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Energy
Week Summary
Technology
  • Earth has captured a temporary 'second moon,' a small asteroid named 2024 PT5, which will orbit until November 2024.
  • Research indicates that larger AI chatbots are increasingly prone to generating incorrect answers, raising concerns about their reliability.
  • Meta's Chief Technical Officer discussed advancements in AR and VR technologies, particularly focusing on the Orion AR glasses.
  • The author reflects on their experience with Rust, proposing several changes to improve the language's usability and safety features.
  • The Tor Project and Tails OS have merged to enhance their efforts in promoting online anonymity and privacy.
  • OpenAI is undergoing leadership changes, with key executives departing amid discussions about restructuring and the company's future direction.
  • Git-absorb
  • The concept of critical mass explains how significant changes occur when a threshold of acceptance is reached, impacting technology and society.
  • WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources due to ongoing legal disputes, raising concerns about security for WP Engine customers.
  • PostgreSQL 17
  • Hotwire Native is a web-first framework that simplifies mobile app development, allowing developers to reuse HTML and CSS across platforms.
  • Radian Aerospace is progressing on a reusable space plane, completing ground tests and aiming for full-scale flights by 2028.
  • A groundbreaking diabetes treatment using reprogrammed stem cells has enabled a patient to produce insulin independently for over a year.
  • Apple is developing a new home accessory that combines features of the iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod, expected to launch in 2025.
  • SpaceX's Starlink service is set to surpass 4 million subscribers, reflecting rapid growth and significant revenue projections.
  • TinyJS is a lightweight JavaScript library that simplifies dynamic HTML element creation and DOM manipulation for developers.
  • Groundbreaking for America's advanced nuclear facility in Wyoming.

    Kemmerer, Wyoming, will soon be home to the most advanced nuclear facility in the world. It will hopefully come online in 2030. There is still a review process to be completed - TerraPower will build out the non-nuclear parts of the facility in the meantime. Started by Bill Gates in 2008, TerraPower is leading the country and the world in developing safe, next-generation nuclear technology.

    Hi Impact
    Bill Gates
    TerraPower
    USA
    Energy
    Tuesday, June 11, 2024
  • Innovative anode-free sodium solid-state battery developed for EVs and grid storage.

    The Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion has created the world's first anode-free sodium solid-state battery. The battery brings the reality of inexpensive, fast-charging, high-capacity batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage closer than ever. It has an architecture with stable cycling for several hundred cycles and is more affordable and environmentally friendly to produce than lithium batteries. Sodium, common in ocean water and soda ash mining, is an inherently more environmentally friendly battery material.

    Hi Impact
    Laboratory for Energy Storage and ConversionSodium Solid-State BatteryShirley MengEnergy
  • EnergyX highlights the growing importance of lithium for the future of energy, backed by significant investments and open for public investment.

    Lithium will play a growing role in the future of human economic activity—from electric vehicle batteries to sustainable energy storage. An expected global shortage in lithium presents a massive opportunity to investors, similar to the current rush for AI chips. EnergyX has made major strides towards unlocking lithium supply. Its patented tech is backed by General Motors ($50M funding round), the U.S. Department of Energy ($5M grant), and POSCO, a leading lithium battery materials company. Their investment round is currently still open to the public.

    Hi Impact
    EnergyXEnergy
  • Highlighting the risks of unregulated cloud platforms controlling solar power across Europe.

    There's a dangerous lack of regulation for cloud-based management platforms controlling millions of solar panels across Europe. These platforms, mostly run by companies outside of Europe, have the power to shut down vast amounts of power, potentially causing grid collapse. While individual solar panels pose little threat, their concentrated control creates a huge risk, especially due to recent hacking attempts.

    Hi Impact
    EuropeEnergy
Month Summary
Technology
  • OpenAI is considering a new subscription model for its upcoming AI product, Strawberry, while also restructuring for better financial backing.
  • Telegram founder
  • The startup landscape is shifting towards more tech-intensive ventures, with a focus on specialized research and higher capital requirements.
  • Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully completed its second flight, testing new systems for future supersonic travel.
  • announced the uncrewed return of Boeing's Starliner, with future crewed missions planned for 2025.
  • OpenAI's SearchGPT aims to compete with Google Search by providing AI-driven information retrieval, though it currently faces accuracy issues.
  • Tesla is preparing to unveil its autonomous robotaxi technology at an event in Los Angeles, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving full autonomy.
  • The US Department of Justice is investigating Nvidia for potential antitrust violations related to its AI chip market dominance.
  • Apple plans to use OLED screens in all iPhone 16 models, moving away from Japanese suppliers and introducing new AI features.
  • Amazon S3 has introduced conditional writes to prevent overwriting existing objects, simplifying data updates for developers.
  • Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel that shows promise in treating osteoarthritis by restoring cartilage lubrication.
  • Nvidia's CEO is working to position the Nvidia as a comprehensive provider for data center needs, amidst growing competition from AMD and Intel.
  • OpenAI
  • Nvidia Blackwell
  • Amazon is set to release a revamped Alexa voice assistant in October, powered by AI models from Anthropic's Claude, and will be offered as a paid subscription service.