Shadows.
The only time we take notice of them is when one appears behind a protagonist in a horror movie.
And sure, sometime we talk to them when we’re feeling low, and even try hugging them on occasion because-
Therapist: I’ve already told you that you can’t be BFFs with your shadow
Fine, I’ll stop. It felt like a one-sided friendship, anyway.
Shadows are one of those things in life that we take for granted. They just… exist. But what if they were the solution to one of humanity’s biggest problems?
NUS Scientists Working to Use Shadows to Create Renewable Electricity
This headline might have you checking the date or scratching your head, but it’s actually true.
Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have created a prototype device that generates electricity from shadows.
It’s one of those crazy inventions that is so innovative that even authors of futuristic Sci-Fi novels are stunned.
But how exactly does it work? Well, it’s simple. OK, it’s not simple, actually. In fact, it’s the very opposite of simple.
Reader: The word you’re looking for is complex.
Thank you, dear reader.
This futuristic device, called the shadow-effect energy generator (SEG) works in the same way as solar cells that harness solar energy from the Sun, except it doesn’t need open spaces with uninterrupted light.
Yes, while shadows usually present a problem for renewable solar energy production, the SEG uses the contrast between darkness and light to produce electricity.
According to Science Alert, it’s made up of a series of thin strips of gold film on a silicon wafer, placed on top of a flexible plastic base.
It looks like this:
(The Rubik’s Cube is not integral to the energy harnessing process, here, it’s just there to provide a shadow.)
The SEG requires both light and dark to work because the difference in light intensity drives electrons from lit areas towards the shade, creating electricity in the shaded areas, according to Reuters.
If you still don’t get it, allow materials scientist and research team leader Dr Tan Swee Ching to explain:
“In this work, we capitalised on the illumination contrast caused by shadows as an indirect source of power. The contrast in illumination induces a voltage difference between the shadow and illuminated sections, resulting in an electric current. This novel concept of harvesting energy in the presence of shadows is unprecedented.”
Reader: Oh, I see. Very impressive.
You don’t get it, do you?
Reader: Nope.
Well, me neither.
Cheaper and More Effective
In addition to being super freaking cool, the SEG is also cheaper and more effective than a solar cell.
According to Science Alert, it’s twice as effective as conventional solar cells under the same conditions.
When the device is completely in shadow, or fully in the light, it produces a very low amount of electricity, or nothing at all.
But with the difference in light intensity, the device is able to generate enough power to run a digital watch.
The research is still in its early stages, however, and the researchers are trying to figure out how to bring the cost of the device down.
In spite of that, Dr Tan is already thinking of establishing a company to make SEG available for home use, and envisages widespread usage of the device in some cities.
“…the device might come in handy in places like very densely populated cities, where skyscrapers are everywhere, where shadows are always persistent,” Tan said.
So, the next time you look at your shadow and take it for granted, remember, it could be the very thing that saves our planet.
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
