Joining the Dots
Assembled piecemeal over the last 100 years or so, power-grid networks now span entire continents, with regional distribution grids stitched together through interconnects. Improving the ability of operators to balance variations in supply and demand will require the construction of new high-capacity transmission lines to share power over larger areas. Because Europe has a more uniform population density than the United States, fewer long-distance lines are required. In the United States, these lines are necessary to transfer renewable power from the windy heartland and sunny Southwest to the heavily populated coasts.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
What’s next for generative video
OpenAI's Sora has raised the bar for AI moviemaking. Here are four things to bear in mind as we wrap our heads around what's coming.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.