Hardware to Save a Planet

Synapse

Our planet is warming at an unsustainable rate. This climate crisis is being caused by humans and it will take human ingenuity to stop or reverse it... Hardware to Save a Planet explores the technical innovations that are giving us hope in the fight against climate change. Each episode focuses on a specific climate challenge and explores an emerging physical technology solution, with the person bringing it into reality. Hosted by Dylan Garrett, President at Synapse.

  1. Nov 5

    Turning Waste Biogas Into Sustainable Aviation Fuel With Photocatalysis | Trevor Best

    What if waste biogas could become a viable source of sustainable aviation fuel, using light rather than combustion to drive the chemistry? As aviation searches for scalable ways to decarbonize, Trevor Best, Co-Founder and CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, shares how breakthroughs in photocatalysis could offer a path that turns waste into a valuable fuel while tackling one of the sector’s toughest climate challenges. In this episode of Hardware to Save A Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Trevor about how a promising photocatalyst discovered at Rice University is being used to develop an industrial technology designed for commercial-scale applications that decarbonizes aviation fuel. Trevor explains how Syzygy developed its plasmonic photocatalysis platform, moved from early work in hydrogen to sustainable aviation fuel, and engineered an annular reactor capable of achieving more than 80% energy efficiency. He also explores why co-processing methane and CO2 can significantly increase fuel output, how regulatory mandates are shaping the SAF market, and why choosing the right project site can be just as important as the underlying technology. Along the way, Trevor shares lessons on building climate hardware, navigating funding challenges, and turning audacious scientific ideas into commercial reality. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep105 to get in touch!

    Turning Waste Biogas Into Sustainable Aviation Fuel With Photocatalysis | Trevor Best

  2. Oct 1

    The Wildfire Suppression System Built to Fight Fire From the Ground | Gadi Benjamini

    What if autonomous technology could detect and extinguish wildfires before they reach homes and communities? Wildfires are becoming an increasingly urgent climate resilience challenge, yet while detection systems have advanced rapidly, suppression remains largely fragmented and reactive. Gadi Benjamini, Co-founder and CEO of FireDome, believes autonomous hardware can change that. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Gadi about how FireDome combines early detection with rapid, targeted suppression to protect properties in the wildland-urban interface. He explains how the company’s long-range autonomous launcher was inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, why insurance companies could play a critical role in driving adoption, and what it takes to engineer hardware that can perform reliably in extreme conditions. Gadi also shares lessons from testing, multidisciplinary engineering, and building climate technology around a clear purpose, while turning wildfire protection from an emergency response into proactive resilience. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep104 to get in touch!

    The Wildfire Suppression System Built to Fight Fire From the Ground | Gadi Benjamini

  3. Sep 3

    Why Electric Aviation Is Finally Becoming Possible | Anders Forslund

    What if regional air travel could become both cheaper to operate and dramatically better for the planet? Aviation remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, but advances in battery technology are opening the door to a fundamentally different approach. Anders Forslund, Co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, believes hybrid-electric aircraft can transform short-haul aviation while creating compelling economics for airlines. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Anders about how reaching 400 watt-hours per kilogram changed the viability of electric flight and how Heart is leveraging innovations from the electric vehicle industry to reduce costs. He explains the economics behind the ES-30, the role of sustainable aviation fuels, and why electrification could reshape aircraft architecture, manufacturing, and software. Anders also shares how Heart is de-risking its technology and challenging a decades-old aviation duopoly. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep103 to get in touch!

    Why Electric Aviation Is Finally Becoming Possible | Anders Forslund

  4. Aug 6

    Smart Water Heaters Could Replace New Power Plants | Luke Winston-Almanzar

    What if your water heater could lower your energy bills, keep your showers hot, and help stabilize the electric grid? Residential water heating accounts for roughly 20% of household energy use, yet most systems still operate without intelligence. Luke Winston-Almanzar, CEO and Co-founder of Reservoir, believes that changing this could unlock one of the biggest climate opportunities hiding inside our homes. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Luke about how intelligent heat pump water heaters use predictive software to store thermal energy when electricity is cleaner and cheaper, effectively turning every home into part of a distributed energy network. He explains why better customer experience, not efficiency alone, drives adoption, how integrated hardware dramatically lowers installation costs, and why smart water heaters can evolve into platforms that improve home energy management while reducing emissions at grid scale. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep102 to get in touch!

    Smart Water Heaters Could Replace New Power Plants | Luke Winston-Almanzar

  5. Jul 2

    Turning Cow Burps into Clean Energy with Griffin Cherry

    What if cow burps could power the future? Methane emissions from cattle represent one of the largest and most overlooked contributors to climate change, accounting for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Griffin Cherry, Founder and CEO of Planet.Tech, is developing a novel solution that captures methane directly from cow respiration and converts it into renewable energy, creating both environmental and economic value. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Griffin about the opportunity to transform livestock emissions into a scalable climate solution. He explains why cow burps are responsible for the vast majority of cattle-related methane emissions, the engineering challenges of building wearable hardware for 1,600-pound animals, and the importance of designing technology that benefits both farmers and the planet. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep101 to get in touch!

    Turning Cow Burps into Clean Energy with Griffin Cherry

  6. Jun 4

    The Race to Replace Plastic: 2026 SF Climate Week

    As plastic pollution accelerates alongside climate change, innovators are racing to replace petroleum-based materials with scalable, climate-positive alternatives. In this live episode from the 2026 San Francisco Climate Week, Dylan Garrett speaks with Julia Marsh, CEO and co-founder of Sway, Molly Morse, CEO at Mango Materials, and Ryan Starling, Design Director at frog Design, about how seaweed-based polymers and methane-derived bioplastics could transform the future of packaging and consumer products. They explore why sustainable materials must work within existing manufacturing infrastructure, how rigorous life cycle analysis helps win over brands and buyers, and why nature’s own materials often outperform engineered alternatives. The conversation also examines supply chain resistance, composting policy barriers, and the importance of designing climate solutions that align environmental impact with economic incentives and real-world adoption. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep100 to get in touch!

    The Race to Replace Plastic: 2026 SF Climate Week

  7. May 7

    Climate-Driven Wildfires: Building Faster Fire Response Systems with Andrea Santy

    As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of wildfires, the need for faster, smarter response systems is becoming urgent. Andrea Santy, Executive Program Director of XPRIZE Wildfire, is leading a global effort to detect and suppress fires within minutes, preventing environmental and economic devastation at scale. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Andrea about how satellite networks, AI, and autonomous systems are reshaping climate resilience. She explains the competition’s dual-track approach, the challenge of real-time detection across vast ecosystems, and the ambition of fully autonomous suppression within 10 minutes. The conversation explores how cross-border collaboration, scalability, and equitable deployment are essential to building solutions that can protect forests, communities, and the global climate system. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep99 to get in touch!

    Climate-Driven Wildfires: Building Faster Fire Response Systems with Andrea Santy

  8. Apr 2

    Why Solar Deployment Speed Is the Real Climate Bottleneck with Deise Yumi Asami

    Utility-scale solar is racing to meet surging power demand, yet installation bottlenecks, including labour shortages, heavier panels, and inconsistent daily output, are slowing progress. Deise Yumi Asami and the team at AES Corporation are tackling this with Maximo, an AI-powered field robot that automates panel installation, thereby cutting build times while improving safety and deployment certainty. In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, host Dylan Garrett speaks with Deise about engineering autonomous robotics for unpredictable outdoor environments. She explains how computer vision replaces fixed programming, how simulation and digital twins accelerated development, and why EPCs value certainty over simple cost savings. The conversation explores scaling hardware inside a Fortune 500 company and reflects on how aligning technical skill with climate impact can accelerate clean energy adoption. Hardware to Save a Planet is brought to you by Synapse. We are a global product development and engineering firm that partners with visionary companies to design, develop, and realize breakthrough hardware and AI-powered innovations that advance climate technologies. To learn more about Synapse and potential business partnerships we offer outside of the podcast, please visit: https://www.synapse.com/contact/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=hardware-to-save-a-planet-ep98 to get in touch!

    Why Solar Deployment Speed Is the Real Climate Bottleneck with Deise Yumi Asami
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4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Our planet is warming at an unsustainable rate. This climate crisis is being caused by humans and it will take human ingenuity to stop or reverse it... Hardware to Save a Planet explores the technical innovations that are giving us hope in the fight against climate change. Each episode focuses on a specific climate challenge and explores an emerging physical technology solution, with the person bringing it into reality. Hosted by Dylan Garrett, President at Synapse.

Information

  • Creator
    Synapse
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyrights © 2024 All Rights Reserved by Synapse
  • Show Website
    Hardware to Save a Planet

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