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UT Dallas to lead $30 million battery initiative

The University of Texas at Dallas will develop and commercialize new battery technologies, enhance domestic raw material availability, and train workers for the expanding battery industry. The Energy Storage Systems Campus will leverage $200 million in private capital.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

A call for better energy system models to enable a decarbonized future

Energy system models fail to accurately represent energy storage, potentially leading to unreliable grid operations and increased costs. Leading researchers from Argonne National Laboratory highlight the need for improved models to accommodate new technologies like solar power and grid energy storage.

Pixel-by-pixel analysis yields insights into lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at MIT and partners have discovered that variations in lithium ion flow rates are correlated with differences in carbon coating thickness, which could lead to improved battery efficiency. This technique allows for the extraction of insights from nanoscale data, offering potential applications beyond battery technology.

Previously unknown pathway to batteries with high energy, low cost and long life

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a previously unknown reaction mechanism that addresses the major shortcoming of lithium-sulfur batteries - their very short lifetimes. The new pathway prevents sulfur loss and performance decline in commercial-size cells, paving the way for more sustainable transportation options.

Structure formation during freeze casting filmed in 3D and real time

Researchers used X-ray tomoscopy to study freeze casting processes, observing the formation of complex, hierarchically structured materials with large surface areas. The technique provided high spatial and temporal resolution, revealing the dynamics of directional ice crystal growth and the formation of organic-looking structures.

New battery holds promise for green energy

A new battery design without a membrane has been developed by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, offering higher energy density and lower costs. The battery can generate nearly 4 volts of power, eliminating costly and inefficient membrane-separators.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New platform could boost development of carbon-capturing batteries

Researchers have developed a lab-on-a-chip electrochemical testing platform to speed up the production of catalysts for Li-CO2 batteries. The new method enables quick screening of materials, studying reaction mechanisms, and practical applications, potentially contributing to negative emissions technologies.

Faster thin film devices for energy storage and electronics

Researchers have successfully grown high-quality single-crystalline T-Nb2O5 thin films with two-dimensional vertical ionic transport channels, enabling fast and dramatic changes in electrical properties. The material undergoes a significant electrical change upon Li insertion, allowing it to switch from an insulator to a metal.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Next-generation flow battery design sets records

A new flow battery design has achieved a record-breaking 60% increase in peak power using a dissolved simple sugar called β-cyclodextrin, which boosts battery capacity and longevity. The battery maintained its energy storage and release capabilities for over a year without significant loss of activity.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

New design rule for high-entropy superionic solid-state conductors

Researchers from Tokyo Tech have developed a new strategy to produce solid electrolytes with enhanced lithium-ion conductivity, preserving their superionic conduction pathways. The proposed design rule enables the synthesis of high-entropy active materials for millimeter-thick battery electrodes.

Push to green energy is not without consequences, PSU prof explores

A Portland State professor is studying the environmental consequences of the renewable energy transition, including lithium mining and battery manufacturing. The research aims to balance benefits with burdens on underserved communities, through interviews, focus groups, and workshops.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Dual-use rechargeable battery

Researchers have developed a hybrid battery system that stores electricity and produces valuable chemicals, such as furfuryl alcohol and furoic acid. The new battery increases the cost efficiency of the battery system, making it a step towards improving the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of rechargeable batteries.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Key material, solid electrolyte, created for all-solid-state batteries

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a solid electrolyte material for all-solid-state batteries, enabling rapid movement of lithium ions at room temperature. The achievement brings closer the realization of all-solid-state batteries and their adoption in electric vehicles.

Aluminium-ion batteries with improved storage capacity

A research team has developed an organic redox polymer that surpasses the capacity of graphite, enabling aluminium-ion batteries to store up to 167 milliampere hours per gram. The battery retains 88% of its capacity after 5,000 charge cycles at 10 C.

Railways could be a key 'utility player' for backup power

Researchers found that rail-based mobile energy storage can cost-effectively provide backup power for extreme events, potentially saving the power sector up to 60% of transmission line costs. The US rail network has the capacity to bring energy where it's needed, and this technology could work well in regions with robust freight capaci...

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Balancing renewable energy systems in Saudi buildings

Researchers investigated the tradeoff between reducing CO2 emissions and increasing renewable energy supply in office buildings. They found that access to the power grid can mitigate the impact of weather variability, but extreme weather events increase battery storage costs.

Scientists analyze a single atom with X-rays for the first time

Researchers have successfully characterized a single atom using X-ray beams, detecting its elemental type and chemical properties. This breakthrough could revolutionize fields like quantum information technology, environmental science, and medical research by enabling the study of individual atoms.

Turning up the heat

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered a method to press solid electrolytes, eliminating air pockets that block ion flow and increasing conductivity by nearly 1,000 times. This breakthrough enables unprecedented control over internal structure, paving the way for industrial-scale processing and more reliable batteries.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Long-duration energy storage: the time is now

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is crucial for US states with decarbonization goals to address variable energy generation and customer demands. LDES systems can store renewable energy until needed, providing a reliable solution for a decarbonized grid.

Using AI to find rare minerals

A machine learning model uses patterns in mineral associations to predict previously unknown mineral occurrences, including geologically important minerals like uraninite and rutherfordine. The model also identified promising areas for critical rare earth element and lithium minerals.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Emissions reductions of Chinese EVs

A study found that Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) create up to 53% less emissions over their full life cycle than internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030. Increased operating efficiency and a cleaner electricity mix are key drivers of these reductions.

New priming method improves battery life, efficiency

Researchers at Rice University developed a new priming method to optimize prelithiation in silicon anodes, improving battery life cycles by up to 44% and energy density. The method uses stabilized lithium metal particles with surfactants, enabling more stable SEI layer formation and reduced lithium depletion.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Boosting the capacity and voltage of zinc-air batteries

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a zinc-air battery with an open circuit voltage of over 2V, overcoming the major bottleneck for metal-air batteries. By arranging acidic/alkaline electrolytes in tandem, they were able to generate a higher voltage and improve output power density.

New concept for lithium-air batteries

Researchers are working on a new concept for lithium-air batteries that could lead to significant improvements in energy storage capacity. A collaborative project in Germany aims to test new materials and components to enhance the stability of these battery cells. The goal is to overcome technical challenges such as unstable electrolyt...

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

A rechargeable battery made from food

A team of researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has developed a totally edible and rechargeable battery cell, utilizing riboflavin and quercetin as anode and cathode. The battery can provide current for small electronic devices and may have applications in health diagnostics, food quality monitoring, and edible soft robotics.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New strategy for cathode materials in Li-Cl2 battery

Researchers have developed a new design of cathode materials in Li-Cl2 batteries, achieving high specific capacities of up to 2000 mAh/g and stable performance for over 500 cycles. The use of NH2-functionalized MOFs enhances the redox reaction kinetics and improves low-temperature stability.

Shedding light on mechanisms of electrochemical energy storage

Researchers at Drexel University have developed a new method that combines UV-visible spectroscopy with cyclic voltammetry to track ion movement in batteries and supercapacitors. This breakthrough could lead to the design of higher performing energy storage devices.

Novel supercapacitor for energy storage applications

Researchers at IISc have developed a novel ultramicro supercapacitor with enhanced electrochemical capacitance, exceeding 3000% increase in capacitance under certain conditions. The device uses Field Effect Transistors as charge collectors and solid gel electrolyte for improved electron mobility.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Recycling of batteries: 70% of lithium recovered

A new mechanochemical recycling method recovers up to 70 percent of lithium from battery waste, making it inexpensive, energy-efficient, and environmentally compatible. The method uses aluminum as a reducing agent and can be applied to various cathode materials.

Minimizing electric vehicles’ impact on the grid

Researchers found that strategically placing charging stations, especially at workplaces and in delayed home settings, can reduce peak electricity demand, store solar energy, and conveniently meet drivers' needs. This approach could help minimize the strain on the grid and avoid costly new power plants.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.