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The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
IIA researchers use commercial dish TV antennas to measure Sun's magnetic field
A team of scientists and engineers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) radio astronomy group has used a novel technique to measure the Sun's magnetic field using commercial dish TV antennas. The technique involves measuring the magnetic field in the solar chromosphere, the region between the Sun's photosphere and corona, using the commercial dish TV antennas. The team demonstrated the technique recently. According to the team, the antennas operate at a frequency of 11.2 GHz, which is in the radio astronomy band of the electromagnetic spectrum. They said that this novel and unique effort has paved the way for regular measurement of the Sun's magnetic field from its surface to the outer layers of its atmosphere. 'Measurement of the magnetic field in the solar chromosphere is a key link to establish the connection between the Sun's surface and its corona from where the space weather disturbances originate. We are glad to have established a comparatively low-cost facility in the institute's Radio Astronomy Field Station in Gauribidanur for this purpose,' R. Ramesh, senior IIA professor and in charge of the Gauribidanur radio astronomy field station, told The Hindu. Spurring other experiments Prof. Ramesh said that the affordable set-up is expected to spur the educational institutions in the country to establish a similar facility on their campus, thereby paving the way for affordable astronomy that can provide valuable scientific quality data in addition to being a test bed to develop new technology within the country. Students from BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetam, Bengaluru Campus, were involved in the set-up in Gauribidanur as part of their academic project work. He said the set-up will cost ₹20 lakh. 'This is a paltry sum compared to the budget required to establish a similar facility for measuring the Sun's magnetic field via conventional optical astronomy techniques, either from ground or space platforms,' he added.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Carbon Credit: Graphene May Be the New ‘Super' Concrete
Can you build a house using trash? Periyar University researchers say yes. A team at the university developed a method to convert waste materials such as plastic and agricultural residue into flash graphene , one of the strongest materials known, using short bursts of super-heated electricity. Just a pinch of this graphene, added to concrete, can significantly boost its strength, say the researchers. The patented Pulsed Capacitive Discharge (PCD) instrument they built generates graphene from waste in milliseconds, offering a way to tackle plastic pollution and carbon emissions from cement. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Researchers say the PCD technique uses high-powered electric pulses to heat carbon-rich waste to over 3000 Kelvin, triggering a thermal shock that breaks down plastic and biomass molecules, rearranging their carbon atoms into graphene sheets. Plastic, which contains about 30% carbon, as well as wood chips (80%), agricultural and forest waste, can all be converted into graphene through this process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads View Deals Undo "Just by adding 0.01% graphene by weight, the strength of concrete increases by 30%. This reduces cement usage, which in turn brings down CO2 emissions," says R. Ramesh, Director of the Centre for New and Renewable Energy Studies at Periyar University. Graphene, an ultra-thin material, was discovered by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who won the Nobel Prize for it in 2010. For a long time, the material was not used in mainstream applications due to cost and scalability issues. The PCD technique changes that, cutting graphene production costs by 80% to ₹40,000 per kg and consuming just 0.5 units of electricity per gram, making it scalable, energy-efficient, and sustainable. Why does using graphene as a construction material matter? Because it is a greener alternative in the concrete industry, responsible for nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions. It reduces the need for cement and, consequently, its environmental toll. Trials with fly ash bricks and pavements are showing equally promising results. But the innovation does not stop at construction. With its superior electrical conductivity and strength, graphene can play a key role in energy storage technologies. Flash graphene made from waste is being used to enhance batteries, including those for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems, and supercapacitors, while even offering a solution for recycling graphite from old batteries, tackling the environmental challenge of battery recycling. Email your feedback with name and address to
