Sci-Tech
Meta Buys 3% Stake in EssilorLuxottica Asia-Pacific for $3.5B to Boost AI Glasses Push
Meta has invested $3.5 billion to acquire roughly 3% of EssilorLuxottica’s Asia-Pacific unit, the world’s largest eyewear maker, in a bid to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) glasses business. Sources say Meta is considering raising its stake to around 5% in the future, signaling a shift to reduce reliance on smartphone platforms and build its own dedicated hardware ecosystem.
UK Startup Allotrope Energy Secures $6.7M for Revolutionary Supercapacitor, Partners with Brazilian Pulp Firm
UK-based Allotrope Energy, a 2016-founded battery capacitor startup, has unveiled a groundbreaking super EDLC (electrochemical double-layer capacitor) set to disrupt automotive tech. It secured $6.7 million from Brazil’s Suzano Ventures, partnering with the pulp producer—known for paper products—to manufacture the innovation.
Hydrogen Plasma - based Extraction of High - Purity Iron from Red Mud Drives Green Metallurgy
European scientists have developed a new method that uses hydrogen plasma to reduce iron oxide in red mud, capable of producing liquid iron with a purity of over 95% in just a few minutes. This process contains almost no harmful elements and is suitable for steel - making. Meanwhile, it can consume red mud, an industrial solid waste, and is expected to solve the environmental problem of 180 million tons of red mud produced annually.
Scientists Discover Potentially the Oldest Rocks on Earth in Canada
Scientists have identified what could be the world's oldest rocks in the Nuvvuagittuq greenstone belt along the coast of Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada. These rocks are at least 4.16 billion years old, about 160 million years earlier than the previously recognized oldest rocks, and are the only known surviving fragments of the Earth's Hadean - eon crust, providing a precious window into the early evolution of the Earth.
Quantum Computing: Poised to Transform Technology in Coming Decades
Quantum computing encodes and manipulates data using subatomic properties like superposition and quantum entanglement. Long confined to theory over past decades, recent research has yielded meaningful progress, with a practical quantum computer likely to emerge within 5–15 years.
IQM Achieves Quantum Computing Profitability by Emulating SpaceX's Early Revenue Model
Finnish quantum computing firm IQM has achieved early-stage profitability by leveraging a SpaceX-inspired strategy of selling pre-commercial quantum systems to government-backed research institutions and supercomputing centers, CEO Jan Goetz announced at The Next Web (TNW) conference. This approach has generated over €90 million ($100 million) in orders since its 2018 founding,
Anthropic Data Shows Minimal Demand for AI Emotional Support via Claude
Anthropic’s latest report reveals only 2.9% of users turn to its AI model Claude for emotional companionship, with conversations involving companionship or role-playing accounting for less than 0.5%. This contrasts sharply with perceptions of surging demand for AI companionship.
Patent Index 2024: European Innovation Remains Strong Despite Global Economic Uncertainty
The European Patent Office (EPO) has released its 2024 edition of the "Patent Index" report. Looking at the latest numbers, companies and inventors around the world filed close to 200 thousand patent applications with the EPO in 2024, on part with 2023 numbers.
Sweden: A Hidden Gem in the Global Tech Landscape
Often underestimated on the global stage, Sweden quietly stands as a technological powerhouse, excelling in diverse sectors from telecommunications to sustainable energy. With a long - standing commitment to innovation and research, the nation has transformed its relatively small economy into a hotbed of cutting - edge advancements, making significant contributions to industries worldwide.
Latigo saddles up with $150M to spur non-opioid pain drugs through the clinic
About 8.6 million Americans reported misusing prescription opioids in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The huge market for pain relief and urgent public health need for nonaddictive treatment options has led numerous biotechs to attempt developing opioid alternatives.
Switzerland: Small in Size, Mighty in Nobel Achievements
Despite its relatively small population, Switzerland has firmly established itself as a global scientific powerhouse, boasting an impressive 27 Nobel laureates to date. This remarkable accomplishment underscores the nation’s extraordinary ability to nurture world - class talent and drive groundbreaking research, solidifying its reputation as a hub of innovation and academic excellence.
Yamaha and the Global Musical Instrument Industry: A Tale of Japanese and German Dominance
The global musical instrument industry is largely dominated by Japan and Germany, with Japanese conglomerate Yamaha standing as an unchallenged titan. Renowned for its craftsmanship, innovation, and unparalleled quality, Yamaha has solidified its position as the world’s leading brand, shaping the landscape of classical, contemporary, and professional music scenes alike.
Neuralink Achieves First Human Implant, Empowering Paralyzed Patient
In January, Neuralink, the brain - machine interface company founded by Elon Musk, successfully completed its first human implant procedure. The recipient, Noland, a man who had been paralyzed for eight years, received a brain - machine interface chip. This groundbreaking achievement has opened new possibilities for those with severe disabilities.
Google's Willow Quantum Chip: A Leap Forward in Quantum Computing
In the realm of quantum computing, Google has recently unveiled a significant breakthrough with the launch of its Willow quantum chip. To truly grasp the magnitude of this achievement, one must first understand a central challenge in quantum computing - the fragility of qubits. Qubits are extremely sensitive and vulnerable to interference from the surrounding environment.
AI-Powered Brain Implant Enables Bilingual Communication for Speech-Impaired Individual
A recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has revealed a groundbreaking achievement. An artificial intelligence (AI) system integrated with a brain implant has, for the first time, assisted a person with speech impairments in communicating in two languages.
RIKEN's AI System Paves the Way for Automation and Social Innovation
The RIKEN in Japan has developed a generative AI system that can recognize non - standardized experimental environments and autonomously generate robotic arm operations. By integrating 3D modeling with real - time data processing, this technology significantly enhances the automation level of experiments in the life science field. Traditionally
China's service robots venture into overseas markets: both opportunities and challenges.
Service robots of all shapes and sizes have become ubiquitous in every corner of the world, from houses to restaurants, from hotels to office buildings and supermarkets. A significant portion of these robots originate from Chinese robotics companies. Once, the sea is the domestic market under the situation of involution of the robot enterprise to seek additional development opportunities; Today, along with the global automation, intelligent production and service demand is rising, the sea has become the inevitable path of domestic service robots.