People think AI can solve problems instantly, says SETU’s Dr Indrakshi Dey, but the reality is much more complex.

Read more: ‘AI can only solve real-world problems with the right data’

Sodium-ion batteries are cheaper than lithium-ion batteries — and they're also more environmentally friendly. And "In the past few years, sodium-ion battery production has increased in the United States," reports the Washington Post, with a new factory planned to manufacture them "in the same way as lithium-ion batteries, just with different ingredients. Instead of using expensive materials like lithium, nickel and cobalt, these will be made of sodium, iron and manganese..." Last month, sodium-ion battery manufacturer Natron Energy announced it would open a "gigafactory" in North Carolina that would produce 24 gigawatt hours of batteries annually, enough energy to charge 24,000 electric vehicles. But sodium-ion batteries are still early in their development compared with lithium-ion, and they have yet to hit the market on a massive scale. "It's unlikely sodium-ion could displace lithium-ion anytime soon," said Keith Beers, polymer science and materials chemistry principal engineer at technical consultancy firm Exponent... The biggest limitation of sodium-ion batteries is their weight. Sodium weighs nearly three times as much as lithium, and it cannot store the same amount of energy. As a result, sodium-ion batteries tend to be larger. Jens Peters, an economics professor at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, said the energy density could be improved over time in sodium-ion batteries. But, he added, "what we found out so far in our assessments is that it is not a game changer." Sodium-ion batteries are touted to be the environmentally friendly alternative to their lithium-ion counterparts, thanks to their raw materials. Sodium, iron and manganese are all abundant elements on the planet, so they require less energy to extract and cost less... Sodium-ion batteries also last longer than lithium-ion ones because they can withstand more charge cycles, said Wendell Brooks, co-CEO of Natron Energy. "Our product can have millions of cycles," said Brooks, "where lithium-ion would have three to five thousand cycles and wear out a lot faster...." Sodium-ion batteries aren't the best fit for smartphones or electric vehicles, which need to store lots of energy. However, one advantage is their low cost. And they could be a good candidate in situations where the size of the battery isn't a concern, like energy storage. "When something is built out to support grid or backup storage, it doesn't need to be very dense. It's staying put," Beers said. Natron will invest nearly $1.4 billion in the factory "to meet the rapidly expanding demand for critical power, industrial and grid energy storage solutions," according to their announcement. "Natron's high-performance sodium-ion batteries outperform lithium-ion batteries in power density and recharging speed, do not require lithium, cobalt, copper, or nickel, and are non-flammable... Natron's batteries are the only UL-listed sodium-ion batteries on the market today, and will be delivered to a wide range of customer end markets in the industrial power space, including data centers, mobility, EV fast charging, microgrids, and telecom, among others."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

UCD's Prof Kate Robson Brown leads the development of analytical models that predict the lifetime of composites in low-Earth orbit.

Read more: UCD professor part of team developing new space materials

Altair is known for its computational science and AI for industrial simulation and data analytics.

Read more: Siemens to buy Altair for $10bn to boost industrial software

The tech giant plans to spend big on AI because it sees 'strong momentum' in this area.

Read more: Meta to increase AI spend as revenue soars

The proposed ban includes those already on the platforms and those with parental consent.

Read more: Australian cabinet proposes social media ban for under-16s

The game will also restrict under-13s from being able to play, search or discover games with unrated experiences.

Read more: Roblox bans social hangouts, free-form creation for under-13s

The CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had faced accusations that he had ignored and downplayed internal concerns raised about young users.

Read more: Zuckerberg not liable in social media harm lawsuits, judge rules

The project aims to significantly reduce the amount of electricity used by PepsiCo’s Little Island facility.

Read more: PepsiCo invests €2.4m in rooftop solar panels at Cork facility

Find out more about Apple's first smart home hardware.

Between strict energy codes and residing in a high-wind area, installing solar on a multi-roof family compound in Boulder, Colo. proved to be a challenge.

The owner’s goal was to construct a multi-purpose building and rooftop solar system that would provide 100% of the electricity needs for their equestrian ranch property.

To upgrade a facility's 145,300 square foot roof with metal and solar while dealing with COVID delays, a contractor turned to S-5! to shrink the project timeline.

H-POWER in Kapolei, West Oahu turned to metal roofing and attachment solutions offered by S-5! in one of Hawaii's largest rooftop solar projects.

With help from S-5! products, SunGreen Systems Inc. installed a solar and energy system housing a 772-kilowatt photovoltaic array and 14 Tesla Powerpacks.

Atlas General Contractors in Illinois turned to Atlas Roofing products to help reroof and improve ventilation for a century-old church.

Roofing contractors are advised to consider the purpose and the contents of their personnel files instead of using them as "document dumps."

Hilcove comes to Stronghouse with more than 15 years of investment banking and corporate development experience, leading mergers and acquisitions throughout the U.S.

Being a supervisor is always challenging, but using these basic skills can help relieve your frustration.

We all need to win now and then. If not, things seem hopeless and depression can set in. Here are some positive things you can do to win at work.

Timberline Solar, a system that directly integrates solar technology into traditional roofing processes and materials, will initially be available in the Twin Cities metro area for purchase and installation by local roofers. 

New efficiencies and less space taken on rooftops mean roofing contractors looking to sell solar may see more success in the years ahead.

German manufacturer K2 unveiled its new GreenRoof Vento mounting system for green rooftops at Intersolar Europe 2023.

Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions introduces two new CRRC-rated Unified Steel Stone Coated Roofing colors, Harborwood and Stirling Gray, known for their energy efficiency and durability. 

NanoTech Materials has partnered with Tesson Roofing to form a joint venture called Cool Roof Coating Systems LLC, which plans to combat Arizona's summer heat.

In the first seven months of this year, there have been over 5,000 I-9 audits of U.S. workplaces.

OSHA's Safe + Sound Week reminds employers that safety and health programs help businesses save money, eliminate injuries and most importantly, save lives.

During the Labor Department's 'Safe + Sound Week,' Aug. 7-13, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will collaborate with businesses nationwide to promote workplace safety and health programs, focusing on mental health and well-being.

The U.S. Department of Labor is ramping up efforts to emphasize workplace safety during the holiday season and providing resources through OSHA to prevent on-the-job tragedies, especially for workers in construction, warehousing, and delivery roles. 

Jason Couto, 39, and his brothers inherited their father's company, but when the time came, all that was assumed was its half-million-dollar carry; within 15 years, Couto has helped transform that into sales exceeding $300 million annually.

AeroWeb from Mule-Hide Products Co. adheres TPO and EPDM membranes to horizontal and vertical surfaces while delivering a quick flash time.

F-Wave's REVIA Hybrid Solar Roof Tiles are easy to install, eliminating the need for specialized labor and tools, and capture both photovoltaic and thermal energy.

The Owens Corning booth at IRE highlights roofing products that fuse high-performance with beauty and style.

There is a solution to every safety problem you’ll ever have as a roofing contractor, but it’s not something that is easy to obtain.

What stories did our readers like and share the most on social media in 2020? Find out here!

Staying true to fundamental business values like hard work and stellar customer service help keep the Oversons going during difficult times.

Supervisors not only train and manage employees, they are the first defense a business has to avoid legal issues with federal, state and local regulations.

If the Biden administration’s plans to raise the overtime salary threshold this month come to pass, it could lead to struggles for most businesses.

With uncertainty clouding economic forecasting, employers need to get their priorities straight or face the consequences.

DCE Solar's Eco-Top Rooftop Mounting Structure now complies with UL 3741, ensuring proper photovoltaic hazard controls, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency and safety in solar installations.

The new rigid foam insulation from Carlisle Construction Materials comprises 5% bio-circular content derived from renewable raw materials, which contributes to reducing reliance on fossil resources.

Tubos Vent Pipe Extensions offers a roofing industry product designed to securely extend vent stacks, prevent leaks, and ensure code compliance, even in harsh weather.

The partnership is a significant step forward in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the roofing industry while providing resources to Hispanic roofing professionals.

The National Roofing Contractor Association’s (NRCA) Hispanic Outreach Task Force is making a big push to empower Latino roofing contractors and to tap into the trillions of dollars they represent in the U.S. economy

SolarReady leverages EagleView's property data and analytics expertise to deliver a prospecting and business development solution for solar contractors.

Tesla's solar products experienced additional declines in Q3 2023, though its energy storage is once again booming, according to the company's latest earnings report.

The new manufacturing facility, GAF Energy's second, will increase its capacity by 500% and bring total production of its solar shingle to 300 megawatts annually.

A roundup of products and materials offered to the roofing industry. This month, check out the latest offerings in solar roofing.

Homeowners are increasingly turning to home energy devices like solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicle chargers - and a new technology called "Heartbeat," powered by AI and developed by Panasonic - is simplifying their management by connecting and optimizing energy systems through a single software platform.