Thomas Praisner – Freelance Writer

Image Credit: U.S. Department of Energy. (2019). TRISO Particle [Photograph]. Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/triso-particles-most-robust-nuclear-fuel-earth As energy demand continues to increase, researchers remain on the hunt for safer, more efficient ways to generate nuclear power. Many of these advanced conceptual reactors seek to operate at much higher temperatures than reactors today, which will require sturdier fuel.  One promising…

As global average temperatures continue to rise, engineers around the world search for practical alternatives to carbon-intensive energy sources.  The transportation sector presents one of the biggest challenges to decarbonization—in 2021, it accounted for 35% of U.S. carbon emissions. Renewable sources of energy like solar and wind can only power vehicles through batteries, which currently…

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. They’re in our phones, computers, power tools, drones, electric vehicles, hospital equipment, and more—pretty much anything that needs a battery. These batteries can do it all thanks to the many inherent advantages of their design. They’re light, can be recharged many more times than other battery types, have a high capacity,…

The planet is still warming. As the threat of climate change continues to grow, we must react with faster decarbonization of our infrastructure. And while electrification and renewables are impactful and necessary steps, they aren’t a blanket solution due to several limits to their implementation.  For now, we need fossil fuels to meet these needs…

Nuclear power has some major weaknesses—but not the ones you might think. It’s safe, doesn’t take up much space, generates power all the time, and is almost perfectly carbon-neutral. But despite these pros, five cons currently make it a less effective weapon against climate change. Wait—nuclear power isn’t dangerous? Arguments against nuclear power usually play…