing up on FP, you'd think we'd have seen it in action already.
dougielou
Or the stock of the companies who have it go up:/
Maxxipadd
Lmao big oil isn't going anywhere
D1RTYPENGU1N
Googled "graphene in a kitchen blender" http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-make-graphene-in-your-kitchen-blender/ OH SNAP!
hypostatic
I think the first graphene was made by ripping scotch tape off of a block of graphite. No joke.
NotACop1515IsMyAgeNotACop
Imagine the capacitors....
Ravonaut
Getting the graphene they are talking about here is way, way more complex and really expensive.
Faylom
Coleman works in my university. He is a funny man.
bstearns
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.
ThunderChief00
I bet people used to talk the same way about asbestos. What are the health implications of graphing? Lighter than air carbon is safe?
Goatflakes
Yes, yes they did. And it was. Fireproof nay REFRACTORY paper, all sorts of fun shit. Then suddenly: cancer :<
MWD78
those 2 scientists must be the strongest human beings in the history of the world.
pIanetarysociety
that's the power of graphene
keyblader1985
Scientists are known to be bodybuilders in their spare time.
jimicos
Looks like a pot-belly elephant, but I know pig and elephant DNA just won't splice. It's a fake.
postapocalyptic
Now don't try this at home kids!
downofathistle
This makes me hopeful for the future.
KillingTheJoke1
Most millennials are.
Jackster22
Question, if it is so strong, what do we do with it when we no longer want it? Can it be reused?
Teok
well, it's pure carbon. So yes, it possibly could be reused.
Jackster22
Bit if it is so strong how does it get broken down?
jackbos
Graphene is pretty exciting, but people are overestimating it's value. Lots of speculation, little results. Don't get too excited.
TheDarkWhiz
I'll get excited if I want to, thank you very much
jackbos
NO! I SAID DON'T GET EXCITED!
TheDarkWhiz
I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT
habi816
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.
spicastar
Sorry, you're wrong. Saudi Arabia, China, Germany etc big players are already investing more to solar than fossil fuels.
habi816
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
habi816
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
nodnolkram
Hurry
blackGlovesMcCrazyBeard
Look at how many jimmies get rustled by just mentioning that solar could overtake oil. What a bunch of puppets.
strawberrycocoa
How the hell can it harder than diamond AND more flexible than rubber?
swinglinered
It's the Power of Love!
Goatflakes
Hardness as in resistance to being penetrated or scratched.
hatesdigimon
Theyre different measurements.
JohnBlevins
How can something be "harder than diamonds" and yet flexible? Aren't the two mutually exclusive?
JohnBlevins
Or do they mean it can be manufactured to be one or the other?
hatesdigimon
No. They're different properties and have different measurements.
letmefalloutofthewindowwithconfettiinmyhair
You think companies are going to want to make things that break less often? Lol. No.
Surrealle
If they charge enough for it, and "update" it enough for people to keep buying.. Yeah, probably.
kcufuck
Nontoxic in the sense that asbestos is nontoxic to touch. But if you were to breath the particles in, it becomes bad.
kcufuck
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?
kcufuck
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
kcufuck
Be next. This is what some speculate the dangers of graphene are.
JohnHammertime50
Clark Kent checkin in... So when will those condoms be available at Walgreens?
amicroscopicdotonamicroscopicdotonamicroscopicdot
I work with graphene, a lot of this stuff is WAY into the future, academics will promise anything for funding
blindgrandma
Solar isn't taking over big oil for a long time, not unless world rapidly changes its energy consumption...
SwagicalYololord
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.
crumblybutgood
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
HypoMix
Actually it can happen rapidly, look up "energy cost death spiral".
ModraPohlavi
Not unless we stop SUBSIDIZING aka giving tax dollars, to OIL and instead subsidize clean energy (and food!)
qaaaaa
Solar, nuclear, hydro, etc. are all very dirty to make but produce cleanly. There's no magic bullet.
blindgrandma
What about plastics?
habi816
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.
JustAnotherPOG
Nuclear may be a viable replacement for oil/coal, if we can get past the political and regulatory issues.
blindgrandma
I would genuinely support nuclear energy - the issue is there is a much bigger stigma attached to it than even oil and gas.
habi816
THANK YOU! And with the next gen of reactors we can reach a whole new level of clean, long lasting, cheap energy.
TheNorseFox
Unfortunately it still isn't cheap - even 50 years of R&D and proliferation.
Ringshadow
OP apparently owns nothing made of metal, doesn't like air conditioning, and doesn't own a fridge.
blindgrandma
Not to mention the plastics in their smartphone and in their computer/laptop that they are using to browse imgur.
NamesIsHardYo
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.
blazera
how much graphene is there, is that actually some in the guys hand? How expensive would a vehicle body of graphene be?
chicmagnetwampa1
Solar power doesn't have an efficient way for storing collected energy. As long as batteries suck, so will solar power.
[deleted]
[deleted]
swinglinered
Nice. Now make the stuff twice as good for half the price, and increase production 1000x +
[deleted]
[deleted]
swinglinered
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
swinglinered
2/2 the general public needs more flash to get moving. Unless someone packages it for them. Probably the utilities selling "upgrades" 2/3
spicastar
You are aware there are pretty powerful batteries installed in the grid in California (among other places) already? Pls keep up people...
chicmagnetwampa1
Those batteries are prohibitively expensive and cannot be mass produced quickly. They need to be cheap and portable.
Mitheledh
Pretty sure that's a pic of silica aerogel, which is itself cool stuff. It has great insulation properties and is translucent.
[deleted]
[deleted]
Mitheledh
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.
Mitheledh
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.
Moonadon
The two who discovered Graphene work for Manchester Uni, I will likley meet them whem I start studying there in September (Engineering)
farwall
Well, they work in the school of material sciences, is that what you plan on doing?
Moonadon
im probably going to end up doing one of the engineerings, so there is a fair chance i think.
Kyle94
I already study there, Manchester is a great city :D Also I study Mechanical Engineering
Kyle94
It's worth noting that Brian Cox is also a lecturer there, though I've never met him.
amberlabamba
I study biology there, I accidentally bumped into him as I was leaving the lecture Hall he was about to lecture in!
omelly
So basically when we throw it out it will never decompose?
summatlonganduntaken
With decades of recycling being pushed combined with a new campaign when these things get going, maybe we will be cautious?
Goatflakes
It's not water resistant :/
Kobalt187
isn't that a bonus? The only thing that can pass through it is water
Goatflakes
I was thinking of Graphite oxide pape. My bad :p
Doopapotamus
I guess that because it's carbon and related to diamonds and coal, you maybe burn it like any other combustible carbon when done?
rockerBOO
Does carbon burn? Oxygen and hydrogen are usually the burning parts.
IOnceOwnedMoonMoonButOnceHeTriedToLickMyBallsAndRanAwayIMissHim
Well, when coal burns it turns and disintegrates into soot, doesn't it.
swefur
Carbon oxidize into carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, in a chemical reaction commonly known as fire.
TheNorseFox
When do you burn diamonds?
Doopapotamus
When they get caught in fire. Diamonds, particularly ring diamonds, go up in house fires. They're shiny coal, after all.
TheNorseFox
You need the heat of a welding torch to burn a diamond.
swefur
Wrong. Diamond can be used as barbeque fuel, if you own enough of them.
PurpleOmen
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....
PurpleOmen
"Aqueous solution" to be precise
omelly
Hopefully
PurpleOmen
Otherwise it's just like plastic... Lots of uses but still extremely bad for the environment.. Square one
omelly
Plastic wouldn't be half as bad as long as people don't litter
BigBadBillyBoy
It's a rock. Other than the shape potentially being dangerous, there are no chemicals or toxins leeching into things.
swefur
In one gram of graphene there is exactly one gram of chemicals. Everything is chemicals.
BigBadBillyBoy
Are those chemicals leeching? Cool.
PurpleOmen
Dwayne Johnson is a rock
BigBadBillyBoy
I don't think anyone is gonna throw him anywhere anytime soon.
cjackc
Uranium is a rock.
HypoMix
"Uranium is a chemical element"
cjackc
So is carbon
VEpsilon
God dammit, Marie!
flyingdutchfrenchman
a radio-active rock, if I'm ot mistakeb
HarryBlackstoneCopperfieldDresden
Everything is radioactive. Carbon just decays at a very slow and constant rate which is why we use it to measure thing's age.
derock789
It's a non toxic rock that doesn't leek radiation.
BigBadBillyBoy
Thank you.
hatesdigimon
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
hatesdigimon
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
hatesdigimon
e
MrSkar
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
MrSkar
2/2 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene#/media/File:Graphen.jpg
StonerAlex
We need to break the links before we throw it out or the poor little viruses will get their necks caught in them.
MrSkar
At least, that's the more proper term. That formation does make a rock like substance.
FrankyBabes
Not a single mention of The University of Manchester? I'm sickened.
amberlabamba
University of Manchester represent!
amberlabamba
University of Manchester represent!
ballisticspidermonkeys
Logged in to upvote you, appreciate MF!
amberlabamba
University of Manchester represent!
JohnnyZ88
Harder than a diamond and more flexible than rubber are mutually exclusive. Graphene is tough and strong, not hard. It's a flexible lattice
DamnitDarin
Shallow and pedantic
Goatflakes
Hardness when applied to metals at least is a measure of resistance to penetration.
madwookie
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
fixboxsix
BUT, is it biodegradable?
sergiozm
We all have blenders and pencils at home. It'll be easy.
DryToluene
As a chemist, I'm inclined to agree. I have high hopes for it, but certainly not anytime soon.
Kazahani
But OP says we just need a really big blender...
Definitelymaybeprobablykinda
I did a paper on this last year, I'm super excited for its potential uses in the industries
Durbs12
Yep. None of the ways we can make it can upscale and still be economically viable. Bioengineering of bacteria might have promise though.
allahuakbar95
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
ThisGuyDisguisedTheSkies
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
HerbieRobinson
Well, as someone whose worked with it, when are the thousands of dollars in stock i've allocated going to pay off?!
allahuakbar95
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
madwookie
Making graphene and making usable graphene are two different things. Not to mention considerations of mono vs bi-layer or more
DaddyWolf
Just to clarify: you know allahuakbar95 was joking, right?
madwookie
I had hoped as much, but I just wanted to also say that since I hadn't said it in my comment chains yet.
DaddyWolf
Alrighty then. Good day, madwookie.
CreatureFromtheBlackLegume
Three years later, you have been proven correct so far
Icantthinkatall
I'm a doctor and I dont believe you.
Jester123ish
I am also not a doctor.
tehmatser
FingolfinHighKingoftheNoldor
also those researchers in UK just found an easy way to make graphene oxide... which is nowhere near the properties of normal graphene.
MetaphoricalFox
because that where you take from to make graphene: http://hackaday.com/2012/12/21/making-graphene-with-a-dvd-burner/
FingolfinHighKingoftheNoldor
Not really, graphene oxide is made from pure graphene by blasting it with oxidizers, it results in easier processed materials but destroys
FingolfinHighKingoftheNoldor
electronic and mechanical properties breaking up the long range conjugation
cambopalmer
Why? And how can we fix that.
FriedSnakes
*science hands*
xkr73
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.
Texacanasian
Mechanical engineer here, also have worked with graphene. To have the desired properties (strength, conductivity, etc.) it literally needs/1
IrishIWasDrinking
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.
Texacanasian
Size if around 200 microns wide. Chemical and laser-printing methods are showing promise for making larger sheets, but yet to have made /3
Texacanasian
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
Texacanasian
Any sheets of graphene of any practically useful size
unicornmanblazingsaddles
So we need to find a way to mass produce super-thin materials before we can start capitalizing on it?
Texacanasian
Yep. Graphene is amazing, but it's the torment of Tantalus for researchers everywhere right now
madwookie
The standard process for growing graphene needs a vacuum and 30+ hours. And Copper substrate. It's also a bitch to work
madwookie
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?
madwookie
That said, all of these properties of it are only experimentally of note so far. Getting from the research lab to the industrial 2?
madwookie
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?
FingolfinHighKingoftheNoldor
And single layer by itself is only really useful in electronic applications, the graphene condoms are a waste of time/money
sirrichardbottoms
Someone's allergic to them.....
FingolfinHighKingoftheNoldor
or I've worked with them while completing my PhD....
MyOtherAccountIsCreative
Noooope, Chuck Testa; graphene is nearly pure carbon, which I doubt it is possible to be allergic to.
BALLSD33P69
Nearly, so part isn't. Therefore it's possible!
NulHeart
Humans are carbon based so is it possible to be allergic to what your mostly made of?
PattyFlafla
I appreciate that Chuck Testa
iLoveItWhenMyFingersSmellLikePussy
Pretty sure someone on tumblr will be
fixial
But I already spent my life savings on mechanical pencil refills and dish soap. Fuck me.
madwookie
Then keep tweaking it until you make it work awesomely!
MetilHed
Time to get a Vitamix
thehaggishunter
Isn't that how all new technologies start out?
izaelys
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
DaddyWolf
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)
DaddyWolf
(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.
dpidcoe
yes, and it's also how a lot of new technologies end too.
gx67
I'm a materials engineer who spent 2.5 years researching 2D materials/semiconductors. (MoS2, mainly.) Cool, but won't make it to industry.
PedroBento
you people always seem to forget the most important word in technology. "Yet"
gx67
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
gx67
Graphene is great for structural applications. For electronics, you want those other 2D semiconductors, but the trouble is scaling up.
nottheone
Graphene, the material that can do anything, except leave the laboratory.
GreaterDog
It has no bandgap. It won't be used for electronics in the way everyone hoped. Moly disulfide? Maybe.
CwispyNoodles
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
meta666
It's been around for a while and no ones figured out a way to commercialize it. Investors are losing interest.
tomyironmane
The Materials Science equivalent to Duke Nukem Forever...
LindsayGravina
According to California anything can cause cancer. Soon they'll probably have humans with warnings that they may contain cancer.
segellion
It's called HPV
JustAGreyWizard
Thats not true at all. According to the state of California, it can cause cancer.
0utrider
According to the state of California, damn near everything causes cancer...
JustAGreyWizard
lol Right? Pretty sure Water is on their list of Cancer causing agents. XD
RyanHaynes
That explains why they don't have any.
0utrider
Pretty sure they'll label the cure for cancer as a carcinogen...
ReubenMcCrotch
As a chemist. This remark pleases me. I hate graphene
Halykan
As a chemist, I work with graphene (and other 2d materials). These articles are always way too optimistic about consumer uses.
hatesdigimon
why? health issues?
InvadingYourSpaces
Frustrations in the consumer-industrial side production.
GraphicsInterchangeFormat
It's still expensive to make
hatesdigimon
I thought there was a recent huge drop in cost, thus the resurgence of buzz
Halykan
They've found cheap ish ways to make low quality graphene, but most of its exciting applications need the high quality type.
GraphicsInterchangeFormat
The media will jump on anything that will give a buzz.
GraphicsInterchangeFormat
Huge, but not enough.
jawood2005
So throw some pencils and dish soap in a blender. I know what I'm doing tonight.
DryToluene
Unless you also have centrifuges and spectrometers there's no point. Sorry love.
mellowdrama
Scientists in Ireland and the UK, as well as Imgur dude, just figured out how to make graphene in a kitchen blender.
yccc
"Ooh, pencil smoke, don't inhale that!"
DrChub
same
Quizz25S
Favoriting this for later and never visiting it again?
kkinder
GETTIN' RICH! *read in a Rick James voice*
ChloePrice
And that ass in a circle!
TimeTravelingHobo
Instructions unclear: pencil lead stuck in dick. Send help
ChocksAway
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.
TripleKitten
I'm doing this
irish2junk
Me three. Surprise the wife with veined graogebe in the morning
reider10
And get an elephant, we have a theory to test
cptjoker
Will it blend?
ThatGooseFromCharlottesWebArlottesWeb
Don't breathe this.
arminillo
I know what I JUST DID BITCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0&app=desktop
arminillo
It turned out pretty good
howlongcanyoumakeausernameseriouslywhatisthecharactererlimit
Dominomotion8
Are you a man? This sounds like man experiment time.
pastaholic74
Instructions unclear, accidentally created dickbut. I... I need an adult.
TheHardestArtery
Friends unclear, accidentally created instructions.
MrStLouis
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
divingin
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.
banqr
Hail graphene
lifeinthefields
GRAPHENE FTw
Spleenless
Blendtecs next challenge - blend graphene into pencil lead and dish soap
GambitsEnd
Just have the blades rotate the opposite direction... will totally work, I promise.
ffilm
That's called "revers engineering." I guess it would work.
balcsida
Please make a videó!
GuitarMuscles
Make sure you use your best cam-arr-ah
Superwholockland
HOW TO BASIC
Pornegranate
Ṕĺéáśé ḿáḱé á v́íd́éó!́
Pornegranate
Ṕ̗́́ĺé̗̗̗́́á̗́́́ś́é̗̗ ḿ̗́́á̗̗́́́́ḱ̗̗̗̗́é̗́ á̗̗̗́́ v̗́́́́í̗̗̗́d̗̗́́́é̗̗́́́́ó̗́́!̗̗̗́́
Dolkarr
P̰̠͛ͥ͋̄̏̔ͅl̳̱̪̰̲͍͕e̜̹͇̯ͩ̍̈́̉́as̰͊e̓͂ͮͣ̾̉ ͉͔̞̦̰̉ͨ͛ͤ͆͊m̪̼̮ͣ̿̅̉aͩͫͮ̎̓ͧ̑k̘̩̀͆ͪͅě̲̫ ̻̯̘̩͋ȃ̩̱̜ͣ̄ͧͅ ̳̺̼͈͌ͫ̒v͙͓̹̽i̼̖̫͙̿͐̑d̲͎̹̟e̅͐͊̑o̯̹̰̩̘͍̼!̤̠̻̈̃
longlivecats
It got better.
laehto
ChicagoSunroof
Oh god yes!
pyronyzen
MISSINGNO
kenzierocks
H̻͎̳͕̀͑͛E͚̪͖͖͉̳̖͓ͪ̓ͅ ̼̲̩̱̥̩̐ͤ̓̓ͬ͛͌ͭC̮̺͚̲̱̰̼̏ͨ̿̌ͅŌ̻͈̠͍͎ͣͬ̀͛̆̾̿M͉̺̱̯̗̏ͯͣ̿̍̌͐̃Ȅ̜͎̈̑͋̋͌ͬ̈́S̰͇̠̳̖̍̑̇̓̎ͧ͛ͨͣ
RyanHaynes
Oh god, no.
Janlando
Videóh
ProfDrKoala
Óh
balcsida
Opps, autocorrect
ScootDeezy
its time to DUDUDUDU
ImanerdDontjudgeme
Is that a Darude Sandstorm joke?
ScootDeezy
yu-gi-oh
ProfDrKoala
Óh
Zechie
Yu-Gi-Óh?
IMakeLotsOfReferencesAndRemakes
Óh it's magic
Ratchetguns
You know
betasynn
"Solar power will take over in just a gory couple of years." I like your optimism, also I have a bridge to sell you.
Ringshadow
As the person wot posted that nuclear power comic a few days ago HAHAAHAHAHAAHAH oh I love you hippie princess you're so cute.
Ringshadow
Large industry struggles to run on renewable energy. If you want anything made of metal you need a foundry, and thus, steam turbines.
BluBoxx
And? There are plenty of renewable energy sources that can run rankine- cycle plants (e.g. Most biofuels)
Ringshadow
Which have just as shitty an output as coal and gas ffs you're not getting anywhere with regards to global warming.
BluBoxx
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)
SilentZed
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.
JJamm
Yep. OP lost me here. OP is just quoting fun facts without actually know what OP is talking about.
captainclutch
SOLAR FREAKIN ROADWAYS
OverlySarcasticMan
At least he didn't say wind power. Fucking wind power.
RabbiShmuley
And I've got some ocean front property in Arizona.
HypoMix
Australian capital city electricity prices have be thrown into chaos due to the amount of private solar being pumped into the grid.
huanthewolfhound
I like that we're advancing in solar energy. I just don't want to force it on anybody.
politicalhack
Accurate typo is accurate.
betasynn
Oops!
TheHudsonHawk
I come to Imgur for the funny stuff. That sentence had me rolling. Thanks OP.
AkujiMalice
I mean... assuming this fusion generator they're working on succeeds, it's basically a small sun. it's KINDA solar power.
Philanthropyman
For residential electric it will. Automotive and plastic production likely decade(s)
ThatGuyNoOneKnows
So he can get over it?
TheRealRed5
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!
betasynn
Shit, I can beat his price, and I'll throw in a pet rock!
TheRealRed5
hmm... Only if it's house trained!
betasynn
It isn't, but I have a DVD of how to do it for only $3.50
TheRealRed5
done! man this is such a steal.
jimicos
This. I immediately started looked for this comment.
betasynn
You found us!
cjackc
Just like how The next year is always going o be the one Linux makes it big.
betasynn
This is the one!
KnucleheadFlow
It already did years ago. Android.
crownchang
Could you explain the bridge part of the joke? I don't really get it...
betasynn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Parker
KillingTheJoke1
Summer child
CarrierHasArrived725
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?
EngineerZero
They indirectly do, for wrong reasons. Oil companies for years now have been purchasing patents related to battery/solar technology
betasynn
Oil companies have. For right now, people still buy oil so oil remains.
CarrierHasArrived725
oil is also in literally everything: ships, cars, trains, plastics, everything on earth that has moving parts. It's impossible not to buy it
liam33
solar is too expensive takes a long time to pay for itself natural gas on the other hand
KnucleheadFlow
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.
liam33
yea i should i didn't know solar tech was jumping so much
HypoMix
"Studies show...solar panels return 2-4 times their cost in saved electricity bills & pay for themselves completely within 7 to 15 years"
handle29
Hydrocarbons are used for more than power/fuel. They are also necessary for plastics
InCaseOfStairsUseFire
As an engineer, thank you.
FlatusIgnition
They are necessary for almost everything we use day in, day out. Nuts
embernator
Medicines are a huge one as well
bumwithguns
Polylactic acid can be made from fermented agriculture waste, breaks down to its molecular level (100% recyclable), can replace most plastic
HypoMix
could probably replace that with bio-oils.
Ineedabetteradult
Nah, I already bought property on the moon. My investments have been made!
betasynn
I have nice, beachfront slots up on Pluto!
Mobileuserwholikestoberandom
Plot twist, they meant the dog
betasynn
Damn, discovered!
ZtZebaztian
Honestly wish we would jump to Thorium reactors.
bashya
to what now?
ZtZebaztian
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--
ZtZebaztian
-- designs for thorium reactors that could fit on aircraft. They're smaller and much more powerful than our current reactor designs, but--
IAmNewHere
THORIUM REACTORS!
ZtZebaztian
-- the whole scene got the axe when people heard "Nuclear" and "Flying" in the same sentence. Airforce couldn't keep funding it since then.
tinkertwat
If this is true, WHY ARE WE NOT FUNDING THIS?!?!
ZtZebaztian
Because the fear of anything related to the word "nuclear".
bashya
thanks for the info!
ZtZebaztian
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.
superippednobody
Thats where they lost me, nuclear all the way!
vavavoooom
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.
Kabba
Yes! We have to learn to harness energy in all it's forms.
LennoxAvenueLadybugs
Yeah buddy! Clean, near limitless nuclear power! Why waste time with panels?!
kurafire
Because Nuclear.
newyorknyc
Because hippies
HypoMix
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.
Jusmar
Go build some electric vehicles.
HypoMix
as in electric mining trucks? no idea if that is possible.
NotACreeper4345
It'll be cool if we can get fusion down. Optomists say that could be 2017
HypoMix
I've heard someone say it will always be 5 years away, I want it to be true.....
qaaaaa
The optimists are probably wrong on this one.
LennoxAvenueLadybugs
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.
Kabba
Yeah but the chance exists that we never get it right. Some massive initial energy input is needed. Which is why funding is lacking :(
SwagicalYololord
Look up "thorium reactor"
HypoMix
less waste, not none. also carbon intensive to mine it. Maybe with more research though, who knows.
pairofd
A lot of money... you know they're just kept in containers out the back, right?
HypoMix
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Mountain_nuclear_waste_repository
Nyther53
You know people said the same thing about coal when oil started becoming a thing. It takes a while, but obsolescence is very sudden.
ObamaLlamaDuck
Solar panels are extremely inefficient, extremely carbon heavy in their production, and completely impractical in many places. (1/2)
nelshai
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
nelshai
(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.
nelshai
(2) Moreover, the major problem they have currently is our poor methods of energy storage. Hydro is the only renewable that is efficient/
Conradian
Carbon heavy in their production?
ObamaLlamaDuck
Production of solar panels is a very energy intensive process, releasing a lot of greenhouse gases in the process
gotreference
LOL. You should change your user name to Jon Snow.
Conradian
It'll be better if the energy they need comes from green sources.
betasynn
They will get better though.
SarahJessicaParker
Use solar panels to make solar panels. Duh. Infinite power. ;)
DirtyA
not enough to make them worth it.
Bobbysilk
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.
betasynn
The sun always shines.
ObamaLlamaDuck
Let's hope so!
bond100
Wait, you mean how coal still produces most of the world's electricity?
TheHappyCanadian
except plastics are derived from oil, and I haven't seen an efficient electric semi truck yet
ObamaLlamaDuck
I'm all for clean energies but solar power in its current state is a waste of resources and space
betasynn
Agreed.
DirtyA
Nuclear power FTW
qaaaaa
Production is clean, getting the materials and building the infrastructure, not so much. Scrubbed coal (clean stuff) is much better.
ObamaLlamaDuck
Agreed
Dreamare
"It takes a while" and "very sudden" in the same sentence is an oxymoron.
swinglinered
Slow buildup to a sudden shock.
cjackc
Not really, there is such thing a breaking/tipping point. You think every band that makes it big just started playing.
betasynn
Most bands start by starting to play...
lifeinthefields
Lol. Practice.
Nyther53
140 character limit dude. "It takes a while to get started" "But once it starts Obsolescence is very sudden".
Dreamare
Calm down man, I'm just making a joke.
Atomic2
I'm scratching my head at your post. We very much do use coal still.
spicastar
Coal is on its way out in all wealthy countries and developing countries will follow suit in a decade or two. Keep up.
Atomic2
Maybe, but oil did not make coal obsolete like the user is implying. We've been using coal since before oil, and still do.
qaaaaa
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/U.S._2013_Electricity_Generation_By_Type_crop.png
qaaaaa
It is on the way out, but it'll be a while.
qaaaaa
It is on the way out, but it'll be a while.
Nobodyn0se
15 years. http://cleantechnica.com/2015/03/04/deutsche-bank-solar-will-be-dominant-global-electricity-source-by-2030/
betasynn
Cool report, I still think its a bit optimistic.
Atomic2
Electrical power is far the only use for oil. Its not even its number one use.
Nobodyn0se
Yes. Everyone knows that. What's your point?
Atomic2
So solar power will not "number" big oil's days.
Nobodyn0se
It will be a part of it. But you should probably tell OP that, not me, as he made that contention, not me.
ProbablyDrunkAgain
Apparently not the OP
queryable
Please. Despite its HUGE investments, Germany is at a paltry 4-5% of electricity generation through solar, let alone total energy.
queryable
And getting to 10-20% is the easy part, after that you need to start dealing with solar's inherent variability.
Nobodyn0se
And that has tripled in 5 years. If it keeps growing at that rate, it will be the dominant power source by 2030 EASILY.
queryable
If there's one thing that doesn't continue endlessly, it's exponential growth. The curve is already dropping off.
Nobodyn0se
We'll see.
bond100
Yeah no. I'll bet money that that's not going to happen. Solar is the least viable of all renewables.
betasynn
I don't agree with that, but others will probably flourish sooner.
Bobbysilk
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
RenIsTired
Yeah, the trouble with electricity is that it is difficult to store in large quantities. Most electricity is used as it is generated.
bond100
Which is why solar (and wind to a lesser extent) sucks. It's variable output, which then has to be transmitted to population centers
RenIsTired
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.