Harnessing Direct Solar Power for Propulsion
A UC Berkeley researcher uses a magnifying glass to focus sunlight onto a small plastic boat. Nanotubes at one end of the boat absorb the sun’s heat, propelling the boat through the water. The second video shows a rotor that works on the same principle. A similar design could be used to make simple solar-powered pumps.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it
The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives
The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.
Learning to code isn’t enough
Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.