logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
11m 50s

How wireless energy from space could pow...

TED Tech
About this episode

Modern life runs on wireless technology. What if the energy powering our devices could also be transmitted without wires? Electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri explains the principles behind wireless energy transfer and shares his far-out vision for launching flexible solar panels into space in order to collect sunlight, convert it to electrical power and then beam it down to Earth. Learn how this technology could power everything -- and light up our world from space.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
May 29
How to make AI worth your time with Max Mullen | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
If you’ve tried AI and felt underwhelmed — or if the constant pressure to “just play around with it” makes you want to throw your laptop across the room — you’re not alone. But according to Max Mullen, co-founder of Instacart and one of the most practical thinkers on this technol ... Show More
39m 58s
May 22
The past and future of clean transportation with Doreen Orishaba, Daniel Sperling, and Gil Tal
Electric vehicles have a surprisingly long history. Battery-powered cars have existed since 1881. So why did the world choose to spend over a century investing in fossil fuels? Sherrell explores this question with a talk from engineer Doreen Orishaba. Doreen built Africa's first ... Show More
23m 53s
May 15
What big oil is hiding from you with Cindy Taff and Stephanie Honchell Smith
Did you know every time you fill up your gas tank, you’re paying two prices? In this episode, Sherrell shares two talks about what Big Oil has built, what it buried, and what this discovery means for our future. Talks featuredHow to power the world 24/7 — without oil | Cindy Taff ... Show More
24 m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
How wireless energy from space could power everything | Ali Hajimiri
Modern life runs on wireless technology. What if the energy powering our devices could also be transmitted without wires? Electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri explains the principles behind wireless energy transfer and shares his far-out vision for launching flexible solar panels int ... Show More
10m 25s
Jun 2020
Nigerian internet land rights costs fall
A major problem in laying internet cables in Nigeria is the phenomenal cost of right of way charges – these are local state imposed fees to broadband providers. Ekiti, one of Nigeria’s smallest states, has cut its right of way charges by 96%. It will now cost $374 to lay a kilome ... Show More
50m 23s
Jan 2023
Tapping Solar Power in Space
<p>Caltech research scientist Austin Fikes talks about capturing solar energy in space with a satellite that would relay the power to Earth.</p> 
18m 25s
Apr 2020
Professor Saiful Islam
Not so long ago, all batteries were single use. And solar power was an emerging and expensive technology. Now, thanks to rechargeable batteries, we have mobile phones, laptops, electronic toys, cordless power tools and other portable electronic devices. And solar power is reducin ... Show More
26m 59s
Aug 2021
How can smart tech tackle climate change?
<p>Humans are responsible for emitting over 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year – and we all know that we need to reduce that figure to prevent devastating climate change. Listener Saugat wonders whether smart technology and artificial intelligence ... Show More
37m 49s
Aug 2021
Can we run the world on electricity?
The target for many countries around the world is to reach net zero emissions within the next few decades. That means a dramatic move away from fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas. For some the answer to the problem is to boost “green” electricity production, so that we can run o ... Show More
23m 36s
Aug 2023
Beaming 24/7 solar… from space
It’s the highest-intensity solar power you can get. It’s available 24/7. And you can send it anywhere on earth. All you need to do is launch a ten-by-ten kilometer array of solar panels into geosynchronous orbit, capture solar energy, and beam it to earth using a massive antenna ... Show More
47m 52s