this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2025
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Lunarpunk

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Lunarpunk is a subgenre of solarpunk with a darker aesthetic. It portrays the nightlife, spirituality, and more introspective side of solarpunk utopias. It can be defined as "Witchy Solarpunk." Aesthetically, lunarpunk usually is presented with pinks, purples, blues, black, and silver with an almost omnipresence of bioluminescent plants and especially mushrooms

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Imagine a world where solar panels continue to harness energy even when the sun isn’t shining. It sounds like science fiction, but advancements in technology are making this a reality. The idea of solar panels that work at night is not just an intriguing concept; it is a groundbreaking innovation poised to revolutionize the renewable energy landscape. This development could potentially bridge the gap in renewable energy production, offering a continuous source of clean power. As we explore this exciting innovation, we delve into the mechanisms, potential applications, and impact on our future energy needs.

Nocturnal solar panels might sound like a paradox, but they are based on a simple yet innovative principle. These panels utilize the concept of radiative cooling, where they emit infrared radiation to the cold night sky, creating a temperature difference. This temperature gradient can then generate electricity through thermoelectric generators. The idea is to harness the thermal energy that naturally occurs when objects release heat, allowing solar panels to produce electricity even in the absence of sunlight. This ingenious approach not only extends the functionality of solar panels but also opens new avenues for energy production.

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[–] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 15 points 3 days ago (11 children)

Bullshit article based on absolutely nothing. Not even a single theoretical paper is mentioned in the article much less lab or a real world device.

"Maybe it could be done with thermo electric cooling" isn't legitimate news. It's a speculative opinion.

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 15 points 3 days ago (4 children)

Pretty sure it's AI generated but Stanford has been working on it. As of 2022 their panels could generate 50 milliwatts per square meter at night. Definitely far cry from the 200 watts per square meter during the day but I also don't know how much power is used at night vs the day (guessing not that little).

The team has said they have ideas to greatly increase output but again no idea how much.

[–] jonne 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

If it's only 50mW it seems like it wouldn't be worth whatever the extra cost is to roll this out for anything except super niche applications. Even off grid you're probably just better off saving solar in a battery or putting up a small windmill.

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