New Atlas

Aircraft Audio available

NASA backs development of cryogenic hydrogen system to power all-electric aircraft

David Szondy May 17, 2019

NASA is funding a project to develop an aircraft that runs on a cryogenic hydrogen fuel cell system. Under a US$6 million contract, the CHEETA program will investigate the technology needed to produce a practical all-electric design to replace conventional fossil fuel propulsion systems.

Artist's rendering of an advanced commercial transport aircraft concept utilizing CHEETA systems

Physics Audio available

Astronomers finally find the first molecule ever formed in the universe

Michael Irving April 17, 2019

Astronomers have finally found the very first molecule to ever form in the universe. The helium hydride ion (HeH+) has long been a key theoretical part of how the chemistry of the cosmos kicked off. Now the first unambiguous evidence of the molecule in a planetary nebula has been found.

The planetary nebula NGC 7027, where astronomers found the first unambiguous detection of the helium hydride ...

Automotive

Grove launches as all-hydrogen auto brand with Pininfarina-penned concept sedan

Loz Blain April 17, 2019

With the release of a Pininfarina-styled concept car at Auto Shanghai, this Wuhan-based automotive startup is putting all its eggs in the Hydrogen basket, with a plan to release something for the road within 8 months on the way to building a portfolio of Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Designed by Pininfarina, Grove's first concept heralds a range of Hydrogen-powered cars

Physics

Physicists measure quantum tunneling time to be near-instantaneous

Michael Irving March 18, 2019

If you throw a particle at a wall, there’s a chance that it will suddenly appear on the other side. This is thanks to a phenomenon known as quantum tunneling, and now a team of physicists has measured just how long that process takes.

Physicists have measured how long it takes particles to quantum tunnel through barriers, and found it ...

Environment Audio available

Record-breaking device uses sunlight to produce hydrogen at 15% efficiency

Dario Borghino March 5, 2019

After a decade of research, scientists at KU Leuven in Belgium have developed a device that can uses sunlight to produce a record-breaking 250 liters (66 gal) of hydrogen a day.

The panel generates a record 250 liters (66 gal) of hydrogen per day and could be ...

Energy Audio available

Carbon capture system turns CO2 into electricity and hydrogen fuel

Michael Irving January 21, 2019

Inspired by the ocean’s role as a natural carbon sink, researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) and Georgia Tech have developed a new system that absorbs CO2 and produces electricity and useable hydrogen fuel.

Scientists have developed a new device that can absorb CO2 and produce electricity and hydrogen fuel

Automotive

Water-stabilized hydrogen fuel promises twice the range of gasoline at half the price, with zero tailpipe emissions

Loz Blain December 2, 2018

Israeli-Australian company Electriq Global's new technology stabilizes hydrogen in a recyclable liquid that can be pumped and transported just like gasoline. That's huge, because it enables long-range electric driving with fast refueling – and it plugs right into the existing fuel logistics model.

Electriq-Global, an Israeli-Australian company, claims it's invented a new fuel that combines the best aspects of ...

Automotive

Nikola launches third hydrogen-electric semi

Paul Ridden November 6, 2018

Some see the future of big rig road haulage as all-electric, while others are banking on hydrogen-electric hybrids. Nikola Motors is in the latter camp, already having two truck designs en route to production. Now there's a third, with the Tre being developed specifically for European roads.

Testing of the Nikola Tre hydrogen-electric semi is due to begin in Norway "around 2020"

Physics

Does antimatter fall upwards? New CERN gravity experiments aim to get to the bottom of the matter

Michael Irving November 4, 2018

Physics tells us that a hammer and a feather, dropped in a vacuum, will fall at the same rate. Now, CERN scientists are preparing to drop antimatter in a vacuum chamber to see if gravity affects it the same way it does matter – or if antimatter falls upwards instead.

The ALPHA-g experiment being set up at CERN, which will drop antimatter to see how gravity ...

Energy

Hybrid cell turns sunlight and water into hydrogen and electricity

Michael Irving October 29, 2018

Artificial photosynthesis devices can split water into hydrogen and oxygen, but they still suffer from some efficiency issues. Now a new hybrid device may be able to recover some of the energy that would otherwise go to waste, by producing both hydrogen and electricity.

A new hybrid device could use artificial photosynthesis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and ...