NASA has revealed a powerful new battery that could change the future of flight. Their solid-state sulfur selenium battery is designed to replace gas-powered engines with electric ones. This leap in technology aims to make air travel cleaner and more efficient, marking a key moment in the shift toward sustainable aviation.
The promise of this battery goes beyond cutting emissions. It could lead to faster, more streamlined electric airplanes with better performance and fewer moving parts. The impact on fuel costs, maintenance, and aircraft design could be huge. “This is a major step toward clean aviation,” said one NASA engineer involved in the project.
Airplanes today burn fossil fuels that harm the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that in the U.S., air travel makes up 10% of transportation emissions. It also accounts for 3% of the country’s total greenhouse gases. Jet engines release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles high in the sky—where their effects linger longer.