Technology that matters

Renewable Energy

TerraPower Gets First Nuclear Permit in Decade for Advanced Reactor

What Happened The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued TerraPower its first construction permit since 2012, ending a regulatory drought that has stalled nuclear innovation in the United States. TerraPower, founded in 2008 by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and a team of nuclear engineers, will build what’s expected to be their Natrium reactor—an advanced design that uses liquid sodium instead of water for cooling. This approval comes after years of regulatory review and represents the first major breakthrough in U.

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Google Invests $1B in Form Energy's 100-Hour Battery Tech

What Happened Google completed a $1 billion investment in Form Energy, a Massachusetts-based startup that has developed battery technology capable of storing energy for 100 hours—far longer than conventional grid batteries. The investment represents one of the largest single funding rounds in the energy storage sector and will enable Form Energy to scale production of its iron-air battery systems. Form Energy’s technology stands apart from traditional lithium-ion batteries used in most grid storage applications.

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UC Davis Creates First Engine That Generates Power From Space's Cold

What Happened Researchers at the University of California, Davis have successfully built and tested a device that generates mechanical energy during nighttime hours by harnessing the vast temperature differential between Earth and space. The system employs a specialized Stirling engine that connects the relatively warm ground to the frigid depths above, converting this natural temperature gradient into usable power. The technology works through radiative cooling, a natural phenomenon where Earth’s surface loses heat to space through infrared radiation after sunset.

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