In a recent video update shared by drone pilot and Giga Texas observer Brad Sloan, workers can be seen painting the interior walls of the Boring Company’s much-anticipated underground “Cybertunnel” beneath the 130 Highway at the Austin, Texas factory. Construction on the tunnel, which began in March, is approaching completion, and Elon Musk has previously indicated that the tunnel will be used to transport Cybertrucks from the factory to the outbound lot, where they will then be picked up by hauling trucks for shipping.

Sloan’s video also highlights several other key developments around the Giga Texas facility, including the installation of more glass panels and tests of the water cooling towers intended to support the site’s supercomputing cluster, known as Cortex. These cooling towers are essential for maintaining the optimal performance of the factory’s advanced computing infrastructure.

Scientists from the Rwanda Forestry Authority have identified two types of trees that hold the potential to generate clean electricity, offering a sustainable energy solution for remote communities. This discovery could play a key role in Rwanda’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030.

Despite significant progress in electrification, rural areas in Rwanda continue to face challenges with limited access to power. In response, researchers are exploring ways to produce electricity from biomass derived from sustainably cultivated plants. They are studying the energy potential of various tree species to find alternatives to conventional energy sources.

Researchers at Rice University have unveiled groundbreaking insights into magnetism and electronic interactions within advanced materials, potentially revolutionizing fields like quantum computing and high-temperature superconductors. Their study of iron-tin (FeSn) thin films has shifted the understanding of kagome magnets, which are structured in a pattern inspired by traditional Japanese basket weaving. The team discovered that FeSn’s magnetic properties are driven by localized electrons, rather than the previously believed mobile electrons—a revelation that could alter how scientists approach materials in quantum technology.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain in observing magnetic splitting at higher temperatures in kagome magnets. However, in a key development, the team was able to create high-quality FeSn thin films and analyze their electronic structure using a combination of molecular beam epitaxy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Their findings showed that the kagome flat bands remained split even at elevated temperatures, a sign that localized electrons drive the material’s magnetic properties. This discovery underscores the complex role electron correlation plays in shaping magnetic behaviors in kagome structures.