🚖Charging Without Cables: Gothenburg’s Bold Leap

TECH

This battery recycling company is now cleaning up AI data centers

🔋🌞 In a quiet corner of Nevada’s desert, a surprising new kind of power plant is taking shape, built not from concrete or coal but from used EV batteries. Redwood Materials, led by Tesla cofounder JB Straubel, has just launched Redwood Energy, a new venture that turns partially spent batteries into solar-powered microgrids. Its first project, tucked beside a Crusoe-operated AI data center, stores 64 MWh of electricity and delivers over 99% of the center’s energy needs cleanly and independently from the main grid.

The kicker? These repurposed battery microgrids aren’t just faster and cheaper to build; they also sidestep the climate and cost concerns tied to traditional infrastructure. Crusoe’s pivot from crypto to AI is just one chapter in a larger story unfolding across tech hubs like Texas and Virginia. With climate impact under scrutiny and demand surging, Redwood’s solution offers a rare mix of agility, affordability, and sustainability. And it may just be the model others rush to follow. Read More

Advancing Quantum Science: Hausi Müller’s Journey

🔬✨ Imagine exploring a realm where computing transcends classical limits, opening doors to breakthroughs in drug discovery, AI, and cybersecurity. Hausi A. Müller, professor of computer science at the University of Victoria, has spent over a decade pioneering this space by advancing quantum computing research and community-building. His vision sparked the creation of the IEEE Quantum Week and the International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering, now vital platforms where industry and academia collide to solve real-world problems faster than ever before.

Müller’s journey, from his roots in software engineering to leading cutting-edge quantum initiatives, reveals the interdisciplinary nature of this field. He emphasizes foundational skills like linear algebra and quantum algorithms, alongside hands-on experience with platforms like IBM’s Qiskit and Microsoft’s Q#. His work bridges the gap between theory and practice, pushing quantum technology toward impactful applications in optimization, machine learning, and simulation. The upcoming IEEE Quantum Week in Albuquerque promises a rich mix of workshops, tutorials, and expert insights perfect for anyone eager to dive deeper into the future shaping our technological landscape. Read More

Brits with EVs to charge their car four times faster following huge breakthrough

⚡🔋 What if charging your electric vehicle took just minutes, using the chargers already on our streets? Thanks to a breakthrough by American company 24M Technologies, their new electrolyte called Eternalyte is set to revolutionize EV batteries. By allowing ions to move up to three times faster inside the battery, it enables charging speeds up to four times quicker without losing energy capacity. Drivers could soon add more than 300 kilometers of range in under four minutes, all without needing those rare ultra-powerful charging stations.

Beyond speed, Eternalyte tackles a major issue for cold-weather drivers. Unlike conventional batteries that lose up to 25% capacity at freezing and almost all power at lower temperatures, this new technology retains nearly full capacity at 0°C and over 80% even at -40°C. This innovation promises to make electric vehicles more reliable and convenient year-round, potentially speeding up the transition to greener roads. Read More

SpaceX crane collapse in Texas being investigated by OSHA

🚧🚀 A recent crane collapse at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas has drawn the attention of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, sparking an official investigation. The dramatic event was livestreamed by Lab Padre on YouTube and quickly spread across social media, including platforms owned by Elon Musk himself. While details on injuries remain unclear, this incident adds to a series of challenges SpaceX faces, including previous workplace safety concerns and high-profile Starship Super Heavy setbacks.

This event is unfolding against a complex backdrop where Musk’s efforts to streamline government agencies, including OSHA, raise questions about regulatory oversight. SpaceX’s ambitions with Starship are critical not only to private space exploration but also to NASA’s future missions, yet budget uncertainties and environmental scrutiny intensify the stakes. The coming weeks promise more clarity as the investigation proceeds and the broader implications for space innovation and safety emerge. Read More

Google Faces Legal Setback In Japan: Pixel 7 Series Sales Blocked Amid Patent Dispute With South Korean Phone Maker

📱⚖️ Google has encountered a significant obstacle in Japan following a court ruling that blocked sales of its Pixel 7 series due to patent infringement claims by South Korean phone maker Pantech. The dispute centers around LTE signal mapping technology, a vital part of 4G networks. The ruling prohibits Google from selling, importing, or displaying these devices in the Japanese market, with Pantech now pursuing similar restrictions on Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 models.

While this setback may not drastically affect Google’s global footprint, Japan remains a critical battleground where the Pixel brand has recently gained momentum, especially with the Pixel 7a’s surge in popularity. With Apple holding the majority market share and fierce competition from Xiaomi, Samsung, and Sony, the legal challenges add another layer of complexity for Google’s ambitions in the region. Read More

BUSINESS

Alibaba launches competition for UK and European SMEs

🌍💡 Alibaba.com has launched the Co-Create Pitch awards, a £750,000 innovation competition aimed at UK and European small and medium enterprises. This exciting challenge invites businesses to showcase their most innovative products, judged on creativity, feasibility, and market potential. Finalists will get the chance to pitch at high-profile events in London and Las Vegas, evaluated by industry leaders and investors eager to back fresh ideas.

The competition reflects a surge in digital sourcing demand, with European suppliers seeing a five-fold increase in product sales year-on-year. Beyond prize money, Alibaba’s global supply chain and mentorship promise to help winners transform their visions into reality. This is a rare opportunity for ambitious businesses to step into the spotlight and accelerate their growth on an international stage. Read More

Canadian carbon tech startup Deep Sky draws U.S. interest after Trump’s election

🌿 Deep Sky, a Canadian startup pioneering the world’s first multi-technology direct air capture (DAC) test hub in Alberta, is gaining unexpected interest from U.S. companies following political shifts south of the border. CEO Alex Petre explains that reduced climate focus and funding uncertainty in the U.S. have turned a spotlight on Canada, where Deep Sky recently secured a $40 million grant from Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy and signed contracts with eight international carbon tech firms.

This innovation could be a game-changer in carbon removal, pulling CO2 directly from the air rather than capturing emissions at their source. While still costly and limited in scale, DAC technology is viewed as essential to meet ambitious climate goals. With Canadian leadership prioritizing clean energy infrastructure, Deep Sky is positioning itself to scale commercially and help redefine the future of carbon capture. The next few years could reveal how much impact this emerging approach can truly have. Read More

Vibe shift: Gen-Z accountants ditch partnership ambitions for start-ups

📊🚀 A striking new trend reveals that most Gen-Z accountancy students are ditching the traditional goal of partnership at Big Four firms, instead setting their sights on launching their own ventures. According to Intuit’s survey of 500 students, 75% plan to start businesses ranging from tax consultancies to tech startups. Many credit their education’s focus on strategic advisory and digital skills for this entrepreneurial mindset, with young women leading the charge, nearly three-quarters aiming to own their own firms.

Yet, challenges remain. High qualification costs, work-life balance concerns, and mentorship gaps still deter many. With major firms shrinking entry-level roles amid AI advancements, the profession’s future may well belong to those forging new paths on their own terms. This shift signals a fresh wave of innovation and opportunity in a field once seen as rigid and predictable. Read More

Why Vietnam Is Becoming a Secret Weapon for Scaling Global Startups?

🌏💻 When the search for tech talent hit a wall, DigiEx Group’s Founder & CEO turned to Vietnam, and it transformed their entire approach to scaling globally. With a booming tech scene fueled by a youthful, STEM-focused population, Vietnam now produces over 50,000 IT graduates annually and has seen a 111% surge in international tech hiring. Beyond affordability, Vietnamese engineers bring strong skills, English proficiency, and a cultural eagerness to learn, making the country a powerful hub for companies seeking to expand their talent pool.

But hiring abroad isn’t just about filling roles. It requires bridging cultural gaps, fostering team integration, and investing in local leadership to truly unlock potential. Vietnam’s emergence isn’t just a workaround; it’s a strategic advantage that offers fresh perspectives, global collaboration, and resilience in a competitive market. For companies ready to think beyond borders, this shift may redefine where innovation truly thrives. Read More

Major Banks Launch Blockchain Initiative with Proprietary Crypto Projects

🚀💰 Major banks are stepping boldly into the crypto arena with groundbreaking blockchain projects that could reshape traditional finance. JP Morgan has launched JPMD, a digital dollar token on Coinbase’s Base blockchain, allowing large corporations to move money instantly with interest. Deutsche Bank’s DAMA 2 platform makes asset tokenization accessible even for non-experts, targeting institutional investors eager to explore blockchain-based funds. Meanwhile, Commerzbank is simplifying crypto trading for corporate clients by offering direct access to Bitcoin and Ethereum, bridging the gap between legacy banking and emerging digital assets.

Beyond the banks, innovations like EigenLayer are pushing Web3 boundaries by securing AI models on the blockchain, enhancing transparency and trust in decentralized tech. On the political front, Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency, Official Trump, continues to intrigue the market, maintaining a strong capitalization despite its price dip from earlier highs. These moves signal a growing institutional and cultural acceptance of crypto, hinting at a future where blockchain’s role in finance and technology becomes deeply embedded and widely normalized. Read More

GOOD TO KNOW

On This Day: First minted in 1869, the yen was adopted as Japan's official monetary unit this day in 1871, when the government suspended the exchange of clan notes, money issued by feudal lords that had circulated since the 16th century.

Fun Riddle: What color is a polar bear's skin?

QUOTE

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ANSWER TO RIDDLE

Question: What color is a polar bear's skin?

Answer: Black🐻‍❄️