MIT spin-off to extract 10x energy from superhot rocks, AI to run for UK parliamentary election, Eco-friendly heat pump designed to make industrial processes sustainable hits 392°F

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A spin-off from MIT is pushing the boundaries of how much energy can be extracted from the Earth's depths. Quaise Energy is gearing up to tap into rocks at a scorching 700°F (375°C) — nearly double the temperature limit of conventional geothermal systems.

Accessing such extreme heat miles underground requires some clever technology. Quaise Energy plans to use microwaves to vaporize rock, overcoming the limitations of traditional drilling methods that struggle at such punishing temperatures and pressures. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> DevOps Engineer
> AWS Cloud Engineer

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MUST READ

🥵 MIT spin-off plans to extract 10x more energy from 700°F superhot rocks

A 2006 MIT study found that harnessing just 2% of the geothermal energy 2-6 miles down could supply over 2,000 times the US annual energy use. The key is reaching these superhot depths where water becomes supercritical, carrying 3-4 times more energy potential.

But operating at these depths at 700°F is uncharted territory. How will water behave in these extreme conditions? Quaise is researching optimal approaches, such as creating microfracture networks to circulate water through the superhot rock.

The startup plans to put its theory to the test at the Newberry volcano in central Oregon, where similar temperatures exist at shallower depths. Their findings will potentially be a milestone in our quest for a fossil fuel-free world.

🗳️ Businessman-backed AI candidate Steve runs for UK parliamentary election

British entrepreneur Steve Endacott launched the candidacy of AI Steve, an artificial intelligence program vying to become a Member of Parliament. If successful in the constituency of Brighton Pavilion, AI Steve would make history as the first AI representative in the House of Commons.

Rather than adhering to a static party agenda, AI Steve is being dynamically shaped by continuous feedback from local constituents. Voters can engage in dialogue with the AI candidate, and only policies receiving over 50% support will be adopted.

If elected, AI Steve would attend Parliamentary sessions, according to Endacott. It would then vote on issues based on the direct input received from constituents through its AI engine, serving as a true vessel for the collective will of Brighton and Hove residents.

🌍 Industrial revolution?: Swiss heat pump hits 392°F, cuts costs, emissions

A team of researchers has pioneered a novel eco-friendly heat pump designed to make industrial processes more sustainable. They are battling heat-trapping greenhouse gases with heat itself.

Traditional heat pumps utilize a single refrigerant to extract and concentrate heat. However, the newly developed multi-molecule refrigerant blend can be computationally optimized to generate a wide range of temperatures up to 200°C (392°F), thus unlocking huge potential for decarbonizing industrial operations.

Initial testing shows the biomimetic heat pump system improves energy efficiency by up to 25% compared to current industrial heat pumps. The heat pump also leverages AI to tailor the chemical refrigerant composition and flexibly meet variable temperature needs while drastically reducing emissions.

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The answer is: 9

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