IBM Research Created a New Battery That Outperforms Lithium-Ion—No Problematic Heavy Metals Required
Photo: Andrew Liszewski (Gizmodo)
With everything from cars, to trucks, to even airplanes going electric, the demand for batteries is going to continue to skyrocket in the coming years—but the availability of the materials currently used to make them is limited. So scientists at IBM Research have developed a new battery whose unique ingredients can be extracted from seawater instead of mining.
The problems with the design of current battery technologies like lithium-ion are well known, we just tend to turn a blind eye when it means our smartphones can run for a full day without a charge. In addition to lithium, they require heavy metals like cobalt, manganese, and nickel which come from giant mines that present hazards to the environment, and often to those doing the actual mining. These metals are also a finite resource, and as more and more devices and vehicles switch to battery power, their availability is going to decrease at a staggering pace.
As a potential solution, scientists at IBM Research's Battery Lab came up with a new design that replaces the need for cobalt and nickel in the cathode, and also uses a new liquid electrolyte (the material in a battery that helps ions move from one end to the other) with a high flash point. The combination of the new cathode and the electrolyte materials was also found to limit the creation of lithium dendrites which are spiky structures that often develop in lithium-ion batteries that can lead to short circuits. So not only would this new battery have less of an impact on the environment to manufacture, but it would also be considerably safer to use, with a drastically reduced risk of fire or explosions.
But the benefits of IBM Research's design don't stop there. The researchers believe the new battery would have a larger capacity than existing lithium-ion batteries, could potentially charge to about 80 percent of its full capacity in just five minutes, would be more energy-efficient, and, on top of it all, it would be cheaper to manufacture which in turn means they could help reduce the cost of gadgets and electric vehicles. These results are estimations based on how the battery has performed in the lab so far, but IBM Research is teaming up with companies like Mercedes-Benz Research and Development to further explore this technology, so it will be quite a few years before you're able to feel a little less guilty about your smartphone addiction.
Prefab homes get a bad rap for being bland and boring, and truthfully, suburbia's been plagued by uninspired factory-made houses for decades. Thankfully, there are a growing number of builders dedicated to giving the modular pad a modern facelift without straying from the simplicity or competitive pricing that made them so popular in the first place.
To help you better navigate the murky waters of modern-day semi-DIY homebuilding, here are 9 of the greatest prefab designers on the market today.
1. Method Homes
Starting price:$95,000 Our pick:M Series With eight different series of designs to choose from, Method's homes range from the traditional cottage style to ultra-modern, and they'll work with you and a team of architects to tailor your model choice to the plot of land you'll be putting it on.
2. House Port
Starting price:$65,000 Our pick:Estate House Port Each of these customizable single-story spreads is constructed using a series of one, two, or three panel-walled "cubes" to create the desired layout of living areas, bedrooms, utility spaces, and kitchen. Then, to protect them from the elements, the whole structure gets covered by the unique "House Port" element: a sprawling and flat galvanized metal roof.
3. Wheelhaus
Starting price:$82,000 Our pick: The Wedge These energy-efficient and luxurious rolling homes are offered in eight customizable base models, each inspired by the durability and quality craftsmanship found in old-school log cabins, but equipped with totally modern layouts and state-of-the-art amenities. The best part? Set-up is dead simple: once delivered, they take just 2 to 5 days to set up and hook up to utilities.
4. Ma Modular
Starting price:$150 per square foot Our pick:T-Plan The brainchild of an Austin-based design company, Ma offers six unique modern floor plans between 525 and 1,660 square feet, each delivered to you all-inclusive. In less than 180 days, they'll drop off a finished home to your plot of land, complete with plumbing, electrical fixtures, and appliances.
5. Little House On The Trailer
Starting price:$34,000 Our pick:Tiny Home Offering four different but equally charming base models, this outfit specializes in creating easily assembled spreads that perfectly suit smaller plots of land. From backyard art studios or offices, to guest homes and holiday bungalows, they'll set you up with an exceptional pad for a fraction of the price you'd expect to pay for something built on-site.
6. weeHouse
Starting price: $80,000 Our pick: Custom 3x Hatched by the brilliant architectural firm Alchemy, the weeHouse is a prefabricated home based on a series of stacked "blocks," which can be arranged and layered in all manner of custom positions to create anywhere between 300 and 2,400 square feet of living area, all depending on your budget and zoning restrictions.
7. Blu Homes
Starting price:$145,000 Our pick:Breezehouse Currently our favorite of the bunch, Blu Homes takes the idea of prefab to the next level with their selection of seven architecturally stunning base designs. The Breezehouse, pictured above, is their crown jewel, and can be customized to feature up to five bedrooms and five bathrooms. Plus, if you're just looking to add some extra space to your current abode, they also offer special self-contained 633-square-foot "pods" that can be tacked on like a traditional home addition.
8. LivingHomes
Starting price:$139,000 Our pick:RK2 Touting their incredibly eco-conscious approach to production, LivingHomes currently offers three lines of single- and multi-family dwellings, designed under the supervision of a rockstar team of three different world-class architects, all of whom achieved LEED Silver certifications.
9. Rocio Romero LV Series
Starting price:$6,000 Our pick:LVL Home Meant to bridge the indoors with nature, each of these gorgeous minimalist homes is best suited to sit in an area with great views, since each one—no matter how big or small your custom configuration—features entire walls of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Joe McGauley is a custom-configured senior editor at Supercompressor.
"Americans have applied 1.8 million tons of glyphosate since its introduction in 1974. Worldwide, 9.4 million tons of the chemical have been sprayed onto fields. For comparison, that's equivalent to the weight of water in more than 2,300 Olympic-size swimming pools. It's also enough to spray nearly half a pound of Roundup on every cultivated acre of land in the world." ~Newsweek
Glyphosate is so prevalent in our environment that trace amounts of it is now found in a wide variety of consumer products, including foods and personal hygiene products, in the human body, and in water supplies.
To some scientists and related officials, none of these products individually contain high enough levels of glyphosate to pose a health risk, however, others argue that consuming trace amounts leads to dangerous accumulations within the body, as it is known to bio-accumulate in major organs and bones.
The, "EPA's high-end estimate of infant exposure to glyphosate exceeds the level the Agency considered safe for them in 1983." [Newseweek]
The following list of products that have tested positive for glyphosate is quite unsettling, and the retailers who sell these products would do well for themselves to take the lead in calling for an outright ban on glyphosate.
Products and Foods Which Have Tested Positive for Glyphosate Contamination
Additionally, it is believed by some that many products containing GMO's are at risk of contamination, since glyphosate use has skyrocketed with the development of GMO staple crops.
The struggle to remove glyphosate from the market place and retire it from use forever is well-underway. Please share this list far and wide, add any additional testing that you find to the comment section below, and pressure your favorite retailers to take these products off the shelves.
Alex Pietrowski is an artist and writer concerned with preserving good health and the basic freedom to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. He is a staff writer forWakingTimes.com. Alex is an avid student of Yoga and life.
