Challenging centuries-old assumptions about thermodynamics, a new study published in Physical Review Letters has shown that it is theoretically possible to design a heat engine that achieves maximum power output while approaching Carnot efficiency.

The Carnot heat engine is a thermodynamic device that converts heat into mechanical work by operating between two temperature reservoirs, a hot and cold one.

The engine works by taking heat from the hot reservoir, converting some of it into useful work, and rejecting the remaining heat to the cold reservoir. The thermodynamic cycle followed by the engine is known as the Carnot cycle.