Energy
The Universe is bursting with energy. It explodes out of stars as light, races along wires as electricity and thunders through the air as sound. It floats undetectable, driving the expansion of the Universe, as dark energy. Humans harness energy however they can, from burning coal to harvesting the renewable energy of the Sun or the wind, and even from decaying atoms in nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion is a new frontier of energy with the potential for immense amounts of clean, renewable energy.
What is a nuclear battery and how does it work?
They might sound dangerous, but new nuclear batteries could become a useful power source.
How the right amount of caffeine unlocks lifelong benefits for your body and mind
For many, caffeine is considered a guilty pleasure. But there is growing evidence that our daily fix isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it might actually be doing us some good.
Why 10am is the perfect time to have your morning coffee
If you were to have just one cup of coffee today, the late morning is the best time according to your body’s natural rhythms.
Why does the Sun produce so much radiation?
Proposed fusion power plants will generate no radiation. So why does the Sun, which also uses fusion, produce so much?
Best home wind turbines to reduce your energy bills
With gas and electricity prices soaring, there’s never been a better time to start generating your own energy at home. We’ve all heard of solar panels, but did you know you can also use domestic wind turbines to reduce your monthly bills? Here are the best home wind turbines you can buy.
How much energy does a smart meter use?
Smart meters give you real-time information on your energy usage.
What if there were no fossil fuels?
How different would our world look?
Dyson spheres: How humans (and aliens) could capture a star’s energy
What is a Dyson sphere? How would a Dyson sphere work? Could they be responsible for strange signals from space?
Nuclear fusion breakthrough brings unlimited clean energy one step closer
The atom-smashing technique has been successfully used to generate more energy than researchers put in for the first time.
What’s the difference between wave energy and tidal energy?
Scientists and engineers are developing ways to capture these renewable resources.
Photosynthesis: What is it and how does it work?
Photosynthesis is essential for almost all life, and it’s the primary source of oxygen in the atmosphere.
How does wireless charging work?
After decades of fighting with tangled wires, being able to drop your device onto a charging pad is a gamechanger.
How is coal formed?
It takes millions of years to create and as a non-renewable resource, there is only a finite amount.
How does nuclear fusion work?
It could provide us with a clean, efficient and unlimited source of energy.
The best energy saving smart home gadgets to save money
With the ongoing cost of living crisis in mind, we have rounded up some of our favourite smart home products designed to help lower your energy bills.
Reality Check: How much power do 'vampire electronics' really drain?
Can you save £££s by switching off appliances at the mains, as suggested by some headlines?
Kardashev Scale: What is it and where is Earth listed?
Originally theorised in 1964, this concept analyses a civilisation’s technological advancement.
Are electric cars definitely greener than petrol?
The UK is set to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
Could we harness energy from a black hole?
Though the engineering is beyond us now, the Penrose process could theoretically allow us to extract energy from black holes.
Why doesn’t Earth’s core melt the planet?
Fun fact: The centre of Earth is as hot as the Sun’s surface
How does solar energy actually work?
Bask in our simple explanation to how humans turn the Sun’s rays into power.
UK scientists could have solved one of nuclear fusion's biggest problems
The new Super-X divertor could be a game-changer for creating fusion power plants that can deliver affordable, efficient electricity.
Could we farm thunderstorms for power?
Wind and solar sources have become clean energy champions. But can humans harness lightning in the same way?
Calories and nutrients: the complex calculations we do every day
In this extract from Eat Like the Animals, David Raubenheimer and Stephen J Simpson explain what a calorie really is, why we need to eat so many types of food, and why we can't do without fat.