Fossil fuels have powered economic growth and improved quality of life for more than two centuries – and for good reason. They can store a great deal of energy, and it can be used any time. The challenge for the scientific community is how to gain flexibility from renewable sources. Ravi Prasher and his colleagues have pioneered efforts to use computing power to discover new materials. His group then synthesizes the materials, and finally makes devices to test in the real world. He stresses that researchers are doing what they must: moving toward a future when we can assure steady, flexible, economical clean energy. Series: "Cal Future Forum: Our Changing World" [Science] [Show ID: 33079]