Why we should send Bill Gates to Mars

Gates has launched a $1 bn fund to support research into energy technologies

Bill Gates, along with a few of his billionaire friends, has launched a US$1 billion fund to support research into energy technologies that will help us address climate change.

The idea behind Breakthrough Energy Ventures is to provide funding for basic energy research, which may otherwise get left behind if the incoming US president Donald Trump decides to cut federal support for such programmes. The fund will target 55 activities across five general categories including electricity, transport, agriculture, manufacturing and buildings.

It’s a nice idea, but unfortunately, most of these activities will only