Energy

US will accelerate geothermal exploration on federal land

The Bureau of Land Management is taking steps to make it easier for public lands to be considered for geothermal power systems.

Kristin Houser

A high-tech modular structure illuminated by blue lights, standing on a barren, moon-like landscape at night.

Batteries

World’s biggest battery maker unveils grid-scale storage system

CATL, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer, just unveiled TENER, a new energy storage system for utility companies.

Kristin Houser

Gloved hands hold a small metallic component with tweezers under a blue light in a laboratory setting.

Clean Energy

Future nuclear power reactors could rely on molten salts — but what about corrosion?

Proton irradiation decreases the rate of corrosion in certain metal alloys — potentially good news for promising nuclear power reactors .

Nancy W. Stauffer | MIT Energy Initiative

Clean Energy

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.

Teresa Carey

Cars

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.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

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.

Kristin Houser

Clean 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.

Amanda Winkler

Robotics

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.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

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.

B. David Zarley

Animals

Scientists put bees in little reflective “vests” for bee tracking

Bee tracking is difficult and expensive, and smaller bees are left out. Lightweight, inexpensive tags may be a solution.

B. David Zarley

Ecosystems

Scientists are using old spy satellite photos to study ecological change

Researchers are using new image processing techniques designed for drones to study declassified, Cold War spy satellite photos for ecological change.

B. David Zarley

Aerospace

Electric planes will bring cheaper flights and less CO2

Electric aviation would mean less CO2 emissions and cheaper airfare — but batteries still aren't powerful enough to compete with fuel-filled commercial jets.

Amanda Winkler

Animals

We need a better way to track polar bears. This father and son found a way.

A father-son duo has teamed up to develop four different temporary tracking devices being tested by polar bears in the far North.

B. David Zarley

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