Tesla finalized its $2.6 billion acquisition of SolarCity, creating a single brand for home solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles. The deal, announced in June, brings together Elon Musk's two companies to streamline product integration and customer experience.
Researchers led by Thomas Schwander have engineered a synthetic enzymatic pathway that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds at a rate exceeding natural photosynthesis. The in vitro system, detailed in Science, could lead to faster CO2 fixation in plants and new applications in agriculture and chemical production.
A new solar-powered device called Source, developed by Zero Mass Water, extracts moisture from the air and converts it into drinkable water, producing up to 5 liters daily. Already deployed in several countries, the system offers a flexible, off-grid solution to water scarcity, which affects 663 million people worldwide.
NuScale Power has submitted a design for a compact nuclear reactor that fits on a flat-bed truck, aiming to cut costs and enhance safety. The 50-megawatt modular units could serve as backup for renewables and military bases, but face a multi-year NRC review before deployment.
New research from the University of Maryland indicates that meeting the Paris Agreement's 2-degree Celsius limit requires renewables to provide half of the world's energy by 2060. The study, published as a book, emphasizes that current pledges must be extended and strengthened.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, led by Nobel laureate John Goodenough, have developed an all-solid-state battery using glass electrolytes that offers three times the energy density of lithium-ion cells, faster recharge times, and improved safety. The technology could accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and portable devices.
A federal initiative to cut solar costs is yielding measurable gains in public health and climate, including billions in avoided damages and significant water savings. New analysis quantifies the impact of installed solar capacity and the stakes of continued investment.
The Green New Deal, a sweeping climate resolution championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has drawn sharp reactions from both sides of the aisle. Supporters praise its ambition, while critics call it unrealistic and socialist. The debate highlights deep divisions over how to address climate change.
Canadian startup Carbon Engineering says it has secured funding for a 30-acre direct air capture facility designed to remove as much carbon dioxide annually as 40 million trees. CEO Steve Oldham called it the largest financing round of its kind for a DAC company, with investors including Bill Gates and oil companies Chevron and Occidental Petroleum.