🌚 Solar panels made from moon dust, elephant skin-inspired fungi tiles to cool buildings, China’s 300,000-pixel flying screen

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The same dust that settles on astronauts’ boots might one day provide energy for their Moon habitats.

Researchers have developed solar cells crafted from simulated Moon dust that efficiently convert sunlight into electricity, withstand radiation damage, and reduce the need to transport heavy materials into space.

This development may solve the energy needs of future lunar settlements. “The solar cells used in space now are amazing, reaching efficiencies of 30% to even 40%, but that efficiency comes with a price,” says lead researcher Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam, Germany. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

🌚 99% savings: Solar panels made from moon dust to power lunar bases

To try their idea, the researchers melted simulated moon dust into moonglass and constructed a new type of solar cell. They then paired moonglass with perovskite—a range of highly efficient, low-cost solar materials.

With these new cells, it was possible to generate up to a hundred times more energy for every gram sent to space when compared to conventional space solar panels.

“If you cut the weight by 99%, you don’t need ultra-efficient 30% solar cells, you just make more of them on the Moon,” says Lang. “Plus, our cells are more stable against radiation, while the others would degrade over time.

🐘 Elephant skin-inspired fungi tiles beat heat, improve cooling by 70%

Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University has developed an innovative wall tile made from mycelium, the root network of fungi.

These “fungi tiles” could provide an energy-free solution for cooling buildings. The tiles combine mycelium with organic waste to form a biomaterial that enhances insulation.

To enhance its cooling capabilities, the NTU Singapore team collaborated with local design firm bioSEA. They designed the tile’s surface to mimic elephant skin, which is naturally structured with wrinkles and crevices to regulate heat.

🖥️ China’s 300,000-pixel flying screen sets Guinness World Record

Shenzhen-based firm has set a new world record by developing the world’s largest LED mesh flying screen. The LED mesh flying screen with a display area of 72.66 square meters has broken a Guinness World Record.

Longgang District-based Shenzhen Filmbase New Materials Co. Ltd, which develops smart film and display glass tech, built the screen.

Launched on March 31, the screen first displayed images of airplanes taking off, rockets ascending, and astronauts floating, creating astonishing visual effects.

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