Mirrors in Space, Fusion Energy, Air Meat, IBM's Mega Quantum Computer, & Carbon Capturing Magic Dust - Speciale Focus #7

Sunlight 24x7 - Mirrors in Space?

Space based solar power is being spoken about at large with companies like Airbus, and govt agencies like NASA, and ESA actively working on it. The idea is to put solar arrays in space, and beam down the energy to a ground receiver station. Reflect Orbital aims at using “Distributed Space Systems” to provide sunlight to existing solar farms at night. By selling the sunlight to solar farms, they want to increase the output of existing infrastructure without additional costs to solar farm owners.

Helion’s Fusion Energy Play

With investors like Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, and Microsoft, Helion Energy is pioneering Fusion based energy for the world. Helion utilizes a unique fuel and fusion process that sets it apart from other reactors. Unlike most fusion reactors that rely on deuterium and tritium fusion, which releases energy as neutron radiation, Helion employs deuterium and helium-3 fusion. This alternative fusion reaction produces only 5% of its energy as neutrons, with the majority manifested as powerful and variable magnetic fields. By harnessing massive electromagnets surrounding the reaction site, Helion efficiently converts these magnetic fields directly into electricity. Read more here.

Have you heard of Air Meat? (Food from AIR)

Solar Foods, a food tech start-up, has developed a protein-rich food called Solein using electricity, air, water, and bacteria. The process involves applying electricity to water to release carbon dioxide and hydrogen from the air. Living microbes are then introduced to create protein, which is subsequently dried to form a powder. This production method is similar to beer fermentation and can be implemented in various environments, including deserts, the Arctic, and even space. Solein is claimed to be 100 times more environmentally friendly than any animal or plant-based alternative in terms of water use, land-use efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions. The company aims to produce enough Solein powder to make two billion meals annually by 2022.

The next milestone in Quantum Computing

IBM, after setting a record with a 433-qubit quantum computing system, plans to build a 100,000-qubit machine within a decade. The company announced this at the G7 summit and will collaborate with the University of Tokyo and the University of Chicago on a $100 million initiative. By combining the power of 100,000 qubits with top-class supercomputers, IBM aims to make significant advancements in drug discovery, fertilizer production, battery performance, and various other fields. Check out more here.

Magic Dust that captures Carbon? Enhanced Rock Weathering

Enhanced rock weathering is a process that involves using abundant basalt rock that reacts with carbonic acid. This reaction releases essential nutrients and converts the acid into biologically neutral carbonates. These carbonates are carried through the water cycle and eventually deposited on the ocean floor, where they can remain trapped for extended periods. This process effectively removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and securely stores it in the ocean depths, mitigating the risk of climate change. UNDO leverages enhanced weathering of Basalt in an attempt to increase carbon capture. Curious? Find out more here.

We’ll leave you with this for the month and come back soon with another set of wow reads specially curated for the curious you!

Until then, Team Speciale signing off!