Lead Story
New Zealand generates more power from solar than coal over a year for the first time on record
New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reported on September 10, 2026, that the country generated more electricity from solar than from coal over a rolling 12-month period for the first time on record. Solar generation rose 56.2% year-on-year to a record 242 gigawatt-hours in the second quarter of 2026, while renewable sources overall supplied 92% of the country's electricity that quarter — the third consecutive quarter above 90% and the highest share ever recorded for a Q2 period. Favourable rainfall also pushed hydro generation up 14.7% and geothermal output to a record 2,621 gigawatt-hours.
Read more →Lead Story
New Zealand generates more power from solar than coal over a year for the first time on record
New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reported on September 10, 2026, that the country generated more electricity from solar than from coal over a rolling 12-month period for the first time on record. Solar generation rose 56.2% year-on-year to a record 242 gigawatt-hours in the second quarter of 2026, while renewable sources overall supplied 92% of the country's electricity that quarter — the third consecutive quarter above 90% and the highest share ever recorded for a Q2 period. Favourable rainfall also pushed hydro generation up 14.7% and geothermal output to a record 2,621 gigawatt-hours.
Australia's Waratah Super Battery hits its full 850MW rated output for the first time since a transformer failure
Akaysha Energy's Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales briefly reached its full rated output of 850 megawatts on September 7, 2026, the first time it has done so since a transformer failure disabled part of the facility in October 2025. A five-minute reading logged at 15:05 that day matched the battery's full 850MW/1,680MWh contracted capacity, and two days later the facility discharged 701MW in a test of its grid-stabilising System Integrity Protection Scheme service. The milestone, achieved after a rebuilt transformer was re-energised, restores Australia's largest grid battery to its intended role as a shock absorber for the eastern electricity grid.
Read more →Australia's Waratah Super Battery hits its full 850MW rated output for the first time since a transformer failure
Akaysha Energy's Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales briefly reached its full rated output of 850 megawatts on September 7, 2026, the first time it has done so since a transformer failure disabled part of the facility in October 2025. A five-minute reading logged at 15:05 that day matched the battery's full 850MW/1,680MWh contracted capacity, and two days later the facility discharged 701MW in a test of its grid-stabilising System Integrity Protection Scheme service. The milestone, achieved after a rebuilt transformer was re-energised, restores Australia's largest grid battery to its intended role as a shock absorber for the eastern electricity grid.
Scientists find rattlesnakes' own blood proteins could power a far more effective antivenom
Researchers led by biologist Sean B. Carroll at the University of Maryland reported findings, covered this week, showing that combinations of toxin-blocking proteins naturally found in rattlesnake blood can neutralize venom from several dangerous viper species — including species separated by millions of years of evolution. In lab tests, mixtures of these proteins were about ten times more potent than a current commercial antivenom, completely neutralizing the lethal effects of rattlesnake venom. While no single protein could fully prevent death from a bite, combining several dramatically increased their protective power, pointing toward a new generation of more effective, nature-inspired snakebite treatments.
Read more →Scientists find rattlesnakes' own blood proteins could power a far more effective antivenom
Researchers led by biologist Sean B. Carroll at the University of Maryland reported findings, covered this week, showing that combinations of toxin-blocking proteins naturally found in rattlesnake blood can neutralize venom from several dangerous viper species — including species separated by millions of years of evolution. In lab tests, mixtures of these proteins were about ten times more potent than a current commercial antivenom, completely neutralizing the lethal effects of rattlesnake venom. While no single protein could fully prevent death from a bite, combining several dramatically increased their protective power, pointing toward a new generation of more effective, nature-inspired snakebite treatments.
FDA approves first-ever treatment for Alexander disease, a fatal childhood neurological disorder
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Zanvastro (zilganersen) on September 3, 2026, as the first-ever treatment for Alexander disease, an ultra-rare and progressive genetic brain disorder that causes loss of mobility and independence. The drug, made by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, is an RNA-targeted therapy given as a quarterly spinal injection that reduces production of the GFAP protein driving the disease. In trials, patients five and older showed gait-speed stabilization at week 61, with a 33.3% improvement over untreated patients, while younger children aged two to four showed measurable gains in gross motor function — the first time patients and families have had any approved treatment to target the disease's underlying cause.
Read more →FDA approves first-ever treatment for Alexander disease, a fatal childhood neurological disorder
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Zanvastro (zilganersen) on September 3, 2026, as the first-ever treatment for Alexander disease, an ultra-rare and progressive genetic brain disorder that causes loss of mobility and independence. The drug, made by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, is an RNA-targeted therapy given as a quarterly spinal injection that reduces production of the GFAP protein driving the disease. In trials, patients five and older showed gait-speed stabilization at week 61, with a 33.3% improvement over untreated patients, while younger children aged two to four showed measurable gains in gross motor function — the first time patients and families have had any approved treatment to target the disease's underlying cause.
China's solar power capacity overtakes coal for the first time in a historic energy milestone
China's National Energy Administration announced in early September 2026 that the country's installed solar capacity had surpassed coal-fired capacity for the first time, with solar reaching 1.286 billion kilowatts by the end of July against coal's 1.285 billion kilowatts. Solar now accounts for 31.5% of China's total installed power generation capacity, and solar generation rose 15.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026 to 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours, about one-eighth of the country's total electricity generation. Analysts called the shift a historic milestone for the world's largest electricity producer and greenhouse gas emitter, even as coal continues to generate more actual electricity due to its higher capacity factor.
Read more →China's solar power capacity overtakes coal for the first time in a historic energy milestone
China's National Energy Administration announced in early September 2026 that the country's installed solar capacity had surpassed coal-fired capacity for the first time, with solar reaching 1.286 billion kilowatts by the end of July against coal's 1.285 billion kilowatts. Solar now accounts for 31.5% of China's total installed power generation capacity, and solar generation rose 15.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026 to 802.4 billion kilowatt-hours, about one-eighth of the country's total electricity generation. Analysts called the shift a historic milestone for the world's largest electricity producer and greenhouse gas emitter, even as coal continues to generate more actual electricity due to its higher capacity factor.