Hard Tech

A close-up of an engine test firing, showcasing various connected hoses and cables, with the engine emitting blue flames from the nozzle, reminiscent of a powerful jet engine.

Ian Brooke wants to revolutionize flight as we know it

This Y Combinator-backed startup has invented a new kind of jet engine, radically more efficient and versatile than anything before it.

Ross Pomeroy

A gloved hand holds a pair of tweezers gripping a small black square object against a background with concentric circles.

Batteries

Solid-state batteries are finally making their way out of the lab

Solid-state batteries could soon challenge lithium-ion as the dominant tech for powering smartphones, EVs, and more.

Kristin Houser

Silhouette of jagged cybersecurity rock formations against a vibrant yellow sky at dusk.

Employment

“Cybersecurity shortage” could reach 85 million workers by 2030

The global talent shortage could reach 85 million workers by 2030, causing approximately $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue.

Michelle Meineke | Senior Writer | World Economic Forum

McDonald’s is replacing human drive-thru attendants with AI

McDonald's just rolled out a voice recognition system at 10 drive-thrus in Chicago.

Teresa Carey

Sustainability

Lithium mining just became a water sport

A team of scientists claims they’ve created an affordable method for extracting lithium from seawater, as an alternative to lithium mining.

Teresa Carey

Blockchain

Volcanoes to power bitcoin mining in El Salvador

Now that bitcoin is legal tender in El Salvador, the nation is working to power bitcoin mining facilities with geothermal energy harnessed from volcanoes.

Kristin Houser

Can AI negotiate? Walmart is betting on it

AI startup Pactum is trying to save big companies millions with AI negotiation.

Jesse Damiani

This high schooler created a drug discovery search engine

While looking for drugs to potentially fight Alzheimer’s, a high school researcher's AI did “comically” bad, until he thought of it as a search engine.

B. David Zarley

Transportation

Can a 40-seat drone bus get off the ground?

Startup Kelekona is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle capable of carrying 40 passengers at once.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

China’s “artificial sun” sets a new record for nuclear fusion

China’s nuclear fusion reactor, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), has set a new world record for temperature.

Teresa Carey

Series| Ramen Profitable

This startup is bringing same-day shipping to everyone in the world

06:25

In partnership with Million Stories

The tech behind automated drone delivery is still being developed, but with advances like these, next-generation shipping methods are just on the horizon.

Jack Berning

Engineering

The world’s deepest pool will host astronaut training in the UK

U.K. company Blue Abyss has submitted plans to build a massive aquatic facility in Cornwall, England, and its centerpiece will be the world’s deepest pool.

Kristin Houser

VR aromatherapy might be coming to a headset near you

VR smell can be used to improve immersion—and possibly even mental health.

Jesse Damiani

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