New calcium battery lasts 1,000 cycles, offering lithium alternative

As the world moves toward renewable energy and electric vehicles, the need for better batteries is becoming more urgent. Today, most devices — from...

Scientists create “liquid solar battery” that works without electricity

One of the biggest challenges of renewable energy is what happens when the sun is not shining. Solar panels produce electricity during the day, but...

Scientists develop stretchable patch that detects toxic gas on your skin

Ammonia gas is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world and plays a major role in modern life. It is used in...

Scientists identify key bottlenecks slowing sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a promising alternative to today’s lithium-ion batteries. While lithium-ion technology powers everything from smartphones to electric cars, lithium is relatively...

New compact device turns sunlight and waste heat into clean hydrogen at 28% efficiency

Hydrogen is often described as a fuel of the future because when it is used, it produces only water instead of harmful emissions. But making...

How 3D printing is making energetic materials safer and more predictable

Making energetic materials—such as explosives, propellants, and fireworks—is a bit like baking a very sensitive cake. The ingredients must be carefully measured, the mixing must...

Scientists turn desert sand into eco-friendly bricks to cut cement emissions

Cement is one of the most widely used building materials in the world, but it comes at a high environmental cost. Portland cement alone is...

Edison’s lost battery idea gets a high-tech comeback for the renewable energy age

At the start of the 20th century, electric cars were more common on American roads than gasoline vehicles. In 1900, many drivers relied on lead-acid...

Why liquid metal could be the key to affordable green hydrogen

Scientists have developed a new way to produce clean hydrogen using sunlight and liquid metal, offering a promising path toward greener energy made directly...

Life’s ingredients may have formed in frozen space, not warm water, asteroid study suggests

Scientists studying material from the asteroid Bennu have uncovered new clues about how some of life’s most basic ingredients may have formed long before...