How Engineers of New Energy Technology Are Taking Cues From Nature
From sunflower spirals to schooling fish, renewable energy innovators are uncovering ideas for improving efficiency and output in natural phenomena
How Biology Inspires Future Technology
Bioengineers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute showcase their ingenious medical, industrial and environmental designs at the Cooper Hewitt
For the First Time, Green Power Tops Coal Industry in Energy Production in April
Renewable energy outworked coal in April—and will likely do the same in May—though the trend likely won’t last once air-conditioners switch on
A Brief History of Solar Panels
Inventors have been advancing solar technology for more than a century and a half, and improvements in efficiency and aesthetics keep on coming
This Golden Canopy Could Power 500 Homes
Architects propose a new sustainable landmark on a Melbourne beach that is both public art and a power plant
What to Know About California’s Commitment to 100 Percent Clean Energy by 2045
The bold legislation was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown earlier this week
This Device Pulls Water Out of Desert Air
A new water harvester can extract water from extremely dry air, using only solar energy
California Now Requires Solar Panels on Most New Homes
It is the first state to implement a solar panel requirement
The Countries Poised To Become “Renewable Superpowers”
The fossil fuel era won’t last forever. And a new set of nations will find their reserves of lithium, copper and rare earth metals in high demand
There’s a New Job in the Solar Industry
And it involves shepherding a landscaping crew of hungry sheep
Inside the First Solar-Powered Flight Around the World
A new documentary highlights the challenges overcome by the experimental aircraft, Solar Impulse
Could Giant “Solar Rigs” Floating On the Ocean Convert Seawater To Hydrogen Fuel?
Scientists at Columbia University have designed a device that could make the process economically viable
This 1940s Solar House Powered Innovation and Women in STEM
As far back as the 1940s, people were worried about running out of fuel. The sun seemed like a feasible alternative
Global Carbon Emissions on the Rise After Three-Year Pause
An uptick in China and U.S. coal use is expected to make 2017 the year of greatest emissions yet
Why Puerto Rico’s Power Can’t Come From Solar ‘Microgrids’ Alone
The island could benefit from on-site solar and battery backup, but the strategy isn’t a cure-all for its energy woes
Could a Magnetic Shield Protect Earth From Space Weather?
A bad geomagnetic storm would fry the electric grid and cripple civilization for years—a space shield is cheap by comparison
These New Solar Cells Are Modeled After a Fly’s Eye
Stanford University researchers may have found a way for perovskites to compete with silicon in the solar panel market
NASA Captures Strongest Solar Flare in a Decade
This morning, the sun emitted two X-class flares, disrupting GPS and radio signals
Solar Power and Honey Bees Make a Sweet Combo in Minnesota
The Pollinator Friendly Solar Act has solar companies and commercial beekeepers working together
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