Save Energy, Click Off Sun
Collaborators: Environmental Physicists and Biochemical Laboratorians
Are you one of those people who go from room to room clicking off the light switches to conserve energy? If you are, it is understandable why you do so. High energy costs and depletions are important concerns that affect everyone on the planet. So we all know, whether we practice it or not, that it is important to take steps to conserve all types of energy resources. Unfortunately, we cannot control the terrestrial sources produced by nature. Or can we?
Lesson Replay
For a brief recap, let's review the botany section of our Biology 101 course. We were taught that our main energy source, the sun, creates solar radiation for planet earth. We were also told that the hourly sunlight which falls on the earth has enough raw energy to power the earth for 1 year. And what's more, the sun rays are critical to sustain our life and to promote natural plantlike photosynthesis. As a student, we came to believe we could always rely on the sun and this was great news.
Unforeseen Challenges
However, as a seasoned professional with years of questioning everything we were taught in our youth, the great news of yesterday has lead to great questions for today.
For example, the solar education is not so great when you start thinking about the fact that the sun shines only during the day. And adding insult to injury, those white puffy, fluffy clouds reduce the effect of absorption of sunrays.
Harness the Sun, Harness the Cash
Energy businesses of all types have figured out that by embracing multi-disciplinary collaborations through the sharing of ideas can bring about an abundance of intellectual and financial gains. As a result, biochemical laboratorians and environmental physicists are seeking and creating methods to perfect nature's energy in a variety of ways.
We all know about the benefits of rooftop solar panels. But there are other innovations afoot, such as:
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Artificial Photosynthesis: Artificial photosynthesis will solve all night time and cloud problems with one stroke on the computer keyboard. Nature can be slow moving when fueling plant life during photosynthesis. It takes time during the daylight for a single plant cell to absorb energy form the sun. When we usher in modern technology, the sun's power is mimicked to fuel plants in an expedient and cost efficient manner.
- Artificial Plants: If you can't wrap your brain cells around the benefits of artificial photosynthesis for live plants, what about artificial plants undergoing the photosynthesis process? Scientists have created non-natural leafy plants that, when placed in sun-lit water quickens the photosynthesis process.
It appears that the focus of all the scientists involved in these energy endeavors are on the verge of tweaking the efficiency energy conservation. Scientists across the globe are working to reengineer photosynthesis to benefit food and fuel manufacture. Their work will produce cheap automobile fuel and to increase food supplies, thereby alleviating worldwide hunger.
The point being, it is way past time to upgrade obsolete basic biology school textbooks, don't you think?