Move over lithium-ion: Proton battery offers a safe, affordable, eco-friendly alternative

Plus: Suspicion over room temperature superconductor claims [Blueprint]( The “proton battery” — a response to an urgent environmental call — could transform how we power our homes, vehicles, and electronic devices. Lithium-ion batteries, while incredibly useful, have raised significant environmental concerns, but this new proton battery presents an eco-friendly alternative that eliminates those issues. The proton battery functions much like a hydrogen fuel cell, generating electricity by using a carbon electrode to store hydrogen separated from water, and all its components can be fully rejuvenated, reused, or recycled. Learn more about it in today’s Must Read article. 🆓 Also today, download this free guide about [Seven Ways to Reduce Non-Value-Added Work in Industrial Design]( from Dassault Systemes. Based on a survey of 187 manufacturers, this Tech-Clarity research study examines industrial design, where time is wasted, and best practices to avoid non-value-added work. 🎬 But first, here’s [your video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers learned about how intelligent life may be more likely to evolve in the oceans than on the land. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( AI: Friend or foe? The answer will change everything! As a technological development, AI is a double-edged sword: it is razor-sharp in terms of both potential positive and potential negative outcomes. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( Must Read [⚛️ Eco-friendly proton battery offers affordable energy storage]( Scientists at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have developed a “[proton battery]( that could revolutionize renewable energy storage. The battery uses hydrogen split from water to generate clean electricity, without disposal issues of lithium-ion batteries. The proton battery bonds hydrogen to a carbon electrode, then releases it to react with oxygen and power devices. It has comparable efficiency to lithium-ion batteries, with sustainable, abundant materials like carbon instead of scarce lithium or cobalt. 🔜 RMIT is now working with automotive company Eldor to further develop and prototype the battery for potential commercial use. As the world shifts to renewable energy, more efficient and eco-friendly storage like this proton battery will be key. [Read More]( HOT TOPICS - 👽 ['Non-human biologics', 'Transparency' dominate US Congressional hearing on UFOs]( Whistleblower David Grusch revealed that the US government had undertaken a "multi-decade" program aimed at gathering and attempting to reverse-engineer crashed UFOs. - 🔋 [The ultimate guide to battery technology]( Our modern world would look very different without batteries. But what does the future hold for this technology? - ❇️ [The best and most innovative ideas for new batteries]( New technologies are creating batteries of the future, with improved efficiency, lifespan, and sustainability. - 🤨 [X, formerly Twitter, just took the @x handle without informing its owner]( Instead of compensating him, X has offered the ex-owner some company merch and a tour of its headquarters. - 🔥 [Cargo ship carrying 3,000 vehicles caught fire, EV batteries suspected]( The incident has killed one person and injured several others. Coastguard agencies warned that the blaze will take several days to be put under control. [Innovation News]( 🌡 Scientists look with suspicion as another study claims room-temperature superconductor A team of Korean researchers have claimed that they have created a superconductor capable of conducting electricity perfectly at room temperature and ambient pressure. The new lead-based material, called LK-99, was made using several powdered compounds like lead, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus. [Read More]( [Military]( 💥 US scramjet weapons one-step closer thanks to new $81 million Raytheon contract Unlike conventional rockets (which carry their fuel and oxygen), an air-breathing engine, like a scramjet, uses atmospheric oxygen to combust the fuel to provide propulsion. In a scramjet, the air is forced into the engine at supersonic speeds, enabling it to reach up to Mach 15. [Read More]( [Innovation]( 🦾 NASA astronaut controls Earth robots while flying 17,150 mph aboard ISS A NASA astronaut controlled a small team of robots on Earth while flying aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The test was carried out in order to demonstrate and investigate the capacity for using remote-controlled robots for future lunar exploration. [Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Senior Software Engineer]( [Houston,US]( [Senior Software Engineer]( [San Francisco,US]( [Sales Engineering Specialist, Security]( [England, London, United Kingdom,GB]( [Senior Design Engineer - New Product Development]( [Waunakee,US]( [Senior Software Engineer - Shopping | Catalog & Tools]( [San Francisco,US]( [Advanced Software Engineer]( [Maple Grove,CA]( [Sr. Product Manager - Technical, AWS WWPS Engineering]( [Arlington,US]( [Data Engineering Manager, Finance BI]( [Remote,US]( [Mission Planning Software Cybersecurity Engineer]( [Remote,US]( [Distributed Training Platform Architect/ML Infra ops Engineer]( [San Jose,US]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Are lithium-ion batteries more a problem than a solution? [No, they're essential]( [No, but there are risks]( [Yes, too polluting]( [Yes, too hazardous]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS An overwhelming majority — 74 percent — say nuclear propulsion is vital for interplanetary space exploration. 74% Yes, it's absolutely necessary 17% Still not powerful enough 8% No, it's too hazardous 1% Chemical rockets can do it “Our battery has an energy-per-unit mass already comparable with commercially-available lithium-ion batteries, while being much safer and better for the planet in terms of taking less resources out of the ground.” Professor John Andrews, RMIT University THINGS WE LOVE [Sewell MOS Pack V4, Electronics Travel Backpack]( [Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Headphones]( [Wooask W12 Language Translator]( [ACEMAGICIAN Mini PC]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Scientists invent accurate AI-powered heat vision for driving at night]( - [China-sized lava eruption may have frozen Earth 717 million years ago]( - [Twinkle twinkle, little star: Scientists convert star 'twinkles' into sound waves]( - [US Navy's first-ever land-based Tomahawk missile unit officially activated]( - [Strangelets won't destroy the Earth, but are still spooky as hell]( [premium] - [Recycling's hidden microplastic menace]( [premium] - [Why are diamonds belched out from Earth's depths? New study reveals answer]( - [Tiny surgical robot could travel deep into lungs to detect and treat cancer one day]( - Assisted reentry: [ESA’s satellite likely to fall over Atlantic Ocean on July 28]( - [Mars' gigantic volcano Mons Olympus may have been an island]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? For the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to [Vital Component]( For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 530 Fifth Ave, 9th floor New York, NY 10036, USA All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your e-mail preferences [here.]( Unsubscribe from our emails [here.]( See our full [privacy policy]( or [terms of conditions](.