Q: What upgrades are needed for the grid to handle increased energy demand by 2050? A: The grid needs to be upgraded to handle tripled energy throughput by 2050, requiring more power plants, wires, transformers, and substations to support increased demand from EVs, heat pumps, and AI. Innovative Charging Solutions.

Q: How do Electric Era’s charging stations reduce grid capacity requirements? A: Electric Era’s charging stations with batteries buffer the load, reducing grid capacity requirements by 70% and allowing for faster deployment in better locations like retail amenities and gas station parking lots.

Q: What capabilities do Electric Era’s charging stations offer for energy management? A: Electric Era’s stations offer time of use charging and virtual power plant capabilities, storing energy upstream and providing the best time of use pricing to customers, making them more efficient and cost-effective. Energy Storage and Distribution.

Q: How can the “duck curve” phenomenon be addressed? A: The duck curve can be solved by building extra energy storage to store excess electrons, such as Tesla’s 10–12 GWh deployed last quarter and Electric Era’s smaller storage at more localized locations.

Q: What is the transformer scarcity problem and how can it be addressed? A: Transformers are being hoarded due to scarcity and strategic importance, exacerbating grid infrastructure issues. A strategic transformer reserve is needed to address this problem, according to Quincy from Electric Era. ## ## Key Insights ## Grid Infrastructure Challenges.

The 130-year-old grid infrastructure is antiquated and breaking apart, making it expensive and challenging to upgrade for increased energy demand.

Join aerospace engineer Mike DiVerde as he explores the fascinating world of robotic spacecraft through NASA’s remarkable Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Discover…

Discover how CERN’s research into quantum fields could revolutionize our understanding of gravity! This deep dive explores the theoretical possibilities of manipulating quantum fields and their potential connection to gravitational forces. From Einstein’s predictions to cutting-edge experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, we examine what’s really happening at the frontier of physics research.

Learn how quantum gravity research could potentially transform:

Space travel and propulsion systems

Revolutionary energy production

Medical applications and treatments

DARPA is using Earth’s atmosphere as a powerful sensor, allowing the detection of events like rocket reentries and illicit detonations.

As the next administration takes shape, countless voices are vying for influence over the future of America’s space program. I’d wager one in particular — someone apparently very close to the President-elect — might be suggesting a bold new direction: “Sir. Forget racing China to the moon,” Elon Musk may be saying. “We’re almost ready with Starship. Announce we’ll launch humans to Mars by 2029 — the Apollo anniversary. You’ll go down in history! You’ll be as big as Kennedy!”

If I had that access, it’s exactly what I’d be saying.

Think about it. SpaceX is making remarkable progress on Starship. If they can overcome FAA regulatory hurdles, they could have a revolutionary, reusable Earth-to-space system operational within a year. The next step, in-orbit refueling, could take another year or two to master. By 2028, Starship could be ready for missions to the moon, Mars, or beyond. Right behind it will be Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin with New Glenn.

Right now, the remains of three private spacecraft rest on the moon, with one more lost in Earth orbit. And that is incredible.

First came Israel’s Beresheet, which crashed on the lunar surface in 2019. Next was Astrobotic’s Peregrine, which suffered an anomaly and was ordered to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere in early 2024. Then, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus became the first functioning private vehicle to land on the moon — though it landed harder than expected and didn’t live as long as planned. The company tried again with Athena earlier this month, which touched down on its side but still completed key mission objectives before running out of power. Finally, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost crossed the finish line with a fully successful landing — alive, transmitting and delivering incredible images and other results.

And this is just the beginning. Soon, the U.S.-Japanese iSpace team will attempt its own touchdown, marking yet another milestone in what is quickly evolving into a true private-sector space race.

Scientists have created solar cells using simulated Moon dust, potentially solving one of space exploration’s biggest challenges: how to generate reliable energy far from Earth.

These new cells, made with perovskite and moonglass, are lighter, cheaper, and more radiation-resistant than traditional space solar panels. Even better, they can be made using lunar materials, drastically reducing launch costs and making future Moon bases more feasible. If successful in real lunar conditions, these Moon-made solar panels could power entire off-world colonies.

Powering Space with Moon Dust.

Melting moon dust, found at the bottom of astronaut’s shoes, would save on costly, heavy transport of solar cells in space.

Whether extra dimensions prove to be physical realities or useful mathematical constructs, they have already transformed our understanding of the universe. They have forced us to reconsider fundamental assumptions about space, time, and the nature of physical law. And they remind us that reality may be far richer and more complex than our everyday experience suggests — that beyond the familiar dimensions of length, width, height, and time, there may exist entire realms waiting to be discovered and, perhaps one day, explored.

The theoretical physicist John Wheeler once remarked that “we live on an island of knowledge surrounded by an ocean of ignorance.” Our exploration of extra dimensions extends the shoreline of that island, pushing into uncharted waters with the tools of mathematics, experiment, and imagination. Though we may never set foot in the fifth dimension or beyond, the very act of reaching toward these hidden aspects of reality expands our perspective and deepens our understanding of the cosmos we call home.

As we continue this grand scientific adventure, we carry forward the legacy of those who first dared to imagine worlds beyond our immediate perception — from the mathematicians who developed the language of higher-dimensional geometry to the physicists who incorporated these concepts into our most fundamental theories. Their vision, coupled with rigorous analysis and experimental testing, illuminates a path toward an ever more complete understanding of the universe in all its dimensions.

The privately funded Fram2 mission is the first ever to take astronauts into polar orbit—and the latest sign of a “new normal” for human spaceflight.

By Lee Billings edited by Dean Visser.