Energy

A collage of agricultural elements including a satellite, crop fields, tomatoes, and growth charts illustrating data, boosted breeding techniques, chemical formulas, and a seedling highlights efforts to combat hunger.

Boosted Breeding and beyond: 3 tech trends that could end world hunger

A world without hunger is possible, and the development and deployment of new farming technologies could be one key to manifesting it.

Kristin Houser

Aerial view of solar panels arranged in rows on green grass, partially obscured by a yellowish haze.

Clean Energy

US hits 180 GW of solar power. Here’s how we get to 1,000 by 2035.

A quick look at the history of solar power in the US and the trends that could lead us into our sun-powered future.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

Which technologies will enable a cleaner steel industry?

Technologies like hydrogen-based direct reduction of ore, electrolysis, and advanced furnace technologies could reduce steel emissions.

Daniel Boero Vargas and Mandy Chan | World Economic Forum

Building trees in the Metaverse might actually save the forest

NatureXR, a new collective, is the first to build 3D model trees, then have scientists certify them as "real” for virtual reality.

Teresa Carey

Clean Energy

New solar cells could be a breakthrough in clean energy

Better solar cells are an objectively good thing. Two new breakthroughs may help us harness more light, more cost effectively.

B. David Zarley

Oceans

This underwater base could become the ISS of the ocean

Aquanaut Fabien Cousteau has announced plans to build Proteus, the world’s biggest underwater base for scientific research.

Kristin Houser

Sustainability

Want to save the planet? start with reinventing the motor

6:00

In partnership with Turntide

This highly efficient switched reluctance motor has the ability to save manufacturers millions of dollars and significantly reduce their carbon emissions.

Doug Dais

Animals

Crowdsourcing ideas for animal conservation technology

The Digital Makerspace looks to an online community of thinkers to identify the most crucial animal conservation problems and solutions.

Teresa Carey

Agriculture

Battling a locust swarm from space

Using data from NASA satellites, researchers are scouring East Africa for areas where a desert locust swarm might be born — so they can destroy the eggs.

Kristin Houser

Oceans

3d-modeling is changing how we see deep sea corals

We don’t understand deep sea coral reefs. Photogrammetry is the first step to unlocking their significance.

Teresa Carey

Food

Fertilizer feeds half the world. Can we make it without fossil fuels?

Fertilizer is needed to feed the world, but its production comes with a carbon footprint. This solar-powered strategy may reduce that.

B. David Zarley

Economics

With US clothing sales in a freefall, Walmart sells secondhand

Consumers can now purchase secondhand clothing from a new resale store in the largest retailer - Walmart.

Teresa Carey

Series| Challengers

This carbon-negative dream house ships in a box

5:11

A startup described as the “IKEA of houses” is determined to make beautifully-designed, energy efficient homes affordable for everyone.

Doug Dais

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.