E-Portfolio Task 6

World’s total energy is mainly contributed by fossil fuels, which are non-renewable sources, producing greenhouse gases during generation of electricity. Hence, solar energy, which is known for an environmentally friendly and a free source, has the potential to grow. However, there are challenges to be overcome in order to capture, convert and store sunlight for use.  There are some technologies such as using dishes to concentrate sun ray’s to heat fluids that can drive engine and produce power and direct production of electric current from captured sunlight with solar photovoltaic cells. Besides that, approach like using new materials which is arranged in novel way and the aid of nanotechnology increase the efficiency of solar power. In order to make solar energy more economical, approaches like using new material to cuts fabrication cost. Since current solar cell requires a material to absorbed the sunlight so that there will be flow of electric charge, enhancing the material purity is needed because it will reduce impurities. Due to its high cost, nanorods can be used to absorb the sunlight and enable the charges to be flowed. Electric charges also can be collected by using a combination of dye molecules to absorb sunlight. On the other hand, solar energy is not widely used is because the sunlight is not constant which depends on time, locations and weather conditions. Thus, it is a necessity to capture and store the sunlight. These can be done by pumping water for energy storage. In addition, it is possible to store the sunlight in the chemical bonds of molecules and then duplicate to produce fuel.  Basically, solar energy is not so efficiency yet very costly. Thus, scientists still have to acquire method that can improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of manufacturing as well.

 

The original passage “Make Solar Energy economical” is from http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9082.aspx

E-portfolio Task 5

Back to the historical age, the concept of mind readers lies in the heart of nation, especially for those ambitious emperors like Genghis Khan who intends to rule the world. This is because mind readers could be very useful as it enables one to know how the others’ mind. That is the reasons why there are many people hope to have ability like telepathy.  Hence, brain mapping is surely a breakthrough in this field.

            A new discovery can be viewed as a flip coin. One side will be the advantages while the other sides will be the disadvantages. The advantage of brain mapping is that we can predict one’s next action through the pattern produced by the brain activity. So we can reduce possible crimes. If one brain shows images about crime such as robbery, murder, most probably the person will commit such crime, so they will be blacklisted and their actions will be observed. However, this will lead to ethical issue which people will question who are the one that need to undergo the brain mapping test. Is it reasonable to apply this to the relatives or families of the criminals? We also cannot neglect other possible criminals who have not being tested by brain mapping.

            Brain mapping can be applied in other fields too. For instance, employers may require the workers to do the brain mapping test so that can check who never pay attention during working time. Moreover, parents may want map their children brain with famous musician, artist or sportsman in order to know whether their children have potential in the field (Ethics and mapping the brain, 2003). Some people may also require their potential spouse to do this test to check whether his or her lover is reliable life partner. Brain mapping could be abused if it never takes into consideration seriously. Perhaps one day the citizens may require the leaders of the country to go through the test so that they will know they have made the correct choice to vote for them.

            It seems to be the brain determines our future. If the brain never shows any good images or positive result, this person will most likely cannot get a job, yet this is not the worst. He will be abandoned from his family if he shows violent characteristic. In addition, he also cannot find a girl friend or build up own family. However, this sounds impractical. One’s character cannot be measured solely by their brains. Both nature and nurture will affect one’s behavior and mind. The best way to minimize the impact from brain mapping is through education. Thus, to minimize of this potential unethical issue, there must have lawsuit associated with this technology. The leaders of the country will have to come out conclusion about this application.

 

Reference:

Lou Marano, (June 3, 2003). Ethics and Mapping the Brain Washington Times