Tag: Energy

Sugar kelp supports weight loss; edible spoons help the environment. Sugar also supplies our body with energy. Engineers from Munich’s Technical University and MIT have developed an energy source for implants, which can be 'nourished' by the body's store of glucose. Glucose contains electrically-charged particles, and chemical conversion processes in their new sterile fuel cells set these free. The...

Soon we could be flying electrically. Yet, with the use of electronics increasing, the need for precious metals is also on the rise. This approach could be helpful, but environmentally-friendly recycling is equally important. An American startup is using cold gases with free electrons, so-called low-temperature plasmas, to recover the desired materials from used lithium-ion batteries. Because lithium is...

Cycling, running and playing tennis are not just beneficial for our health. A new portable wind turbine designed by a Canadian startup, which focuses on sustainable research and development, also supplies electricity. Depending on the strength of the wind, the 1.3kg turbine can generate up to 40 watts. An aluminium tripod with tensioning cables keeps it firmly planted in...

The more bees in a colony, the more combs with honey. A startup from Berlin has developed a scalable, modular system, which - like this Norwegian-based startup - is big on miniature wind turbines. The micro-turbines have been optimised over years of research and field tests. They are extra quiet, and can generate energy individually or as part of...

When we’re short on energy, sometimes all we need is the touch of a hand. The same is now true for e-bikes. Working with the Technical University in Delft, a Dutch company has developed a new system which allows bikes to be charged wirelessly. When cyclists park their bikes, they place a special, two-legged kickstand on an ‘in-pavement’ charging...

Some days we’re on our feet from morning until night without a break. Energy we could be using, according to a 14-year-old teenager from Texas. His invention captures energy generated from walking, which can then be used to charge mobile devices. He developed an insert which can be placed inside shoe soles thanks to zipper technology. Next he installed...

Wherever there is movement, there is energy. More and more designers are recognizing the potential of sustainable concepts. We’ve seen street lamps powered by wind, now it’s the turn of bicycle lights. A design student from Switzerland has invented a light that generates its power from the airstream. The lamp is made from recycled plexiglass and features a microturbine....

Listening to music whenever we want is something we take for granted. Like having sufficient light to work. But for almost 800 million people the reality is different. Light is in short supply, expensive and potentially dangerous, like kerosene lamps. A not-for-profit organization from Australia is changing all that with its portable solar light - perfect for young people...