New York Times: The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that new solar electrical capacity in the US for 2012 was up 76% over 2011. The US’s global market share of installations is now more than 10%. European market growth, however, has slowed. Much of the US growth is attributable to the falling prices of solar panels, a result of increased panel production in China. According to the trade association’s report, the average cost of a solar panel has dropped 60% since early 2011. At the end of 2012, panels were just 13% of the cost of an average residential solar system in the US. Two years earlier they were 32% of the cost. However, industrial installations have been the primary growth source, with more than double the capacity increase in 2012 over 2011.
The finding that the Saturnian moon may host layers of icy slush instead of a global ocean could change how planetary scientists think about other icy moons as well.
Modeling the shapes of tree branches, neurons, and blood vessels is a thorny problem, but researchers have just discovered that much of the math has already been done.
January 29, 2026 12:52 PM
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