How rare earths move through deserts and ice
Rare earth elements might sound like something out of science fiction, but they’re real—and essential to the modern world.
Used in everything from smartphones and...
How a shoebox-sized battery could power a clean energy future
A major step forward in clean energy has just been achieved in Germany.
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, Europe’s largest vanadium redox flow...
Scientists create super sponge that turns air into clean water
Scientists from around the world have created a powerful new material that can pull clean drinking water directly from the air—and it’s so light,...
Scientists set new solar record with ultra-efficient tandem cell
Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have created a groundbreaking solar cell that sets a new world record for efficiency.
This new design,...
Tiny new structures could supercharge next-generation solar cells
A team of researchers has discovered that tiny, ever-changing structures inside cutting-edge solar cell materials could be the key to making solar panels more...
Smart skin: A new material that heals itself like ours
Imagine a future where electronic devices can heal themselves like our skin does after a cut.
This is becoming a reality thanks to new research...
Ultrasound tech could help catch dangerous batteries before they fail
Battery fires have become more common in recent years, often caused by hidden defects that are hard to detect just by looking.
These problems can...
A rare discovery: Scientists unlock new form of a critical metal
A team of scientists led by Georgia Tech has made a groundbreaking discovery that could change the way we use and extract rare earth...
Why the sun beats your stove at boiling water—science has the answer
Scientists have long known that sunlight is incredibly good at making water evaporate. In fact, it’s more effective than other heat sources, like your...
Scientists create Mars building material that grows like a plant
The dream of living on Mars has been around for decades, often featured in science fiction books and movies.
But with successful Mars landings and...