Technology

New engine uses the freezing cold of space to generate power at night

February 27, 2026 5 min read views
New engine uses the freezing cold of space to generate power at night
Engineers at UC Davis have built a remarkable device that creates power at night by tapping into something we rarely think about: the vast cold of outer space. Using a special type of Stirling engine, the system links the warmth of the ground to the freezing depths above us, generating mechanical energy simply from the natural temperature difference after sunset.