How can sunlight turn into electricity?

#065 Rebroadcast It's Fall! You know why they call Fall Fall? Well because the leaves fall. But before that, the leaves change color. Why do they do that? How? Is there any sort of function to it? Do the different colors mean anything? Let's dive into this overdue, colorful topic ... Show More

What makes skunk spray smell so astonishingly bad, and why can the odor come roaring back whenever a sprayed dog gets wet? Are humans unusually sensitive to skunk smell? Does tomato juice actually remove it, or have cartoons been lying to us for decades? In this spooky episode, M ... Show More

Why does microwaving ice cream for two five-second bursts feel different from microwaving it once for ten seconds? Can a science podcast make chemistry accessible without accidentally wrapping complicated ideas in answers that feel a little too neat—and what do seeds know about l ... Show More

First up in our energy series: solar! How do we harness the energy from the sun to produce electricity? Why should we? What are the environmental impacts? Resources for this episode: National Renewable Energy Laboratory How Does Solar Work (energy.gov) End of Life Solar Panels: R ... Show More

Daniel and Katie talk about the amazing physics, chemistry and biology that determines how we see the Sun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

<p>This week we are talking about SOLAR PANELS! We recently had Solar panels installed on our house, so we wanted to discuss how solar energy can have a huge impact on the climate crisis. We'll also chat about our experience so far living with solar energy and our thoughts on it. ... Show More

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live showsSolar panels capture energy from the sun ... Show More

<p>Solar panels have loads of potential -- but how do they work, exactly, and why aren't they more widespread? Join Jonathan and Chris as they break down the mechanics of solar panels, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of this technology.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad- ... Show More

In this episode, Scientific American editor Mark Fischetti talks about an audacious new plan, featured in the January issue of Scientific American, for turning the US into a solar-powered country. And editor-in-chief John Rennie talks about a new Sci Am health publication, Scient ... Show More

A mountain, a tower, a thermos full of molten salt: These are the batteries that could power our renewable future. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vo ... Show More

Daniel and Kelly talk about how to keep solar panels bright and powerful when they far away on a dusty planet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

A new kind of solar cell - made by drying a special liquid on a surface - is being heralded as a revolution in solar power. The minerals known as perovskites were discovered more than 150 years ago. More recently, their crystal structure has been copied using other materials and ... Show More