Energy
Energy powers civilization. Developing technologies that can deliver abundant, sustainable energy is the challenge of our time and the promise of our future. Failure is not an option.
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Three founders look to the future at Freethink’s inaugural Great Progression event
The tech community came together for the launch of the Great Progression event series, curated by Peter Leyden and produced by Freethink.
The billionaire building space lasers to power Earth
Space startup Aetherflux has a mission straight out of sci-fi: harvest solar power in orbit and beam it down to Earth via laser.
The missing tech case for how we create an era of abundance
AI and other new technologies could make things that are costly and scarce today, cheap and abundant for all tomorrow.
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This mass-produced solar car costs just $25,900
The Aptera solar car is expected to hit roads in 2021, but even if it’s not the next big thing in transportation, its design elements could be.
A new device can use your body heat to increase battery life
Researchers have developed a low-cost wearable device that can turn body heat into energy — improving battery life for your essential devices.
Fuel tests to begin for world’s largest fusion reactor
At the JET nuclear fusion reactor, scientists are testing a fuel that could power a $25 billion nuclear fusion device.
Massive green hydrogen projects are underway
Large-scale ventures are a big step toward testing whether we can create a marketplace for green hydrogen in a way that makes economic sense.
Elon Musk offers $100 million for direct carbon capture tech
A new Xprize competition funded by Elon Musk offers $100 million in prizes for scalable direct carbon capture technology.
Diy factory turns plastic waste into super-strong bricks
Kenyan startup Gjenge Makers turns plastic waste into plastic bricks that are stronger, lighter, and cheaper than their concrete counterparts.
Electricity and chemistry could give biofuels a big boost
Scientists found an easier way to produce a chemical reaction important in making biofuels, possibly lowering the cost of biofuel production.
Biofuel rocket launch is a first in aerospace
Startup bluShift has successfully launched a biofuel rocket, proving that biofuels could be the future of more sustainable spaceflight.
New scooter battery can charge in 5 minutes. Can it transform electric cars?
StoreDot’s battery fully charges in just five minutes, and it can be manufactured on the same production lines as today’s EV batteries.
Wind turbine blades are a growing waste problem
Using decommissioned wind turbine blades to build bridges, buildings, and more could eliminate one of the biggest disadvantages of wind energy.
Geothermal energy is on the verge of a big breakthrough
Geothermal energy may be the key to bringing reliable, clean energy to the world.
Recycling robot keeps waste out of landfills
AMP Robotics has developed a recycling robot that uses AI to sort recyclables twice as quickly as humans can.
Transparent solar windows could be coming soon
Solar power is abundant, but the dark panels pose a design problem. A new generation of transparent solar panels could make house-powering windows and phone screens a reality.
New findings could help wine survive climate change
Climate change is altering wine making as we know it. Researchers at UC Davis have identified what makes some grapes more resistant to water stress.
The ugly truth about toxic e-waste
It’s estimated that by 2030, the amount of e-waste discarded globally will grow to 74.7 million tons per year. But fixing the problem is going to take more than recycling.
Making it rain with “cloud seeding”
China is using cloud seeding to create rain where and when it’s needed. Will it try to use geoengineering to combat climate change next?
What does a solarpunk future look like?
The writers, artists, and activists of the solarpunk movement envision a future in which we’ve overcome the problems inspiring today’s dystopian sci-fi.
CRISPR could help save coral reefs from bleaching
Using CRISPR, scientists have identified a gene that could determine whether coral reefs are highly susceptible to bleaching or not.
We can grow 60% more food by hacking photosynthesis
By improving photosynthesis, we can get more food from our farmland.
Brewery is world’s first factory fueled by iron powder
A Dutch brewery is using iron powder to generate clean energy, marking the first industrial use of iron fuel.
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