The Football World Cup in 2022 is being held in Qatar, where the capital Doha gets temperatures of 41°C -50°C (106F-122F), so Qatar University (QU) scientists are going to make artificial clouds to cool the footballers and fans in the stadiums. Stadiums such as Lusail Iconic Stadium will have cooling of up to 20°C (36F), and will have a zero carbon footprint through using solar power generation to provide power.
Dr Saul Abdul Ghani, head of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at QU, has led development of the artificial clouds, using super lightweight carbon structures holding a giant envelope of helium gas. The artificial helium filled remote control clouds would have solar cells on the outer surface to help power systems to position the cloud at the right angle to maximize shading.
With a price tag near US$500,000 (€355,000) a cloud, it might be cheaper to buy everyone a hat, umbrella, some suntan lotion, and an icepack.
Via The Daily Mail
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