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Why the Hydrogen Feud Needs to End: Analysis

Why the Hydrogen Feud Needs to End: Analysis
Hydrogen fuel cell research is in the midst of a tumultuous debate. Proponents continue to sink money into research and marketing while the opposition asks that researchers shift time and money to more promising technologies, like batteries.

Previous Industry Stories
Zoo Veterinarian: This Is My Job
Pete Black works for the St. Louis Zoo, where his primary responsibility is to perform routine exams and surgeries and provide preventative care to the zoo's 5000 animals. Black makes house calls to animals' enclosures and works within the confines of the 17,000-square-foot hospital. (Published in the November 2009 issue)
7 Saber-Dueling, Phaser-Blasting Hollywood Laser Myths
Lightsabers, space weapons, high-tech security systems: Lasers—real-world, bad-ass technology—get nothing but the sci-fi treatment in Tinseltown. PM compiled 7 errors in laser technology, as portrayed in movies. And, yes, Star Wars is the primary offender.
Engineers Cite Vibrations, Wind in Bay Bridge Failure
Engineers working on San Francisco's ill-starred Bay Bridge have fingered a culprit in the repair job that went awry Tuesday evening, forcing the bridge's closure: metal fatigue caused by harmonic resonance.
The Key to the Battery-Powered House: Q&A With Ceramatec
Researchers have been looking for a small, safe and compact in-home battery capable of storing excess power for use during the renewable energy doldrums: Nighttime and calm winds. Ceramatec might finally have the solution.
Exclusive Interview With Nintendo Gaming Mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto
We sat down with the creator of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and scores of other Nintendo games to play the New Super Mario Bros. Wii game, and to talk about the birth of Mario and the future of video games.
Lone Star Energy: Why Texas Will Resist the Call for a Unified Grid
A recent proposal to link the eastern, western and Texas grids together to create a national, alt-energy-friendly supergrid has sparked the interest of utilities and energy insiders. Can a high-tech substation in New Mexico create a smarter, unified grid?
Algae Farmer: This is My Job
Algae farmer Jes Sprouse an ambitious plan: tot fuel America as a tycoon of algae pellets and algae coal. Both products have nearly as much energy as coal, and they're a lot cleaner. (Published in the October 2009 issue)
Innovators Share Ideas at 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards
Popular Mechanics held its fifth annual Breakthrough Awards Ceremony, bringing together scientists, engineers and inventors who are changing our world for the better. Senior tech editor Glenn Derene reports on some scenes from the all-day event.
10 Most Brilliant Innovators of 2009: Bacteria-Powered Battery
A team at Harvard has found a way to capture the trickle of electricity that can be harvested from the metabolic reactions of bacteria in soil. This microbial fuel cell can power LED lights, making an inexpensive battery for use in the developing world. (Published in the November 2009 issue)
What Does a Beer Taste Like After the Singularity?
When a kooky-sounding technology theory gains enough intellectual momentum to have its own conference, with smart people discussing it and venture capitalists talking about investing in it—it's worth stopping by to listen.
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Motorola's New Droid

Of course Droid will be a hit. The real question is does it represent a seismic shift for Motorola, or is it merely a stay of execution?
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Alternative Energy

solar thermal power
Solar Thermal Power May Make Sun-Powered Grid a Reality
It's solar's new dawn. Now new innovations are exiting the lab and plugging into the grid - turning sunlight into serious energy.

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In November, PM awards the breakthrough products and peoples of the year. This issue celebrates the innovators and inventions that have and will change the world. Also look for DIY stone work, Jay Leno and more.


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Fisker's GM Plant

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