Tesla Motors and SolarCity reach deal to merge
Elon Musk took another step in combining his electric-car company with his solar-energy company, announcing on Monday that the two had reached a $2.6 billion agreement. Independent members of both boards approved a deal in which the car company, Tesla Motors, will acquire SolarCity for stock, Read More...
Salt, not batteries, is the solution to our energy storage needs
In the desert of Nevada stands the most advanced solar power plant in the world that has solved the greatest predicament that comes with harnessing the power of the sun: energy storage. Within a tower surrounded by ten thousand silvery glass panes is a mixture of potassium and sodium nitrate that Read More...
This flower works as an urban air filter and clears the smog
Plants clear the air. NASA researchers, looking for the best ways to clean the air in space stations, found that some plants are very effective at removing dangerous chemicals from the air. Now scientists in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, are experimenting a new type of honeysuckle that works as an Read More...
England plastic bag usage drops 85% since five-pence charge introduced
Since introducing a five-pence charge on plastic bags in supermarkets last October, English shoppers have used six billion fewer bags than last year. The charge is also expected to save 60 million pounds in litter clean-up costs and has already raised 29 million pounds for good causes as most of Read More...
Fighting cancer with the immune system: How immunotherapy is changing cancer treatment
Harnessing the immune system to fight cancer was once a far-fetched medical dream, but now immunotherapy is taking off thanks to concrete data and billions of dollars in funding. Instead of directly attacking cancer like chemotherapy does, immunotherapy attempts to help the immune system recognize Read More...
Keep active, and do some of these yoga poses at your desk
Doing yoga improves flexibility and focus, but having a mid-day yoga session while at work may not always be appreciated by your co-workers. An inactive lifestyle can increase your chances of getting diabetes by as much as 112 percent, so it’s important to move around a little even if you’re at Read More...
Mercedes debuts world's first fully electric big rig
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the world's first big rig that drives without a drop of fuel. The new Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck has an electrically driven rear axle and is powered by three lithium-ion battery modules. The zero-emission vehicle has an admissible total weight of up to 26 tonnes with a Read More...
Think you know the best way to finance a business?
The alternative finance industry was worth £3.2bn last year, according to the Pushing Boundaries report by Nesta. However, many micro, small and medium-sized enterprises – 56pc – remain in the dark about the range of non-traditional fundraising methods available. So what are Read More...
How this Japanese town produces 'zero waste'
At the waste collection center in Kamikatsu, Japan, there are separate bins for different types of paper products: Newspapers, magazines, cartons, flyers. Then there are separate ones for cans: Aluminum, spray, steel. There are even individual bins for plastic bottles and caps. But that’s Read More...
Facebook apartments won't fix housing—but they’re a good start
Facebook is getting into real estate. This week, the company proposed building 1,500 apartments near its campus in Menlo Park, California, 15 percent of which it would set aside for low-income families. Urban planners and local developers call it a generous gesture that could bring sorely needed Read More...