Greener

DR Richardson and Josh Lake founded Elephant Energy in 2021 with a mission to simplify electrifying homes. “We wanted to make it dramatically easier and more affordable to make homes more energy efficient,” Richardson said. But making your home more energy efficient can be daunting, so Elephant Energy created a tool to provide an electrification roadmap. “It’s a simple, approachable way for homeowners to get the answer,” Richardson said. “Every home is a little different. This helps you create a custom plan for your…

Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental IndiaEdited excerpts:Q. After two consecutive years of swift growth in the auto industry's performance, what is your outlook for 2024?Globally, 2023 was a roller-coaster ride, with several challenges, including supply chain disruptions carried forward from the previous year, material cost increase, geo-political tensions, labour unrest in some parts of the world and declining EV sales. 2024 is likely to see the industry…

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The United Nations' flagship Global Resources Outlook report is the portrait of a juggernaut. Due to be published later this month by the UN's International Resource Panel, it highlights how global consumption of raw materials, having increased four-fold since 1970, is set to rise by a further 60% by 2060. Already,…

When it comes to cleaning up marine oil spills, it's best if you can use a material that separates the oil from the seawater. Scientists have created a new organic membrane which does exactly that, and it's derived from oyster mushrooms.First of all, there are already "Janus membranes" which are hydrophilic (water-attracting) on one side and hydrophobic (water-repellant yet oil-absorbing) on the other. When used in a filtration system, these membranes draw polluted water in from the one side, then expel it – while…

Earlier this month, a massive ship picked up over 5,000 electric cars from two ports in northern and southern China. Five days later, it passed through Singapore, and it is now headed for India. However, its final destination is in Europe, where most of the cars will be sold.  The ship’s name is BYD Explorer No.1. As the first of a massive fleet that BYD is building, it reflects the Chinese company’s ambition to establish a seafaring business that supports its new role in the global car trade. There's rising appetite…

Researchers have discovered that understanding how soap cleans can inform the development of longer-lasting batteries. The research reveals that localized high-concentration electrolytes in batteries work similarly to micelles in soap. This understanding could enhance the energy storage capacity of lithium metal batteries, marking a significant advance in battery technology.Researchers discovered that a highly promising electrolyte for creating more durable lithium batteries possesses intricate nanostructures, which…

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New lubricants, combined with new knowledge about how they should be applied to train wheels and rails, have the potential to reduce rail sector costs in Norway by hundreds of millions of kroner during the next decade.…

+ The worst technology failures of 2023. The Titan submersible, lab-grown chicken, and GM’s wayward Cruise robotaxis all made our annual run-down of the worst in tech. Read the full list. + How 2023 marked the death of anonymity online in China. As Chinese social media platforms move toward requiring users to disclose more information about their real identities, will we lose what made us want to be online in the first place? Read the full story. + Why last year marked the first time gene editing finally started living…

Researchers have introduced an innovative method for creating heterocyclic compounds using TiO2 and visible light, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective approach compared to traditional high-energy processes. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers propose a new titanium dioxide-catalyzed strategy for synthesizing thiochromenopyrroledione derivatives in blue light.Heterocyclic compounds are organic molecules with a ring structure comprising at least two or more elements. In most cases, these rings are composed of…

People all around the world traditionally use their new year to embark on a change in lifestyle.The People's Climate Vote, a UN survey of public opinion on climate change, highlights that citizens around the world recognise climate change as a global emergency and agree that we should do everything necessary in response.People are gradually adopting more sustainable lifestyles, but many find it hard to change habits and often don't know where to start their sustainability journey.So if you're looking to make your life…