I watched a couple of interesting videos this evening. They are both about near term and present day helpful technologies.

The first is from Matt Ferrell at Undecided, a good source of videos on current and emerging renewable energy technologies.

---

Undecided with Matt Ferrell (YouTube): Why This Ultra Dense Battery Breakthrough Matters

It might surprise you to learn that the basic chemistry of the lithium ion battery at the heart of a brand new Tesla or iPhone hasn’t changed all that much in the last 30 years. So, when several of you left comments pointing me in the direction of a new company that’s replacing a key part of the battery with silicon and some nanowires, my curiosity was piqued. To add to that, one of my science advisory team members brought them up, too, which only added fuel to the curiosity fire. Now, we’ve covered a lot of batteries on this channel, so what makes the company Amprius, and other similar companies going after silicon, stand out for the future of battery tech?

Faster charging and higher energy storage density from replacing the lithium & carbon anode with silicon whiskers. Quite possibly approaching commercial production within the next year.

---

The second is from a channel I’m unfamiliar with, FD Engineering (by Quintus Media GmbH). There are a number of short documentary pieces on recent inventions. I watched the first couple of segments (about 8 minutes and 7 minutes in length) and they’re good enough for me to plan on watching the rest tomorrow.

---

FD Engineering (YouTube): Genius Inventions: Technical Marvels That Will Shape Tomorrow

Step into a world of innovation and brilliance with Genius Inventions. Showcasing the most brilliant inventions from around the world, this series takes viewers on an inspiring journey through a variety of groundbreaking creations, ranging from revolutionary technological gadgets to eco-friendly solutions. Prepare to be awestruck as we delve into the heart of human ingenuity and witness the future, one groundbreaking idea at a time.

00:00:00 Turbines and fans inspired by whales; Showers that help saving water; Rotor blades for onshore and offshore energy production

The leading edge of the pectoral fins of humpback whales have bumps on them, and they can make surfaces with lower drag, and more lift!

---