Scientists in Sweden develop liquid that can store solar energy for more than a decade
Scientists in Sweden have developed a specialized fluid, called a solar thermal fuel, that can reportedly store energy captured from the sun for over a decade.
Technology & innovation
This archive covers technology and innovation breakthroughs that improve lives, protect the environment, and expand human possibility. From medical devices to clean energy tools, the stories here focus on what’s working and who’s making it happen.
The U.S. FCC approves SpaceX’s plan to launch 7,518 internet satellites
Elon Musk says that the Starlink satellite constellation will maintain a line of sight to everyone on Earth, providing global internet connectivity.
Special bacteria is found to be a ‘battery’ that turns sewage waste into clean hydrogen energy
A new study has found that purple phototrophic bacteria when supplied with an electric current can recover near to 100% of carbon from any type of organic waste, while generating hydrogen gas for electricity production.
MIT pledges $1 billion to develop ethical artificial intelligence
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced a billion-dollar initiative to confront the rise of artificial intelligence that will involve supporting deep interdisciplinary research into both AI’s promise and its ethical perils.
The first Hyperloop passenger capsule is unveiled in Spain
A feasibility analysis by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that Hyperloop routes could be up to six times more energy efficient than air travel on short routes, and over three times faster than the world’s fastest high-speed rail system.
World’s first hydrogen-electric passenger plane to take off in 2025
Designed to fly up to four passengers for distances between 500km to 5,000km, the Element One is described as a quiet, ultra-light, zero carbon aircraft “several orders of magnitude better” than battery-electric aircrafts.
Paralyzed patients walk again with help from new, revolutionary pain stimulator
The new research shows that electrical stimulation of the spine can re-educate the body and help move the legs even though signals from the brain are cut off.
The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative debuts a bottle that can be cleaned, refilled, and resold without being broken down
It’s the first such system in the country, according to the report, and could vastly decrease the environmental impact of beverage sales.
In ‘world first’, ultra-cheap printable solar panels are launched in Australia
Printable solar cells could quietly rewrite who gets access to clean energy — and how fast. Developed at the University of Newcastle, these paper-thin panels cost under $10 per square meter and can be installed with adhesive tape by a small crew in a single day. The technology is less efficient than silicon and degrades faster, so durability remains an open question any rollout must honestly reckon with. But if the economics hold, solar could shift from a capital investment into something closer to a subscription service — accessible to renters, small businesses, and communities conventional panels have never reached.
New therapy bot helps children with autism perfect their social skills
Robotics startup LuxAI has created QTrobot, a bot designed to help children with autism learn valuable social skills.