The midsize electric pickup can’t come soon enough. According to Ford, you might see a disguised one on the streets very soon.
Humanity has littered the sky with the refuse of fossil fuel use, releasing enough CO2 to change the planet’s climate. We are also chucking incredible sums of carbon in the form of plastics into landfills and into the environment around (and inside of) us. What if cleaning up one of these problems could also help clean up the other?
A new study led by Ruth Ebenbauer at Aarhus University experiments with this idea by upcycling discarded polystyrene into (part of) a material commonly used in carbon-capture systems.
This material is based on amines—a simple chemical group that conveniently acts like a sponge for CO2. An amine will grab CO2 molecules when exposed to them, but let go of the CO2 when heated or depressurized, leaving it ready to go again. The first “CO2 scrubbers” tried in smokestacks used amines dissolved in water to do this, but solid amines are used in all kinds of carbon-capture systems now because they require less energy. These solid materials—often made into granules similar to the activated carbon in a water filter—have high surface area and high porosity, so the amines can efficiently partner up with CO2 molecules.
© Jamesmcq24
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, unveiled Olinia, the nation’s first homegrown electric vehicle. The new EV is set to go on sale in 2027, starting at under $9,000.
A University of Oxford professor has cancelled a series of lectures discussing gender law after pro-trans activists interrupted the first two talks and hurled abuse at him.
The post Oxford University Professor Forced to Cancel Lectures After Pro-Trans Activists Call Him a “Bigot” and “Transphobic” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
A lidar technology company and a robotics AI developer have announced a collaboration to improve how general-purpose robots perceive and navigate complex environments.
The partnership between San Francisco-based Ouster and California -based FieldAI combines high-resolution lidar technology with a universal robot intelligence platform designed to operate across different robot types, tasks, and environments.
The system enables robots to be deployed at new sites without prior maps, pre-planned routes, supporting infrastructure, or environmental modifications.
“Scaling autonomous systems in demanding real-world conditions starts with advanced sensor technology,” said Andrew Mullen, Head of Hardware at FieldAI, in a statement.
The collaboration between Ouster and FieldAI aims to accelerate the deployment of autonomous robots in some of the world’s most challenging industrial environments by combining advanced sensing hardware with general-purpose robot intelligence.
The partnership centers on the integration of Ouster’s Rev8 native color digital lidar technology with FieldAI’s Field Foundation Models, a robotics AI platform designed to enable autonomous operation across a wide range of robot types, tasks, and environments. The companies believe the combination can help robots perform reliably in complex, unstructured settings where traditional automation systems often struggle.
FieldAI has developed what it describes as a universal robot “brain” capable of operating across radically different robotic platforms. Unlike conventional robotic systems that typically require detailed maps, carefully planned routes, specialized infrastructure, or extensive site preparation, FieldAI’s technology is designed to allow robots to enter a new worksite much like a newly hired employee. The robots can assess unfamiliar surroundings, understand environmental conditions, and begin operating without prior knowledge of the location.
At the core of this capability are the company’s Field Foundation Models, large-scale AI models trained to understand and interact with the physical world. These models are intended to help robots navigate unpredictable environments where terrain, obstacles, equipment, and working conditions can change continuously. Such environments include construction sites, mines, industrial facilities, energy infrastructure, and remote operational areas where conventional robotic systems often face significant limitations.
To support these capabilities, FieldAI relies on Ouster’s digital lidar sensors, which provide a detailed three-dimensional perception of the surrounding environment. Lidar technology uses laser pulses to measure distances and generate highly accurate spatial maps. Ouster’s latest Rev8 platform adds native color perception to lidar data, enabling robots to capture richer environmental information while maintaining precise depth sensing.
The Rev8 digital lidar platform is designed to deliver high-resolution perception in conditions where cameras or GPS-based systems may be less effective.
According to its developers, it is particularly important in unmapped environments, indoor facilities, underground operations, and GPS-denied locations where autonomous systems must rely heavily on onboard sensing. The technology’s rugged construction also makes it suitable for deployment in harsh industrial conditions involving dust, vibration, weather exposure, and heavy machinery.
FieldAI already uses Ouster’s lidar technology to support navigation and autonomy in complex operational settings. As the company expands deployments with major industrial customers, it plans to incorporate the enhanced sensing capabilities of the Rev8 platform to further improve robot safety, environmental awareness, and decision-making. The addition of native color data is expected to provide greater interpretability of robot actions and improve the ability of autonomous systems to identify and understand objects and conditions in their surroundings.
The collaboration is expected to support the broader adoption of physical AI systems across industries where labor-intensive, hazardous, or difficult-to-access tasks remain challenging for human workers. Target sectors include construction, mining, energy production, manufacturing, security operations, and government applications.
Its solid-state batteries have already proven capable of delivering over 745 miles (1,200 km) of real-world driving range. Now, US-based solid-state battery maker Factorial Energy is tapping into public markets to fund its next phase of growth.
Tiny particles from the gut may be carrying aging signals throughout the body, offering a surprising new clue to chronic disease. Researchers at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have uncovered new evidence that microscopic particles produced in the gut may contribute to the inflammation and chronic diseases often associated with aging. [...]The UK government gave technology companies three months to switch on device-level tools blocking children from taking, sending or viewing nude images, warning action will be taken if they fail to do so.
The UK Home Office said companies including Apple and Google must implement built-in protections across smartphones and tablets used by children in a move it claimed would make Britain “the first country in the world where it is impossible for children to take, share or view naked pictures on their devices”
If tech companies do not act within the deadline, the government plans to enforce legislation mandating the activation of the technology. Proposed penalties could include fines, with criminal liability for tech bosses under consideration “as a last resort”.
On privacy, the government framed the proposal as on-device blocking, stating there would be “no data collection, no monitoring and no reporting”. Users over the age of 18 would still be able to access adult content by providing proof of age.
The initiative aims to stop predators from exploiting underage victims through their devices and limiting children’s access to pornography. The Home Office noted 91% of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 contained self-generated content, adding children as young as five were being groomed or coerced into creating explicit images.
Speaking at London Tech Week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer (pictured) said the industry must address the issue as a matter of urgency. “If we are serious about unlocking the opportunities that tech can bring, then we must also be serious about preventing our children from those who look to abuse it – the online predators,” he explained, arguing technology should “adapt to the needs of society, not the other way round”.
Starmer warned if technology players “choose not, then we will act and we will change the law”.
The post Big tech faces UK child safety ultimatum appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Nature, Published online: 08 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10749-4
GPR15-guided CD8+ T regulatory cells control intestinal inflammationNature, Published online: 08 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10735-w
Distributed control circuits across a brain-and-cord connectomeNature, Published online: 08 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10738-7
Targeting Cancer-Specific Mutations with RNA-Triggered Chromatin ShreddingPolice forces are hiring diversity officers on £75,000 a year while crime rates in their areas rise.
The post Police Hire £75k Diversity Officers While Crime Soars appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Google held at least 34 meetings with top German government officials – including the Chancellor – to discuss suppressing "hate speech" and "disinformation" online, reveals John Rosenthal.
The post Google Met Top German Government Officials Dozens of Times to Discuss Online “Hate Speech” and “Disinformation” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
BYD released the first images of the Da Han, a new flagship luxury electric sedan equipped with its ultra-fast Flash Charging.
London-based startup morph has launched a new soft robotics platform designed to bring physical intelligence directly into products through adaptive, deformable materials.
Founded by a former reconstructive surgeon, the company says its “soft robotic cells” combine embedded sensing and adaptive control to enable real-time changes in shape and stiffness.
The technology is aimed at creating products that can sense, adapt, and respond to human interaction, marking a shift from traditional static systems to responsive, AI-enabled physical solutions for consumer and enterprise applications.
“With our platform, we can build a new generation of products embedded with soft robotic cells that adapt in real time to support natural movement,” said Dr. Jean Nehme, Founder of morph, in a statement.
The UK startup has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first soft robotics platform, introducing a new approach to physical AI through adaptive, deformable robotic materials.
Founded by London-based Dr. Jean Nehme, a former reconstructive surgeon and founder of surgical AI company Digital Surgery, morph is developing “soft robotic cells” — modular robotic units made from synthetic materials that can sense, process information, and physically adapt to changing conditions.
Unlike traditional robots built from rigid components and designed primarily for industrial environments, soft robots are constructed from flexible materials that allow safer and more natural interaction with people.
The company’s technology enables robotic cells to alter their shape and stiffness in real time in response to environmental conditions and user needs. By embedding sensing, adaptive control, and intelligence directly into materials, morph aims to create products that can actively respond to human movement and interaction rather than remain static. The approach represents a shift toward embodied AI, where intelligence is integrated into physical systems capable of taking action through the product itself.
According to morph, these soft robotic cells can be combined and configured across a range of products, generating data that supports richer interactions between humans and the physical world. The platform is designed to serve as a foundation for multiple industries, allowing manufacturers to integrate adaptive robotic capabilities into their own products.
Morph’s initial applications will focus on human performance, mobility, and longevity. Early products are being developed for athletic performance enhancement, injury prevention, and mobility support. The company believes its technology could eventually expand into healthcare, automotive, and industrial safety sectors, where adaptive materials could improve comfort, safety, and functionality.
Inspired by the adaptability of octopuses, morph has built a development platform that allows engineers to program robotic cell behaviors, simulate real-world environments, and rapidly prototype deformable components intended for direct human interaction. The system combines reinforcement learning with high-fidelity physics-based simulations, helping accelerate the transition from concept to deployable product while maintaining safety and reliability standards.
The company is currently working with several industrial partners and plans to operate primarily as a software, design, and fabrication partner for businesses seeking to adopt soft robotics technology. Through its business-to-business strategy, morph aims to help companies incorporate adaptive robotic materials into future products.
“Driven by a worldwide team of experts in robotics, AI, medicine, design, and manufacturing, morph enables the creation of products that embed robotic cells. Initial product offerings will focus on human performance and longevity,” claims the firm in a statement.
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