A simple salt trick could make water-based batteries longer-lasting by using sulfate and other salt ions. Sulfate salts like zinc sulfate are cheap, easy to find, and safe to use. These so-called “aqueous batteries” will be a more environmentally friendly option for storing energy from sources like solar or wind. Aqueous batteries are expected to become a major player in the energy storage industry, with their market size projected to surpass $10 billion by 2030.