Tag Archives: reduces

AI-Driven Route Planning Reduces Climate-Warming Contrails on Over 100 Flights

Posted on by
Reply
Impact of Contrails on Global Warming

Contrails Major Contributors to Air Travel’s Global Warming Impact

Tuck/imageBROKER/Shutterstock

A comprehensive study examining thousands of flights between the United States and Europe revealed that contrails—those vapor trails left by aircraft—are less likely to form when planes follow artificial intelligence (AI)-recommended flight paths aimed at minimizing their global warming impact.

Contrails, created from soot particles emitted by aircraft engines, are believed to contribute significantly to warming, potentially surpassing the effects of carbon dioxide alone. Recent research indicates that certain icy areas in the upper atmosphere are more prone to contrail formation, and AI technology can predict these zones using detailed weather forecasts.

Despite the promising results from small-scale trials where aircraft avoid these high-contrail areas, such practices have not yet been widely implemented in commercial aviation.

In the study, Dinesh Sanekom and colleagues from Google utilized an AI-controlled contrail prediction tool to advise on flight routes in a randomized controlled trial involving over 2,400 flights with American Airlines.

This trial included overnight flights from the U.S. to Europe and spanned approximately 17 weeks, from January to May 2025. These flights specifically targeted nighttime, as contrails have an intensified warming effect during these hours due to reduced sunlight that reflects back into space during the day.

Flight routes between certain city pairs were randomly divided into two groups. The first group had the option to select an AI-optimized route that would result in fewer contrails, while the second group received no alternative route suggestions.

Although dispatchers were offered the opportunity to choose contrail-minimizing routes within the first group, only 112 of the 1,232 flights opted for these alternatives, primarily due to operational considerations such as cost and safety, Sanecom noted.

Analysis using satellite imagery of the flight paths indicated that flights adhering to AI-suggested contrail-optimized routes experienced a remarkable 62% reduction in visible contrails. When considering all flights that could have chosen these optimized routes, the overall decrease in contrail formation reached 11.6% compared to the control group.

“This supports our hypothesis that there is a scalable approach to implementing contrail avoidance across numerous flights if we can integrate it effectively and safely into flight planning,” Sanecom asserts.

Researchers calculate the global warming impact of air travel was diminished by 13.7% for the entire group utilizing the suggested routes, while flights using the optimized routes saw a substantial 69.3% decrease. Notably, no significant variations in fuel consumption were recorded between the groups.

“This approach is currently the most effective with the tools available,” states Edward Griespeerdt from Imperial College London. “The observed 62% reduction in contrails is unlikely to have occurred by chance.”

However, due to the intricacies of flight planning, it’s uncertain how much the 11.6% reduction could be realized in actual commercial operations, he added. “Scaling this to achieve a 60% reduction in contrails on every flight isn’t straightforward, but even a 10% reduction could yield a meaningful impact.”

Article updated on March 20, 2026

This article has been revised to reflect more accurate information regarding flight path modifications.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

How Living at High Altitudes Reduces Diabetes Risk: The Science Behind It

Posted on by
Reply

At high altitudes, red blood cells act like “glucose sponges,” potentially aiding in the regulation of blood sugar levels. A recent study highlights this fascinating discovery, with researchers aiming to develop innovative treatments for diabetes. They’ve even created a drug that replicates these effects in mice.

Research indicates that individuals living at high elevations, where oxygen is scarce, experience lower incidences of diabetes. In the United States, residents at altitudes of 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) are 12% less likely to develop diabetes compared to those living below 500 meters (1,640 feet).

The exact reasons for this phenomenon remain somewhat elusive, but a new publication in Cell Metabolism hints that red blood cells might be key, as our bodies produce an increased number of these cells under low oxygen levels.

To test this theory, researchers placed mice in a hypoxic environment, effectively lowering their blood oxygen levels. They observed that glucose from the blood was being absorbed by the red blood cells, which were now oxygen-deprived.

Red blood cells have often been overlooked because of their simplicity. In low oxygen conditions, bone marrow produces distinct types of red blood cells. – Credit: Getty

These red blood cells converted glucose into molecules that can release oxygen more readily.

Dr. Yolanda Martí Mateos, a postdoctoral fellow at the Gladstone Institute and lead author of the study, explained, “This enables red blood cells to effectively release the limited oxygen they carry to our tissues, essential for survival during hypoxia.” BBC Science Focus.

According to Dr. Martí Mateos, “Red blood cells produced in hypoxic conditions are unique and contain more glucose transporters than their normal counterparts.”

The research team aspires to use their findings as a “proof of concept” to inspire new approaches to diabetes treatment.

“We’re excited about a small molecule from our lab called HypoxyStat, which simulates the effects of hypoxia without reducing the oxygen we inhale,” Dr. Isha Jain, also from the Gladstone Institute, shared with BBC Science Focus.

In mice, the drug effectively reversed high blood sugar levels, demonstrating effectiveness far superior to existing treatments.

“There’s much work ahead before this reaches patients, but the biological insights are promising,” Jain noted.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How Embracing Sauna Culture Enhances Brain Health and Reduces Dementia Risk

Posted on by
Reply

Sauna therapy for brain health benefits

Unlocking the Potential: Does Heat Therapy Enhance Brain Function?

gpointstudio/Getty Images

As an enthusiast of cold water swimming, I previously explored its brain benefits. However, the emerging evidence on heat therapy fascinated me—particularly regarding its neurological advantages. This prompted a deeper investigation into the subject.

During my last trip to Finland and Sweden, I immersed myself in their sauna culture, learning that ‘sauna’ is pronounced ‘sow-na’ (with ‘ow’ rhyming with ‘how’), contrasting my South East London pronunciation.

Finnish saunas, reaching temperatures of 70°C to 110°C (158°F to 230°F) with low humidity, are extensively studied. Regular sauna use correlates with numerous physical benefits, such as reduced risks of high blood pressure, muscle disorders, and respiratory diseases. Recent research also identifies significant cognitive benefits, including fewer headaches, improved mental health, better sleep quality, and a decreased risk of dementia.

A large-scale study involving nearly 14,000 participants aged 30 to 69 tracked sauna habits over 39 years. The findings revealed that those who frequented saunas nine to twelve times a month exhibited a 19 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to those who visited less than four times a month.

Moreover, sauna bathing appears linked to various cognitive enhancements. For instance, a small trial involving 37 adults with chronic headaches compared those receiving headache management advice to participants who regularly attended saunas. The sauna group reported significantly reduced headache intensity.

Regular sauna use is also associated with lower risks of psychosis and increased vitality and social functioning in elderly individuals, reinforcing its potential cognitive benefits.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that not all heat treatments yield the same results. Various forms of heat therapy exist, each offering distinct benefits. For example, a trial with 26 individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder showed that those receiving infrared heating sessions reported significant symptom reductions over six weeks compared to a sham treatment.

How Does Heat Therapy Benefit Brain Health?

Heat therapy’s efficacy appears closely linked to its anti-inflammatory effects. In a study following 2,269 middle-aged Finnish men, researchers found that individuals engaging in frequent sauna use exhibited reduced levels of inflammation, a factor significantly associated with depression and cognitive decline.

Another mechanism involves heat shock proteins, which are produced when body temperature rises during sauna use or exercise. These proteins help prevent misfolding of other proteins—a common feature in many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Enhanced blood circulation also plays a role; heat exposure dilates blood vessels, thereby improving cardiovascular health. This indirect benefit to brain health can decrease risks associated with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, saunas may elevate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, vital for neuron growth. In an experiment with 34 men, participants receiving 12 to 24 sessions of infrared therapy displayed significantly higher BDNF levels and improved mental well-being compared to those doing low-intensity workouts.

Can Saunas Enhance Cognitive Skills?

Beyond long-term neurological advantages, the immediate effects of sauna sessions are promising. A study involving 16 men revealed that brain activity post-sauna sessions resembled a relaxed state, indicating potential improvements in task efficiency. Researchers suggest that heat therapy may help extend mental work capacity over prolonged periods.

However, excessive heat exposure can lead to fatigue and reduced cognitive function. Studies indicate that high-temperature environments may impair memory consolidation, making saunas less suitable for study sessions.

If you’re exploring heat therapy, check guidelines from the British Sauna Association to ensure safety, including limiting duration and staying hydrated.

Do Hot Baths Offer Similar Benefits?

If you lack access to saunas, could hot baths serve as an alternative? While they may partially replicate sauna benefits, the evidence is still inconclusive. According to Ali Qadiri from West Virginia University, warm baths do elevate core body temperature and can improve mood and relaxation. Still, he cautions that robust data on saunas and dementia prevention far outweighs that for baths.

My local lake offers both cold water swimming and sauna experiences, prompting me to consider their combined effects. A Japanese study on the practice known as totonou, or alternating between hot saunas and cold baths, revealed enhancements in relaxation and reduced alertness after several rounds.

While more research is needed to determine if this combination is more effective than using heat or cold therapy alone, the overall evidence supports potential cognitive boosts from regular sauna visits, reinforcing my commitment to explore more heat and cold therapy options.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Trump Administration Reduces NIH Grants by Over $1.8 Billion

Posted on by
Reply

The Trump administration discontinued its $18.1 billion grant to the National Institutes of Health within just 40 days.

This information comes from an analysis published in JAMA on Thursday, which utilizes data from the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor accountability within the government grant system.

The analysis offers the most extensive overview to date regarding the reduction of NIH funding following the Trump administration’s significant efforts to eliminate perceived waste and inefficiency in federal spending.

Michael Liu, a student at Harvard Medical School, noted that while some grants are still uncertain due to new terminations and temporary revivals due to court orders, the HHS grant tracker remains the most reliable and current dataset available.

From February 28th to April 8th, the administration processed close to 700 grants at 24 NIH labs and centers, concentrating on areas such as aging, cancer, child health, diabetes, mental disorders, and neuropathy.

“These cuts haven’t been evenly distributed,” Liu remarked. “The National Institute on Health and Health Disparities in Minority has faced the steepest reductions, with approximately 30% of its funding cut—ten times the average.”

President Trump’s upcoming budget proposal aims to eliminate all funding for the National Institute focused on health disparities among minorities, labeling the Institute as “full of DEI spending.” His January executive order called for the cessation of a program centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The proposal also suggests an overall reduction in NIH funding, slashing its budget for the next fiscal year to $27 billion, a decrease of around $18 billion, which would eliminate gender-focused research and studies on climate change. The administration plans to emphasize research on chronic diseases and other epidemics.

So far, most NIH grants that have been finalized have been directed toward research projects, with about 20% allocated to early career grants, training, or development. The analysis indicates that larger grants are more prone to termination, though it’s unclear if they were intentionally targeted based on the data.

“These sizable grants typically support large clinical trials and extensive research centers,” Liu explained. “Halting these initiatives is incredibly damaging, as it prevents patients from receiving necessary medications or interventions.”

Liu also pointed out that the analysis suggests that the rescinded grants are severely disrupted by both public and private institutions.

Among the grant recipients, Columbia University faced the highest number of terminations, totaling 157. The Trump administration targeted Columbia for funding cuts, citing “ongoing omissions at schools amid the persistent harassment of Jewish students” following significant Palestinian protests on campus. Columbia recently laid off 180 staff members associated with federal grants affected by these cuts.

“Columbia’s leadership continues to engage with the federal government to seek a resolution for resuming these research activities,” an official wrote in a letter to the Columbia community. “We are actively planning to address all potential contingencies, but tensions with federal authorities impact our financial situation and our research mission.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Science Reveals Dropping Eggs on Their Side Reduces the Risk of Cracking

Posted on by
Reply

A recent survey published in the journal Communication Physics reveals that eggs are more likely to crack when they fall on their sides.

What implications does this have for cracking eggs? Eggs for breakfast? It may not matter significantly. The middle section remains intact while the Golden Fork fills with escaping whites.

Scientists suggest that this knowledge could aid in cooking stubborn eggs: dropping them horizontally may prevent a destructive crack that leads to a messy, cloudy interior.

Common belief holds that eggs are strongest at their edges, as demonstrated by their packaging in cartons. It’s thought that the curved base of the egg helps distribute force and minimize impact.

However, during compression tests, scientists found that eggs cracked with the same force regardless of the direction of pressure.

“The fun started when I expected one outcome and got another,” remarked Hudson Borja da Rocha from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was involved in the experiment.

The researchers conducted simulations, releasing eggs from three heights in both horizontal and vertical orientations, ranging down to 0.4 inches (10 mm).

The outcome? Fewer eggs broke when dropped horizontally.

“Conventional wisdom holds that vertical eggs are stronger than they appear, but this research shows otherwise,” stated Mark Myers, a materials scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who was not part of the study.

The research found that the equator of the egg is more flexible and can absorb more energy from a fall before breaking.

Eggs are often used in at-home experiments for egg drop challenges, which has partly inspired this new research. It remains uncertain whether these findings will help safeguard these delicate eggs.

Tal Cohen, a co-author from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, noted that it’s somewhat counterintuitive that the rectangular sides of the egg can better endure falls.

Countless broken eggs illustrate “the bravery to question these widely accepted notions.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA reduces funding by $420 million for climate science, monthly modeling, and other projects

Posted on by
Reply

NASA’s funding cuts have already impacted US research and education programs

dcstockphotography/shutterstock

NASA has cancelled contracts and grants worth up to $420 million, following guidance from the Trump administration’s government efficiency (DOGE). The reductions will impact research projects and education programs in the United States, but NASA says it’s perfect for checking exactly which organizations are affected.

After Doge, an independent task force led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, NASA confirmed the amount but refused to specify which programs were cancelled. Casey Drier The Planetary Association, a California-based nonprofit organization, list of a program that has recently lost funds using the agency’s public grant database. NASA has since deleted the database and did not respond to questions about the accuracy of the list.

Much of the cuts on Dreyer’s list coincides with President Donald Trump’s skepticism about climate science and his administration’s active targets regarding his interpretation of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) program.

Climate-related cancellations include a Massachusetts Institute of Technology project that uses satellite sensors to map the impacts of extreme heat, air pollution and flooding. Another target was a University of Oklahoma study to develop digital twin simulations that predict the impact of flooding on tribal lands.

However, it is unclear why NASA has ended support for other research, such as using bioengineering cells to investigate how spaceflight affects the human body and modelling how lunar dust can contaminate future lunar missions.

NASA spokesman Bethany Stevens said New Scientist The agency is “to work with the Ministry of Government Efficiency initiative to optimize the workforce and resources.” Doge urged agencies across the US government to cut funding or shut down altogether.

But it says that ongoing grants and contract cancellations will fly in the face of a “strict” review process that selected them in the first place as “the most scientifically appropriate proposal.” Michael Batario At Yale University. “Politics cannot and should not define what is scientifically worth studying at the level of individual grants,” says Batario, who is studying the atmosphere of Mars and Titan in preparation for future missions.

“DEI related cuts get me the most out of the way.” Bruce Jacoski He was the lead scientist at NASA’s Maven Mission to Mars at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “These grants are about reaching out to underrepresented groups and making people accessible to training and education. None of them appears to promote people who are less qualified than more qualified.”

For example, NASA cut funding for a conference hosted by the National Association of Black Physicists, a longtime nonprofit that promotes the professional well-being of African-American physicists and physics students. “We were told that the reason for cancelling the contract is to comply with the president’s executive order regarding the DEI,” he said. Stephen Robersonpresident of the National Association of Black Physics. “We would like to appeal this decision and explain further why an annual conference, in which people of all races and academic levels present scientific research, is considered a DEI.”

New Scientist They reached out to researchers and organizations that they thought were affected, but few responded to the National Association of Black Physicists. The San Diego Aerospace Museum, featured on Drayer’s list, said NASA’s funding for educational events appears to be still intact, despite the NASA database indicating changes to the grant’s end date. NASA did not respond to requests to verify the status of this fund.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Cooling fabric reduces heat transfer from pavements and buildings in urban areas with high temperatures

Posted on by
Reply

A scorching hot day in Bucharest, Romania, June 2019

lcv / Alamy

In the future, city dwellers could beat the heat with clothes made from new fabrics that keep them cool.

Made from plastic material and silver nanowires, the fabric is designed to keep you cool in urban environments by using the principle of radiative cooling, a natural process in which objects radiate heat back into space.

The material selectively emits a narrow band of infrared light that allows it to escape the Earth’s atmosphere, while at the same time blocking radiation from the sun and from surrounding structures.

Jo Bo-jun, a researcher from the University of Chicago, Illinois, and his team say the material “is more than half [the radiation]” from buildings and the ground,” he says.

Some cooling fabrics and building materials already use this radiative cooling principle, but most of their designs don’t take into account radiation from the sun or infrared radiation from structures like buildings and pavements, and they assume the materials are oriented horizontally against the sky, like roof panels, rather than vertically like clothing worn by a person.

Such designs “work well when they face something cooler, like the sky or a field,” Su says, “but not when they face an urban heat island.”

Xu and his colleagues designed a three-layered fabric: the inner layer is made from common clothing fabrics like wool or cotton, and the middle layer is made up of silver nanowires that reflect most of the radiation.

The top layer is made of a plastic material called polymethylpentene, which does not absorb or reflect most wavelengths and emits a narrow band of infrared light.

In outdoor tests, the fabric remained 8.9°C (16°F) cooler than regular silk fabric and 2.3°C (4.1°F) cooler than a broad-spectrum radiation-emitting material. When tested against the skin, the fabric was 1.8°C (3.2°F) cooler than cotton fabric.

Su said this slight difference in temperature could theoretically increase the amount of time a person can comfortably be exposed to heat by up to a third, but that this has yet to be tested.

“It’s always been difficult to make this material practical as a fiber.” Aswath Raman, the UCLA researcher added that the study is a good example of applying the physical principles of radiative cooling to a practical material. Other materials with similar properties could also be used on vertical surfaces in buildings, he said.

Science
DOI: 10.1126/science.adl0653

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research: Daily consumption of 100% orange juice reduces blood sugar levels compared to orange drink

Posted on by
Reply

A new study from Toronto Metropolitan University says 100% orange juice and sugar-sweetened beverages are not equivalent when it comes to their effects on food intake and blood sugar response, and should not be placed in the same category when making beverage decisions.

Consuming 100% orange juice before a meal reduces food intake at the next meal and lowers daily blood glucose concentrations in healthy, normal weight adults when compared to orange drink.

The World Health Organization suggests reducing free sugar intake to no more than 10% of daily energy intake to reduce the risk of unhealthy weight and tooth decay.

Consistent with these recommendations, some national dietary guidelines recommend reducing sugar intake from all sources.

However, these recommendations do not differentiate between sources of free sugars and are primarily based on data from observational studies, so the physiological mechanisms underlying the observed effects cannot be readily determined.

“Our findings highlight the importance of considering the source of sugar when considering overall health effects,” said Dr. Nick Bellissimo of Toronto Metropolitan University, senior author of the study. I am emphasizing that.”

The randomized, repeated measures study included 36 adult men and women with normal BMI levels who received 1 cup of 100% orange juice, orange flavored, 2 hours after a breakfast consisting of cereal, 2% milk, and 2% milk. Ingested sugar-sweetened beverages and water. Breakfast bar.

Blood sugar responses, average appetite, and subjective emotions were measured every 15 minutes for 60 minutes in 34 participants.

Glycemic responses and energy intake for the rest of the day were measured in 31 participants using continuous blood glucose monitors and food records.

Subjective sweetness and pleasantness were measured immediately after ingesting the test beverage.

Glycemic responses, average appetite, and subjective emotions were measured every 15 minutes for 60 minutes.

Food intake was measured 60 minutes after the pizza lunch.

Blood sugar levels were lower with 100% orange juice than with orange drink at 15, 30, and 45 minutes, but not after 60 minutes.

Blood sugar levels for the rest of the day were lower after drinking 100% orange juice compared to drinking orange or water.

The findings also showed that food intake at lunch and throughout the day was lower after consuming 100% orange juice compared to consuming orange drink.

Participants also had higher subjective comfort measures and enjoyed 100% orange juice more compared to orange beverages and water.

Using 100% orange juice instead of sugary drinks may reduce your total daily calorie intake and help regulate blood sugar levels.

100% orange juice contains flavonoids such as hesperidin, which can affect sugar absorption by slowing glucose transport, causing a delayed blood sugar response.

Consumption of 100% orange juice is associated with increased flavonoid intake, decreased added sugar, and higher quality diet.

The researchers said, “Consumption of 100% orange juice as a preload resulted in higher caloric compensation, lower total daily energy intake, and lower blood glucose concentrations compared to orange beverages.”

“Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether the habit of replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with 100% orange juice contributes to a healthier body weight and improved glycemic control.”

of paper It was published in the magazine nutrients.

_____

Stephanie Robayo other. 2024. Effects of her 100% orange juice and moderate sugar-sweetened beverages on subjective appetite, food intake, and glycemic responses in adults. nutrients 16 (2): 242; doi: 10.3390/nu16020242

Source: www.sci.news

Cruise reduces self-driving workforce by 25%, another electric scooter startup leaves market, and a special year-end message

Posted on by
Reply

The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Just sign up here and click on “The Station” to have our newsletter delivered to your inbox every weekend. Subscribe for free. Welcome to the station. It is the central hub for all past, present, and future means of moving people and goods from point A to point B. Hello! And goodbye! Well, at least until 2024. The station will be closed for a while until the end of this year. I would like to thank everyone who reads our weekly newsletter and sends me suggestions, tips, and criticism. Yes, I appreciate the thoughtful backlash. This year has seen new startups emerge (so many electric boat and RV companies, right?), more EVs on the roads, and numerous commercial milestones achieved in the self-driving vehicle industry. It was a year of lots of movement. Of course, there were dark moments and even shocking moments. Many startups went bankrupt, including a number of mobility SPACs, and layoffs remained widespread into the final months of the year. Two of the most surprising stories involve the self-driving car industry. Argo AI It made a comeback with a new AV startup funded by Softbank, but cruise. Cruise’s story continues to unfold and will likely play out until 2024. Last week was a tough week for Cruise, albeit as expected. As a result, the Cruise board, and by extension the GM board, are doing a housecleaning to restore years of technological advances. As part of that mission, nine top leaders were removed and 900 workers were laid off. We will continue to follow Cruise’s story next year. But that’s not our only focus. The TechCrunch team cares about the future of transportation, from new EV and battery technologies to electric and hydrogen aviation, self-driving cars, micromobility, and in-vehicle technology. It’s not just about highlighting the next new new thing. Instead, we strive to explain why it’s important and who it affects. In other words, we’re the kind of people who take unlikely exits and side streets to explore what others might avoid. Please join us. See you in the new year! Want to contact us with a tip, comment, or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.karasec@techcrunch.com. Send your notes to tips@techcrunch.com. If you wish to remain anonymous, Click here to contact usthis includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps. micromobin The big talking point in Scooterville was the “seemingly” sudden decision. super pedestrian Just 18 months after raising $125 million, the company is closing its U.S. operations and beginning to consider selling its European operations. I don’t want to say I saw this coming, but given that in late November Superpedestrian began laying off several European executives responsible for global development and operations, Let’s just say I wasn’t shocked by the news. Superpedestrian’s Link scooters are available in about 60 cities in 11 countries, but are scheduled to be withdrawn from most markets by the end of 2023. The startup positioned itself as a partner for safe cities and invested in advanced passenger assistance technology by acquiring Navmatic in July 2021. That’s where Pedestrian Protection was born, Superpedestrian’s GPS-based safety system that could detect and correct unsafe rider behavior in real time. However, the system was competing with other camera-based computer vision systems popularized by Drover AI and Luna. Lime, the only big scooter company likely to survive, introduced its own version of rider-assistance technology on its scooters in July 2022, around the same time that Superpedestrian began cutting jobs. As the balance sheets of public companies Bird and MicroMobility.com (formerly Helbiz) demonstrate, shared micromobility is a difficult business to run properly. Bird has recently been kicked off the stock market, announced several layoffs and is likely close to filing for bankruptcy. MicroMobility.com has undergone not one but two reverse stock splits this year, and its stock price remains depressed. And after several failed acquisition talks, Tier Mobility also announced layoffs in November. Oh, and let’s not forget Boruto’s mysterious disappearance. My question now is who will be next to fly off to the great beyond? — Rebecca Beran This week’s sale We have lots of great deals this week! dimensional energy, a New York-based startup that develops sustainable aviation fuel from carbon dioxide emissions and water, has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Envisioning Partners. Strategic investors include United Airlines Sustainable Flight Fund, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Rock Creek Smart Aviation Futures Fund, DSC Investments, Derek US, and New York Ventures, as well as Elemental Excelerator and Chloe Capital. Existing investors also participated. summer timea Chinese new energy vehicle fleet management company, has completed an $80 million funding round to fuel R&D investment and real-time computational analysis. exponential energyThe Indian EV charging startup has raised $26.4 million in Series B led by Eight Road Ventures and TDK Ventures. This funding will help Exponent expand its 15-minute charging solution to five major cities in India in FY2024 and enter the intercity e-bus segment. The company plans to deploy 1,000 charging stations and equip 25,000 EVs with Exponent by 2025. Ric the mobility-as-a-service startup has raised €1.4 million ($1.53 million) from Habert Dassault Finance, AfriMobility (Akwa Group), angel investors, and banks including Bpifrance, Crédit Mutuel, and Caisse d’Épargne. meta fuela sustainable jet fuel startup, has raised $8 million in a round led by Energy Impact Partners and Contrarian Ventures. Vanmo, a São Paulo-based startup looking to expand electric motorcycle battery swapping in Latin America, has raised $30 million in a Series A round to capitalize on the growing popularity of bikes across the region. The equity and debt round was led by Monasees, with participation from Climate Technology Fund 2150 and Maniv Mobility.

Source: techcrunch.com

Ford reduces production targets for electric F-150 Lightning in response to strong demand

Posted on by
Reply

Ford plans to cut production of all-electric pickup trucks in 2024 to meet consumer demand.

Ford executives said in October on a third-quarter earnings call that they plan to “adjust” all-electric vehicle production and defer about $12 billion in investments as demand for higher-priced premium electric vehicles slows. suggested.

The automaker did not explicitly mention the Lightning in its earnings call, instead pointing to other examples such as production cuts for the Mustang Mach-E and the decision to postpone a second battery plant in Kentucky.

Note to supplier. viewed, First reported by Automotive Newsplans to produce an average of about 1,600 Lightning trucks per week starting in January at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford had planned annual production capacity for the Lightning at 150,000 units per year, or approximately 3,200 units per week. This means that the production target for 2024 will be halved.

A Ford spokeswoman did not confirm the memo. A spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that the company “continues to align Lightning production with customer demand.”

The move is a reversal from January 2022, when Ford was elated with 200,000 truck reservations and announced it would nearly double production capacity to 150,000 a year by mid-2023 in response to customer demand. be. The company idled its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan in early 2023 to perform factory upgrades to accommodate new production capacity.

Despite these improvements, demand for EVs was softening across the industry. EV sales in the U.S. continue to grow, at a pace of over 1 million units per year, a 50% increase over the previous year. Still, that growth has lagged behind the ambitious plans of major automakers, causing many to curb investment, delay factory upgrades and new construction, and cut production capacity.

Source: techcrunch.com

Google’s AI demo was fake, Grand Theft Auto VI captures attention, Spotify reduces workforce

Posted on by
Reply

Welcome to the Week in Review (WiR)

Welcome everyone to Week in Review (WiR). This is TechCrunch’s regular newsletter that recaps the past few days in technology. AI is back in the headlines, with tech giants from Google to X (formerly Twitter) taking on OpenAI for chatbot supremacy. But so much more happened. In this issue of WiR, Google fakes a demo of a new AI model (and handed out an offensive note to Black Summit attendees), defense startup Anduril unveils fighter jet weapons, and the latest from the 23andMe hack The Continuing Aftermath and Grand Theft Auto VI trailer. Other stories include patient scans and health records leaked online, Meta’s new AI-powered image generator, Spotify layoffs, and self-driving truck startup pulling out of the US. There’s a lot to do, so don’t delay. But before that, if you haven’t already, here’s a reminder to subscribe here so you can receive her WiR in your inbox every Saturday.

Google fakes a new AI model (and hands out an offensive note to Black Summit attendees)

Google this week announced a new flagship AI model called Gemini. However, the complete model Gemini Ultra was not released, only a “lite” version called Gemini Pro. Google touted Gemini’s coding and multimodal capabilities in press conferences and blog posts, claiming the model can understand not only text but also images, audio, and video. However, because Gemini Pro is strictly text input and text output, it has proven to be error-prone. And to make matters worse for Google, the company was caught faking the Gemini demo by adjusting the text prompts with still images taken away from the camera. In another Google PR failure, people who attended the company’s K&I Black Summit in August were given third-party notebooks containing extremely insensitive language. My colleague Dominique Madri wrote that the inside of the notebook had the phrase “I was just now” printed on it. cotton That was the moment, but I came back to take your notes” (emphasis on our notes). Needless to say, this would not have been well-received by the mostly black audience in attendance. Google promises to “avoid similar situations.”

Anduril’s new weapons

Anduril, the controversial defense company co-founded by Oculus founder Palmer Lackey, has developed a new product designed to counter the proliferation of low-cost, high-powered aerial threats. A modular, twin-jet-powered, autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft (one version of which can carry warheads), called the Roadrunner, can take off from, track, and destroy targets, as well as intercept them. If there is no need, you can intercept the target. autonomously maneuver back to base, refuel and reuse. More 23andMe victims: Last Friday, genetic testing company 23andMe announced that hackers had accessed the personal data of 0.1% of its customers, or about 14,000 people. But the company initially declined to say how many other users may have been affected by the breach, which 23andMe first disclosed in October. In all, 6.9 million people had their name, year of birth, relationship label, percentage of his DNA shared with relatives, ancestry reports, and self-reported location exposed.

Grand Theft Auto VI trailer goes viral

The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI reached 85 million views in just 22 hours, breaking the MrBeast video’s record for most YouTube views in 24 hours. The excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI continues for his decade. The previous installment in Rockstar Games’ long-running series, Grand Theft Auto V, remains the same. second best selling Best video game of all time, not even close to Minecraft.

Patient records leaked

A security weakness in a decades-old industry standard designed for storing and sharing medical images has led to thousands of exposed servers exposing the medical records and personal health information of millions of patients. I am. This standard, known as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), is an internationally recognized format for medical images. However, as German-based cybersecurity consultancy Aplite has discovered, security flaws in DICOM are allowing many healthcare facilities to unintentionally make their personal data accessible from the open web.

Meta generates images

Not to be outdone by the launch of Google’s Gemini, Meta has launched a new standalone generative AI experience, Imagine with Meta AI, on the web. This allows users to create images by describing them in natural language. Similar to OpenAI’s DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion, Imagine with Meta AI leverages Meta’s existing Emu image generation model to create high-resolution images from text prompts.

Spotify makes layoffs

Spotify will cut around 1,500 jobs, or about 17% of its workforce, in its third round of layoffs this year as the music streaming giant aims to “increase both productivity and efficiency.” It’s a schedule. In a memo to employees on Monday, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek cited slowing economic growth and rising costs of capital, saying the company needs more employees to face “the challenges ahead.” He stated that it is important to set an appropriate size of staff.

TuSimple will exit

When TuSimple went public in 2021, it was emerging as the leading self-driving truck developer in the U.S., but now, after a series of internal disputes and the loss of a key partnership with truck manufacturer Navistar, TuSimple is completely removed from the U.S. We are withdrawing. TuSimple says:

ZestMoney will shut down

ZestMoney, a buy-now-pay-later startup that can underwrite small loans to first-time Internet customers and has attracted a number of high-profile investors, including Goldman Sachs, has found a buyer. Efforts failed and it was closed. At its peak, the Bangalore-based startup employed around 150 people and raised more than $130 million during its eight-year run.

TechCrunch’s latest podcast episodes

TechCrunch’s list of podcast episodes continues to grow, just in time for your weekend listening. capital We featured a retrospective conversation from TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. Alex is the founder of Trible, a no-code app builder that helps you build online courses. He spoke with Serhii Bohoslovskyi. The two talked about the current state of the creator economy, the state of use of no-code tools today (and how it’s being embraced by non-technical creators), and the safety of startups with Ukrainian roots. . It’s over found, the crew spoke to David Rogier, CEO and founder of MasterClass, a streaming platform where you can learn from world experts on a variety of topics. Before Rogier launched his MasterClass, he worked as a VC, and through those connections he secured a $500,000 seed round before the company even had an idea. and, Chain reaction, Jacqueline interviewed David Packman, Managing Partner and Head of Venture Investments at Coinfund. Prior to CoinFund, David worked at venture capital firm Venrock where he worked for 14 years. He also led the Series A and B rounds of Dollar Shave Club, which was acquired by Unilever for $1 billion. And he co-created Apple Music in 1991, when David was in Apple’s Systems Software Product Marketing Group.

Source: techcrunch.com