Year: 2023

Chinese startup Greater Bay Technology has made a bold claim, stating that its new electric vehicle (EV) battery, called the Phoenix cell, can function seamlessly in any weather condition. The battery utilizes superconducting materials and innovative thermal management techniques, enabling it to rapidly adjust freezing temperatures to normal room temperature within just five minutes, as reported by Bloomberg.

Extreme temperatures have long posed challenges for EV batteries, reducing their charging efficiency when temperatures drop below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit or zero degrees Celsius). This limitation has hindered the reliability of EV range for owners. Carmakers have previously resorted to incorporating heat pumps to maintain optimal battery temperatures, but this approach has proven to be inefficient.

In today’s industrial landscape, manufacturers are grappling with a myriad of challenges ranging from supply disruptions and price volatility to talent shortages and the sustainability imperative. To overcome these hurdles and unlock new value, leading manufacturers are turning to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

These AI-powered technologies offer industrial companies fresh avenues to navigate through turbulence and significantly enhance operational performance. Moreover, recent technological breakthroughs, such as generative AI, have further expanded the potential applications of AI in manufacturing. While some companies have already made successful strides in implementing AI, many others are still in the early stages of their AI journey.

AST SpaceMobile, a company specializing in space-based cellular capabilities, announced a groundbreaking achievement this week. It successfully transmitted a 4G LTE signal from its BlueWalker 3 satellite to off-the-shelf smartphones in Hawaii using AT&T’s cellular network. With repeated download speeds exceeding 10 Mbps during testing, the signal was fast enough for normal browsing, messaging, and video streaming. This feat is remarkable because cell phones typically connect to ground-based cell towers rather than satellites, making it challenging to maintain cell service in remote areas or on boats at sea. However, AST SpaceMobile’s satellite technology opens up the possibility of expanding coverage to almost any location on the planet, eliminating concerns about signal dead zones.

In recent months, Elliot McGucken, a photographer and physicist, has embarked on nocturnal expeditions into the wilderness of southern California armed with a camera and a drone. His journeys have taken him to breathtaking locations such as the Trona Pinnacles and the Mobius Arch formation, where he goes beyond capturing landscapes and celestial bodies. McGucken employs his drone to add a captivating element to his photographs: giant spiraling cones of light. These luminous hourglass shapes, achieved through long-exposure shots lasting several minutes, are artistic representations of a fascinating physics concept known as a light cone.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the light cone, as it often goes unnoticed,” shares McGucken in an interview with Smithsonian magazine. Through his project, he hopes to inspire a sense of wonder in people and ignite their curiosity. “People should take the time to contemplate and marvel at this phenomenon,” he adds.