Ep 26. Nanomaterials and Renewable Energy: From Solar Panels to Machine Learning

How are photons like toddlers? And what does that have to do with solar energy? Dr. Jillian Buriak has been researching nanomaterials and renewable energy for over a decade, including work to improve solar panel technology. In this first episode of the Sustainable Nano Podcast's third season, we interview Dr. Buriak, who is a Professor …

Nano Contaminants: How Nanoparticles Get Into the Environment

Nanoparticles and the Environment Series, Part I (click here for part II) More than a year ago on this site, I talked to you about how nanoparticles were already all around us, and have been for most of human history. That day, I was hoping to show you that while nanotechnology may sound cool and …

Liquor Aging, Tiny Barrels, and Next Generation Solar Cells

"You've gotta give it a taste to know!" answered the long-haired, cowboy shirt-wearing distiller dude at Madison, Wisconsin'sĀ Old Sugar Distillery. He was responding toĀ my incessant questions about how long their liquors take to age. His answer was interesting, but I wanted numbers! After some more pointed questions, he told me that most of their liquors …

What Does Sustainable Have To Do With Nano?

Sustainability is a hot topic these days, even making its way into advertisements for one of the world’s biggest companies (see below). I would guess that on this very day, you have thought about sustainability, or at least encountered the idea. Maybe you saw a commercial that told you to ā€œgo greenā€, or read an …

“Why all the nano-hype?” or “Do nanoparticles fall in love?”

Today we’ve got some important things to talk about. I’m not talking about the how or why we’re here on this planet, or settling the great cake vs. pie debate (because clearly pie is the correct choice). No, today we’re thinking big thoughts on small things. First things first though. Gone are the days when …

Why are Nanomaterials so Special and What is the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology?

Now that you’ve somehow gotten to this blog, you’re probably wondering, ā€œWhere am I? What is this ā€˜Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology’?ā€ Our ā€œcenterā€ is actually a group of people who care about our environment and are doing collaborative research to help ensure that our planet will be habitable hundreds of years from now – in …

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