It’s hard to believe, but 2022 is just around the corner. And with it comes a whole new batch of tech news that will be worth keeping an eye on. From new developments in virtual reality to advancements in artificial intelligence, there are sure to be some exciting changes on the horizon. We’ll be covering all the latest news and rumours so that you can stay ahead of the curve! Whether you are interested in a new generation of online applications or an online casino with a PlayAmo bonus, keep reading!
Solar Geoengineering
The dust and ash that volcanoes emit into the upper atmosphere have a cooling effect: the eruption of Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 cooled the Earth by 0.5 °C for several years.
Solar geoengineering, also known as solar radiation management, could theoretically do the same. In 2022, a group of scientists from Harvard expects to conduct an experiment called SCoPEx. They will launch a balloon into the stratosphere, which will drop 2 kg of unnamed material, and then measure how it reacts to solar energy and dissipates it.
Heat Pumps
Maintaining heat in buildings in winter accounts for about a quarter of global energy consumption. It usually depends on the burning of coal, gas or oil. The most promising alternative is to use heat pumps.
A heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one place to another. In simple terms, it’s like an air conditioner running in reverse.
Heat pumps keep the temperature in buildings consistent during the winter, accounting for about a quarter of global energy use. The most common way to heat homes is through the use of coal, gas, or oil. If humanity hopes to meet its climate goals, this trend must change. The usage of heat pumps – that is, refrigerators that operate “the other way around” – is among the most promising options.
Instead of pumping heat out of the room to cool it, a heat pump pumps heat outside the room, raising the temperature inside. Experts are enthusiastic about their energy efficiency potential because they merely transport already hot air; whereas electric radiators only release 1 kW of heat for each kilowatt consumed, heat pumps can produce 3 kW of heat and so are less expensive to run than electric radiators.
Hydrogen-powered Aeroplanes
The electrification of motor transportation is one matter, but the electrification of aircraft is a completely different story. The present electric batteries are limited to tiny planes and would only suffice for brief trips. However, generating electricity utilizing hydrogen fuel cells, which produce only water as waste, maybe more efficient? A two-seat aircraft under construction at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands might be singled out as an example among passenger aircraft that will be tested with hydrogen fuel cells in 2022.
We may also fast-track the development of new fuels and technologies that are more readily available. The Japanese aircraft company ZeroAvia is working on a hydrogen-powered 30-seat aircraft in cooperation with the American firm Aerion, which will begin testing shortly. By the end of 2022, Universal Hydrogen, based in California, will conduct the first flight tests of its 40-seat plane using direct carbon capture from the air. Global warming is exacerbated by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
So, there you have it! Some of the 2022 tech news worth keeping an eye on. Solar geoengineering, heat pumps, and hydrogen-powered aeroplanes are just a few of the exciting developments that we can expect to see in the coming year. Stay tuned for more updates!
