This is the latest edition of The Download, our daily newsletter that offers a daily glimpse into the happenings in technology.
This startup is poised to carry out the largest real-world experiment of aluminum as a zero-carbon fuel
Found Energy, a Boston-based startup, seeks to utilize the energy found in aluminum metal scraps to fuel industrial processes without fossil fuels. Since 2022, the firm has been innovating methods to quickly extract energy from aluminum at a smaller scale.
Now, it has activated a significantly larger model of its aluminum-driven engine, which it asserts is the largest aluminum-water reactor constructed to date.
Early in the coming year, it will be set up to deliver heat and hydrogen to a tool manufacturing plant in the southeastern US, utilizing the aluminum byproducts generated by the facility itself as fuel.
If all goes well, this innovation, which employs a catalyst to access the energy encapsulated in aluminum metal, could revolutionize a substantial portion of aluminum scrap into a zero-carbon energy source. Read the complete story.
—James Dinneen
What the arrival of a large thermal battery signifies for energy storage
Rondo Energy has just powered up what it claims is the globe’s largest thermal battery, a system for storing energy that can absorb electricity and offer a steady supply of heat.
The essence of a thermal battery is remarkably straightforward: Use electricity to heat some inexpensive, durable material (like bricks) and maintain that heat until it’s needed later, whether directly for industrial use or to generate electricity.
Thermal batteries could play a crucial role in reducing emissions: 20% of today’s total energy demand is allocated to generating heat for industrial activities, with most of that energy derived from burning fossil fuels. However, the company is utilizing its battery for enhanced oil recovery—a technique that critics claim prolongs the lifespan of polluting infrastructure. Read the complete story.
—Casey Crownhart
This article originates from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it directly in your inbox each Wednesday, subscribe here.
The essential reads
I’ve scoured the web to bring you today’s most entertaining/important/alarming/captivating stories regarding technology.
1 ChatGPT’s guidelines for discussing suicide were relaxed twice prior to a teen’s tragic end
The family of Adam Raine asserts that OpenAI’s changes amounted to a dilution of its protective measures for users regarding suicide. (WSJ $)
+ They allege this was done to enhance the chatbot’s usage. (FT $)
+ The family is charging OpenAI with intentional wrongdoing instead of mere negligence. (Rolling Stone $)
2 Google asserts its new quantum algorithm surpasses a supercomputer
It may hasten breakthroughs in drug discovery and innovative building materials. (Ars Technica)
+ Its Willow chip powers this advancement. (NYT $)
+ However, practical applications of quantum computing are still likely years away. (The Guardian)
3 Reddit is suing the AI search engine Perplexity
For allegedly unlawful scraping of its data to train the model that powers Perplexity’s engine. (FT $)
+ Reddit is also pursuing a permanent prohibition on companies selling its data. (Engadget)
+ What lies ahead for AI copyright litigation? (MIT Technology Review)
4 China outlines a five-year plan for technological self-sufficiency
With semiconductors and AI at the forefront. (Bloomberg $)
+ China is gaining the upper hand in the trade conflict with the US. (Economist $)
5 DeepSeek is gaining traction in Africa
Its strategy of making its AI more affordable and less energy-intensive is yielding results. (Bloomberg $)
+ How DeepSeek redefined the AI landscape. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Elon Musk is assembling a robotic army
He foresees his Optimus robot evolving into an “exceptional surgeon.” (Wired $)
+ Will we ever develop trust in robots? (MIT Technology Review)
7 Apple has removed a couple of disputed dating apps from its App Store
Tea and TeaOnHer did not meet its privacy and content regulation standards. (TechCrunch)
8 Tesla’s profits have significantly decreased
Despite selling more cars than in the previous quarter. (NYT $)
+ The company has had to recall tens of thousands of Cybertrucks. (Reuters)
+ What occurs when your electric vehicle becomes outdated? (The Atlantic $)
9 A surprising casualty of the AWS outage? High-tech beds 🛏️
Some unfortunate owners reported their beds blaring alarms and overheating. (WP $)
+ If the current state of the internet persists, further bed malfunctions could be imminent. (The Atlantic $)
10 The allure of exceedingly simple software
Apple’s TextEdit does precisely what its name suggests. (New Yorker $)
Quote of the day
“I’m thrilled that tech enthusiasts are experiencing a moment of recognition.”
—Madhavi Sewak, a researcher at Google DeepMind, expresses her delight that AI specialists are gaining acknowledgment, the Wall Street Journal reports.
One more note
Exploring the search for new physics at the world’s largest particle collider
In 2012, using information from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, scientists uncovered a particle known as the Higgs boson. This discovery addressed a lingering question: How do fundamental particles, such as those that constitute all the protons and neutrons in our bodies, acquire their mass?
When the particle was ultimately located, researchers rejoiced with champagne. A Nobel Prize for two physicists who predicted the Higgs boson quickly followed.
More than ten years later, a feeling of discomfort exists. This is due to the multitude of unanswered inquiries regarding the fundamental elements of the universe.
Consequently, researchers are adopting a novel approach. They are repurposing detectors to search for atypical particles, maximizing the data through machine learning, and preparing for entirely different types of colliders. Read the complete story.
—Dan Garisto
We can still enjoy nice things
A space for comfort, joy, and diversion to uplift your day. (Have suggestions? Send me a message or send them my way.)
+ Mexico City is getting into the Halloween vibe: its annual zombie parade occurred over the weekend.
+ Everything you should know before visiting Japan.
+ The most stylish individuals alive? I’ll be the judge of that.
+ Here’s something you might not expect archeologists to find: Neolithic chewing gum.
