This picture taken on May 9, 2026 shows Japanese product designer and engineer Satoshi Nakagawa demonstrating how to generate electricity using food, wine and other materials at the "Ku-An" test lab in Hitachi-ota, Ibaraki Prefecture. Glinting in the night halfway up a hill in Japan, the greenhouse-like "Ku-An" test lab is lit up by electricity harnessed from 1,500 wooden boxes of soil and compost. Designer Satoshi Nakagawa has long battled sceptics, but believes that the technology powering the 800 LEDs has a role to play in solving humanity's energy conundrum. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with AFP story Japan-climate-electricity-technology, FEATURE by Hiroshi Hiyama

This picture taken on May 9, 2026 shows Japanese product designer and engineer Satoshi Nakagawa demonstrating how to generate electricity using food, wine and other materials at the "Ku-An" test lab in Hitachi-ota, Ibaraki Prefecture. Glinting in the night halfway up a hill in Japan, the greenhouse-like "Ku-An" test lab is lit up by electricity harnessed from 1,500 wooden boxes of soil and compost. Designer Satoshi Nakagawa has long battled sceptics, but believes that the technology powering the 800 LEDs has a role to play in solving humanity's energy conundrum. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with AFP story Japan-climate-electricity-technology, FEATURE by Hiroshi Hiyama

This picture taken on May 9, 2026 shows Japanese product designer and engineer Satoshi Nakagawa posing at the "Ku-An" test lab in Hitachi-ota, Ibaraki Prefecture. Glinting in the night halfway up a hill in Japan, the greenhouse-like "Ku-An" test lab is lit up by electricity harnessed from 1,500 wooden boxes of soil and compost. Designer Satoshi Nakagawa has long battled sceptics, but believes that the technology powering the 800 LEDs has a role to play in solving humanity's energy conundrum. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with AFP story Japan-climate-electricity-technology, FEATURE by Hiroshi Hiyama

Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Edvard Moser speaks during the 2026 Rio Innovation Week conference at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 4, 2026. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty Images)

Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Edvard Moser looks on during the 2026 Rio Innovation Week conference at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 4, 2026. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty Images)

Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Edvard Moser speaks during the 2026 Rio Innovation Week conference at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 4, 2026. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty Images)

Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Edvard Moser speaks during the 2026 Rio Innovation Week conference at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 4, 2026. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty Images)

Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Edvard Moser speaks during the 2026 Rio Innovation Week conference at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 4, 2026. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty Images)