EV battery breakthroughs typically involve new chemistry, exotic materials, or faster charging/higher capacity. But a new study reveals that you can skip all the fancy stuff and go with a very simple solution, Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that putting the battery under the right amount of pressure actually helps.
The study was about how physical pressure affects lithium-ion battery life, which found that keeping cells under constant pressure could double their lifespan. The work was published in Nature Energy, and the team says the improvement came without changing the active materials, electrolyte, or basic battery chemistry.
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How does putting pressure help?
Lithium-ion batteries physically expand and contract as they charge and discharge. Cambridge compares this motion to breathing. Over time, that repeated mechanical stress can contribute to degradation inside the cell. To study it, the researchers built a custom device that applied steady pressure to lithium-ion pouch cells using pneumatic bellows, which act like self-adjusting air cushions. The setup also measured tiny changes in battery thickness during cycling.
The key finding was a pressure sweet spot. At around 12.5 bar, or roughly 181 psi, the cells lasted about twice as long as cells tested at lower or higher pressure levels. While in simpler terms it means not letting the battery “breathe”, this does not mean that we have to crush every EV battery to see amazing results. The pressure needs to be controlled carefully.
Why putting too much or too little pressure is bad
The study found different failure modes depending on pressure. When pressure was too low, cathode cracking accelerated. When pressure was too high, lithium plating appeared on the anode, which is also bad for battery life and safety. So there’s this Goldilocks problem than a straightforward fix. EV batteries can benefit from being held under the right mechanically conditions, however, the system needs to keep pressure steady as the battery expands, contracts, ages, and changes in shape.
But the approach is interesting. Rather than tackling the chemistry and other aspects, it is looking at the issue from a mechanical design perspective. The research is still early-stage and was tested at laboratory scale, so this is not something that will show up in next year’s EVs automatically. Cambridge has filed a patent through Cambridge Enterprise, and the next challenge is figuring out how to scale the pressure-control idea for commercial battery packs.
Reality makes for some stellar storytelling. If you’re looking to stream movies that are based on true events, Netflix has an extensive collection of biographical-style dramas that go beyond your typical selection of documentaries.
From historical tragedies to stories of resilience and ambition, these films bring some notable real-life events to your screen. Here are five Netflix Original movies that feature strong performances, storytelling, and visuals that you need to add to your watch list for the week.
The Two Popes
The path ahead is forged by this pair
Credit: Netflix
The Two Popes is an incredible film that is based on one of the most memorable recent transitions in modern Catholic Church history, led by strong performances from Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce.
Inspired by real conversations and events surrounding Pope Benedict XVI and the future Pope Francis, The Two Popes follows Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as he travels to Rome and plans to resign from the Church. Instead, he finds himself pulled into a series of personal and philosophical conversations with Pope Benedict, who is struggling with his doubts about leadership and the future of Catholicism. The character focus of the movie keeps you hooked despite the mellow pace, with Hopkins’ and Pryce’s chemistry making for an impeccable watch.
The Two Popes received nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and British Academy Film Awards.
Society of the Snow
Hope is within the group
One of Netflix’s most notable, foreign-language survival thrillers is Society of the Snow. Based on the real 1972 Andes plane crash, the Spanish movie follows a Uruguayan rugby team whose flight crashes deep in the snow-covered mountains, leaving the survivors stranded for weeks in brutal freezing conditions. As supplies start to run out and hope fades, the group is forced to make some unimaginable decisions just to survive.
The thriller was shot mainly in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and features some phenomenal filmmaking. Although survival is a core element of the movie, it also highlights the grit and humanity of the party amid a disastrous situation, alongside the grim reality. Society of the Snow received two Academy Award nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
The Good Nurse
The case of a prolific, unexpected killer
Credit: JoJo Whilden/Netflix
The Good Nurse was haunting to watch at night, but it’s a thriller that has stayed with me for years. The crime drama tells the true story of Charles Cullen, a nurse and serial killer who was responsible for the deaths of dozens of patients across multiple hospitals in the United States. The film is based on the 2013 true-crime book of the same name by Charles Graeber.
What’s fascinating about the movie is that, instead of giving us Cullen’s perspective, the story unfolds from the POV of Amy Loughren, a single mother and ICU nurse who was key in Cullen’s confession and eventual conviction. As his new co-worker, her suspicions build over the course of the movie after she starts noticing something strange about his patients. The Good Nurse also does a good job of touching on another vital aspect of the case, the hospital’s negligence.
Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne drive the movie with incredibly controlled performances. To know more about the real case, you can also check out the Netflix documentary Capturing the Killer Nurse.
Mudbound
Life after war is never easy
Credit: Steve Dietl/Netflix
The (mandatory) war film addition to this list is Mudbound, a Netflix exclusive that stands out for its incredible character-focused storytelling. The story is set in rural Mississippi after World War II and follows two veterans, one Black and one white, whose lives become intertwined while working on the same farmland. The soldiers and their families deal with the PTSD of war in their own ways. Mudbound explores themes like racism, trauma, class divides, and poverty through its gripping plot.
Directed by Dee Rees, the film received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It became the first Netflix movie ever nominated for Best Cinematography — Rachel Morrison became the first woman nominated in the category. It also earned two Golden Globe nominations.
Nyad
An impossible feat is nothing for this resilient athlete
Credit: Liz Parkinson/Netflix
If you’re in the mood for a sports thriller and a true story, don’t skip NYAD. This biographical drama follows marathon swimmer Diana Nyad and her attempt to complete the seemingly impossible 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. The film takes place years after Nyad initially gave up on the challenge.
The athlete decides in her sixties that she wants a final shot at achieving the record-breaking swim and sets her mind on the incredible goal. Alongside her best friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll, Nyad begins preparing for the physically exhausting journey while facing dangerous weather, exhaustion, and many failed attempts. NYAD is led by Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, with both actors receiving nominations for Best Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 96th Academy Awards and the 81st Golden Globe Awards.
More Netflix options
Want to explore more biographies and titles inspired by true events? You can explore Netflix’s list of secret codes to filter out and find titles according to genres, tropes, and languages. Netflix’s release schedule for the summer also includes some exciting titles, so keep an eye out for that.
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