Not all electricity comes from oil, gas, coal, dams, or solar rooftops. Around the world, scientists and engineers are finding power in places you would never expect:

• Footstep floors in Tokyo and London: Piezoelectric tiles turn the pressure of your steps into small bursts of electricity, enough to light displays or charge devices.

• Wave-harvesting panels: Floating devices off coastlines rise and fall with the sea, converting wave motion into clean, renewable power.

• Sand batteries in Finland: Huge insulated silos filled with sand are heated by excess solar and wind energy, storing it for months until the grid needs it again.

• Solar roads and bike paths: Pavement embedded with solar cells can generate power for nearby lights, charging stations, or buildings.

• Magnetic storage systems: Energy is stored within the magnetic fields inside superconducting coils, ready to be released when needed.

Want to see real-world magnetic power? Check out Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ superconducting magnet work here.