Scientists in South Korea have announced a step forward in the development of semi-transparent perovskite solar cells that could someday allow windows to generate energy. In the latest tests‚ the semi-transparent perovskite solar cells achieved an efficiency of over 21 percent‚ which the researchers claim is a record for this type of technology. Furthermore‚ over 99 percent of the initial efficiency was maintained for up to 240 hours of operation.Developed by the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER)‚ the new solar cell technology replaces the metal electrodes of typical solar cells with transparent electrodes that allow light to pass through. This process is easier said than done. For unknown reasons‚ initial tests with the semi-transparent materials resulted in reduced charge transporting properties and stability. To solve this‚ they closely analyzed the material using electro-optical analysis and atomic-level computational science.This revealed that lithium ions were causing the problem. Lithium ions are added to the “hole transport layer” of the solar cell to increase its conductivity‚ but they also diffuse into the metal oxide layer that serves as a buffer and degrades its useful qualities.To overcome the problem‚ they converted the lithium ions into stable lithium oxide‚ making the cell much more stable."This study represents a significant advance in the field by examining the degradation process occurring at the interface of organic compound and metal oxide buffer layer which is unique to semi-transparent perovskite solar cells‚" Dr Ahn SeJin‚ leader of the researcher at the KIER’s Photovoltaics Research Department‚ said in a statement."Our solution is readily implementable‚ demonstrating great potential for the future use of the technologies we have developed."Solar energy could become a major player in the transition away from fossil fuels. However‚ current solar cell technology has several shortcomings. One major problem is the materials they’re made from‚ which can be expensive‚ inefficient‚ and a pain to obtain.There’s also the question of where to put the solar panels. To soak up vast amounts of solar energy‚ you need a vast amount of solar panels – and not everyone is a fan of them‚ aesthetically speaking. As such‚ engineers and designers are keen to find inventive new ways to include solar cells that seamlessly blend into their surrounding environment. The idea goes that these semi-transparent perovskite solar cells could be installed in glass-paneled buildings‚ allowing light in and subtly producing electricity while barely being noticeable. There’s still a long way to go before sun-soaking windows adorn our homes and office blocks‚ but this latest breakthrough marks a small but significant step closer.  The new study is published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.

Sharks evolved around 450 million years ago‚ which means they’ve hitched a lift on planet Earth around the galaxy twice. If that’s not yet given you a fact-induced headache‚ it may tip you over to hear that it also means sharks were on Earth before trees‚ at a time when Saturn didn’t have rings yet.Part of their success comes down to their flexibility when it comes to environmental conditions‚ able to survive in a wide range of oceans and at different depths."I think it is safe to say that it is partly because sharks are able to exploit different parts of the water column - from deep‚ dark oceans to shallow seas‚ and even river systems‚" Emma Bernard‚ a curator of fossil fish at the Natural History Museum said in a piece for the museum. "They eat a wide variety of food‚ such as plankton‚ fish‚ crabs‚ seals and whales. This diversity means that sharks as a group are more likely to survive if things in the oceans change."One of the longest-living sharks‚ the Greenland shark‚ certainly looks prehistoric. We actually only found out that they were capable of living to around 400 years old thanks to the atomic bomb‚ but the earliest sleeper sharks didn’t emerge until around 100 million years ago‚ by which time this group of fish had already been splashing around on Earth for well over a galactic year. Throughout their existence‚ they’ve taken on some pretty funky morphologies‚ from the bizarre whorl-toothed Helicoprion‚ to the warm-blooded mighty megalodon. For a long time‚ we thought megalodon was a stocky chunk of murder mouth‚ but a recent study revealed that they may actually have been long and slender predators.We’re still finding their ancient remains across the world – and while we’ve only got teeth to work from (those damn cartilaginous bones)‚ some of the specimens are quite remarkable. Just check out this manganese-encrusted megalodon tooth that was found at a depth of around 3‚090 meters (9‚842 feet).In the ~450 million years they’ve had to get settled‚ sharks have revealed some pretty unusual behaviors. In 2022‚ footage captured a shark strolling around on land like it was no big deal. At least nine species of sharks are known to use their fins to move about in shallow water‚ and some of these make brief jaunts entirely onto land. So whatever that saying is about old dogs and new tricks‚ we’re not buying it. Sharks seem to have an endless variety of curious tricks up their fins‚ including‚ most recently‚ possibly knocking up a stingray.

Imagine a tale so heartwarming it wraps you in a blanket of love and hope—this is the story of Denali‚ a pregnant shelter dog whose life teetered on the edge of uncertainty. Facing a dire need for a foster home as her delivery date approached‚ her future seemed bleak. Yet‚ in a stroke of luck... The post Scared pregnant foster dog gives birth to huge litter of puppies appeared first on Animal Channel.

Imagine a world where the Queen’s Guards‚ known for their stoic presence and impeccable discipline‚ are not just humans but an elite force of… geese! Yes‚ you heard that right. While the idea might tickle your funny bone‚ these feathered guardians are no joke. Tasked with the noble duty of protecting their charge‚ they embody... The post Loyal geese melt hearts acting as ‘bodyguards’ for sweet grandma appeared first on Animal Channel.

On Friday‚ Media Research Center Founder and President Brent Bozell sent a letter to CBS and CBS News lambasting the Tiffany Network for their troubling and unprecedented decision to seize the files of correspondent Catherine Herridge – including notes and files that contain sensitive information and government sources – upon her sudden firing as part of layoffs from parent company Paramount Global. Thankfully‚ based on a statement from Herridge’s union SAG-AFTRA and CBS itself‚ the network appears set to fold after having messed with the wrong reporter. Bozell called the seizure – which was first reported by Jonathan Turley in his column for The Hill – a “journalistic malpractice” and “unquestionably against journalistic standards”‚ adding CBS laying her off “has damaged its reputation and journalism as a whole”. He then turned up the heat and tore into CBS for disrespecting “one of the core principles” of journalism in protecting sources and asking whether the choice in include her in the layoffs was due to her unflinching coverage of Biden family corruption or pressure from the Biden regime: Anyone familiar with the field of journalism‚ such as yourself‚ should know that one of the core principles is the protection of a reporter’s sources. To hold confidential files Ms. Herridge had‚ including some from her time at Fox News‚ is in rare form. Ms. Herridge’s files belong to her‚ not your network. (….) Ms. Herridge was one of the few remaining journalists at CBS that actually deserved to be called a reporter. Despite pressure from leadership‚ she actually covered the flaws of the Left‚ including the Biden Bribery Scandal. Was the seizure of her files retribution for her investigative reporting on Democrats? Did the White House have anything to do with this incident‚ or is it merely election interference on behalf of CBS? Your readers and viewers deserve answers. Along with calling for CBS to return her files and “apologize…on-air”‚ Bozell answered some of the above questions himself‚ ripping CBS for “hav[ing] not only terminated her for defying your political beliefs and retained her files in the face of basic journalistic ethics‚” but engaged in behavior that “reeks of election interference and deserves full investigation.” In the aforementioned SAG-AFTRA statement from Thursday night‚ they said CBS’s behavior was “absurd” and “deeply concerning to the union” and “sets a dangerous precedent for all media professionals” because “[i]t is completely inappropriate for an employer to lay off a reporter and take the very unusual step of retaining and searching the reporter's files‚ inclusive of confidential source identification and information.” They added that such a “retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices”‚ but “are encouraged by recent outreach by CBS News to SAG-AFTRA on this matter‚ and we are hopeful that it will be resolved shortly.” Also on Thursday night‚ CBS seemed to have cried uncle‚ telling reporters such as CNN’s Oliver Darcy and Puck’s Dylan Byers that Herridge’s “personal belongings were delivered to her home one week ago‚ and we are prepared to pack up the rest of her files immediately on her behalf…as she requested” and “have respected her request to not go through the files‚ and out of our concern for confidential sources‚ the office she occupied has remained secure since her departure." Exit question: Does anyone actually believe this?

Madness costs. Just watch. We no longer have politics. The overflowing bucket of psychopathology that passes for the Democratic Party has gone entirely insane‚ and it's taking us all with it. If you haven’t had enough of lawfare and Russian collusion and transgender children‚ great news: You’ll get plenty more‚ louder and crazier. It isn’t working. A failure cascade is beginning — everywhere. The blue model is dying‚ hard and fast‚ and it deserves to die. It will not be saved. And the cause of death is becoming very clear. If you govern like Jacobin lunatics‚ you destroy everything you touch. The death cycle has two sides. Start with the decline side‚ the effect. In January‚ California faced a budget deficit estimated at $58 billion. A month later‚ that deficit is now estimated at $73 billion. There are several months to go in the state’s budget cycle‚ so no one knows what that final deficit number will turn out to be. I endorse the sentiment that Governor Gavin Newsom (D) “would run a child’s lemonade stand into the ground.” The state’s infrastructure is already in appalling condition‚ so sharp reductions in state spending will get interesting in a hurry. Invest in Los Angeles tire shops. The other side is the origin of the implosion. California’s decline is caused by a political process that doesn’t notice basic questions of governance because politicians are too busy preening and performing about social justice nonsense. California politicians spend their time on things like reparations and an endless stream of disgraceful anti-parent bills; last year‚ discussing a bill to penalize parents for failing to honor a child’s gender transition choices‚ one of the few Republican legislators in Sacramento warned parents to escape the state and “move to America.” Meanwhile‚ the California attorney general is suing a school district to prevent it from implementing a parental notification policy‚ fighting for secret sexual discussions on K-12 campuses. And so California has lost more than 800‚000 residents in three years‚ as people flee to sanity. They are‚ in fact‚ moving to America‚ and businesses are leaving with them. So Democrats keep winning elections in California‚ and they keep moving harder and harder to the left‚ and taxpayers are racing for the exits. And now: a $58 billion deficit that quickly turns into a $73 billion deficit. What voting won’t stop‚ capital flight will. That bill is coming due in a hurry. The problem with socialism‚ Margaret Thatcher said‚ is that you eventually run out of other people’s money. The problem with culturally insane anti-family woke socialism is that it strips out the “eventually.” If you govern like Jacobin lunatics‚ you destroy everything you touch. Watch this repulsive display‚ as Newsom signs a bill into law to guarantee children access to sexual materials in schools. They call it an “anti-book-ban” law‚ and nowhere near enough actual taxpayers are dumb enough to fall for it. Sexualize childhood‚ lose families to other states. Hubris invites nemesis. Arrogant scumbags destroy themselves and take institutions with them. New York is experiencing the same thing — and is about to experience the hell out of it. Manhattan juries and creepy Tammany-redux machine judges have proved to be extremely willing to punish Donald Trump for anything that shows up in their courtroom. Judge Arthur Engoron has imposed penalties that threaten to crush the Trump family business‚ with a fine north of $350 million and a years-long ban on doing business in the state. Attorney General Letitia James quickly followed up with a threat to start seizing Trump assets‚ including Trump Tower. But that punishment follows a supposed act of fraud with no victims‚ as willing lenders told the court that they were happy to make the fully repaid loans that allegedly constituted fraudulent acts. Businesses all over the state‚ and investors all over the world‚ quickly noticed the implications: Fraud is whatever the state says‚ whenever state officials don’t like your politics. “They still have no idea what they’ve done‚" investor Tony Seruga wrote. “What is that sucking sound? I do not want to cause any additional anxiety for my partners but our family office is working on pulling $2B out of NYC as cleanly as possible. A number of pension funds that have already abandoned ESG are now divesting from NY real estate.” New York‚ already facing considerable capital flight‚ has communicated to corporations that their assets aren’t safe. Some of them will act on that observation. Stability draws businesses and taxpayers. A steady and not noticeably insane politics builds; a punitive and socially unstable politics destroys. Forget for the moment about how people vote and how they speak‚ and forget about how officials perform for the cameras. Start thinking about assets. They'll tell you what course corrections have to happen. Democrats are going to get crazier‚ and they’re going to do it in a hurry. And the costs will become clear with equal speed.

American investment giants JPMorgan Chase‚ BlackRock‚ and State Street Global Advisors have dropped out of a United Nations-backed climate group reportedly because the next phase of the group's sustainability goals takes things too far. The climate group claimed that companies are not reaching their goals "fast enough."Climate Action 100+ is an initiative making a massive global push for environmental‚ social‚ and corporate governance‚ which is responsible for many of the progressive policies pushed in corporations. The idea is that if a company or entity does not incorporate the ESG doctrine into its business practice‚ it would not be preferred by investment firms.According to Fox News‚ the firms leaving the climate group signaled that they would be dealing with climate plans internally and that Climate Action's new "Phase 2" plans were over the top.JPMorgan Chase said its firm had "built a team of 40 dedicated sustainable investing professionals‚ including investment stewardship specialists who also leverage one of the largest buy side research teams in the industry.""Given these strengths and the evolution of its own stewardship capabilities‚ JPMAM (JP Morgan Asset Management) has determined that it will no longer participate in Climate Action 100+ engagements‚" the firm added.BlackRock withdrew U.S. business from the climate group and is shifting to its smaller international entity in its place. State Street‚ on the other hand‚ made it clear that the new climate commitments conflicted with the company's investment plans."SSGA has concluded the enhanced Climate Action 100+ phase 2 requirements for signatories are not consistent with our independent approach to proxy voting and portfolio company engagement‚" State Street said in a statement.Both groups noted that pending litigation against the climate group was also a contributing factor.Climate Action 100+ told the Washington Free Beacon that it "does not comment on individual signatories and their specific circumstances." The group reportedly noted that it added "more than 60 new signatories" last fall and "continues as intended with hundreds of global investors."According to the group's website‚ Climate Action 100+ is an investor-led initiative to "ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change."The group's Phase 2 plans align with the coveted 2030 goal of "decarbonization" across the world. The new phase includes making "lead investors and individual engagers" disclose their voting records on particular votes of the group's interest. Other listed benchmarks included "emissions reductions‚ and the key underlying factors leading to these‚" aligning with "pathways" dedicated to lowering the Earth's warming below 1.5°C‚ as well as "capital allocation‚ and asset-level change" regarding net-zero carbon transitioning.Climate Action summarized its recent data with a message similar to that of other failing green-energy initiatives."The results showed that most focus companies are not moving fast enough to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement and reduce investors’ risk."Pending litigation mentioned by investment groups is likely referring to a group of Republican attorneys general who have been conducting an investigation into Climate Action 100+ and its members. At least 20 attorneys general from states like Montana‚ Iowa‚ and Tennessee have investigated whether or not the asset managers have engaged in market manipulation or violated their fiduciary obligations.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Anti-Defamation League made abundantly clear this week that it won't let reality get in the way of its preferred political narrative. The New York-based leftist group's annual report on murder and extremism claims that all of the "extremist-related murders" in the U.S. last year "were tied to right-wing extremism." This claim caught the eye of one critic who could think of an example of extremism that proved the assessment wanting: the Covenant School shooting in Nashville‚ Tennessee. When pressed on why it overlooked a radical transvestite's March 2023 massacre of Christians — whose "white privilege" was factored into their targeting — as an instance of extremism‚ the ADL cited a lack of evidence. The ADL report The ADL routinely downplays the threat of leftist and Islamist violence whilst hyping the supposed dangers of right-wing extremism. The group showed no signs of a course correction in its new "Murder and Extremism in the United States" report. The leftist group claimed‚ for example‚ that "no police officers or corrections officers were killed by extremists this past year‚" apparently overlooking Mohamad Barakat's July 14‚ 2023‚ ambush of North Dakota police officers. Days after looking up an article online about the American assassination of an ISIS terrorist‚ Barakat‚ a self-described Muslim from Syria who recently became a U.S. citizen‚ opened fire on three officers‚ killing Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin. Extremist violence against police was apparently not the ADL's only blind spot. The report claims‚ "All the extremist-related murders in 2023 were committed by right-wing extremists of various kinds‚ with 15 of the 17 killings involving perpetrators or accomplices with white supremacist connections." The ADL defines "right-wing extremism" thusly: "right-wing political‚ social and religious movements that exist outside of and are more radical than mainstream conservatism." "This is the second year in a row that right-wing extremists have been connected to all identified extremist-related killings‚" said the report. The ADL did not bother to count the Covenant School shooting. Turning a blind eye to likely leftist extremism A 28-year-old transvestite stormed a Presbyterian elementary school on March 27‚ 2023‚ armed with a rifle‚ a pistol‚ and a handgun. The male-identifying woman murdered three children and three staff members at the Covenant School before police could put her down with four well-placed shots. Her victims were Evelyn Dieckhaus‚ 9; Hallie Scruggs‚ 9; William Kinney‚ 9; Katherine Koonce‚ 60; Cynthia Peak‚ 61; and Mike Hill‚ 61. The shooter left behind what Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake characterized as a "manifesto." The Daily Signal's Tyler O'Neil noted that leaked elements of the shooter's manifesto‚ which police confirmed were legitimate‚ made clear that the killer transvestite was operating on the basis of the same kinds of anti-white hatred the radical left regularly traffics in. "Kill those kids!!! Those crackers Going to private fancy schools with those fancy khakis and sports backpacks with their daddies mustangs and convertibles. F— you little sh—s‚" wrote the female shooter. "I wish to shoot your weak ass d—s with your mop yellow hair‚ wanna kill all you little crackers!!! Bunch of little f***ots with your white privileges. F— you f***ots." O'Neil suggested the shooter's remarks aligned with the "left's ideological talking points on 'white privilege' and reveal[ed] a disdain for others based on the skin color." "This hatred of white people echoes the Marxist claim that America is institutionally racist‚ so justice demands stripping whites of their 'privilege' and elevating racial minorities rather than securing a level playing field for all races‚" wrote O'Neil. The Daily Signal asked the ADL about its decision to omit the transvestite's massacre from its list of extremist incidents and was told the Covenant School shooting does not show "clear evidence of extremism." "The case of Hale does not appear in the report‚ as we did not find clear evidence of extremism‚" an ADL spokesman told the Signal. "Hale left some writings‚ not released by police‚ that they described as lacking any specific political or social issues‚" added the spokesman. "Three pages of a document were later leaked that contained hateful epithets directed at white and LGBTQ+ people‚ which did not provide evidence of any particular extremist ideology‚ but rather primarily resentment and grievance at students from the shooter's former school perceived to be better off than the shooter was." The ADL spokesman suggested that its assessment might change if "additional information comes to light." "If additional evidence is subsequently revealed for a specific murder that confirms an extremist tie‚ such a murder would be added to the statistics at that time‚" continued the spokesman. "Our statistics are regularly updated to include new findings." The ADL previously made reference to the Covenant School shooting when it suited the organization's preferred narrative. In the aftermath of the massacre last year‚ the ADL raised the alarm — about "anti-transgender rhetoric" on 4chan and .win forums. The leftist grrup warned that "this sort of hate doesn't just stay online. It can inspire offline violence." While the motive of the Nashville shooter remains unknown‚ unfounded claims that the incident was rooted in gender identity have been weaponized. This rise in anti-transgender hate must be taken seriously. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

According to left-wing media‚ Joe Biden is the picture of health. “If you’re concerned about Joe Biden’s age‚ you probably don’t know Joe Biden‚” Joy Reid told her audience on MSNBC‚ which echoed the sentiment of anchors across the board. “Biden is actually in good shape‚” said one loyal anchor. Another said he’s “mentally‚ quite acute.” Pat Gray is appalled. “Yes‚ I mean‚ there’s no evidence of him struggling with his mental acuity‚ there’s no evidence of that. This is completely made-up whole cloth by haters on the right‚” Gray mocks. Meanwhile‚ there is endless evidence that Biden is not the mentally fit president Democrats make him out to be. In one clip‚ Biden incriminates himself at a rally by saying he goes way back with a woma who was 12 when he was 30. “We go back a long way. She was 12‚ I was 30‚ but anyway‚ this woman helped me get an awful lot done‚” Biden said. Biden has also been caught on camera‚ multiple times‚ sniffing underage and terrified children. In one clip‚ he’s seen hugging a little boy closely before telling the audience‚ “He gave me permission to touch him.” “This was right after he was called out for this and told it was inappropriate: ‘Stop doing this to people. They’re uncomfortable with it. It’s offensive‚ it’s sick‚ leave people alone.’ First thing he does‚ starts touching the boy‚” Gray says‚ disgusted. Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Journalist Catherine Herridge shared an "important update" late Thursday about the shocking news that CBS News allegedly retained her confidential files and records after terminating her employment.That update‚ Herridge highlighted‚ is a statement from her union‚ SAG-AFTRA‚ which corroborates the allegations first published by law professor Jonathan Turley. — (@) Turley reported that upon delivering Herridge a pink slip last week‚ "CBS officials took the unusual step of seizing her files‚ computers and records‚ including information on privileged sources.""The network grabbed Herridge's notes and files and informed her that it would decide what‚ if anything‚ would be turned over to her‚" he explained. "The files likely contain confidential material from both her stints at Fox and CBS. Those records‚ it suggests‚ are presumptively the property of CBS News."The New York Post later corroborated Turley's reporting.In a statement‚ SAG-AFTRA condemned CBS News for its actions and explained why "it sets a dangerous precedent for all media professionals and threatens the very foundation of the First Amendment."The statement said:It is completely inappropriate for an employer to lay off a reporter and take the very unusual step of retaining and searching the reporter's files‚ inclusive of confidential source identification and information. From a First Amendment standpoint‚ a media corporation with a commitment to journalism calling a reporter’s research and confidential source reporting "proprietary information" is both shocking and absurd.The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials. According to SAF-AFTRA‚ officials at CBS News recently reached out to the union to discuss the matter. It's not clear‚ however‚ if Turley's reporting prompted the communication.In a statement to Blaze Media‚ a CBS News spokesperson appeared to confirm that Herridge had been locked out of her office — which holds her confidential files and records — upon being laid off."Catherine’s personal belongings were delivered to her home one week ago‚ and we are prepared to pack up the rest of her files immediately on her behalf — with her representative present as she requested‚" the spokesperson said. "We are awaiting a response from Catherine and/or her representative to do so. "We have respected her request to not go through the files‚ and out of our concern for confidential sources‚ the office she occupied has remained secure since her departure‚" the spokesperson claimed.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!