POSITIVE NEWS - What went right this week: the good news you should know about
Posted 16th June 2023 • Written by www.positive.news • • • • •
Space became a new frontier for green energy, Iceland banned conversion therapy, and England’s big beasts got a boost, plus more good news
Satellites beamed solar power down to Earth
It sounds like the stuff sci-fi novels are made of, but solar power has been harvested in space and beamed down to Earth for the first time.
The 200 milliwatts transmitted wirelessly from space couldn’t even boil a kettle. But scientists say it’s proof of concept, and brings us one step closer to the ultimate goal of beaming non-stop solar energy down to Earth.
The experiment was conducted by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in March, but has only recently been publicised. Electricity was harvested by a solar panel fixed to a satellite, and then transmitted, via microwaves, to the rooftop of a lab in California, US.
“The transition to renewable energy, critical for the world’s future, is limited today by energy storage and transmission challenges,” said Caltech president Thomas Rosenbaum. “Beaming solar power from space is an elegant solution that has moved one step closer to realisation.”
Speaking of extraterrestrial energy innovations…
The race to make homes more efficient went extraterrestrial this week, with the launch of a satellite that identifies leaky buildings.
The aptly named HotSat-1 uses infrared imaging to pinpoint properties with the most to gain from energy efficiency upgrades. It was developed by SatVu, a startup based in the UK, which has some of the least efficient homes in Europe.
Anthony Baker, CEO of SatVu, said: “From assessing heat loss in structures, to measuring energy efficiency, HOTSAT-1’s geospatial data will empower strategic planning to expedite the journey towards decarbonisation globally.”
A diabetes drug brought hope in the Covid battle
Long Covid could be prevented with a pill commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, researchers believe.
The condition affects some 65 million people worldwide, with symptoms ranging from debilitating fatigue to lung problems, and loss of taste and smell. Treatment options are limited prompting researchers at the University of Minnesota, US, to examine existing therapies in the hope of finding a breakthrough.
In trials involving overweight Covid-infected participants, they discovered that metformin – usually used to control blood sugar levels – cut the risk of long Covid by 41 per cent. However, more work is needed to see if it could be used to treat existing cases, and whether it is effective in patients who are not overweight.
“Metformin is safe and widely available at low cost,” the study concluded.
Iceland banned conversion therapy
One of the world’s most LGBTQ+ friendly nations just got friendlier following a landslide vote outlawing conversion therapy – with jail sentences beckoning for anyone flouting the ban.
Iceland’s parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new law, with 53 for, none against and three abstentions. It now joins around 16 countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Spain and Germany in banning the practice.
The bill bans conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity. Anyone making an adult go to conversion therapy faces three years’ jail. It’s five years if a child is involved.
The UK government has also promised a ban. Meanwhile Wales is taking legal advice on implementing its own laws and Scotland has committed to a ban by the end of 2023.