Energy

Enjoy your cell phone and the anti-lock brakes in your car? One U.S. company is gearing up to wrest control away from China and start producing rare earth elements found in most modern-day devices.

February 22, 2012 10:53am | By Kirsten Korosec

A nano form of cellulose is stronger than conventional wood pulp, so you need less of it, says Finnish research team.

February 22, 2012 4:04am | By Mark Halper

Bring back the good old days of U.S. oil production? Think again. Columnist Chris Nelder skewers recent proposals for energy independence with cold, hard data.

7 | February 22, 2012 4:03am | By Chris Nelder

Aquion Energy, the startup that makes non-toxic sodium-ion batteries designed to store energy, has picked a site for its first factory.

1 | February 21, 2012 10:00am | By Kirsten Korosec

Believe in miracles. The latest wrinkle in 'catalytic clothing' heads to the Edinburgh Science Festival. Chemistry meets a Vivienne Westwood frock and could steal the show - and greenhouse gases.

1 | February 21, 2012 7:52am | By Mark Halper

Damien Hirst, the controversial, wealthy British artist whose pieces include a shark's head suspended in formaldehyde, is turning his attention to preserving something else - the environment.

February 20, 2012 1:26pm | By Mark Halper

Apple finally provides some details about its secret solar farm -- and another renewable energy source -- that will help power its $1 billion data center complex in North Carolina.

February 20, 2012 11:51am | By Kirsten Korosec

A new energy source may soon rise up near the site of the Fukushima Daichi nuclear disaster in Japan.

1 | February 20, 2012 9:38am | By Kirsten Korosec

Nanosolar has landed a new investor and raised $20 million to help fund the expansion of its thin-film solar factory. In short, the company will live to see another day. But for how long?

February 17, 2012 12:01pm | By Kirsten Korosec

Prime Minister Cameron and President Sarkozy to shake hands on deal that could initially lead to $32 billion of new reactors in Britain and eventually 30,000 jobs. Areva, Rolls-Royce, EDF benefit.

1 | February 17, 2012 3:39am | By Mark Halper

Competing budget priorities and political sparring in Washington have placed subsidies for fossil fuels and wind energy on the chopping block.

9 | February 16, 2012 9:43pm | By David Worthington

Meter giant Itron's purchase of SmartSynch marks the growing role (and use) of cellular networks in the smart grid.

February 16, 2012 11:00am | By Kirsten Korosec

What's the average cost to go solar in your state? One Block Off the Grid has created four maps that break down cost, payback period and what you could save by going solar.

February 16, 2012 8:46am | By Kirsten Korosec

Could the days of $40 LED bulbs be over? Lemnis Lighting, a Dutch startup, has unveiled a line of LED bulbs aimed squarely at a price-sensitive general public.

February 16, 2012 7:50am | By Kirsten Korosec

MIT researchers have founded a startup to commercialize their liquid battery technology. Their goal: cheap grid-scale storage for utilities that helps renewable energy compete with fossil fuels.

3 | February 16, 2012 5:00am | By Kirsten Korosec

With exposed interior surfaces for natural heating and cooling, thermally-active buildings can be noisy. Two industry behemoths soften the ruckus with acoustic LED panels.

February 16, 2012 3:06am | By Mark Halper

Issues of non-proliferation and potential earthquakes near the Fukushima site in Japan could hamper nuclear energy development.

February 15, 2012 7:18pm | By David Worthington

China and the U.S. play catch up in the lithium ion battery market, which will grow 450 percent amid a shakeout, according to new industry report. Which company is number one?

February 15, 2012 6:51am | By Mark Halper

Energy futurist Chris Nelder explains why you can run from EROI, but you can't hide, and why savvy energy investors should use it as a guide instead of ROI.

29 | February 15, 2012 5:00am | By Chris Nelder

The future of space travel may not be manned. NASA's "Robonaut 2," a robotic astronaut, has today gone online at the International Space Station. Robonaut 2 arrived at the space station in the...

2 | February 14, 2012 2:03pm | By David Worthington