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

Rec Room is VR’s first ‘unicorn’ startup. Who are they and what makes them special?

An emphasis on community and user-generated content has driven success for the game-based virtual world.

Jesse Damiani

Traffic: This 100-year failure is getting a solution

5:26

In partnership with Ford

These smart traffic lights are making transportation safer and more sustainable than ever before.

Jack Berning

AI helps people in war zones get their voices heard by leaders

The United Nations is using an AI tool to survey people living in war zones, giving them a voice during peacekeeping operations.

Kristin Houser

Holographic collaboration may be the future of work

Campfire emerges from stealth with an integrated system for real-time, remote 3D collaboration.

Jesse Damiani

We can now hear an AI robot’s thought process

This robot’s thought process isn’t a secret — researchers gave the AI the ability to share its internal monologue with humans.

Kristin Houser

Bat-inspired sound location tech could allow drones to fly solo

Inspired by bat’s ears, researchers at Virginia Tech have created a device capable of pinpointing sound location more accurately than other tech — or our ears.

B. David Zarley

Whole Foods shoppers can now pay with palm scans

Amazon is bringing its palm print-scanning biometric payment technology to eight Whole Foods locations, with plans for further expansion.

Kristin Houser

Airbus will test laser communication tech for inflight WiFi

Airbus is developing a laser communication system to increase the security of military operations and bring faster inflight Wi-Fi to passenger planes.

Kristin Houser

These robot legs taught themselves to walk

A pair of robot legs were able to teach themselves to walk thanks to a unique twist on reinforcement learning, a common AI training technique.

Kristin Houser

AI reconstructs lost art painted over by Picasso

You can now buy a reconstructed piece of lost art discovered lurking beneath a famous Picasso painting.

Kristin Houser

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