Have you ever wondered why we struggle to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, even when we know what they are? One reason might be our tendency to view things as “normal,” even when they aren’t. For example, when the massive B15 iceberg broke off the Ross Sea shelf in 2000, it was described as a normal process. Yet, this iceberg was anything but ordinary, being 3,000 feet tall and weighing 2 gigatons. Our perception of normalcy can hinder our ability to find real solutions.
Just 90 days after the iceberg event, a groundbreaking discovery was made: the sequencing of the human genome. This genetic code, present in every one of our 50 trillion cells, is a meter long when unwound, yet only 2 nanometers thick. This discovery made me wonder if the answers to our biggest challenges could be found in the smallest places, where the difference between valuable and worthless might be just a few atoms.
What if we could control the essence of energy—the electron? To explore this, I traveled the world to collaborate with leading scientists. Together, we formed a company to develop innovative ideas. After six and a half years and with the help of 180 researchers, we have made significant progress in the lab. Here are three exciting developments that could revolutionize how we generate energy.
Consider the energy we use to heat and cool our homes. In summer, we try to keep heat out, and in winter, we try to keep it in. Imagine if windows could reflect heat back into the room when needed or block it out before it enters. This is possible with a remarkable form of carbon known as carbon nano. This material, 100,000 times smaller than a human hair and 3,000 times more conductive than copper, can be applied to windows. It can switch between reflecting and allowing heat and light with just a small electrical pulse.
Another breakthrough involves a nanomaterial that can convert infrared radiation into visible images, allowing us to see in the dark. This technology could also convert infrared radiation into electrons. By combining this with the smart window technology, we could generate energy on a flexible plastic surface that can be applied anywhere.
The future of energy storage may not rely on traditional batteries. We collaborated with researchers to develop the Ebox, which uses new nanomaterials to store and release electrons efficiently. This means we could generate energy cleanly and transmit it without the need for an electric grid, potentially making energy free and accessible to all.
Water scarcity is another pressing issue. Desalination plants, which convert seawater into drinkable water, are expensive and energy-intensive. However, in a world where energy is free and easily transmitted, we could transform any water source into what we need, wherever we are.
Working with brilliant scientists who have a unique perspective on the world is inspiring. Their discoveries are moving from the lab into the real world, offering hope for a better future. A photograph of a little girl dying of thirst in Sudan, taken by Kevin Carter, serves as a constant reminder of why we must solve these problems. It motivates me to overcome challenges and continue working towards solutions.
Ultimately, I believe the key to solving our problems lies in gaining precise control over a fundamental building block of nature—the electron. Thank you for joining me on this journey toward a sustainable future.
Reflect on how perceptions of “normal” can impact problem-solving. Consider a current global issue and analyze how changing the perception of what is considered normal could lead to innovative solutions. Share your insights in a group discussion.
Participate in a hands-on workshop where you will experiment with nanomaterials. Learn how these materials can be applied to create smart windows or energy-generating surfaces. Discuss the potential implications of these technologies on energy consumption.
Conduct a detailed case study analysis of the Ebox technology. Evaluate its potential to revolutionize energy storage and transmission. Present your findings, focusing on the feasibility and scalability of implementing such technology globally.
Engage in a brainstorming session to develop innovative solutions for water scarcity using free and accessible energy. Consider how advancements in energy technology could transform desalination processes and water distribution.
Choose a scientific discovery or technological advancement that inspires you. Research its development and potential impact on society. Create a presentation to share how this innovation could contribute to solving a major global challenge.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[Music] [Music] [Applause]
Why can’t we solve these problems? We know what they are, yet something always seems to stop us. Why?
I remember March 15, 2000, when the B15 iceberg broke off the Ross Sea shelf. The newspaper said it was all part of a normal process. A little further on in the article, it mentioned that a loss like this would normally take the ice shelf 50 to 100 years to replace. The same word “normal” had two different, almost opposite meanings.
If we walk into the B15 iceberg today, we’re going to encounter something that is 3,000 feet tall, 76 miles long, 17 miles wide, and weighs 2 gigatons. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing normal about this. Yet, I think our perspective as humans to view our world through the lens of normal is one of the forces that stops us from developing real solutions.
Only 90 days after this, arguably the greatest discovery of the last century occurred: the sequencing of the human genome for the first time. This is the code that exists in every single one of our 50 trillion cells, making us who we are. If we take just one cell’s worth of this code and unwind it, it’s a meter long and 2 nanometers thick. To put that in perspective, 2 nanometers is 20 atoms in thickness.
I wondered, what if the answer to some of our biggest problems could be found in the smallest of places, where the difference between what is valuable and what is worthless is merely the addition or subtraction of a few atoms? What if we could gain exquisite control over the essence of energy—the electron?
So, I began traveling the world to find the best and brightest scientists at universities whose collective discoveries had the potential to take us there. We formed a company to build on their extraordinary ideas. Six and a half years later, with 180 researchers, we have some amazing developments in the lab. I’m going to show you three of those today, which could help us stop burning up our planet and instead generate all the energy we need right where we are—cleanly, safely, and cheaply.
Consider the space we spend most of our time in. A tremendous amount of energy is coming at us from the sun. We enjoy the light that comes into the room, but in the middle of summer, all that heat is coming in while we’re trying to keep cool. In winter, the opposite happens; we’re trying to heat up the space while the heat tries to escape through the windows. Wouldn’t it be great if the window could reflect the heat back into the room when we need it or flick it away before it comes in?
One of the materials that can do this is a remarkable form of carbon that undergoes an incredible transformation. When graphite is blasted by vapor, the vaporized carbon condenses back into a different form, resembling chicken wire. This carbon, known as carbon nano, is 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair and is 3,000 times more conductive than copper.
At the nanoscale, things look and act very differently. While we think of carbon as black, at the nanoscale, it is actually transparent and flexible. When combined with a polymer and affixed to your window, it can reflect away all heat and light in its colored state, while allowing all light and heat through in its bleached state. Changing its state takes just two volts for a millisecond pulse, and it remains in that state until changed again.
While working on this discovery at the University of Florida, we were directed to another scientist who was working on something incredible. Imagine if we didn’t have to rely on artificial lighting to navigate at night. This involves a nanomaterial—a detector and an imager—that takes all the infrared available at night and enables you to see through it.
I’m going to show you this for the first time. First, you’ll see the transparency of the film, and then I’ll turn the lights out so you can see a tiny film in incredible clarity. As we worked on this, it dawned on us that this technology could convert infrared radiation into electrons.
What if we combined this with our previous discovery? Suddenly, we could convert energy into electrons on a flexible plastic surface that can be applied to any surface.
The power plant of tomorrow may not be a traditional power plant at all. Instead of focusing solely on generating and using energy, we want to talk about storing energy. Unfortunately, the best option we currently have is the lead-acid battery, which was developed in France 150 years ago.
Knowing that we won’t be putting 50 of these in our basements to store power, we approached a group at the University of Texas at Dallas with a diagram. Instead of laughing at us, they said, “Yes,” and what they built was Ebox. Ebox is testing new nanomaterials to park an electron on the outside, hold it until needed, and then release it.
Being able to do this means I can generate energy cleanly, efficiently, and cheaply right where I am. If I don’t need it, I can convert it back into energy and beam it line of sight to your location without needing an electric grid between us. The grid of tomorrow may be a gridless one, and clean, efficient energy will one day be free.
The last puzzle piece is water. Each of us needs just eight glasses of water every day. When we run out of water, as some parts of the world are experiencing and others soon will, we will need to obtain it from the sea. This will require building desalination plants, which will cost $19 trillion and require tremendous amounts of energy—twice the world’s supply of oil to run the pumps.
In a world where energy is free and easily transmitted, we can take any water wherever we are and turn it into whatever we need.
I’m grateful to work with incredibly brilliant and kind scientists, who have a unique perspective on the world. I’m excited to see their discoveries coming out of the lab and into the world.
Eighteen years ago, I saw a photograph taken by Kevin Carter, who went to Sudan to document a famine. I’ve carried this photograph with me every day since then. It’s a picture of a little girl dying of thirst. By any standard, this is wrong. We can do better than this; we should do better than this.
Whenever I encounter someone who says what I’m working on is too difficult, that it will never happen, or that we don’t have enough money or time, I think of that little girl. I just say thank you and move on to the next challenge.
This is why we must solve our problems. I believe the answer lies in gaining exquisite control over a fundamental building block of nature—the electron.
Thank you. [Applause]
Energy – The capacity to do work or produce change, often measured in joules or kilowatt-hours, and is a fundamental concept in physics and environmental studies. – The transition to renewable energy sources is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.
Electron – A subatomic particle with a negative electric charge, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids. – The movement of electrons through a conductor is what generates an electric current.
Nanomaterials – Materials with structural components smaller than 100 nanometers, often exhibiting unique physical and chemical properties due to their size. – Researchers are exploring the use of nanomaterials to improve the efficiency of solar cells.
Carbon – A chemical element with symbol C, known for its ability to form a vast number of compounds, including those that are essential for life and those that contribute to environmental issues like climate change. – Carbon emissions from fossil fuels are a major contributor to global warming.
Windows – In the context of environmental studies, windows refer to openings in buildings that can be optimized for energy efficiency and natural light. – Installing energy-efficient windows can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs in buildings.
Infrared – A type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves, often used in thermal imaging and heating applications. – Infrared cameras are used to detect heat loss in buildings, helping to improve energy efficiency.
Storage – The process of retaining energy for later use, often involving technologies like batteries or other systems to store electricity generated from renewable sources. – Advances in battery storage technology are essential for the widespread adoption of renewable energy systems.
Desalination – The process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to produce fresh water, often used in regions with limited access to freshwater resources. – Desalination plants are becoming increasingly important in arid regions facing water scarcity.
Radiation – The emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium, often studied in the context of nuclear physics and environmental health. – Understanding the effects of radiation on living organisms is crucial for ensuring safety in nuclear power generation.
Sustainability – The practice of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often involving the careful management of resources and environmental impact. – Sustainability in energy production is vital for reducing environmental degradation and ensuring long-term ecological balance.
