Snowball

"Snowball" by Poul Anderson is a science fiction story that looks at what happens when a scientist named Simon Arch invents a new material that can change how energy is made and used; he and his wife Elizabeth create something called capacitite, which stores energy in a powerful new way. However, this invention starts causing big problems as everyone begins making it, disrupting powerful companies and leading to social chaos. Arch has to wrestle with the good and bad sides of his creation as society struggles to adapt to this new age, but eventually, people find ways to use the technology to become more independent, showing the strength and adaptability of humanity in the face of rapid change.