Weekly Solarpunk, of 17 May: Rare-Earth-Free Solar, Yarn-Bombed Underpass, Phaseout Summit Opens, AI Recycling Sorters

Weekly Solarpunk for 17 May follows 6 future-facing stories and member reactions, including Rare-Earth-Free Solar, Yarn-Bombed Underpass, Phaseout Summit Opens, AI Recycling Sorters. 1. Rare-Earth-Free Solar A post about rare-earth-free solar cells argued that newer solar and battery materials could lower costs, improve recyclability, and make clean energy easier to access. According to Technology Networks, the idea is that alternative cell designs may reduce dependence on harder-to-source materials. Source link 2. Yarn-Bombed Underpass A local German paper says a highway underpass in Weyarn is being turned into a bright stop on a bike-and-culture route with crocheted flowers and live music. According to Merkur, more than 30 women made over 250 flowers to soften the dark Mangfall bridge, and the organizers described it as a quiet, playful protest that makes an otherwise bleak place feel welcoming. Source link 3. Phaseout Summit Opens A fossil fuel phaseout conference has opened in Santa Marta, with 57 countries representing more than half of global GDP backing talks on how to move away from coal, oil, and gas. According to Forbes, the meeting is testing a different theory: that a critical mass of governments can start building the rules, finance tools, and scientific capacity for a managed decline before the next crisis forces a messy one. Source link 4. AI Recycling Sorters The post argues that AI-powered robots could make recycling more effective by sorting mixed waste better than people can. According to Business Insider's video, the proposal is to use localized computer vision systems rather than energy-hungry centralized data centers. Source link 5. Fiction Research Wiki A writer shared a growing research wiki for solarpunk fiction, collecting notes on niche topics like ship design, phytoremediation, and work in future settings. According to the page, it already has 22 research pages and is meant to help writers package up material so others can build on it. Source link 6. Backyard Garden Matching A new site aims to match people who want to garden with neighbors who have unused backyards, turning idle land into a place for growing food. The post says the project, called Sowmate Earth, is free, does not require a login, and grew out of the creator's own experience with the same problem. Source link That's it for today.