Inhabitat's Week in Green: Tesla's most affordable EV, and more!
The Model 3 will start at a relatively affordable $35,000, but even at that price it will have competition.
Tesla just announced plans to launch its most affordable electric car next month. The Model 3 is expected to cost $35,000 and is set to debut on March 31st -- but it already has competition. Chevrolet showcased the Bolt EV at the start of the year, and Volkswagen confirmed that it's working on the world's first mass-market electric car. Meanwhile, Google is developing electric cars that drive themselves, and soon they'll be able to charge wirelessly. In aviation news, Easyjet announced plans to trial the first hybrid hydrogen plane, and Elon Musk is considering building a vertical take-off and landing electric jet.
Solar-powered homes are nothing new, but what about homes that run on hydrogen fuel? A new community in Thailand is powered by a hydrogen system that allows it operate 100 percent off-grid, rain or shine. You don't have to rough it to live off the grid, Jeff Hobbs built a tiny sun-powered home that's completely self-sufficient and packed with luxurious features. And for those who really want to escape civilization, the Bolt is a lightning-proof tent that will keep you safe in a storm.
This week astronomers made one of the most important discoveries of the decade. While listening to the sound of two black holes colliding, the LIGO observatory detected gravitational waves, confirming Einstein's last unproven theory. In other science and tech news, MIT is close to cracking the genetic code that could eradicate mosquitos spreading the Zika virus. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley developed a clever app that uses your smartphone to help predict earthquakes. And an inventor developed a prosthetic arm that kids can customize with LEGO pieces.
