Is
this a good time to talk about climate change? Experiencing extreme weather
events can make people modestly more likely to support policy measures to help
communities adapt to climate change. The effect on people’s attitudes is not
only small but only lasts about a month. But the world measured in the study
may no longer be the one we are living in. The researchers only looked at how
the frequency of extreme weather affects attitudes, not the severity. Yet the
most extreme weather events may affect people’s psychology over a longer
period.
A
Washable, Stretchable Solar Cell For Clothes and Awnings Engineers have
made a new solar cell that works well even after being washed. The stretchable,
water-resistant cells could be used to make clothes that can power wearable
devices and sensors. They could also lead to power-generating awnings, shades,
and tents. Thin, flexible solar cells made of organic polymers are less
efficient, but are easy and cheap to manufacture. This has made them attractive
for large-area, flexible devices, especially as scientists have in recent years
improved their efficiency and longevity; organic solar cells can degrade when
exposed to water and oxygen. They went from efficiencies of 2 percent in 2007
to over 8 percent in 2016.
