ORCA ZODE

Links to some recent Orca-related stuff out there.

Most people know the story of cold fusion, at least the beginning. Here's how it ends.

What would it take to 100x the power density of electrochemical batteries?

Links to some recent articles from Orca contributors

We'll make more decarbonization progress by inventing the materials of the future than by reinventing the materials of the past.

A megatrend way bigger than decarbonization is probably the key to abundance and sustainability both.

DAC fans suck the air out of the climate change conversation

When the obvious questions give stupid answers, it’s time to ask stupid questions

We tried to use a cheap laser to grow carbon fiber directly from methane gas. It worked quickly and repeatably, but the carbon fiber wasn’t as strong as it’d need to be to make a good commercial product.

How cheaply can it pull CO2 from the air?

Powerful infrared lasers are getting extremely cheap. What should we use them for?

They are incentivized to waste electricity anywhere it results in less capex.

Some interesting misfires from the last year

Microwave phased arrays seem to be a more realistic option than batteries or H2 for powering long-haul electric aviation. We still doubt anybody will build them.

Revisiting Soviet-era results showing efficient N2 oxidation in non-equilibrium plasmas. An intriguing approach to low-cost nitrate fertilizers without Haber-Bosch.

Titanium is an amazing material. How can we make it cheap and abundant?

A new analysis of the Savor approach to fats & oils.

Dirt cheap thermal energy.

Exponential wind loading near the atmosphere’s length scale for turbulence might prevent airships from getting much longer than about 400m.

~1% of global warming addressable at around $1/ton CO2 equivalent.