Newsweek

How a 94-Year-Old Genius May Save the Planet

John Goodenough's lithium-ion batteries changed consumer electronics in the 1980s. Can his new, glass-based batteries spur the electric car revolution?
John Goodenough in his office at the University of Texas in Austin in 2013.
03_24_Goodenough_01

A man old enough to be Mark Zuckerberg’s great-grandfather just unveiled energy storage technology that might save the planet.  

John Goodenough is 94, and his current work could be the key to Tesla’s future—much as, decades ago, his efforts were an important part of Sony’s era of dominance in portable gadgets. Over the years, Goodenough has scuffled with Warren Buffett, wound up screwed by global patent wars, never got rich off a headline-grabbing initial public offering and defied the American tech industry’s prejudice that says old people can’t innovate.

RELATED: How Uber can end up as Silicon Valley's biggest crash

Contrast that with the way we Evan Spiegel, who at 26

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Newsweek

Newsweek1 min read
Living On The Edge
An 18th-century cottage clings to the precipice following a dramatic cliff fall in the coastal village of Trimingham on April 8. The homeowner, who bought the property in 2019 for around $165,000, will now see the structure demolished as the saturate
Newsweek1 min read
The High Life
A colorful kite flies over Pinarella Beach on the Adriatic Coast during the 44th Artevento Cervia International Kite Festival on April 25. Over 12 days, 250 wind artists and aerobatic flight champions from 50 countries came together to share their pa
Newsweek8 min readInternational Relations
Japan's Call To Arms
MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida uses the word “peace” as he discusses his country’s momentous decision to undertake its largest buildup of military capabilities since World War II. “Since I became prime minister, we hav

Related Books & Audiobooks