Banananomics: Helpful Tech For Soaring Energy Needs

Several significant car manufacturers are developing ambitious projects based on hydrogen as an engine fuel.

Inputs that matter: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the transportation sector is the most significant contributor to carbon emissions in the United States. However, Electric Vehicle (EV) sales have stalled.

• Compared to conventional gasoline or diesel vehicles, hydrogen cars offer a cleaner and more efficient drive, reduced emissions of polluting gases, and a longer range.

• In addition, hydrogen is an attractive option for large manufacturing industries, as it offers opportunities for innovation and expansion in a growing market.

The opportunity: Last week, the EPA finalized stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks from model years 2027 to 2032.

• The State of California has spent $257 million on a network of hydrogen fueling stations.

• Former climate regulator Mary Nichols explains, "Right now, I don't think it would be a good bet to assume that there's going to be a big shift to hydrogen vehicles except for heavy-duty trucks, where being able to move a lot of weight is important."

• Currently, nearly 13,000 electric medium and heavy-duty trucks are on the road.

Zoom in: Fuel cells work by converting compressed hydrogen gas in an onboard tank into electricity that powers the vehicle's motor.

• Toyota and Hyundai are pushing fuel cell models, and Honda has just announced a hydrogen hybrid version of its best-selling CR-V.

• "It's clear what technology has won in the marketplace," says David Reichmuth, a senior engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists' clean transportation program. "If we want to decarbonize as fast as possible, then the plug-in electric vehicle is clearly the technology with the infrastructure available to do that now."

Between the lines: Exodus Propulsion Technologies announced this week a significant breakthrough in propulsion technology, creating a new type of engine.

• Dr. Charles Buhler, a NASA engineer and the co-founder of Exodus Propulsion Technologies, has revealed that his company's propellantless propulsion drive, which appears to defy the known laws of physics, has produced enough thrust to counteract Earth's gravity.

• Buhler told The Debrief. "This discovery of a new force is fundamental in that electric fields alone can generate a sustainable force onto an object and allow center-of-mass translation of said object without expelling mass."

• "There are rules that include energy conservation, but if done correctly, one can generate forces unlike anything humankind has done before."

• "We will use this force to propel objects for the next 1,000 years… until the next thing comes."

Follow the money: As AI's incredible hunger for electricity increases, Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, has invested $375 million in Helion Energy, a fusion energy company.

• According to The Independent, "Last year, the company became the first in the world to secure a purchase agreement for nuclear fusion energy after Microsoft made it part of their plan to transition to clean energy sources by the end of the decade."

• "This first fusion power plant, for which the feasibility is being assessed in Chelan (County), will produce electricity that will go to the grid; Constellation will serve as the Power Marketer for Helion's first customer, Microsoft," explains Jessie Barton, Helion communications director.

The Intercept confirms that Google offers advanced artificial intelligence to the Israeli military through its controversial "Project Nimbus" contract.

Inputs that matter: Israel used a long-range, supersonic missile in its strike on Iran earlier this week, reported The Times of Israel.

• An Israeli strike on Iranian air defenses near the Natanz nuclear site had used a high-tech missile that was able to evade Iran's radar systems.

• The report cited officials as saying that the move was "calibrated to make Iran think twice" before launching another direct attack on Israel.

• BBC Verify has analyzed two images showing damaged parts of an air-defense system at an airfield in Isfahan.

• Satellite images reveal a destroyed anti-aircraft mobile radar station.

The opportunity: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $95 billion legislative package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

• Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 18 people.

• Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

Zoom in: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Palestinians to unite amid Israel's war in Gaza following hours-long talks with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul on Saturday.

• Hamas was founded by members of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987 and designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., the E.U., and Israel.

• A rival of the Fatah faction, Hamas rules the semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.

Between the lines: It was reported last year that the UK's Royal Air Force was considering buying the advanced Israeli missile after having donated many of its own Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.

• As the world takes sides, BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the U.A.E) are siding with Iran while the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. the U.S., and unofficially the E.U.) is behind Israel.

Follow the money: The G7 has expressed "strong concern" about the transfer of materials and weapons components from Chinese businesses to Russia for its military offensive in Ukraine.

• Washington has made it very clear to Beijing and others that they must not help Russia in its military operations in Ukraine.

• President Xi Jinping is in a difficult position at home, with an economy still struggling and worsened by the U.S. and other allies diversifying supply chains away from Chinese manufacturing.The Intercept confirms that Google offers advanced artificial intelligence to the Israeli military through its controversial "Project Nimbus" contract.

Today, Banananomics announced the grand opening of the official swag store. A place to buy Banananomics merchandise, such as:

• Coffee Mugs

• T-Shirts

• Hoodies

• Stickers

• Hats

• Notebooks

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