Electrical engineering – The Conversation

To model the inside of a supercapacitor, my team had to rework a common physics law that most high school students learn.

Deciding on the best system isn’t a simple matter. There’s a bewildering array of jargon to sift through and many elements to consider.

These mini lightning bolts have been known for millennia. Understanding static electricity at the atomic level opens the door for new technologies – as well as ways to cut down on the tiny zaps.

Many speak fondly of how Barry Dwolatzky took them into a derelict disco and enthusiastically explained the tech co-working space he envisioned there.

There are 15 different kinds of electrical outlets around the world. One standard would be more convenient, but no one wants to change theirs.

An electrical engineer explains how smoke detectors work, and how to reduce the chances of a false positive.

The ubiquity of mobile phones is a defining feature of the 21st century, but it’s been possible to place a phone call on the go since shortly after World War II.

Managing voltage on the electricity network has always been an issue. But solar panels have the potential to make the situation better, not worse as some have feared.

Sensors are everywhere, from your phone to your medicine cabinet. Here’s how they turn events in the physical world into words and numbers.

Every few centuries the Sun blasts the Earth with a huge amount of high-energy particles. If it were to happen today, it would wreak havoc on technology.