Govind Tekale
Think of a compact cooling device that can drop temperatures by 16 degrees without hurting the environment. UCLA scientists have created exactly that – a new type of cooling pump that works just using electricity.
The device uses special layers of thin films that move like an accordion to push heat away. “As average temperatures continue to rise with climate change, coping with heat is becoming a critical health issue,” says UCLA professor Qibing Pei, who led the research.
Inside this compact device are six thin polymer films, stacked in a circular arrangement just under an inch in diameter and quarter-inch thick. When electricity flows through them, they squeeze together and spread apart, moving heat away from its source. In tests, it cooled areas by 16 degrees continuously and up to 25 degrees at hot spots within half a minute.
Unlike regular air conditioners that use harmful gases, this device runs purely on electricity. This means it could be powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels, making it a sustainable cooling option.
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The technology could help in many ways – from cooling workers in hot environments to keeping electronics from overheating. Nicole Miranda from Oxford University points out why this matters: “Cooling is the fastest-growing single source of energy use in buildings.”
For people working long hours outdoors or in hot spaces, this could mean wearing a cooling band that keeps them comfortable without harming the environment. The device’s small size makes it perfect for personal cooling solutions.
Sumanjeet Kaur from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory emphasizes its broader impact: “The potential of efficient wearable cooling in driving energy savings and mitigating climate change cannot be overstated.”
The research appears in Science journal, backed by organizations including the U.S. Office of Naval Research. As our world gets warmer, this technology offers a promising way to stay cool while protecting our planet.
