Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

boxdude t1_iydj2gy wrote

There is research indicating that the pathway for SAD is through a different receptor in the eye, known as the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), rather than through the cones used to detect color.

See paper here as an example of this research:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30173913/

And general article discussing the issue here:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/21/678342879/scientists-find-a-brain-circuit-that-could-explain-seasonal-depression

So while I dont have any direct studies that would quantify the rate at which colorblind people experience SAD compared to normal color vision, it would be unexpected to find a rate difference based on the actual pathway being part of a different receptor in the eyes than the cones used for color vision.

690

Millennial_Glacier OP t1_iyduwyz wrote

Thank you, I appreciate your time. I didn't have the jargon to satisfy that particular aspect of my curiosity. Hopefully you don't mind me asking a few follow up questions.

Does the same hold true for episodic neurological conditions that can be triggered through photoreceptors, e.g. seizures and migraines?

Given the broad visual spectrum of mantis shrimp, could the cone structures in their eyes be replicated in solar panels for increased efficiency?

Could solar panels be backed with something akin to vantablack and a structure that uses the Peltier Effect to help capture infrared light and energy lost as heat?

138

Pircay t1_iye16r2 wrote

To address the second question, no, the cone structures of Mantis shrimp have no applicability to solar panels. Their cones enable them to more easily differentiate between specific wavelengths, but solar panels have no use for that information.

If a wavelength is too short, it will pass through the solar cell entirely, and if it is too long, it will not have enough energy to excite the electrons in the silicon material responsible for capturing photons, resulting in little to no energy.

This effectively means there is a range of wavelengths that are useful for solar panels (with the most effective being in the yellow-red range)- enabling them to “see” more colors wouldn’t accomplish anything.

69

Millennial_Glacier OP t1_iyel3ew wrote

Reality strikes again, but also thank you. I was reading about how conical electrodes are used to extract energy from plasma. Which led me to thinking about how the eye has conical structures that capture different wavelengths of light, and I wondered if that could be replicated and applied to solar generation. Then came the thought about visual perspective and SAD.

My fragile ego needs you to know that it knows solar panels don't "see" and it was curious if cones had further uses in energy extraction.

edit: To further elaborate, I was picturing a solar panel made with alternating strips of current solar tech and a hypothetical cone-based material that captures green to violet, maybe UV too. Then overlay that with a textured material acting as a prism directing light to the corresponding strip.

22

MetricJester t1_iye0iry wrote

Oooh! I have a reply for the last question: Stirling generators. There has been some research into utilizing the left over heat of solar panels to also mobilize Stirling generators. The thinking there is to create a kinetic energy storage cell that is capable of powering the grid after dark. Most are looking at pumping large volumes of water to do that.

30

Millennial_Glacier OP t1_iyedlyz wrote

That is awesome, thanks for introducing something new to learn about. It would be cool, maybe not practical, if someone found a way to use that in tandem with a water based gravity battery. Like send the water up hill into a large shallow basin to collect heat from the sun or be chilled by the environment. Then extract that thermal potential before sending the water to the generators at the bottom of the hill. Wouldn't be useful when the weather is mild, but could help with storage and production during the coldest and hotest times of year.

8

xxxbmfxxx t1_iyfee2d wrote

Would that mean that conceivably exposing yourself to light from an open window even while eyes closed sleeping could help with SAD?

3