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I believe this could be building on a previous project from 2012: https://phys.org/news/2012-11-major-advance-sunlight-steam.html https://phys.org/news/2012-11-
by jacknews 7y ago
I believe this could be building on a previous project from 2012: https://phys.org/news/2012-11-major-advance-sunlight-steam.html https://phys.org/news/2012-11-major-advance-sunlight-steam.h...
They state 24% effiency there, so the new result implies 36% overall efficiency? I find articles which only state '50% improvement' without stating the end result, frustrating.
- sebazzz 7y agoTypical journalism. Percentages are always abused.
- agumonkey 7y agoI completely understand, but still, a 50% increase is enough to be state as is. Usually tech progresses by much less.
- jacknews 7y agoI agree a large advance is still newsworthy, but it's just laziness not to go on to say what that means, ag "giving a really rather good 36% overall" or "despite the still-low overall officiency, scientists are optimistic about future progress" etc. Then again how are they even measuring efficiency, is there a theoretical minimum energy required to remove the salt from water?
- mrguyorama 7y agoWould an average reader have a good concept of what "36% efficient overall" would mean here?
- skybrian 7y agoMore examples: https://mobile.twitter.com/justsaysrisks https://mobile.twitter.com/justsaysrisks