University of Waterloo researchers have made a key breakthrough in developing next-generation batteries that are made using magnesium instead of lithium. When the idea to create batteries using magnesium was first shared in a seminal academic paper in 2000, that novel design didn’t provide enough voltage to compete with lithium-ion batteries, which are predominantly used […]
SpinLaunch just proved that satellites are a lot more sturdy than one would think. In its pursuit of catapulting payloads to space, the California-based startup recently accelerated a small satellite under extreme gravitational forces, using minor tweaks, and a little bit of glue, to keep it together. In a recent demonstration, SpinLaunch tested an off-the-shelf […]
OpenAI said Monday it’s releasing its buzzy AI video-generation tool, Sora, later in the day. The AI video-generation model works similarly to OpenAI’s image-generation AI tool, DALL-E: A user types out a desired scene, and Sora will return a high-definition video clip. Sora can also generate video clips inspired by still images and extend existing […]
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote next week on an annual defense bill that includes just over $3 billion for U.S. telecom companies to remove equipment made by Chinese telecoms firms Huawei and ZTE from American wireless networks to address security risks. The 1,800-page text was released late Saturday and includes other […]
On Saturday, a new image generator called Aurora became available for some Grok users, many of whom shared the tool’s results on X touting their photorealism. But as of Sunday afternoon, Aurora appears to be gone. While it briefly showed up as an option in Grok’s model selection menu as “Grok 2 + Aurora (beta),” […]
Recent advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) help illustrate that technology has come to dominate over the past two decades, with tech issues leading the list of the world’s most valuable companies. That wasn’t always the case. Just 20 years ago, General Electric and ExxonMobile were the leaders in terms of market cap, […]
Apple is being sued over its decision not to implement a system that would have scanned iCloud photos for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The lawsuit argues that by not doing more to prevent the spread of this material, it’s forcing victims to relive their trauma, according to The New York Times. The suit describes […]
A team of researchers has beaten its own record for the fastest swimming soft robot, drawing inspiration from manta rays to improve their ability to control the robot’s movement in the water. “Two years ago, we demonstrated an aquatic soft robot that was able to reach average speeds of 3.74 body lengths per second,” says Jie Yin, corresponding author […]
Scientists and engineers from the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have successfully created the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery. This new type of battery has the potential to power devices for thousands of years, making it an incredibly long-lasting energy source. The battery leverages the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, known for […]
Apple’s betting that its upcoming in-house 5G modem could help it beat Qualcomm’s performance eventually, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple has worked on developing its own modem for years, but the initiative reportedly experienced technical issues and other setbacks despite purchasing Intel’s modem unit in 2019. The first Apple modem is rumored to come […]
How can vehicle emissions be reduced without necessarily having to change cars? A new monitoring system, developed by Politecnico di Milano and described in a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, offers a concrete answer that makes sustainable mobility accessible to all. The proposed methodology uses a virtual sensing system to accurately estimate emissions […]
T-Mobile is once again shuffling its 5G internet options, adding a streaming bundle to its priciest plan and introducing a new mid-tier option. The new plans start at $50 per month (including an autopay discount) and become available starting December 11th. Importantly, it seems that prices are staying consistent with T-Mobile’s previous 5G Home Internet options — […]
