Is there a way to harnesh the radiation in the air and transform it into usable electricity?
484034
most definitely.\n\na "crystal radio" works without batteries and uses the energy of the radio waves ( radiation ) to create an electric  current in its coils which then produces sound in a small earphone.  \n\nthe problem is not transforming radiation into electricity.\n\nits just that the amount of radiation that is present in the atmosphere is very small and practically unusable ( except for crystal radios ! ).\n\nsolars cells do this also but very large areas of these panels can collect enough light to power anything of human practical value.
587734
Yes....do it on alternative energy sources
1043768
We could... \n\nIF you took a maser  (a laser but insteat of  light it is microwaves) or some other microwave generator and focused the beam on a bucket of water It would heat up the water, and act as a radiator.  \n\nMany radiators work on the priciple of heating up and cirulating water... IT is just that most use a electric heat source to heat the water.  \n\nBut there are some problems.  \n\nFirst ... What if someone or something were to get in the way of this microwave ray... They could get seriosly burned... as well it might be able to cause cancer.  \n\nSecond... IF mircowaves are shown on to a peice of metal instead of heating up the metal it causes a charge to be formed. If the microwave ray hit any metal It would shock who ever was wearing it, or destroy any electronics. (thus you would have to have a plastic radiator as well)  \n\nLast...\n\nThough it is a good idea, and I think it could work... It will be very expencive.  A mircowave used for heating is less that 20% efficent... A maser is less that 5% efficent.  This method will cossume ALOT of electricity.  \n\nBut it is a good idea... IF electricity was cheaper It might be very fesible.
808544
Man did u luck out running into me, go to www.sciplus.com "American science and surplus", all sorts of abandon science projects, factory over runs, cancelled government orders, motors, solar cells, weird stuff in the science dept, it's a mad doctors dream come true, CHEAP TOO ! check it out, you'll find lots of "COOL" stuff, that has many uses ! I did a hydro-electric demonstration of power application, that was so small, I could do it in a lab sink, E-mail me if you want an "A", it's an easy experiment, inexpensive, looks very sophisticated, yet simply displays the hydro-electric properties of producing low cost, hydro-electric power, using no battery's or electric for assistance, just water, so it's completely SAFE ! works on displaying milli-amps of D.C. power, yet you are still producing (at a very low voltage) power.
877781
It may not be the best project, since it involves high voltage between two plates...usually science fais prohibits a dangerous element \n\nIf you proceed, insulate two plates from each other and screen fingers from touching them of touching the screen. Put a hig voltage transformer on each conductor.\n\nHere is a link for a project\nhttp://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/assistance/education/air/air_pollution_control.pdf
23238
There was a story years ago about scientists experimenting with doing this exact thing.  They had an ozone maker under the balloon and let it off.  Can't find the article now though.\n\nSo yes, it is possible.  One theory of why its not being done would be cost - can we make enough ozone to make a difference?
341206
To harness the electricity usefully would be huge, but exceedingly difficult.\n\nYou could fly a kite with a wire string in a thunderstorm. \n\nDON"T TRY THIS UNLESS YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 100,000,000 VOLTS DOES WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH ANYTHING IN ITS PATH!
17746
electromagnetic energy (light) is converted to chemical energy, or rather chemical potential energy.
1184412
Yes, in fact that has been done throught the concept of "Thermo-coupling" but again this method is economically infeasible, because the current generated in the process is in nano amperes.\nor in very small qty.
903422
You can convert energy to microwaves, that can travel across space, to a receiver, that converts it back to electrical current.
877117
That's depending on the domains you want to use that electricity, because there are a lot of ways to produce electricity as to consume it. In fact it is (and should be) very simple to produce electricity, as the way it is valued and used. \nThe only thing which separates the methods is  the QUANTITY of electric energy.\nIt's not the same thing to light up a flashlight bulb or LED,or to power a industrial electric engine (motor) for mechanical work. \nThe basic and most quantitative method is to use a generator (which , yes implies FERROUS ALLOYS) which have a magnetic core carbon-iron based, used as magnetic circuit (they conduct very well the magnetic field, but they are specially made to isolate the convective currents.\nThe idea is simple to use in various ways, thing is to pass one (electro)magnet in front of a coil with (without) ferrous core. You can imagine from here a lots of ways to put it or to make it work with something.\nFor instance instead of using common generator(alternators) you can take one coil and insert in side of the spirals a bar of permanent magnet and with alternative movements of back and forth you can get  electricity. The strongest the magnet, the strongest the electricity will be.\nFor easy lab electricity you can take some jucy fruits(apples,oranges, pineapples, etc) and insert in them two electrods with some distance with respect to each other, one made from zinc and other from copper. Colect the energy gathered by the potential differential, and voila:). \n\nFerroalloys generaly are giving A.C current, meaning thet's alternative and is not good for aparatus wich use Direct Current. But with this method you can get a direct current fairy easly. \nGood luck:)
496124
Calculate the electricity.
283028
Photosynthesis generally takes light, CO2 & water and makes sugars.  These sugars are chemically converted in to food, propane, methanol, ethanol, coal, oil, wood and all the other fossil fuels and orgnic compounds on the earth, through natural, geologic, and/or manmade processes.  At every step of each process, energy is lost.  To gain usable energy, other than in biologic processes, requires burning something, and using the expansion of heated gases to create physical force (motion), or then using physical force to drive a generator to create electrical current.    \n\nWe do not currently have an effecient method of making electicity using incoming Solar radiation.  Current solar cells convert a small percentage of one section of the electromagnetic spectrum into electric current.\n\nHope this helps.
417548
You could, but there would need to be an efficicent and cost-effective way to do it. There are very large Uninterruptible Power Supplies out there that can be there, in-line, that would act like a buffer.\n\nIt is possible to reverse electricity to an electrical utility. In fact, you can 'farm' electricity and make money doing it.  You simply need a power switch, and some compliance switching devices to feed it back. Its been done with the solar power industry for years.
147555
Yes but the range you require would not be possible. Gamma rays spread out. You cannot reflect it into a fine beam.\nSo it is very difficult. However if you invent one .I would strongly advice u not to kill all...(or for that matter any) humans using it:-)
729824
That would be an enormous capacitor to be built, and yet the charge of a lighting bolt will vaporize such a huge capacitor, the answer is no, it not possible..☺
198671
Electrolysis. By applying electricity, you can break H2O into H2 and O2 gas.\n\n2H2O --> 2H2 + O2