A new law unchains fusion energy
Physicists at EPFL, within a large European collaboration, have revised one of the fundamental laws that has been foundational to plasma and fusion research for over three decades, even governing the design of megaprojects like ITER. The update shows.....»»
Fusion record set for tungsten tokamak WEST
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) measured a new record for a fusion device internally clad in tungsten, the element that could be the best fit for the commercial-scale machines required t.....»»
A Company Is Building a Giant Compressed-Air Battery in the Australian Outback
Hydrostor, a leader in compressed-air energy storage, aims to break ground on a 200-MW plant in New South Wales by the end of this year. It wants to follow that with a 500-MW facility in California......»»
Two seconds of hope for fusion power
A fusion reactor in San Diego surpasses a limit on plasma density. Enlarge / The interior or the DIII-D tokamak. (credit: General Atomics) Using nuclear fusion, the process that powers the stars, to produce electricity o.....»»
Tweaking isotopes sheds light on promising approach to engineer semiconductors
Research led by scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has demonstrated that small changes in the isotopic content of thin semiconductor materials can influence their optical and electronic properties, possibly opening.....»»
Research explores energy and land-use practices on US golf courses
In 2018, golf was estimated to contribute significantly to the US economy, generating $84 billion, supporting 2 million jobs, and providing $59 billion in compensation. Given its prominence, golf holds a valuable position within US culture. However,.....»»
New eco-friendly lubricant additives protect turbine equipment, waterways
Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed lubricant additives that protect both water turbine equipment and the surrounding environment......»»
Good vibrations: Low-energy lasers induce atomic excitation in semiconductor materials
Semiconductors are a cornerstone of next-generation technology, so a new method to excite atoms in semiconductor materials is likely to excite a broad range of researchers and industries as well......»»
The COVID-19 pandemic changed our patterns and behaviors, which in turn affected wildlife
The Earth now supports over eight billion people who collectively have transformed three-quarters of the planet's land surface for food, energy, shelter and other aspects of the human enterprise......»»
Twisting and binding matter waves with photons in a cavity
Precisely measuring the energy states of individual atoms has been a historical challenge for physicists due to atomic recoil. When an atom interacts with a photon, the atom "recoils" in the opposite direction, making it difficult to measure the posi.....»»
Storing energy with compressed air is about to have its moment of truth
Technology will be used to store wind and solar energy for use later. Enlarge / A rendering of Silver City Energy Centre, a compressed air energy storage plant to be built by Hydrostor in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia......»»
Euclid telescope: Scientist reports on his quest to understand the nature of dark matter and dark energy
On July 1, 2023, Euclid, a unique European space telescope was launched from Cape Canaveral. The launch was undoubtedly the highlight of my career as an astronomer, but witnessing the result of years of work being put on a rocket is not for the faint.....»»
Launch date set for NASA"s PREFIRE mission to study polar energy loss
NASA and Rocket Lab are targeting no earlier than Wednesday, May 22, 2024, for the first of two launches of the agency's PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission to study heat loss to space in Earth's polar regions......»»
Discovery of uranium-contaminated soil purification material without secondary environmental pollution
Nuclear energy has long been regarded as a next-generation energy source, and major countries around the world are competing to secure cutting-edge technologies by leveraging the high economic efficiency and sustainability of nuclear power. However,.....»»
Funko Fusion mashes up The Thing, Hot Fuzz, Nope, and much more
Funko Fusion might be the most eclectic IP crossover game yet, drawing on everything from Back to the Future to Nope......»»
Physicists overcome two key operating hurdles in fusion reactions
A team of physicists from several institutions across the U.S. working with a colleague from China, at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, in San Diego, California, has devised a way to overcome two key hurdles standing in the way of using fusion as.....»»
The Mysterious ‘Dark’ Energy That Permeates the Universe Is Slowly Eroding
Physicists call the dark energy that drives the universe “the cosmological constant.” Now the largest map of the cosmos to date hints that this mysterious energy has been changing over billions of years......»»
US’s power grid continues to lower emissions—everything else, not so much
Excluding one pandemic year, emissions are lower than they've been since the 1980s. Enlarge (credit: US EIA) On Thursday, the US Department of Energy released its preliminary estimate for the nation's carbon emissions in.....»»
Forget about the TikTok ban; now the U.S. might ban DJI
DJI is staring at an uncertain future in the U.S. after the House Committee on Energy and Commerce introduced a bill that could get its drones grounded......»»
Scholars explain the ideology that says technology is the answer to every problem
Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen penned a 5,000-word manifesto in 2023 that gave a full-throated call for unrestricted technological progress to boost markets, broaden energy production, improve education and strengthen liberal democ.....»»
Warming Arctic reduces dust levels in parts of the planet, study finds
Climate change is a global phenomenon, but its impacts are felt at a very local level. Take, for example, dust. Dust can have a huge impact on local air quality, food security, energy supply and public health. Yet, little is known about how global cl.....»»