The innovations that will drive the energy revolution keep coming. By accident, a new silicon process was discovered that promises to dramatically increase the efficiency of solar cells, and suggests many new capabilities in optics as well.

This technology will become commercially available in 2009. Its applications for editing and synthesis are absolutely incredible. Check it out:

I find myself often in discussions around private vs. public funding for research. In the latter column, here's an impressive list of innovations that have come from the NASA program in a wide range of industries.

The electric car bandwagon is starting to move. Renown performance car company RUF has produced a prototype electric car based on the Porsche 911 with a 180 mile range and a 0-60 of about seven seconds.