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SOLAR REFLECTIVITY
City University of Hong Kong built a radiative-cooling ceramic tile reflecting 99.6% of sunlight; field tests found it about 5°C cooler than standard tilesResearchers developed a new ceramic tile inspired by beetles. This tile reflects 99.6% of sunlight and releases absorbed heat effectively. ...- Columbia Engineering built a pigment-free paint filled with microscopic air pores; it stayed 6°C below surrounding air during hot desert tests in ArizonaResearchers at Columbia University and Purdue University have unveiled an experimental paint-like coating that can cool surfaces to tempera...
- Phoenix swapped black asphalt for a reflective road coating; noon surface heat fell 12°F, but pedestrians faced higher radiant heatIn an effort to lower urban heat, Phoenix tested innovative reflective pavement coatings on its roads, revealing that treated asphalt kept ...
- Scientists taught cameras to watch birds around solar panels; after 19,000 hours of footage, they discovered how the birds were actually using themResearchers are examining how birds interact with solar panel systems, utilizing AI-enhanced cameras to capture extensive footage of avian ...
- In 2019, Buffalo scientists coated aluminum film with a cooling polymer; a small prototype cooled an enclosed box by 11°F by day and 20°F at nightScientists have engineered a cost-effective film utilizing aluminum foil combined with a polymer layer. This innovative film actively cools...
- In 2021, researchers built a two-layer polymer film that cools like skin; under direct sun, it stayed about 7°C below ambient with 150 W/m² cooling powerResearchers have created an advanced cooling film comprising two innovative layers that harmoniously integrate both radiative and evaporati...
- In 2025, researchers built a box from porous PMMA sheets that reflected 96% of sunlight; 80°F outdoor air measured 65.3°F inside without electricityInnovative materials scientists are exploring passive cooling techniques to lessen the demand for air conditioning. They have engineered a ...
- In 2020, researchers tested a self-moistening hydrogel mat under solar panels; it cooled them by at least 10°C and boosted output by up to 19%New research introduces a cooling gel for solar panels. This gel absorbs moisture at night and releases it as vapor during the day. The coo...
- In a 2025 study, Penn State researchers tested porous PMMA sheets that reflected 96.4% of sunlight; a test box stayed 14.7°F cooler than the outdoor airInnovative researchers have crafted a groundbreaking porous plastic sheet that cools without any electrical input. By reflecting sunlight a...
- Scientists tested reflective pavement through an Australian summer, and the road surface stayed cooler, but midday radiant heat increased above itA western Sydney trial revealed reflective roads cool surfaces but raise pedestrian temperatures. This study tracked the trade-off over a y...
- Phoenix coated 36 miles of black asphalt with reflective coating to fight extreme heat. Road temperature dropped by 12°F, but pedestrians found a surprising side effectTo tackle the oppressive heat, Phoenix pioneered the use of lighter-toned roads, which successfully reduced surface temperatures significan...
- In 2017, CU Boulder engineers turned glass microspheres into a 50-microliter film; 10 to 20 square meters of it could help cool a family-sized houseA team of researchers has developed a groundbreaking thin film that cools surfaces without the need for electricity or water. By employing ...
- Argonne modeled Chicago’s August 2021 heatwave with different roof types; white roofs lowered air temperature by nearly 2°C and cooling energy use by 16.6%Transforming the rooftops of Chicago into cooler surfaces has led to a notable reduction in city temperatures. The use of white cool roofs ...
- Illinois researchers tested a passive cooling film in Houston; treated metal roofs measured more than 40°F cooler in direct sunlightAs American summers heat up, public health risks escalate, prompting researchers to create an innovative coating that cools metal roofs by ...
- In 2019, University of Maryland researchers stripped lignin from wood; the resulting cooling material stayed 12°F cooler than natural wood in an Arizona testScientists developed engineered wood to reflect sunlight and release heat. This material stayed cooler than natural wood when exposed to su...
- In 2025, a Finnish builder spent about $20,700 and 200 days making a 36-foot plywood solar boat. Earlier in 2026, it crossed more than 3,000 nautical miles from the Baltic to Spain on sunlight aloneA Finnish builder spent about $20,700 and 200 days creating a lightweight 36-foot plywood solar boat designed around efficiency rather than...
- Satellite researchers studied China’s desert solar farms; vegetation developed across 30.8 square kilometres within and around the installationsSolar farms in the arid deserts of China are transforming barren landscapes into vibrant green spaces. Between 2011 and 2018, researchers n...
- In July 2019, scientists watched mayflies mistake solar-like glass for water; females landed and deposited eggs on the dry surfaceFemale mayflies are confusing solar panels for water surfaces, which is causing difficulties with their reproduction. This issue, termed po...
- Earlier this year, a California startup received approval to launch a 59-foot mirror into orbit. Two years later, the demonstration could redirect sunlight onto chosen points on Earth, allowing crews to keep working after darkA California startup just got FCC approval to test a 59-foot mirror satellite in orbit. The spacecraft, named Eärendil-1, will catch sunlig...
- In 2010, researchers tested solar panels with white lines; the modified surfaces were up to 26 times less attractive to polarotactic insectsSolar panels, with their shiny surfaces, can inadvertently attract insects seeking water. This phenomenon leads to ecological harm, disrupt...
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