Elon Musk Buys $1 Billion in Tesla Stock as Board Defends His Pay
Tesla’s chief executive bought the stock after the company’s board proposed paying him nearly $1 trillion if he achieves certain performance goals.
Technology
Dust that spies, maps that talk, and dogs that code
When the dust listens back It started with an itch. Not the kind that comes from allergies or a cheap sweater, but the creeping suspicion that the air itself was paying attention. That’s when the headline hit: “Scientists develop smart dust — microscopic sensors that can drift through a room and report back.” Photo credits: … Read more
Tech giants’ data centres could consume 2% of Sydney’s water supply
Authorities in Sydney approved construction of data centres without requiring measurable plans to cut water use, raising concerns the sector’s rapid growth will leave residents competing for the resource. The New South Wales state government, which presides over Australia’s biggest city, green-lit all 10 data centre applications it has ruled on since expanding its planning powers in 2021, from owners like Microsoft, Amazon and Blackstone’s AirTrunk, … Read more
TikTok divestment and tariffs dominate US-China talks in Spain
Delegations from the US and China were set to continue their talks in Madrid into a second day on Monday over trade tensions and an imminent deadline for Chinese divestment from the short-video app TikTok. The latest round of negotiations – the fourth in four months – took place at the baroque Palacio de Santa … Read more
Engineers unveil light-based chip that boosts AI efficiency up to 100-fold
A new generation of computer chip powered by light rather than electricity could revolutionise artificial intelligence, researchers say. A team of engineers in the United States has developed a prototype device capable of making AI calculations between 10 and 100 times more energy-efficient than today’s best chips. The breakthrough centres on one of the most … Read more
the wild week in science and tech
Meet R1: the shrimp-slinging rival of Tesla’s Optimus Forget Wall Street, Ant Group’s latest flex isn’t financial, it’s R1, a humanoid robot that made its debut by cooking shrimp, reportedly, at IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin. While Tesla’s Optimus dreams of factory work, R1 is already auditioning for Iron Chef. Picture credits: The Verge … Read more
Ukraine considers counter to Russian drones with mobile service limitations
Ukraine may intentionally reduce mobile communication quality during Russian drone attacks in an effort to stop the networks being used to coordinate strikes, Chief of the General Staff Andryi Hnatov was quoted as saying on Sunday. Russia has ramped up drone attacks on Ukraine in recent months, enhancing its technology and increasing the number of drones … Read more
Russia displays military might with hypersonic missiles and bombers in drills
Russia said on Sunday that it had fired a Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Barents Sea and that Sukoi Su-34 supersonic fighter-bombers had carried out strikes as part of joint military exercises with Belarus. Russia’s “Zapad”, or West, joint strategic exercise with Belarus began on Sept. 12, aiming to improve … Read more
Lina Khan Revamped Antitrust. Now She’s Pushing the Democratic Party.
The youngest chair in the history of the Federal Trade Commission is campaigning for Zohran Mamdani and defending her brand of populism.
AI avatars bring comfort but can’t replace grieving
Diego Felix Dos Santos never expected to hear his late father’s voice again — until AI made it possible. “The tone of the voice is pretty perfect,” he says. “It feels like, almost, he’s here.” After the 39-year-old’s father unexpectedly passed away last year, Dos Santos travelled to his native Brazil to be with family. It was only after returning to … Read more