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Adding spinach to solar panels nearly triples their efficiency

Daily Mail -- Ask people what they know of spinach's energy-boosting powers, and most people will start talking about Popeye the Sailor Man.

But in a strange twist, it turns out spinach could be placed into solar panels to create a much greater supply of electricity.

Scientists in Tennessee discovered that combining the green-leafed veg with silicon produced a much stronger electrical current in solar cells than present methods.

The team of biomolecular engineers and chemists used the photosynthetic protein in spinach - the vital ingredient that converts light into energy to make plants grow.

Then they combined it with silicon, which is already used in solar cells, in a way that produced an electrical current 2.5 times more powerful that existing solar cells.

The team from Vanderbilt University in

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Submitted Sep 06, 2012 By: DellDude2

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jbrad4 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:803 Points:478,210 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 7:39:24 PM Ignore jbrad4 Report Abuse Good to see increase in solar cell efficiency.
sjf238 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,215 Points:647,955 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 4:05:27 PM Ignore sjf238 Report Abuse OK.
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,525 Points:535,710 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 2:50:56 PM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse And more than 20 times the number of comments posted!
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,982 Points:1,278,925 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 1:55:49 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Nice to put Mother Nature to work.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,013 Points:600,660 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 1:45:07 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
rcornero Sophomore Author Toms River Posts:225 Points:367,560 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 10:27:02 AM Ignore rcornero Report Abuse Are you sure this didn't originate with "The Onion"?
IrishCowboy Champion Author Fort Wayne Posts:1,432 Points:573,975 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 9:18:37 AM Ignore IrishCowboy Report Abuse So what if we put it in our gas tanks?
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,773 Points:594,670 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 7:54:20 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:6,875 Points:1,359,675 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 1:43:34 AM Ignore comprof Report Abuse Very interesting!
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:11,833 Points:1,288,310 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 1:18:20 AM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Interesting.
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,956 Points:1,927,755 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:29:16 AM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse Live with Mother Nature!
kishoreCA Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,129 Points:394,845 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:20:57 AM Ignore kishoreCA Report Abuse now that's interesting... after Corn, now it is Spinach...
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,731 Points:649,995 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:17:35 AM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse Hey, get Popeye off the roof!!!!!
Fitwit Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,409 Points:1,357,820 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:11:47 AM Ignore Fitwit Report Abuse Now that is green energy!
Mowerman08 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,770 Points:1,219,945 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:07:18 AM Ignore Mowerman08 Report Abuse TRUE GREEN ENERGY :)
firefly09 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,502 Points:717,675 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:06:03 AM Ignore firefly09 Report Abuse Stop using our food for energy!
ManOfLeisureII Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,889 Points:456,325 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:05:55 AM Ignore ManOfLeisureII Report Abuse I knew Popeye always made more sense than Obama.
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,965 Points:834,655 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:04:54 AM Ignore regout Report Abuse We may transfer that energy to cars.
souly Champion Author Montreal Posts:1,775 Points:434,320 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:03:41 AM Ignore souly Report Abuse thanks for the post
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,918 Points:1,547,235 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:03:39 AM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse Wow, and I just found out spinach which I (used to) eat every day is one of the leading causes of kidney stones. Any relevance?
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,483 Points:665,125 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:03:20 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse I guess spinach isn't only for popeye.
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,707 Points:540,970 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:01:49 AM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse Interesting......
markiesm Rookie Author Fort Worth Posts:79 Points:411,920 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:58:49 PM Ignore markiesm Report Abuse Finally good news for a change
gwill76 Sophomore Author Orlando Posts:170 Points:1,358,135 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:58:05 PM Ignore gwill76 Report Abuse Selling spinach enchildas from a solar powered food truck...this is a million $$ idea...Prez Obama I require a research grant for this project..
Gas_Buzzer Champion Author South Carolina Posts:14,166 Points:2,595,340 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:57:17 PM Ignore Gas_Buzzer Report Abuse It worked for Popeye!
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,212 Points:792,160 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:56:06 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Lol Miser709
miser709 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,268 Points:1,072,550 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:53:45 PM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse Try Viagra.
1fuelish1 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:14,814 Points:1,855,195 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:52:27 PM Ignore 1fuelish1 Report Abuse "They'll make power to the finnich, if they use's spinach, says Popeye the Sailor Man (toot, toot!) [Edited by: 1fuelish1 at 9/6/2012 11:53:19 PM EST]
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,080 Points:1,734,140 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:51:35 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse urban myth
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,678 Points:1,424,530 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:51:04 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse Just like putting ethanol in gasoline. I like it.
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,588 Points:1,774,820 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:50:09 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse What happens to solar panels when you add Olive Oil?
LexusLS400 Champion Author Orange County Posts:8,363 Points:1,682,450 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:49:14 PM Ignore LexusLS400 Report Abuse I'm having some for dinner right now!
Fitwit Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,409 Points:1,357,820 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:48:55 PM Ignore Fitwit Report Abuse Now I add spinach to my smoothies, along with mint extract but never would have thought of adding it to solar panels.
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,723 Points:762,205 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:48:37 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse Just hope the panels don't spoil in the sun light.
ACTown Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,349 Points:1,432,120 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:48:30 PM Ignore ACTown Report Abuse there goes another food source to satisfy our fuel and energy.
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,360 Points:676,040 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:47:11 PM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse interesting....
Is246 Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:1,019 Points:428,710 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:46:08 PM Ignore Is246 Report Abuse Nice, keep researching.
Suzy7Q Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,193 Points:372,480 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:45:55 PM Ignore Suzy7Q Report Abuse That is wonderful that something good is not always man-made.
MountedShooter Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,095 Points:743,645 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:45:43 PM Ignore MountedShooter Report Abuse Ok.
N4PIP All-Star Author Miami Posts:915 Points:421,380 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:43:57 PM Ignore N4PIP Report Abuse This is excellent news. The sooner we can increase pv panel efficiency, the better. Prices have dropped a lot. It's time to make the switch and get away from utilities.
canfranchiser Veteran Author Riverside Posts:418 Points:397,610 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:43:00 PM Ignore canfranchiser Report Abuse exciting discovery and article.
WinderGuy Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,879 Points:934,555 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:40:28 PM Ignore WinderGuy Report Abuse ok
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,098 Points:1,393,795 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:40:04 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse They don't call spinach a super food for nothing.
CdnLynx Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,024 Points:525,835 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:37:28 PM Ignore CdnLynx Report Abuse This is far more beneficial and longer term, then using corn to produce ethanol, as it will not be as consumable, as corn is presently for ethanol. Now, wonder if the scientists, could see if they get the same results with using weeds, would be nice to see if fast growing weeds could be useful to humanity!
unicornIL Veteran Author Chicago Posts:446 Points:387,295 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:36:27 PM Ignore unicornIL Report Abuse there goes the price of spinach
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,002 Points:677,465 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:35:53 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse there goes the cost of spinach..
jimpricehunter Sophomore Author Dallas Posts:245 Points:149,920 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:33:46 PM Ignore jimpricehunter Report Abuse Will this soon start sounding like all the arguments and problems swirling around 'corn'? Seriously, I have a better use for spinach.
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,091 Points:2,472,165 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:33:34 PM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse No surprise to me with all the iron spinach is supposed to have per my mom when she was alive.
itsjustme719 All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:612 Points:600,520 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:30:42 PM Ignore itsjustme719 Report Abuse Neat.
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,308 Points:1,466,205 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2012 11:30:31 PM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse Maybe Alternative Energy Sources will finally see GREEN ;)