MIT Technology Review

Chip companies from the US and China are developing new materials to reduce reliance on a Japanese monopoly. It won’t be easy.

Louisiana’s southwestern coastline faces some of the most severe climate predictions in the US. In a 10-month span in 2020–2021, the area saw five climate-related disasters, including two destructive hurricanes and the impacts of a tropical storm’s outer bands. More storms are coming, and many areas are not prepared: nearly 40% of one local city’s residential properties and more than half of its infrastructure are at risk of future flooding. Now, the government is stepping in with a last-ditch effort to preserve the area, which contains a number of towns critical to the nation's oil industry. People who own homes most at risk of imminent flooding can qualify for funding to elevate their houses three to five feet off the ground. Will this $6.8 billion project be enough to build this area up and out of crisis?

Here’s what you need to know about new bird flu infections.

New AI programs that analyze bodycam recordings promise more transparency but are doing little to change culture.

We need heat to make pretty much everything. Today, a whopping 20% of global energy demand goes to producing heat used in industry, and most of that heat is generated by burning fossil fuels. In an effort to clean up industry, a growing number of companies are working to supply that heat with a technology called thermal batteries. Here's how they work.

We're inching ever-closer to robots being able to handle household tasks.

This project explores the linguistic landscape of the US. https://trib.al/s2ADOYV

The move to contactless fares might not have as much of an impact on accessibility as you think. https://trib.al/3NLB2jz

Smart overview and analysis here by Casey Crownhart about the state of hydrogen production today and how to think about its potential to address climate change. "Hydrogen could play a role in cleaning up nearly every sector of the economy—in theory. The reality today is that hydrogen is much more of a climate problem than a solution." Read more in MIT Technology Review, and check out the Hydrogen Ladder graphic which I also found super useful.

After weeks of drawn-out congressional debate over how much the United States should spend on conflicts abroad, President Joe Biden signed a $95.3 billion aid package into law on Wednesday. The bill will send a significant quantity of supplies to Ukraine and Israel, while also supporting Taiwan with submarine technology to aid its defenses against China. It’s also sparked renewed calls for stronger crackdowns on Iranian-produced drones. Though much of the money will go toward replenishing fairly standard munitions and supplies, the spending bill provides a window into US strategies around four key defense technologies that continue to reshape how today’s major conflicts are being fought. Take a closer look at the military technology at the center of the aid package: https://trib.al/lUH4LmL