Andrew C. Revkin of the New York Times “Dot Earth” blog recently highlighted a talk by MIT chemist Daniel G. Nocera at the Aspen Environment Forum on March 26.
In order to tackle our future energy needs, Dr. Nocera says, “All scientists ultimately believe solar has to be the answer.” His research focuses on methods for turning light from the sun into the chemical fuels of the future.
The science program CURIOUS, which premiered on Thirteen in October, featured Cal Tech scientists Nathan Lewis and Sossina Haile, who are following a similar line of research. Spurred by the looming energy crisis, Lewis and Haile are working to invent a new kind of fuel that uses the sun to power the planet. They are attempting to produce a prototype for a truly alternative fuel source — an artificial leaf that emulates natural photosynthesis, converting solar energy into a usable, clean chemical fuel. They hope their pioneering solar cell and fuel cell technologies will eventually end our dependence on petroleum and provide an energy source that won’t pollute our planet.
Watch the full episode of CURIOUS online.
