Wind turbine blades are absolutely enormous, and those from the 1990s that are now at the end of their life are hard to recycleEnrique / PixabayRecycling massive wind turbine blades challenges researchers because they use ultra-durable materials designed to withstand harsh conditions for decades.However, researchers at Washington State University have developed a smart way to take...
Image Credits:RiverRockPhotos / Getty ImagesLast summer, mining startup KoBold made headlines with its discovery of one of the largest copper deposits in over a decade in Zambia.Earth AI uncovers overlooked mineral deposits in Australia, showcasing AI’s growing role in modern mineral explorationNow, another startup, Earth AI, has exclusively revealed to TechCrunch its own significant...
Dye-sensitized solar cells were used in the study, as they're particularly prone to UV damageVäinö AnttalainenSolar cells frequently encounter high levels of harmful ultraviolet light because they capture the maximum possible sunlight.A new eco-friendly coating could protect them from these UV rays, using its active ingredient extracted from onion skin.Currently, manufacturers apply clear films...
Wildfires can erupt faster than current systems can detect them – and do immense damage if they're not tackled soon after they startMarcus Kauffman / UnsplasThe first satellite in a new constellation designed to detect wildfires early and with high precision has successfully reached Earth's orbit. This breakthrough could revolutionize how we respond to uncontrolled fires.Named...
Image Credits:CoreshellThe shift to electric vehicles is largely a story centered on China. Government subsidies there have not only fueled automakers but also strengthened the entire battery supply chain. Decades of industrial policies controlling critical mineral resources have given China a dominant position, leaving American and European automakers struggling to compete.Graphite is a prime...
Image Credits:Getty Images / Edwin RemsbergFor homeowners considering solar panels, the key question is often “How many?” For heat pumps, it’s “What size?” Traditionally, answering these required an on-site visit from a contractor.Over the past decade, solar installers have streamlined this process, with some, like Tesla, eliminating it entirely through software that integrates various...
Image Credits:Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty ImagesAs AI and cloud providers accelerate data center construction, a power shortage looms. However, a new report suggests that the solution could lie underground.According to an analysis by the Rhodium Group, advanced geothermal power could meet nearly two-thirds of new data center energy demand by 2030. This expansion would...
Image Credits:Our Next EnergyJust over a year after stepping down as CEO of battery startup Our Next Energy (ONE), Mujeeb Ijaz has returned to lead the company. This announcement coincides with the closing of a new funding round led by Crescent Ventures and Trousdale Ventures.ONE has not disclosed the round’s size and did not...
When its four-phase development is complete, Singapore's Tuas mega port will become the largest automated container terminal on the planet.PSA SingaporeSingapore's ambitious project to develop the world’s largest automated port is progressing well. The Tuas mega port has already processed 10 million containers since its operations began in September 2022. By the 2040s, once...
Image Credits:CambiumAcross cities and suburbs in America, a common scene unfolds: trees are cut down and shredded instead of being repurposed into lumber.For Ben Christensen, this waste never sat right. Growing up in New Mexico surrounded by towering pines—and with a family deeply rooted in the timber industry, including his carpenter father—he developed a...
