How we built a less-explodey lithium battery and kickstarted the EV revolution

Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium — these foundational materials are literally what the modern world is built on. Without sand for glass, say goodbye to our fiber optic internet. No copper means no conductive wiring. And a world without lithium is a world without rechargeable batteries. For the final installment of Hitting the Books for 2023, we're bringing you an excerpt from the fantastic Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway. A finalist for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year award, Material World walks readers through the seismic impacts these six substances have had on human civilization throughout history, using a masterful mix of narrative storytelling and clear-eyed technical explanation. In the excerpt below, Conway discusses how the lithium ion battery technology that is currently powering the EV revolution came into existence. Thanks very much for reading Hitting the Books this year, we'll be back with more of the best excerpts from new and upcoming technology titles in post-CES January, 2024! Penguin Random House Excerpted from Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway. Published by Knopf. Copyright © 2023 by Ed Conway. All rights reserved. A Better Battery The first engineer to use lithium in a battery was none other than Thomas Edison. Having mastered the manufacture of concrete by focusing religiously on improving the recipe and... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-12-24 15:30:10 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "How we built a less-explodey lithium battery and kickstarted the EV revolution"

How celebrity deals are shutting children's authors out of their own trade

As Frank Lampard, George Galloway and Cara Delevingne land big-money book deals, established writers look on from the fringes – or turn away altogether Another day, another celebrity announces they are to “pen” a children’s book. Already this week, Jamie Lee Curtis has announced a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Writing North wins bid to run £40k David Cohen Prize

The UK’s answer to the Nobel Prize for Literature – the £40,000 David Cohen Prize - is now being managed by New Writing North. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bob Dylan 'never imagined' winning Nobel Prize for Literature

Bob Dylan has said that it is “truly beyond words” to have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alexievich shortlisted for Baillie Gifford Prize

Svetlana Alexievich, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last year, is on the shortlist for this year’s Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Nobel Academy is breaking its trust with us' by awarding Dylan

Julia Kingsford argues that awarding Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize for Literature is "retrograde". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Internet Reacts to Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize

The Internet proved predictably opinionated upon learning that Bob Dylan had been chosen as the 2016 laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Exploring Bob Dylan's Slim Bibliography

Rounding up all 'PW' coverage of books penned by the 2016 laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Bob Dylan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Songwriter and lyricist Bob Dylan was named the 109th laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature on October 13, for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Belarus bookshop braves the state to publish Nobel winner's work

Underground publisher says it is risking regulations to translate Svetlana Alexievich’s novels into her home languageBefore a group of Belarusian artists and intellectuals chose it as their headquarters, Minsk drinkers would line up outside the run-down building for cheap vodka on tap. These... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alexievich wins Nobel Prize for Literature

Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich, 67, has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The chair of the Swedish Academy, Sara Danius, said her polyphonic writings were "a monument to suffering and courage in our time." Alexievich is recognised for her work chronicalling the lives and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nobel prize for literature: Who is Svetlana Alexievich?

Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich won the Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday. Her first novel, "The Unwomanly Face of the War," published in 1985 and about the untold stories of women who had fought against Nazi Germany. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Turkey Wants You and Your Translations, says Agent Nermin Mollaoğlu

Turkish Literary Agent Nermin Mollaoğlu offers advice to foreign publishers looking to both buy from and sell into this burgeoning market. The post Turkey Wants You and Your Translations, says Agent Nermin Mollaoğlu appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Don't be a prima donna, Doris' … and other advice. UEA opens writers' letters

The University of East Anglia is publishing archived private correspondence from novelists such as Doris Lessing, JD Salinger and WG Sebald to inspire today’s students of creative writing“Don’t,” a young Doris Lessing is advised as she tries to find a publisher for her first novel, The Grass is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Fenton receives PEN Pinter Prize

British poet, journalist and literary critic James Fenton has been awarded the 2015 PEN Pinter Prize. The annual prize was established in 2009 by English PEN in memory of playwright Harold Pinter to recognise to a British writer of outstanding literary merit, who, in the words of Pinter’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Marni Hodgkin obituary

Forward-looking children’s book editorMarni Hodgkin, who has died aged 97, was an outstanding editor of children’s books in an era before it was obvious that they would become one of the most important areas of the publishing business. She was one of a great group of female editors, including... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Modiano’s Nobel Win Is a Boon to David R. Godine

Boston-based indie publisher David R. Godine saw a major sales boost last October when French author Patrick Modiano won the Nobel Prize for Literature, bringing its revenue for the year up 30% over 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three from Nobel winner Modiano to MacLehose Press

MacLehose Press has acquired three novels by this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature winner Patrick Modiano, as well as three novels by two other writers. The publisher bought British and Commonwealth rights from Gallimard to three books by Modiano. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Korea Worthy of a Nobel Prize for Literature?

Korean literary agent Joseph Leo of KL Management says, 'Before asking why Korean authors fail to win the [Nobel], I want to ask them how many books you read a year.' Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yes, Virginia: Winning the Nobel Prize DOES Sell Books

In the week after Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize for literature, sales of her books jumped 6,650% in Canada, and saw significant bumps around the world. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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