Clean energy: How ‘dippy bird’ sparked an idea

The top-hatted “drinking bird,” once a fixture in science classrooms for demonstrating the basics of thermodynamics, is making a surprising comeback — as the inspiration for a new clean-energy generator that could one day power your watch and phone.

Scientists in Hong Kong and China have used the famous toy, also known as the “Dippy Bird,” to develop an engine capable of using the power of water evaporation to generate electricity, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Device.

The new method works by converting the energy produced by the bird’s characteristic back-and-forth movement into electrical power.

The physics behind it is relatively simple: The toy is made up of two glass bulbs, representing the head and body of the bird, which are connected by a long glass tube. Methylene chloride, a highly volatile liquid, is contained within the structure.

After the bird’s beak is dipped into a cup of water, it springs back into its natural upstanding position, and the water begins to evaporate and cool the head. This causes the volatile liquid from the lower bulb to rise up the tube, due to a difference in pressure, and as a result, the bird’s center of gravity

APC groups asks Tinubu to use Russian gadgets to locate kidnapped pupils

Its Director-General, Prof. Kailani Muhammadgave the advice in Abuja on Friday at the Breaking of Fasting aimed at bringing Nigerians together irrespective of their religions or tribes to become more united.

On March 7, 2024, the gunmen kidnapped 287 students and teachers from the LEA Primary School and the Government Secondary School, Kuriga, Kaduna State as well as others in Sokoto State.

The schoolchildren were abducted by the hoodlums who took them into the forests.

Muhammad emphasized the importance of the latest sophisticated electronic gadgets to be able to identify where these pupils and guns were located.

“We should use the latest sophisticated electronic gadgets to be able to identify where these pupils and bandits are.

“The latest one now is from Russia, we want him (Tinubu) to adopt it. There are vehicles now Russia built. They will send these vehicles into the forests and bushes, the vehicles will release smoke and the smoke can travel from Abuja to Kano.

“Once you are in the forest and you inhale it, you will sleep for three days. It won’t kill you, it won’t harm you.

“If we can bring such vehicles to Nigeria, they will help in getting these pupils