logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
12m 58s

The high-wire act of unlocking clean ene...

TED
About this episode

Why are we using tech from 100 years ago to deliver the world's electricity? Materials scientist Jason Huang shows how we could massively upgrade the global power grid by replacing the wires in existing transmission lines with new, advanced conductors, helping us affordably meet rising energy demands while unlocking a cleaner, more climate-resilient future.



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

Up next
Yesterday
Two wars, no clear exit plan. Now what? | Ian Bremmer
Six months into a catastrophic war in Iran — and with no end in sight for the war in Ukraine — the world is embroiled in conflicts with no apparent exit plan. In this interview, political scientist and Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer breaks down what these wars are costing peop ... Show More
40m 1s
Jul 31
Why economic inequality is the biggest threat to democracy | Sally Kohn
Is authoritarianism winning, or is democracy just failing to deliver? Communications strategist Sally Kohn lays out how democracy has evolved before and why it must evolve again, into what she calls "Democracy 3.0" — a version that finally shares power and opportunity equally. "W ... Show More
20m 18s
Jul 30
How doodling unlocks your imagination | Joe Whale
Artist Joe Whale used to get in trouble for doodling in class, until a local restaurant let him cover an entire wall with his artwork … and the internet took notice. He traces his unlikely beginning to a bigger story: your imagination is a muscle, and it weakens when you hand it ... Show More
8m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2025
How AI can solve its own energy crisis | Varun Sivaram
The AI revolution and our aging power grid are on a historic collision course, threatening to stall innovation and raise energy costs for everyone. Physicist and AI grid futurist Varun Sivaram reveals how we might turn this looming crisis into a once-in-a-generation opportunity — ... Show More
14m 4s
Nov 2021
TED Climate: How much clean electricity do we really need? | Solomon Goldstein-Rose
To fight climate change, we need to clean up the global electricity system by replacing fossil fuel power plants with clean generation -- right? Climate author Solomon Goldstein-Rose thinks we need to do much more than that. Replacement isn't enough, he explains in this compellin ... Show More
10m 4s
Jan 2024
How to harness abundant, clean energy for 10 billion people | Julio Friedmann
We can produce abundant, sustainable and cheap energy — for everyone, says physicist Julio Friedmann. He explores the infrastructure, innovation and investment needed to supply energy to 10 billion people, offering case studies from Chile's refurbished supply chain, built in part ... Show More
15m 20s
Jun 2024
Hard Reset Podcast: Energy Density | Episode #15
What if we had more control over how we store energy? This simple question could open up a whole world of green possibilities and allow us to divest from higher pollutant energy sources like fossil fuels. Argonne National Laboratory is reworking the battery from the ground up, to ... Show More
35m 14s
May 2024
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? This week we are revisiting a talk by electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri, where he explains the principles behind wireless energy transfer and shares his far-ou ... Show More
11m 50s
Nov 2024
How Tech is Powering the Clean Energy Transition
<p>Public and private organizations across the globe are taking action to reach net-zero emissions targets—investing heavily in new technology to build resilient and efficient energy systems. Guests discuss the push for cleaner energy, the tech their teams use to develop cleaner ... Show More
29 m
Oct 2025
The best thing that could happen to the energy industry | Matt Tilleard
History has been written by whoever controls the dominant fuel of the era — until now, says renewables entrepreneur Matt Tilleard. He explains why, as the clean energy transition ramps up, we’re moving from a world where energy comes from burning fuels to one where it will come f ... Show More
13m 51s
Aug 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
11m 50s
Feb 2024
Wireless Electricity: When Can We Unplug Our TVs?
You know all of those cords and cables and wires that we use to connect our stuff to the electrical grid so they’ll, you know, work? Imagine a day when energy flies through the air like wifi, utterly cord-free. Well, imagine no more! That day is coming!See omnystudio.com/listener ... Show More
47m 12s