Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian truck drivers who transported what would become platforms for Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian warplanes did so unwittingly…. Read more
Category Archives: SCI-TECH
24
May
May
For a while, it all seemed like it might just work out. By one estimate, about 130,000 American jobs were said to be riding on the electric-vehicle boom sparked by the Inflation Reduction Act. Other estimates put that number around 160,000; if you include indirect but related fields, it may be closer to half a million. Regardless, it’s clear that the Biden-era legislation that laid out incentives to manufacture EVs and batteries domestically, along with penalties if automakers don’t, was set to drive a lot of employment. Add in the potential to catch up to China’s decades-long lead on battery technology and the potential for less air pollution, and America’s EV race seems like a win for all involved. So why would President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress be so
22
May
May
Tesla’s Vice President of Engineering said the Model S and Model X will get some “love” this year. They need it, as Tesla’s flagship sedan and SUV are both starting to feel pretty old. New spy shots show Tesla testing a revised Plaid on the Nürburgring, so maybe a change is on the way soon. Here’s an open secret. While legacy automakers have long been (accurately) criticized for being too slow to adapt, Tesla is not as fast-moving as it pretends to be. Take the Cybertruck: It took nearly 5 years from being “revealed” to production starting, and when it arrived it was clear the company skipped a lot of steps in validation and testing. The best example, though, is the Model S, as these spy shots from the Nürburgring show.
22
Apr
Apr
Mercedes’ Vision V design study previews an opulent new luxury people carrier. It looks bold and futuristic inside and out, but the interior’s retro-futuristic look steals the show. The toned-down production version of this concept debuts next year. While in Stuttgart a few months back to see the Vision V concept, I asked Mercedes-Benz representatives whether it was like a V-Class or something else. They replied that it’s more like an S-Class, which seemed a bit unusual given the “V” in its name. When I had the chance to climb aboard, it all made sense. The Mercedes-Benz Vision V is a luxurious people carrier concept that previews a future production model, and it feels like the van version of Mercedes’ longtime flaghship. The exterior design gives a strong indication of
19
Mar
Mar
EV drivers reported problems nearly half the time they pulled up to Shell Recharge stations, according to a new study. EVgo and Blink charging stations also fared poorly for reliability among consumers, with the most common issues involving payment systems and broken hardware. Tesla Superchargers and the Rivian Adventure Network have the highest reliability among charging stations in the U.S. Road-tripping in an electric vehicle is becoming increasingly easier in the U.S. thanks to a burgeoning network of public charging stations. But that experience is far from perfect. A new Consumer Reports study found that some charging networks are so buggy that drivers have nearly a 50/50 chance of running into problems when they pull up to recharge. The study surveyed 1,230 owners of fully electric cars and plug-in
15
Mar
Mar
Teardown video shows a broken Volkswagen ID.4 front drive unit. A simple sealing ring seems to be the cause of the failure. Compared to combustion engines, electric drive motors are shockingly simple. Case in point: the front drive unit of the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 E-Tron you see in the video embedded below. It’s a very compact unit that integrates the motor, transmission and inverter. However, there is a problem with this particular one: it’s dead. By the looks of it, a bad sealing ring allowed coolant to go where it wasn’t supposed to go, killing the entire unit. In the video, YouTuber I Do Cars , who is well-known for taking apart combustion engines, tries his best to take the front drive unit apart to see what went
14
Mar
Mar
The American Geophysical Union has made history by electing Dr. Brandon Jones as its first Black president. Jones graduated from Lincoln University, an HBCU, with a degree in biology. He also holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in Marine Sciences from the University of Delaware. Launched in 1919, AGU supports more than half a million advocates and professionals in Earth & space sciences. Speaking with Forbes, Dr Jones says his vision for the organization is to “continue to develop the elements of future adaptiveness and maintain a posture of future preparation. As the largest professional society in the world for Earth and space science, AGU needs to focus on sustainability in a rapidly changing social and political environment.” “When asked how this historic achievement is important to him, he said
13
Mar
Mar
The astronauts have been on the ISS since June due to problems with Starliner. SpaceX postponed a mission on Wednesday to bring the next crew set to work on the International Space Station (ISS) and begin the return of a pair of astronauts back to Earth. The launch’s postponement was announced on Wednesday evening ahead of what would have been the scheduled launch time. There was an issue with the hydraulic system on the launch side. It is a ground issue with the launch tower and not a problem with the spacecraft, according to SpaceX. SpaceX said it’s now targeting a launch on Friday at 7:03 p.m. ET. Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams pose for a portrait inside the vestibule between the forward port on
12
Mar
Mar
I think nearly everyone would agree that this has been a strange and unpredictable year thus far. But nobody could’ve possibly had “The Lexus RZ will hit the MMA gym and become the second-ever production electric car with simulated gear shifts” on their bingo cards for 2025. Yet that’s where we are right now, and what was previously something of an EV afterthought just got considerably more interesting. Photo by: Patrick George 2026 Lexus RZ Live Photos Lexus launched the RZ as the upscale cousin to the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra back in 2023. While it is indeed luxurious—I have always found it to be a first-rate Lexus with one of the quietest and most comfortable cabins you can buy at any price—the RZ suffered from those cars’ issues
08
Mar
Mar
The primary reasons for China’s EV market dominance are myriad and well-trod. China put serious government money behind EVs. It cut red tape, incentivized buyers, and provided cheap property. Homegrown companies with minimal or no experience building ICE vehicles saw the transition as an opportunity, not a chore, as many Western companies clearly perceive it. Yet one factor is as under-covered as it is important. A far larger proportion of Chinese EV buyers are first-time car buyers. Many more had owned only one or two cars before. That’s key for one main reason: In China, EVs were free from much of the baggage still weighing them down here. Photo by: InsideEVs Ford’s CEO recently called the economics of large SUV EVs “unresolvable.” I agree, which is why EREVs and hybrids
07
Mar
Mar
A SpaceX rocket exploded shortly after it was launched from Texas on Thursday, grounding flights and triggering warnings about falling spaceship debris. SpaceX confirmed the un-crewed ship had suffered “a rapid unscheduled disassembly” during its ascent into space, and lost contact with the ground. The massive SpaceX Starship, the largest rocket ever created, spun out of control shortly after its launch. No injuries or damage have been reported but images from those in Caribbean Sea island nations show fiery debris raining from the sky. This was the eighth mission to test the rocket, and its second consecutive failure. The 123m (403ft) spaceship was meant to re-enter Earth’s orbit over the Indian Ocean after a one-hour flight. Its Super Heavy booster, which helps it leave the ground, did manage successfully to
07
Mar
Mar
Many of you are worried about the long-term reliability of electric vehicle batteries. I know because you ask me all of the time. Among skeptics and prospective buyers alike, it’s one of the first things to come up: Will the battery last? Yet more and more data is showing that modern EV traction batteries just don’t fail in significant numbers. You don’t have to worry about them. It’s the damn 12-volts that’ll leave you stranded in the office parking lot. Internal combustion drivers know that risk. Traditional cars use a 12-volt battery—usually a chunky lead-acid unit—to start the vehicle and power the electronics. You may expect that EVs, with their massive drive batteries, don’t need these ancient bricks. Yet they rely on them for the exact same reasons. EV 12-volt
06
Mar
Mar
Trump will exempt automakers from the 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods for at least a month, the White House said. The exemption applies to vehicles that comply with the relatively complicated criteria set out in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Moving an automotive supply chain takes a lot longer than a month, though, so this isn’t the end of the problem for car companies. President Donald Trump granted automakers a temporary reprieve from his newly announced tariffs Wednesday. The new 25% tariff on almost all imports from Mexico and Canada will not apply to automakers for at least one month, the White House said. It’s an important break for the industry, which has become ground zero for the tariff war. Trump’s press secretary said the decision was made
05
Mar
Mar
SymbyAI, a SaaS platform leveraging AI to streamline scientific research, has secured $2.1 million in seed funding. Prominent investors who participated in the round include Drive Capital, CharacterVC, and others. The company plans to use the fresh seed capital to enhance platform capabilities, strengthen partnerships with research institutions, and expand its reach within the scientific community. SymbyAI is Streamlining Research Processes Scientific research has long been hampered by outdated processes, scattered resources, and inefficient collaboration tools. Researchers typically have to spend months reviewing papers, replicating experiments, and navigating fragmented data sources. Consequently, SymbyAI, an AI-powered SaaS platform, is solving these challenges by streamlining the research process and enhancing collaboration for scientists worldwide. Related Post: Crystal Brown’s CircNova Raises $3.3M to Accelerate Development of RNA Therapeutics Founded in 2023 by Ashia
05
Mar
Mar
Just weeks before the release of one of the most highly anticipated video games of the year, French developer Ubisoft is facing a barrage of complaints in Japan for what critics claim are historical inaccuracies and the desecration of an ancient Shinto shrine. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set for release on March 20, is the latest in a hugely successful historical action game series from Ubisoft. The first Assassin’s Creed was released in 2007 and its 13 sequels and spin-offs have sold well over 200 million copies. The first game in the series set in Japan, the coming instalment takes place during the turbulent Sengoku period of the 15th and 16th centuries and allows players to control Yasuke , a real-life historical figure who has become known in pop culture as