Guest Thinkers — April 7, 2011

Solar Power Costs Will Halve in 10 Years

The trend of solar power getting steadily less expensive is set to continue over the next decade—in sunny parts of the world it is already starting to compete with coal production.

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New technology and streamlined manufacturing processes are making solar technology a competitive alternative to fossil fuel production. In the coming years renewable energy will be price competitive with coal production even without government subsidies, according to Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance. As the price of fossil fuels continues to climb, production of photovoltaic solar cells is becoming cheaper thanks to technological innovation and streamlined production lines. Chinese companies are having particular success in these areas.

The most counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

Collage of classical art suggesting a theme related to somatic markers.

Business

How “somatic markers” can transform your decision-making

Ditch the old brain vs. heart assumptions, and instead think about a heart-led brain.

A black and white image of a bunch of spheres, symbolizing the multiverse concept discussed by scientists.

Starts With A Bang

How logic and reasoning can fail as scientific tools

In logic, ‘reductio ad absurdum’ shows how flawed arguments fall apart. Our absurd Universe, however, often defies our intuitive reasoning.

A wooden sign indicating "assisted migration rep 2" in a pine forest under a clear blue sky.

Life

Moving trees north to save the forests

As the world warms, trees in forests such as those in Minnesota will no longer be adapted to their local climates. That’s where assisted migration comes in.

Historical map illustration depicting a planned city layout with a circular central area and radiating streets.

Strange Maps

Ohio’s Circleville ditched the grid system. Then it got squared.

A small Ohio town tried to escape America’s addiction to rectangular grids. It didn’t last long.

Bullet Cluster separation mass gravity x-ray lensing

Starts With A Bang

Flagship NASA space telescope faces a penny-pinching death

NASA’s only flagship X-ray telescope ever, Chandra, still works and has no planned successor. So why does the President want to kill it?

Up Next

Technology & Innovation

New Orleans: America’s Startup City

Katrina gave New Orleans two stories to tell: One of disaster and another of innovation. Since 2007, the city has produced far more entrepreneurs than most American cities.