Photovoltaic

Crescent Dunes

Solar energy gets an endurance boost from salt

Technology

Solar energy is a renewable resource, but the sun doesn’t always shine. Using molten salt to capture and store heat captured from the sun promises to save solar energy for use well into the night.

Solar panels at Topaz Solar Farm in California.

Solar panels are cheaper than ever. But some manufacturers are losing money.

Technology
A proof-of-concept device built by MIT researchers demonstrates the principle of a two-stage process to make incandescent bulbs more efficient. This device already achieves efficiency comparable to some compact fluorescent and LED bulbs. Photo courtesy of

Can we recycle light? And can it help us fight global warming?

Science