Weekend Edition: Is there enough lithium to meet the demands of electrification?

[New Atlas logo]( This week, Loz Blain examines whether we have the resources to meet the demands of a planet looking to decarbonize by electrifying as many things as possible. Speaking of electrification, Loz also checks out the latest flight of a drone that flies using ion propulsion. Meanwhile, Nick Lavars checks out a huge geothermal lagoon slated for Canada and we compare the latest iPhones against last year's models. Enjoy the Weekend Edition! Darren Quick Editor in Chief Energy [Lithium resource squeeze could put the brakes on decarbonization]( [The Uyuni Salt Lake in Bolivia holds an estimated 5.4 million tonnes of lithium]( As the EV revolution speeds up, and big battery projects ramp up to stabilize power grids running on intermittent renewables, global demand for lithium batteries will rise sixfold in the next 10 years. But can the world actually supply the materials? [Read more]( Drones [Undefined claims 4.5-min flight for its "silent" ion-propulsion drone]( [Rendered image of the "Silent Ventus" cargo drone Undefined Technologies eventually]( Florida's "silent" flying dish-rack, powered by ionic propulsion, is on track for commercial rollout in 2024, according to Undefined Technologies, which has released new outdoor flight test video. We remain curious, but unconvinced it'll be viable. [Read more]( Architecture [World's largest geothermal lagoon planned for Canada]( [Rendered aerial view of the geoLagon project]( Plans are afoot for a magnificent new open air lagoon in Canada that will be kept at balmy temperatures year-round through a “huge Thermos” heating system underneath to become the largest lagoon of its type in the world. [Read more]( Mobile Technology [iPhone 14, Plus, Pro and Pro Max vs. iPhone 13, mini, Pro and Pro Max]( [New Atlas compares the specs and features of the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max]( Apple’s 2022 devices are here – the iPhone 14 series. So is it worth the upgrade? New Atlas compares the specs and features of the new iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max to the previous generation’s iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. [Read more]( Military [B-21 Raider nuclear bomber to be unveiled in December]( [The B-21 will be unveiled in December]( Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force have announced that the B-21 Raider strategic heavy nuclear strike bomber will make its public debut at an invitation-only event in the first week of December at Northrop's Palmdale, California facility. [Read more]( Automotive [Renault electric camper urges solo nomads to ditch office, go outdoors]( [During the day, the rear seat and flip-up worktop provide a place to work, dine and unwind]( Renault has revealed the Hippie Caviar Motel in its entirety. Just looking at the camper concept makes us want to call out sick and head for the mountains. It homes in on solo nomadism with a single-person floor plan meant to live, work and play. [Read more]( Environment [Ocean Cleanup video artfully depicts demise of Great Pacific Garbage Patch]( [The Ocean Cleanup has shared a new animation detailing its approach to tackling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch]( The Ocean Cleanup has a huge task on its hands in ridding the seas of plastic waste, but a new video offers a compelling look at its latest plan of attack, portraying massive trash-collection barriers sweeping through the seas with great efficiency. [Read more]( Outdoors [Leatherman's new Maintenance Kit will keep your tools shiny and sharp]( [Leatherman has introduced a Maintenance Kit to keep multitools shiny and sharp]( Leatherman’s multitools are built to last, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t do with a polish and tune up from time to time. The company’s new Maintenance Kit is a one-stop-shop for these types of tasks. [Read more]( Good Thinking [MIT tech could keep items cool without using any electricity]( [A 4-inch (102-mm) square version of the device (left) is tested on an MIT rooftop – at right is a device utilizing only evaporative cooling, for comparative testing]( In some of the world's hottest countries, where cooling systems are most needed, the infrastructure required to power such setups is often lacking. A new system could help, as it provides multiple cooling effects but uses no electricity. [Read more]( Architecture [Gravity defying spa turns a mountain village on its head]( [The Hub of Huts is designed to take the form of mountain village huts, some of which have been turned upside down]( NOA has created an eye-catching swimming pool and sauna extension to an existing hotel in South Tyrol, Italy. The project takes the form of a mountainside village made up of several huts, including some that have been turned upside down. [Read more]( Home Entertainment [Hisense adds cheaper UST projector to TriChroma Laser TV lineup]( [The Hisense PX1 is built around the same triple-laser light-source technology as the more expensive L9G and PX1 Pro models]( Hisense USA has launched a new 4K ultra-short-throw smart projector that features the same TriChroma laser engine as the L9G from 2021 and the PX1 Pro from earlier this year, but comes in cheaper than either. [Read more]( Science [Scientists tally up the total number of ants on Earth]( [Scientists in Germany have estimated how many ants there are on Earth]( The next time an inquisitive four-year-old asks how many ants there are on Earth, you can be ready to fire back a specific number. Researchers in Germany now have an answer to that question, as well as a follow-up: how much do they all weigh combined? [Read more]( Energy [Five solar farms, each as big as Tasmania: Australia's path to net zero]( [An indication of how much land mass would be needed for solar power in a decarbonized 2060 version of Australia that maintains its energy exports]( Australia has a lot of sun and desert space, positioning the country well to continue being an energy exporter in the net zero era. But the renewable assets it'll need to build to get there are absolutely epic in scale, according to a new report. [Read more]( Outdoors [Forma Campers reshapes the teardrop trailer into spacious origami]( [Forma trailer making home out of the wild]( Forma Campers has rolled out what we can only call an origami-drop, a uniquely creased small trailer set up like a teardrop. Its spacious interior and large gullwing door create a base camp that's ideal for dining, working remotely and enjoying a view. [Read more]( Materials [New titanium alloy has highest specific strength of any 3D-printed metal]( [The new titanium alloy being 3D printed through a laser powder bed fusion technique]( Engineers have developed a new 3D-printed titanium alloy with a unique microstructure that makes it ultra-strong. Not only is it stronger than other forms of titanium, but it has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any 3D-printed metal ever made. [Read more]( Aircraft [Electric Alice plane tears down the runway in high-speed taxi test]( [Alice on the runway]( Israeli startup Eviation introduced its all electric aircraft in 2019 and has been edging toward its first flight ever since. It has this week taken an important step toward this milestone, breezing through some high-speed testing on the runway. [Read more]( Drones [Passive-tilting rotors shown to boost drone speed and efficiency]( [Conventional quadcopters (pictured) have to tilt their whole body in forward flight, decreasing their aerodynamics]( Ordinarily, quadcopter drones have to tilt their front end downward when flying forward, increasing their frontal area and thus increasing drag. An experimental new drone gets around this problem, by only tilting its rotors. [Read more]( Environment ["Relatively low cost" plan would cool the Earth's poles by 2 °C]( [It would be technically possible, and indeed remarkably cheap, to re-freeze the Arctic and Antarctic and halt or reverse sea level rise, suggests new research. But this little guy's not likely to enjoy it]( New research suggests that cooling the poles by 2 °C, and re-freezing the Arctic and Antarctic, is "feasible at relatively low cost with conventional technologies," if humanity agrees that a rising sea level is worse than this plan's side effects. [Read more]( Medical [Engineered dental coating exceeds hardness of natural tooth enamel]( [Scientists have engineered a synthetic dental coating that mimics the structure of natural enamel, but with even greater strength]( Researchers are reporting a new type of dental coating, which is made by tweaking the composition of a naturally-occurring mineral to emulate the microstructure of natural enamel, and do so in a way that offers even greater strength. [Read more]( Environment [World’s biggest carbon capture plant set for Wyoming]( [Project Bison is expected to remove five million tons of CO2 each year by 2030]( The US state of Wyoming is set to welcome the world’s largest direct air capture plant for the removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Called Project Bison, the facility is expected to suck up five million tons of CO2 each year by 2030. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Drinking tea linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes]( [A large meta-analysis suggests people who drink at least four cups of tea per day experience a slightly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those who don't drink tea]( New research has analyzed data from nearly 20 studies encompassing one million adults and found a link between drinking tea and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. But it all depends on how much tea your drink. [Read more]( Military [Lockheed Martin delivers record 300-kW laser weapon to US military]( [The Indirect Fires Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) Demonstrator laser weapon system]( Lockheed Martin has delivered its most powerful laser to date to the US military's Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering for installation in new laser weapon demonstrators designed to engage a variety of targets. [Read more]( Automotive [Airstream entry-level (ish) camper van swerves toward off-grid freedom]( [Airstream tempts adventurers and van dwellers with its most affordable camper van by far, the all-new Rangeline]( The new Rangeline camper van isn't the dirt-cheap rig many free-spirited Americans pine for, but it is a very affordable Airstream van. With a versatile layout and LPG-free off-grid power platform, the Rangeline also gets RVers way into the wild. [Read more]( Home Entertainment [Epson gets real close to the wall with super-UST laser projector]( [The EH-LS800 4K laser projector is Epson's first super-ultra-short-throw model]( Ultra-short-throw projectors are a good fit for folks who don't have the space for overhead home theater setups, as they can be plonked near to the wall or screen. Epson has now introduced a new "super-UST" flavor that can snuggle even closer. 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