Welcome to our last letter for the financial year.

In the next few weeks Paul will be concentrating on program reviews and business modelling for Deaf Children Australia, governance for Blue Light Victoria and his role of Chair of the board selection committee for Dairy Australia which will be completing its task of recommending directors to the board..

Along with his Chairmanship of Social Venture Partners Melbourne which has now been relaunched as Social Impact Partners Australia. You can see the brand-new website HERE. if you know of any organisations that can use their pro bono services or take advantage of the low-cost consulting services in the NFP sector please get in touch.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition (yet again) was:

AI-powered blood test could transform dementia diagnosis

Researchers have developed an AI classifier that can accurately distinguish among several major neurodegenerative diseases....…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition

What’s Emerging

Batteries ‘cheaper’ than gas plants as data centres fuel turbine costs

Australia’s top science agency has found batteries are now cheaper at supplying peak demand for power than gas.The CSIRO’s annual GenCost report notes insatiable demand for gas-fired power from US data centres is driving up turbine costs......…..Read More

Screwworm could be the first species targeted by an ‘extinction drive’

We have developed genetic technologies that could wipe out entire species of pests that are harmful to us....…..Read More

How Amazon Leo plans to connect mobile devices from space

Amazon Leo has filed with the FCC to deploy up to 5,105 new satellites designed to use Globalstar’s spectrum to bring voice, data, messaging, and emergency services directly to mobile devices. PH - Its getting crowded up there, see next story.....…..Read More

SpaceX has asked to place 100,000 Gen3 satellites into 20 orbital shells split between 323–327.5 and 473–477.5 kilometers above Earth.

SpaceX has applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for permission to operate a 100,000-satellite “Gen3” system in low Earth orbit, with individual spacecraft reportedly weighing between 2,000 and 2,500 kilograms and spreading 300 to 400 square meters once their solar arrays are extended..……. Read More

AI-powered glasses improve everyday life for disability sector amid privacy concerns

AI smart glasses are proving transformative for blind or low-vision users, helping them identify objects, read labels and improve their independence. The smart glasses have emerged as a significantly cheaper alternative to traditional assistive eyewear..…..Read More

Gen Z is the first generation in history in which men are more religious than women. Why?

It’s not news that young Australians are less religious than their parents and grandparents. Census data has shown a steady decline in religious affiliation for decades, particularly among Christians, who remain Australia’s largest faith group. Yet over the past few years there have been reports that seemed to point in the opposite direction......…..Read more

Roblox will let people use AI to make games on their phone

Roblox is about to let people make games with AI right inside its mobile app, which could make a platform that’s already filled with content of questionable quality feel even more overloaded..……. Read More

Can Plants Make Dairy Protein Without Cows? New Study Comes Close

Plants aren’t cows. But a team of researchers in Israel wanted to know whether a common lab plant could produce the proteins that give milk, cheese, and yogurt their rich, creamy texture. It could, more or less. When the scientists checked where that dairy protein ended up inside the plant’s seeds, it was far from the spot designed to hold it.........…..Read more

Report shows ambulance call-outs plummet during initial years of Richmond’s medically supervised injecting room

Ambulance call-outs for heroin related incidents decreased by more than 70 per cent over the first five years that Melbourne’s medically supervised injecting room operated. A new paper found a drop from 48 calls a month in 2018 to 14 a month in 2023 in the suburbs near the facility......​....…..Read more

New trial of AI‑powered traffic lights will be a test for who gets priority on public roads

Later this year, a Queensland council will trial Australia’s first traffic light system powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The new traffic technology will be trialled by the City of Moreton Bay at the intersection of two suburban roads in Petrie, just north of Brisbane. At first, this might sound like a small transport story. But it raises hard questions about fairness, safety and who gets priority on public roads. And if this trial works, similar systems may be used in other Australian towns......​....…..Read more

USC Engineers Unlimited Supply of Cancer-Fighting Macrophages From Bone Marrow

In a study published June 29, 2026, researchers led by Qi-Long Ying, MD, PhD, at the Keck School of Medicine of USC showed that granulocyte-monocyte progenitors — the intermediate immune cells that give rise to macrophages — can be chemically coaxed into dividing indefinitely in the laboratory while retaining their identity and full biological potential. The team then engineered those progenitors to hunt cancer, injected them into tumor-bearing mice, and showed that the cells engrafted in the bone marrow, continuously replenished an anti-tumor macrophage supply, and slowed disease progression in both blood cancers and solid tumors. A separate Stanford University laboratory independently reproduced the core findings, and the technology has already been licensed to Myelogene Inc., a spinout co-founded by members of both research teams........…..Read more

30 years since Dolly the sheep was born, where is cloning technology at now?

When Dolly the sheep – the first cloned mammal – was born 30 years ago, she became one of the most famous animals in science history. Her arrival sparked predictions of a sci-fi future filled with cloned pets, cloned humans and even resurrected extinct animals like the woolly mammoth. But the reality of cloning has turned out to be much more complicated.......…..Read more

Victorian government announces plans for CO2 battery in Gippsland

The Victorian government has unveiled a plan to build an Australian-first compressed CO2 battery storage system in the heart of the state’s coal country. The 20-megawatt closed-loop battery, which will be powered by compressed carbon dioxide from Gippsland’s Longford gas plant, will be built adjacent to the old Hazelwood power station, the brown coal-fired electricity plant that powered the state for decades......​....…..Read more

Researchers explore gene editing to develop sea lice-resistant Atlantic salmon

A major Norwegian research initiative is using CRISPR gene-editing technology to identify genetic mechanisms behind sea lice resistance, with the aim of improving Atlantic salmon health, welfare and sustainability......​....…..Read more

Aviva detects record £230m in bogus insurance claims as use of AI rises

Bogus insurance claims worth more than £230m were detected by the insurance firm Aviva last year as scammers tried new tricks including using artificial intelligence to fake car accident scenes, documents and to exaggerate damage.....​....…..Read more

Don’t like AI being forced on you? These librarians have the perfect first step

“Avoiding AI” workshops are springing up at libraries, where patrons who may not be familiar with the technology can hear the pros and cons of its use, as well as get step-by-step instructions on how to disable default AI features on some of the most popular platforms and devices.……….. Read more

What’s Emerging June 2026

Welcome to our last letter for the financial year.

In the next few weeks Paul will be concentrating on program reviews and business modelling for Deaf Children Australia, business modelling for Blue Light Victoria and the formal launch of the new low bono consulting service at Social Venture Partners Melbourne. He has also taken on the role of Chair of the board selection committee for Dairy Australia which will be completing its task of recommending directors to the board over the next two months.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition (yet again) was:

Norway just ordered 20 ‘flying’ electric ferries in historic deal

The order comes from Norwegian transport operator Boreal AS and will see the futuristic “flying” ferries deployed along Norway’s rugged coastline and fjords, where electrifying high-speed routes has long been a challenge....……. Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition

What’s Emerging

Engineer builds AI laser defense system that wiped out every mosquito in his home

A computer vision specialist has built a system that uses deep learning and a laser-based targeting setup to hunt down mosquitoes. Steven Cheng, who works in computer vision and robotics, documented the project as he developed what he calls "the ultimate mosquito killer," turning a simple household annoyance into an engineering challenge.......…..Read More

AI-powered blood test could transform dementia diagnosis

Researchers have developed an AI classifier that can accurately distinguish among several major neurodegenerative diseases....…..Read More

High social media use linked to ‘small’ increase in depressive symptoms in teens

A study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute found young people who spent at least two hours a day on social media were more likely to have mental health side effects. About 1,200 Melbourne school students were asked to self-report their social media usage and mental health for almost a decade. The findings showed a “small increased risk” in depressive symptoms and anxiety, particularly among 12-13-year-old girls. PH - despite the limited evidence and small effects the social media an resonates with parents even though it does not seem to be effective. Politics over wellbeing?.....…..Read More

Stellantis and Factorial put solid state batteries to the test in Dodge Charger EV

Stellantis and battery manufacturer Factorial have showcased a Dodge Charger Daytona prototype, operating on next-generation solid state battery cells. The announcement comes as a significant number of OEMs, including Stellantis, consider switching from conventional lithium-ion batteries to solid state batteries in some of their future electric models...……. Read More

Midjourney, the AI image generator, is developing a full-body ultrasonic scanner

After you step on a platform, Midjourney’s scanner will submerge you in water at a rate of 2 inches per second. Your body passes through a ring made of half a million squares the size of a grain of sand, with each one of them capable of emitting ultrasonic waves and of recording the ripples that bounce off your body and back to it.  The company compares them to dolphins that use echolocation, so going through a scan is like being surrounded by half a million tiny dolphins from every angle.…..Read More

Instagram is alerting users who were targeted by hackers during AI chatbot attacks

The widespread hacking campaign that relied on simply asking Meta AI’s chatbot to take over a victim’s Instagram account appears to have continued even after the company said the issue had been resolved. Meanwhile, the company has been scrambling to secure the targeted accounts and alert victims......…..Read more

Stripe, Anthropic, and OpenAI are backing an effort to stop respiratory infections

“I think we treat respiratory infections as a minor nuisance, but have really underweighted the burden that they impose on society,” says Nan Ransohoff, the Stripe executive leading the initiative along with Charlie Petty, a venture capitalist who joined Stripe this year. On average, people spend 5% of their lifetime fighting a cold or the flu, according to Ransohoff....……. Read More

General-purpose large language models outperform specialized clinical AI tools on medical benchmarks

. PH -the value of larger datasets?.........…..Read more

Engineered hookworms could one day dispense drugs from inside your gut

Using CRISPR-based gene editing, scientists have engineered hookworms that live in the human gut to make an antibody against a deadly toxin, researchers report June 3 in Nature Communications......​....…..Read more

Regenerative agriculture improves productivity and profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions on Australian sheep farms

Persistent trade-offs between economic and environmental outcomes indicate that grazing regimes delivering the greatest Soil Organic Carbon accrual and GHG mitigation are not necessarily the most profitable, reinforcing the need to rationalize objectives when designing resilient, practical and low-emissions farming systems.PH: Also worth reading this commentary on the issues: Australia’s Sheep Farmers Were Sold A Carbon Dream. Nature Just Ran the Numbers......​....…..Read more

London reaches 3,000 zero-emission buses in push for clean fleet

London’s Transport for London (TfL) has reached 3,000 zero-emission buses in service, a 100-fold increase since 2016 and equivalent to around a third of its total bus fleet. The overwhelming majority of this 3,000 units are battery-electric buses, with a small number of hydrogen buses also in operation.......…..Read more

Would you buy milk from a gene‑edited cow? Consumers may be more open than you think

As temperatures rise, dairy farmers face a growing challenge: keeping cows cool enough to remain productive. Heat stress can reduce milk production, harm animals and lower the environmental efficiency of dairy farming. For an economy so heavily reliant on dairy exports, the stakes are significant......…..Read more

EV market share record in Europe: Nearly 1 in 4 cars sold are fully-electric

Across 17 key European markets, 212,387 EVs were sold in May alone, accounting for 23.6% of new cars sold in the period. This brings the year-to-date EV registrations to nearly one million, with 962,010 electric cars sold across these 17 territories so far this year.......​....…..Read more

What can a neuron compute

It is amazing what a single neuron can do......​....…..Read more

BYD Becomes World’s First Automaker to Pledge Full Damage Coverage for Both Intelligent Parking and Urban NOA

BYD pledged Full Damage Coverage for the Urban Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) function of its God's Eye - BYD Intelligent Driving System in China....​....…..Read more

You probably haven’t heard of Yichang. You should.

Yichang already has more than 100 GWh of battery cell production capacity in operation or under construction. CORNEX is building toward 145 GWh on a single site. Envision AESC is investing RMB 24.2 billion in 100 GWh of large-format storage cells. Sunwoda's joint venture with Dongfeng is producing EV cells at 30 GWh. On the materials side, Brunp — the CATL subsidiary — went from signing a contract in January 2025 to operating a 450,000 tonnes-per-year LFP cathode plant in December of the same year. Eleven months……….. Read more

Welcome to our fourth newsletter for 2026.

In the next few weeks Paul will be concentrating on program reviews and business modelling for Deaf Children Australia, business modelling for Blue Light Victoria and the formal launch of the new low bono consulting service at Social Venture Partners Melbourne. He has also taken on the role of Chair of the board selection committee for Dairy Australia which will be completing its task of recommending directors to the board over the next two months.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition (again) was:

Norway just ordered 20 ‘flying’ electric ferries in historic deal

The order comes from Norwegian transport operator Boreal AS and will see the futuristic “flying” ferries deployed along Norway’s rugged coastline and fjords, where electrifying high-speed routes has long been a challenge....……. Read More

What are we Writing About?

Paul has written a series of posts on long term political scenarios flowing from the Farrer by-election. you can see the first one at: Futures, Damned Futures, and Statistics and follow the rest from there.

What’s Emerging

Solinftec’s self-refilling spray robots close the loop on 24:7 autonomy on the farm

Solinftec now has over 300 solar-powered robots to spot spray weeds and collect intelligence operating on farms globally, with up to 60 expected to utilize autonomous refilling capabilities this year. When the robot senses it is running out of product, it goes to the docking station, connects itself, refills with chemicals and then goes back to work......…..Read More

Batteries continue to muscle out coal and gas

A huge surge in large batteries coming online in the past three months has continued to benefit the National Electricity Market at the expense of fossil fuels...…..Read More

More than 1 in 3 Australian adults are functionally illiterate

NAPLAN results indicate one in three primary and secondary students do not meet basic national standards in reading and writing. The picture is likely worse for adults.The most recent data we have is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s 2013 survey assessing adult competencies. It found 44% of Australian adults have literacy skills below the “necessary proficiency level for navigating modern work and life”. In other words, they were functionally illiterate. PH - this number astounded me.....…..Read More

Public transport use in London is operating at about 80% of pre-COVID levels

PH: We published a series of scenarios and conducted work for companies with an interest in CBD properties and services during 2020. our worst-case scenario was A Bloodbath for CBD Commercial Office Space? – One future for commercial office space in Australia. While this has not come true our median scenario of a 75% reduction in workers going into the CBD on average seems close to the mark. I certainly see it when looking for car parks at our local railway station. I am much more likely to find a spot on Mondays and Fridays which indicates long weekends are a norm for a lot of people. this has been skewed a bit recently as free public transport in Victoria and higher fuel prices seem to have pushed more commuters on to the public transport system..……. Read More

Genome engineering of plant photosynthesis for carbon sequestration

Plant-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) presents a scalable, economically viable path to atmospheric carbon sequestration through soil carbon deposition, dedicated biomass cultivation and strategic agroforestry. Although photosynthesis drives terrestrial carbon capture, effective CDR strategies demand genetic optimization of carbon assimilation, retention and storage. The regulatory landscape is restrictive towards transgenic crops yet permissive of genome editing, creating a window for intervention..…..Read More

NASA has revealed its plan to live on the Moon. Here’s how it would work

On Tuesday, local time, the US space agency unveiled its first blueprint for a permanent lunar outpost, involving robotic landers, moon buggies and hopping drones. Under the Artemis program, NASA has awarded contracts to four US companies, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, to begin building the infrastructure needed for long-term human missions on the lunar surface.....…..Read more

1 Million Balcony Solar Panels, Zero Incidents, and the Utilities Fighting to Stop Them

Germany’s largest distributed energy success story isn’t offshore wind or grid-scale battery storage. It’s a $1,500 appliance that plugs into a standard wall outlet. As of June 2025, Germany had 1,031,298 registered balcony solar installations — up from roughly 500,000 a year earlier, a full doubling in twelve months. Combined, those panels produce nearly 1 gigawatt of electricity. Across that million-plus installation base, the safety incident count for compliant systems stands at zero. PH: an amazing success story and something we should be looking at in Australia....……. Read More

Holes in Australia’s sovereign capability exposed by Iran war supply chain issues

Along with the vulnerability of global supply chains, the Iran war has also exposed the overlooked parts of Australia’s manufacturing sector needed in a crisis. Fuel and fertiliser supply disruptions are making headlines, but access to crucial manufacturing chemicals, plastic for food packaging, and yarn to make clothing is also waning. PH - this post from the Tony Blair Institute poses an interesting idea on how to deal with this in the long term. It divides the problem into three areas; Strategic autonomy where you need control of your supply chain; Market resilience where diversified supply chains are the best response; and Latent capability where a fund that supports latent capacity that could be quickly scaled up. .........…..Read more

Unitree Unveils: GD01, A Manned Transformable Mecha, from $650,000

PH: what could possibly go wrong?

Sodium-ion batteries now a commercial reality, as CATL secures world’s largest order

Chinese battery giant CATL has signed the world’s largest sodium-ion battery order to date, agreeing to supply 60 GWh worth of batteries over three years to to Chinese energy storage firm HyperStrong, who create battery storage systems for residential, commercial, and EV charging purposes.....​....…..Read more

The AI Labor Debate: Three Views on the Future of Work

AI could hollow out jobs, reshape them gradually, create entirely new ones—or do all three at once. The case for starting to act now doesn’t depend on knowing which.......…..Read more

AI Rings on Fingers Can Interpret Sign Language

The wireless devices may also have virtual reality and augmented reality applications.....…..Read more

A de-extinction company has hatched live chicks from an artificial eggshell

Colossal’s CEO Ben Lamm said the artificial egg technology could one day be scaled up to genetically tweak living birds to resemble New Zealand’s extinct South Island giant moa, whose eggs are 80 times the size of a chicken’s and would be difficult for any modern bird to lay. “We wanted to build something that nature has done a pretty good job of developing and make it better and scalable and even more efficient,” Lamm said......​....…..Read more

Synthetic Customers Earn Their Stripes

AI-generated representations of real customers—have reached an inflection point that goes beyond qualitative exploration toward structured, repeatable, and accurate quantitative insights. These proxies can come in the form of one-to-one digital twins of customers or segment-based personas derived from a mix of internal company data (such as transactional, behavioral, demographic, and voice-of-the-customer research data) and external sources (product reviews and social media scraping)......​....…..Read more

UK EV buyers have more choice than ever, with 167 models now on the market

The average new EV now has a range of over 300 miles, and some of the latest models on sale, such as the BMW iX3, are now pushing 500 miles. When it comes to price, an ever increasing number of EVs are achieving price parity with their fossil fuelled counterparts, most recently evidenced with pricing for the Skoda Epiq....​....…..Read more

World’s Largest Sand Battery

State media control influences large language models

Millions of people around the world query large language models (LLMs) for information. Although several studies have compellingly documented the persuasive potential of these models, there is limited evidence of who or what influences the models themselves, leading to a flurry of concerns about which companies and governments build and regulate the models. Here the authors show through six studies that government control of the media across the world already influences the output of LLMs via their training data ....​....…..Read more

Cheaper, cleaner electric trucks overhaul China’s logistics

“Last year was the breakthrough for heavy electrified vehicles in China,” Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and expert on China’s energy consumption, told AFP. “If the infrastructure is there, the economics are there for an increasing number of logistics routes and requirements,” he said..​....…..Read more

L.A. 2013

On April 3, 1988, the Los Angeles Times Magazine pub­lished a 25-year look ahead to 2013. PH: a fascinating look at what influenced future thinking in 1988......…..Read more

We have moved the newsletter to a monthly cycle now.

In the next few weeks Paul will be concentrating on program reviews and business modelling for Deaf Children Australia, business modelling for Blue Light Victoria and the formal launch of the new low bono consulting service at Social Venture Partners Melbourne.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition (again) was:

Iran crippled Starlink and why the rest of the world should worry

Iran is systematically crippling Starlink, the satellite internet service said to be almost impossible to jam. Military-grade GPS jammers deployed since January 8 have cut satellite internet performance by as much as 80% in parts of the country, according to Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights at the Miaan Group, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on Iranian internet censorship and digital rights..…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition.

What’s Emerging

How a robot named Bear is making solar farm maintenance safer and more efficient

Australia’s national science agency has repurposed robots originally designed for the mining industry to track across thousands of kilometres harsh terrain and inspect the hundreds of thousands of solar panels that make up large-scale PV projects, hunting out any faults they might have........…..Read More

More than a third of Australians seeking food relief are doing so for the first time, new survey finds

Oz Harvest’s annual Frontline Report surveyed about 875 food charities in every jurisdiction in Australia, except for the Northern Territory. About 70 per cent of frontline charities have said demand has increased with about 350,000 people accessing services each month...…..Read More

Nvidia unveils AI computing module for space-based data centers

Nvidia is pushing its artificial-intelligence hardware beyond Earth, unveiling a computing module designed for space missions and potential orbital data centers. The California-based company said March 16 at its annual GTC conference in San Jose that it is developing the Space-1 Vera Rubin Module, a computing system intended to bring more powerful AI processing to satellites and other space platforms......…..Read More

Norway just ordered 20 ‘flying’ electric ferries in historic deal

The order comes from Norwegian transport operator Boreal AS and will see the futuristic “flying” ferries deployed along Norway’s rugged coastline and fjords, where electrifying high-speed routes has long been a challenge....……. Read More

The U.S. Is Pushing Southeast Asia Toward China. The Iran War Made It Worse.

A new survey of Southeast Asian opinion leaders shows they prefer China to the United States as a partner, while the region’s biggest geopolitical concern is U.S. global leadership..…..Read More

Battery costs have declined by 99% in the last three decades, making electrified transport a reality

Over 20 million electric cars were sold globally in 2025. Most of these cars sold for around $40,000, but some are now as cheap as $10,000. Even just two decades ago, these prices and sales figures would have been impossible. That’s because the batteries were far too expensive......…..Read more

Trippy tobacco? Plants engineered to make five psychedelics at once

“Magic mushrooms” make psilocybin. Tropical plants make the ingredients of the psychoactive ayahuasca. And toads secrete the mind-altering bufotenin. Now, the tobacco plant makes them all. Thanks to some genetic tinkering, researchers have engineered a close relative of the crop traditionally known for its use in cigarettes to manufacture a wide variety of psychedelics, they report today in Science Advances.....……. Read More

Public EV charging prices now undercut petrol in the UK

It’s already well established that charging an EV at home, particularly on an EV-dedicated energy tariff, can net substantial cost savings over a petrol or diesel car, with running costs as low as 2p per mile on some cases. But, with pump prices for petrol and diesel rising over the last couple of months, even some public charging is undercutting the cost of filling up a combustion engined car. PH: public charging costs are generally cheaper in Australia than the UK (in the 30-60c/KwH range). I see that the charger at the Woolworths up the road from us now has idling charges, so you can charge your car but 15 minutes after it finishes charging you get charged $1/min. I think this is a great idea to stop people hogging the spots. I have the Charge Fox app on my phone which identifies local charging spots and gives you the plugs type and costs. Useful, even though 99% of our charging is at home..........…..Read more

Amazon to acquire Globalstar and expand Amazon Leo satellite network

Globalstar satellites, radio frequency spectrum, and operational expertise will enable Amazon Leo to add Direct-to-Device (D2D) services to future generations of its low Earth orbit satellite network......…..Read more

New plastic film covered in thousands of tiny pillars can tear apart viruses on contact

This material is a thin acrylic film covered in thousands and thousands of ultra fine pillars. The nanotextured materials are smooth to touch. However, these nanopillars grab and stretch a virus’s outer shell until it ruptures. This kills viruses through mechanical force....​....…..Read more

International team takes first steps in mapping wheat biology at single-cell resolution

An international consortium of more than 80 researchers from over 30 institutions across nine countries is calling for a coordinated, worldwide effort to map gene expression across every cell type and developmental stage of wheat.

In a major perspective article published in Nature Genetics, the Wheat Spatial Omics Consortium (WSOC), led by researchers from Murdoch University’s Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI), Adelaide University, BGI Research and Xianghu Laboratory present a strategic framework outlining how spatial omics technologies can transform wheat research by revealing how individual cell types respond to stress, regulate grain development and control yield-related traits.........…..Read more

How men ‘marrying up’ became the norm

For the first time, more men than women are “marrying up” the education ladder, toppling the millennia-old tradition of women marrying men with more education than themselves, exclusive analysis has revealed.....…..Read more

YouTube Lays Claim to Another Crown: The World’s Largest Media Company

YouTube had more than $60 billion in revenue in 2025, parent company Alphabet reported last month. Now, the influential financial research firm MoffettNathanson runs the numbers and comes to the conclusion that YouTube’s estimated $62 billion in 2025 will have allowed it to pass The Walt Disney Co.’s media business, which generated $60.9 billion last year (excluding Disney’s lucrative experiences division).....​....…..Read more

An Entire Book Was Written in DNA—and You Can Buy It for $60

What may be the first commercially available book saved in DNA is the latest example of how consumers might use molecular data storage.....​....…..Read more

Evaluation of Claude Mythos Preview’s cyber capabilities

The AI Security Institute (AISI) conducted evaluations of Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview (announced on 7th April) to assess its cybersecurity capabilities. The results show that Mythos Preview represents a step up over previous frontier models in a landscape where cyber performance was already rapidly improving....​....…..Read more

Over a third of new UK buses are fully electric

Of the 588 zero-emission buses registered in the quarter, SMMT hasn’t provided a specific breakdown on which of those are either battery-electric or hydrogen. However, hydrogen buses have failed to take off in the UK, most recently evidenced when Aberdeen scrapped its fleet of hydrogen buses. With such a small number of hydrogen-powered buses operating on UK roads, it’s safe to assume that the vast majority of those 588 buses will be battery-electric models....​....…..Read more

Mining on the Moon the next space race in the bid to explore the final frontier

As technology advances amid the race to send people to Mars, scientists and corporations are exploring how the Moon can be mined.Here is a breakdown of some of the physical, environmental, legal and ethical challenges involved in Moon mining, according to a scientist, an engineer, a lawyer and an archaeologist...​....…..Read more

China’s AI Companies Are Going Closed Source

Last week, two of China’s leading labs announced they were pushing closed frontier models. Alibaba’s Qwen team launched Qwen3.6-Plus and Qwen3.5-Omni as hosted offerings on Alibaba Cloud. Z.ai recently announced that GLM-5-Turbo is being rolled out as a closed-source model. Globally competitive video models like ByteDance’s Seedance 2.0 and Kuaishou’s Kling 3.0 are both proprietary.¹ Why? Because teams training Chinese AI models need to make money. ....​....…..Read more

‘First contact’ that may have led to complex life on Earth finally witnessed by scientists

One of the most significant events in the evolution of life is the origin of the eukaryotic cell. Despite recent advances, the driving forces behind the emergence of complex eukaryotic attributes remain a gap in our knowledge..​....…..Read more

Would you use eyedrops, made from pig semen?

Published in Science Advances in March 2026, a team at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in China has developed an extraordinary new approach to treating retinoblastoma; a cancer of the retina that strikes mostly young children......…..Read more

Welcome to our second newsletter for 2026.

We have moved the newsletter to a monthly cycle now. This issue is a bit more thematic with elective vehicles and batteries/AI/and ag breakthroughs the main areas.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was:

Iran crippled Starlink and why the rest of the world should worry

Iran is systematically crippling Starlink, the satellite internet service said to be almost impossible to jam. Military-grade GPS jammers deployed since January 8 have cut satellite internet performance by as much as 80% in parts of the country, according to Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights at the Miaan Group, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on Iranian internet censorship and digital rights..…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition.

What’s Emerging

BYD’s New Stations Make EV Charging Basically As Quick As Getting Gas

The company's new “Flash” chargers can deliver 1,500 kilowatts (1.5 megawatts) of peak charging power, thanks to 1,500 amps of current and a 1,000-volt base architecture. That’s three times the peak charging speeds Tesla’s latest V4 Superchargers can deliver......…..Read More

Kempower reaches megawatt truck charging milestone in California

Kempower has completed its first MCS charging session in North America, with its Mega Satellite charging unit deployed at EV Realty’s San Bernardino truck charging site in California. The test, carried out with a Windrose electric truck, moves megawatt charging out of the lab and into a live logistics environment..…..Read More

Upcoming Renault EV platform to offer range of up to 466 miles

The architecture will allow for a potential battery range of up to 466 miles on the WLTP cycle. With an optional range extender, this increases to an estimated 869 miles on the WLTP cycle.

Renault Group has confirmed that its next generation of C to D segment vehicles will be built on this new platform. This suggests that the future iterations of its models such as the C-segment Megane will benefit from the new technology.......…..Read More

From the Far Future: Superextensive electrical power from a quantum battery

Superextensivity, where the response of a physical system scales super-linearly with size, originates from collective quantum effects and provides a promising route to augment next-generation quantum technologies. While recent work has demonstrated superextensive behaviour in the coherent dynamics of quantum systems, these effects typically occur on short timescales, prohibiting their practical utility. These results provide the first experimental demonstration of superextensive light-to-charge conversion in steady-state, highlighting the feasibility of leveraging strong light–matter coupling for enhanced energy harvesting under low-light conditions....……. Read More

Living Models emerges from stealth with $7m to build AI ‘foundation models’ for plant genomics

Paris-Berkeley-based start-up unveils BOTANIC, an open‑weight genomic transformer trained on 43 plant species, and says its approach could cut years from the seed development cycle.…..Read More

Discovery of genetic switch could help turn rice into a perennial crop

Rice is a vital crop that feeds more than half of the world's population. In the wild, many rice species are perennials that live for several years, but the varieties we eat today are typically annuals that must be replanted every season. In a new study published in Science, researchers have discovered a key genetic switch that enables wild rice to live for years. This development could pave the way for crops that stay in the ground for several harvests.....…..Read more

The new health-boosting wheat ready to change the Western diet

High-amylose wheat, largely developed by the CSIRO, has taken 20 years to get here. Crucially, this beneficial fibre, known as resistant starch, is undetectable in flour-based baked goods such as white bread, pasta, pizza bases and tortillas.

“The goods that it’s baked into are then naturally higher in fibre without any compromise on taste or texture,” flour miller Joel Tazzyman said.

....……. Read More

How US Teens Use and View AI

Just over half of U.S. teens say they have used chatbots for help with schoolwork, and 12% say they’ve gotten emotional support. More teens think AI will be positive for them than negative.........…..Read more

AI-powered refund abuse and dispute fraud: The democratization of deception

A new wave of refund abuse is upon us. Both professional fraudsters and first parties are dipping their toes into the opportunistic abuse made possible by widely available GenAI models – such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and others – to realistically edit pictures of products, making them look dirty, torn, broken, damaged or otherwise faulty......…..Read more

When People Never See Your App: Designing Brands for the Agentic Economy

As search and brand experience move in-line with agentic conversations and GenAI begins to disintermediate brands from their customers, many are asking the same question: What happens when your app (or website) is no longer the front door to your product or service?......​....…..Read more

Netflix acquires Ben Affleck’s AI company

In a video accompanying the company’s announcement on Thursday, Ben Affleck said InterPositive’s technology helps filmmakers to build their own, proprietary AI models based on the scenes they’ve already shot, and then use that data to help solve otherwise laborious details.

“You can use your own model to remove the wires on stunts, reframe a shot, get a shot you missed, shape the lighting, enhance the backgrounds,” said the Oscar-winning director, producer, writer and actor, who has also joined Netflix as a senior advisor........…..Read more

Customer reviews become a key battleground as AI revolutionizes product discovery

To better pop up in AI search results, brands are placing a bigger emphasis on getting more customers to leave reviews. In recent months, for instance, dog food brand Pawco started offering customers $20 off if they left a review after their third order. Meanwhile, Fireclay Tile has become “more deliberate” about soliciting reviews, Edelson said. The company sends customers personalized notes asking for reviews, and it holds contests among employees to see who can drum up the most reviews.....…..Read more

The Nano Banana Effect: How Google’s Viral AI is Reshaping Architectural Visualization

Nano Banana Pro is not an architect or designer. It is a mirror. It reflects our ideas back to us, sharper and brighter than we imagined, but it still requires a human hand to hold it stable.....​....…..Read more

Ex-Meta AI chief Yann LeCun’s AMI raises $1.03 billion for alternative AI approach

Advanced Machine Intelligence, the startup founded by former Meta Platforms chief AI scientist Yann LeCun, said ​it raised $1.03 billion based on a $3.50 billion pre-money valuation, as it ‌seeks to commercialize artificial intelligence systems built around reasoning, planning and “world models.” The financing positions the company as a test of LeCun’s belief that today’s large language models fall ​short of human-level reasoning and autonomy.....​....…..Read more

Renewables investment outpacing net zero requirements

Investment in new renewable energy projects is running laps around the targets required for Australia to hit its net zero targets, RenewMap has found in a new analysis showing the gap between ambition and delivery. Some 450GW of renewables are currently under development in the NEM – more than twice as much as the 200GW previously said to be required by 2050 for Australia to meet its targets and replace its coal fleet....​....…..Read more

As Australians queue for fuel, they should ask themselves one question

Australians queuing this week to pay soaring prices for petrol and diesel should ask themselves a simple question: why has China spent the past 15 years building the world’s largest renewable energy system? Why has China poured trillions into manufacturing and exporting electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and smart grids — to the point that as you sit in traffic in Australia, you are increasingly likely to be behind a Chinese-made BYD than a Tesla?

Here’s a hint: it’s not just — or even mainly — about climate change.

It’s about national security.....​....…..Read more

At least 61 English language news publishers now have 100k+ online subs

New entrants on Press Gazette’s 100k Club ranking of the biggest subscription news websites in the world include in 2026 include The Irish Times Group, Goalhanger and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. PH: I wrote a long time ago that the key for survival in news media was a global audience of subscribers and that not that many would survive in that market and used the New York Times as an exemplar....​....…..Read more

Drones Like Bicycles

An Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone is a simple weapon. The delta wings, which span 2.5 meters, are made of fiberglass and end in two fixed vertical stabilizers. The rear control fins are operated by simple servos. The drone carries an autopilot system, a global positioning receiver, and a data module. Propulsion is provided by a basic air-cooled four piston motor, made of cast aluminum, producing 50 horsepower to drive a pusher propeller. While built to aviation specifications, the motor is not unlike that found on a small motorcycle. The drone can fly at a speed of 185 kilometers per hour while carrying a 40-kilogram warhead over a distance of 2,000 kilometers. PH: an interesting look at the manufacture of thes drones which have upended global warfare ....​....…..Read more

These charts show how Trump is isolating the US on the world stage

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has accelerated a profound shift in the global order, according to new analysis. A report from Focaldata, which analyses UN voting records, reveals how Washington’s “America First” agenda has started to redraw the geopolitical map in favour of China. In 2026, the world is now diplomatically closer to Beijing than it has been in recent memory, with significant shifts in alignments taking place during the start of Trump’s second presidential term..​....…..Read more

All 5 fundamental units of life’s genetic code were just discovered in an asteroid sample

A new study reveals all five fundamental nucleobases – the molecular “letters” of life – have been detected in samples from the asteroid Ryugu.Asteroid particles offer a glimpse into the chemical ingredients that may have helped kindle life on Earth. The Ryugu samples were returned from space in 2020 by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission.....​....…..Read more

Amazon overtakes USPS as top delivery provider by volume

The e-commerce giant delivered 6.7 billion packages last year, narrowly usurping the Postal Service, according to ShipMatrix.....…..Read more

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2026.

We have moved the newsletter to a monthly cycle now.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was:

‘AI eats the world’

Every 6 months Benedict Evans produces a big presentation. They are always worth looking at.......…..Read more

What are we Writing About?

Paul wrote a piece for Our Community on what not for profit leaders need to know when thinking about the year ahead you can read it at https://www.communitydirectors.com.au/articles/what-not-for-profit-leaders-need-to-know-in-2026

What’s Emerging

Carbon Robotics Launches the World’s First-Ever Large Plant Model

Trained on the largest, most diverse, and fastest growing agricultural dataset ever built with 150 million labeled plants, the LPM enables farmers to start laser weeding any field or crop in minutes.PH - as readers would know we are not that taken with largest being best in this field. Check out Swarm Farm Robotics for a smaller more modular approach.......…..Read More

Dramatic changes in upper atmosphere are responsible for recent droughts and bushfires: new research

Eight to ten kilometres above the ground, the fast-flowing jet stream air currents have shifted further southwards, dragging rain-bearing winter weather systems away from Australia’s southern coastline. This means southern Australia has experienced at least 25% less annual rainfall and is currently gripped by a continuing drought...…..Read More

Fortescue trials battery-electric locomotives in Pilbara as decarbonisation race tightens

Fortescue launched two battery-electric locomotives, rounding out its fleet of 70 diesel-powered machines hauling precious iron-ore from pit to port.......…..Read More

Algae Cultivated in Labs Effectively Eliminate Microplastics from Water

Susie Dai, a distinguished professor in the College of Engineering and the principal investigator at the Bond Life Sciences Center, has recently developed a remarkable strain of algae designed to capture microplastics from polluted water sources. These microplastics, prevalent in lakes, rivers, wastewater, and even the fish humans consume, represent a silent threat with far-reaching ecological and health implications. Traditional wastewater treatment plants fail to trap these minuscule particles effectively, creating a growing environmental quandary. Dai’s approach not only targets the removal of these pollutants but also envisions a circular economy model where captured microplastics are upcycled into valuable bioplastic materials...……. Read More

Iran crippled Starlink and why the rest of the world should worry

Iran is systematically crippling Starlink, the satellite internet service said to be almost impossible to jam. Military-grade GPS jammers deployed since January 8 have cut satellite internet performance by as much as 80% in parts of the country, according to Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights at the Miaan Group, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on Iranian internet censorship and digital rights..…..Read More

Amazon to close Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores

Amazon is shutting down all of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go physical grocery and convenience stores as it shifts focus toward Whole Foods Market and faster online grocery delivery, marking the end of the company’s decade-long experiment with Amazon-branded brick-and-mortar grocery stores......…..Read more

Project Genie: Experimenting with infinite, interactive worlds

Project Genie is a prototype web app powered by Genie 3, Nano Banana Pro and Gemini, which allows users to experiment with the immersive experiences of a world model firsthand.

The experience is centred on three core capabilities:

1. World sketching

Prompt with text and generated or uploaded images to create a living, expanding environment. Create your character, your world, and define how you want to explore it — from walking to riding, flying to driving, and anything beyond

2. World exploration

Your world is a navigable environment that’s waiting to be explored. As you move, Project Genie generates the path ahead in real time based on the actions you take. You can also adjust the camera as you traverse through the world.

3. World remixing

Remix existing worlds into new interpretations, by building on top of their prompts. You can also explore curated worlds in the gallery or by selecting the randomizer icon for inspiration, or build on top of them. And once you’re done, you can download videos of your worlds and your explorations.

....……. Read More

World’s first one-piece cast aluminium vehicle frame revealed on BYD Yangwang U8L

The frame addresses previous manufacturing limits for ultra-large thin-walled components. It achieves a projected area of 4.2 square meters and a wall thickness ranging from 4 millimetres to 50 millimetres, a ratio exceeding 12:1. Hantek states that no prior global project has successfully cast a frame with such extreme thickness variation. Conventional all-aluminium frames typically require assembly from dozens of separate components through welding, riveting, or other joining methods. These processes are complex and costly, and joints often become structural weak points, affecting rigidity and safety.........…..Read more

Longer roots for drought? How an edited protein could reshape crop resilience

Researchers in the Walter Gassmann lab at Mizzou's Bond Life Sciences Center have discovered how a specific protein known as SRFR1 plays a critical role in how deeply plant roots grow underground. Even more promising, they unlocked a way to manipulate this protein to encourage longer root growth, a trait that can potentially help plants better withstand drought......…..Read more

Goldman Sachs taps Anthropic’s Claude to automate accounting, compliance roles

The bank has, for the past six months, been working with embedded Anthropic engineers to co-develop autonomous agents in at least two specific areas: accounting for trades and transactions, and client vetting and onboarding, according to Marco Argenti, Goldman’s chief information officer......​....…..Read more

Geotab EV battery survey shows minimal degradation across 22,700 EVs

The latest survey shows that on average, EV batteries are degrading at a rate of 2.3%. This means that on average, a new EV is expected to have 81.6% of its original battery capacity after eight years of ownership (effectively reducing its possible range by around 20%).

Surprisingly, the 2.3% annual degradation rate is actually up on Geotab’s similar survey ran in 2023, where the average degradation rate stood at 1.8% per year. However, Geotab notes that much of this rise could be down the growth in use of high-power public charging, particularly those units with charging rates above 100kW which are known to slightly speed up battery degradation. Within the data, Geotab found that for EVs where less than 12% of total charging took place on DC fast chargers, average degradation stood at 1.5%. For EVs that carrried out more than 12% of charging on DC fast chargers, degradation stood at a notably higher 2.5%.......…..Read more

Vegetable scraps to be turned into bioenergy by Scenic Rim farm as part of $291 million project

The 40-hectare precinct will turn processing offcuts, farm waste and rotational crops into renewable natural gas through a process known as anaerobic digestion......​....…..Read more

Deep-sea fish larvae rewrite the rules of how eyes can be built

For decades, scientists have thought that, as vertebrates grow, the development of their retina follows a predictable pattern: cones form first, then rods. But the deep-sea fish we studied do not follow this rule. As larvae, they mostly use a mix-and-match type of hybrid photoreceptor. The cells they are using early on look like rods but use the molecular machinery of cones, making them rod-like cones.

In some of the species we studied, these hybrid cells were a temporary solution, replaced by “normal” rods as the fish grew and migrated into deeper, darker waters. However, in the hatchetfish, which spends its whole life in twilight, the adults keep their rod-like cone cells throughout life, essentially building their entire visual system around this extra type of cell. PH: a great example of how hard it is to imagine different ways of being when we are locked into certain mental models.....​....…..Read more

Wing and Walmart expand drone delivery to 150 new stores coast to coast

Walmart and Wing will establish a network of over 270 drone delivery locations in 2027, stretching from Los Angeles to Miami....​....…..Read more

Narrative Violation: Social media time does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems – study

Research finds no evidence heavier social media use or more gaming increases symptoms of anxiety or depression. Increases in girls’ and boys’ social media use from year 8 to year 9 and from year 9 to year 10 had zero detrimental impact on their mental health the following year, the authors found. More time spent gaming also had a zero negative effect on pupils’ mental health. PH: This research and many other studies how that parents “gut” feelings and government responses to public sentiment are not well placed...​....…..Read more

T-Mobile Live Translation.

T-Mobile is offering live translation on its mobile network with no apps and no fees....​....…..Read more

Living Sensors Turn Soybeans into Fungal Disease Detectives

Soybeans are placed in sentinel plots that act like an early alert system in a defined geography. The soybeans emit a fluorescent optical signal within 48 hours of a fungal infection – before any visible symptoms appear. CropVoice analyzes the data coming from the plots 24/7. If a foliar disease moves into the plots, farmers and retailers working with InnerPlant are alerted that the disease is in their area....​....…..Read more

We have moved the newsletter to a monthly cycle now and we do not do a newsletter for the end of December so the next edition will be at the end of January.

For the next few weeks Paul will be concentrating on his role at Social Venture Partners Melbourne and building up the low bono consulting business with them.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was :

Exoskeletons including high-tech glove trialled to reduce workplace injuries

Retail giant Ikea has already gone global with exoskeletons, rolling out more than 400 units across 14 countries last year to reduce warehouse injuries and fatigue. The company says the technology helps minimise the physical toll of heavy lifting and repetitive motion, allowing workers to finish shifts with “more energy”......…..Read more

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition

What’s Emerging

Genomic evidence supports the “long chronology” for the peopling of Sahul

The timing of the settlement of Sahul—the Pleistocene landmass formed by present-day New Guinea, Australia, and Tasmania that existed until ~9000 years ago (~9 ka)—remains highly contentious. The so-called “long chronology” posits the first main arrivals at ~60 to 65 ka, whereas a “short chronology” proposes 47 to 51 ka........…..Read More

Genetically engineered fungi are protein-packed, sustainable, and taste similar to meat

In a new study published in Trends in Biotechnology, researchers used a gene-editing technology called CRISPR to increase a fungus’s production efficiency and cut its production-related environmental impact by as much as 61%—all without adding any foreign DNA. The genetically tweaked fungus tastes like meat and is easier to digest than its naturally occurring counterpart..…..Read More

Australia’s heaviest trucks go electric with zero-emission freight depot

New Energy Transport plans to establish a pilot fleet of heavy electric trucks in Wilton, south-west of Sydney, by the middle of 2026. The company says it will be Australia’s largest electric trucking depot. The site will initially house up to 50 heavy electric prime movers, with plans to grow the fleet to 200 vehicles by 2031.PH: when I posted this on social media I got a fair bit of abuse. Why are people so against solutions that involve electric vehicles? They either work or they don’t......…..Read More

The threat of space terrorism is no longer science fiction, but we’re ill-prepared to combat it

Over the past decade, the proliferation of commercial space ventures and the reduced costs of developing satellite technology have dramatically lowered the barriers to entry for “spacefaring”. This shift has empowered not only governments but also private corporations and, alarmingly, non-state actors. Groups and individuals once considered insignificant in the realm of space security are now capable of launching cyber attacks on satellites and ground stations...……. Read More

Brands Rush to Reddit, Boosting Ad Spend and Gaming AI Search

Advertisers are increasingly putting their digital ad spend into Reddit, drawn by the platform’s growing audience and its influence on AI-powered search results, according to buyers and a slide deck viewed by ADWEEK..…..Read More

Millennials are the first generation to move left as they age, rewriting the rules of Australian politics

Millennials came of age as the internet and smartphones redefined the world, and now they are the generation rewriting the rules of Australian politics. They are defying the long-held wisdom that voters often become more conservative as they age, and are, in fact, becoming more progressive as they mature. The findings come from the latest Australian Election Study (AES) from the Australian National University, one of the most substantial deep dives into voting trends at federal elections conducted since 1987. PH: my father used to repeat to me “if you don’t vote left when you bare 20 you don’t have a heart and if you don’t vote right when you are 40 you don’t have a brain” That is old news......…..Read more

Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI

Two teenage founders walked into Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham’s backyard with an idea no one in agriculture seemed to want — an AI model to help design better pesticides. By the time they left, they had a new business model, a new company, and eventually, Graham’s backing. Now, that reimagined company — Bindwell — has raised $6 million in a seed round, co-led by General Catalyst and A Capital, with a personal check from Graham himself. Rather than selling AI tools to legacy agrochemical giants, the startup is using its own models to design new pesticide molecules in-house and license the IP directly — a shift in strategy aimed at modernizing a legacy industry still dominated by decades-old chemistry.....……. Read More

Electric container ships won’t work – but a fleet of auxiliary battery ships could clean up shipping

PH: an interesting concept........…..Read more

Agentic AI in Retail: How Autonomous Shopping Is Redefining the Customer Journey

This holiday season, Santa’s not the only one with a team of helpers. Artificial intelligent agents, not elves, are doing the work behind the scenes: generating gift ideas, hunting for deals, checking stock for hot items, and finding smart substitutions......…..Read more

Collective intelligence in animals and robots

This article in Nature Communications explores how collective intelligence emerges from local interactions in animal groups, and how these principles inform the design of swarm robotic systems. It highlights the reciprocal value of robotics in studying biological collectives and outlines opportunities in intelligent matter, distributed computation, and perception-driven behavioral models.....​....…..Read more

‘AI eats the world’

Every 6 months Benedict Evans produces a big presentation. They are always worth looking at.......…..Read more

Exploring a space-based, scalable AI infrastructure system design

Project Suncatcher is a moonshot exploring a new frontier: equipping solar-powered satellite constellations with TPUs and free-space optical links to one day scale machine learning compute in space. PH: this may seem pretty out there but there are some serious people who think this is the future of large-scale compute.....​....…..Read more

Kosmos: An AI Scientist for Autonomous Discovery

Data-driven scientific discovery requires iterative cycles of literature search, hypothesis generation, and data analysis. Substantial progress has been made towards AI agents that can automate scientific research, but all such agents remain limited in the number of actions they can take before losing coherence, thus limiting the depth of their findings. Cue Kosmos, an AI scientist that automates data-driven discovery. Given an open-ended objective and a dataset, Kosmos runs for up to 12 hours performing cycles of parallel data analysis, literature search, and hypothesis generation before synthesizing discoveries into scientific reports....​....…..Read more

Genetic platform can enable female-only layer production

Genetically engineered breeders that lay only female chicks would eliminate the culling of day-old male chicks....​....…..Read more

The UK fleet charging network: Why shared depots are key to success

Firms who made a heavy initial investment into their own depot charging sites are now allowing other users to access their sites. Is this the future of fleet charging?..​....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was :

CATL says next-gen sodium-ion battery supports 500 km range, readies for 2026 mass production

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) announced that its sodium-ion battery has achieved an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and can support more than 500 kilometres of pure electric driving range. The company said the technology will enter mass supply next year, depending on customer rollout schedules........…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

Paul was part of a panel on leadership for older people as part of the Seniors Festival in Melbourne, Australia. You can view the web session at: Older Victorians Shaping Communities: Focus on Leadership | Webinar on-demand | COTA Victoria. Paul is on from 33 minutes.

What’s Emerging

America’s first ‘V2G neighbourhood’ turns F-150 Lightnings into grid assets

In a U.S. first, home energy specialist Sunrun has partnered with Baltimore Gas and Electricity Company to transform a fleet of Ford F-150 Lightning electric trucks into mini power stations, feeding electricity back into the grid at times of demand. The pilot vehicle-to-grid (V2G) scheme, which has launched in Baltimore, Maryland, builds on the partnership’s existing vehicle-to-home (V2H) study, helping to create the first residential V2G power scheme in the country.......…..Read More

Carbon Robotics raises $20M as LaserWeeder maker plans secretive new ‘AI robot’ for farms

Mikesell said the machine, which is at least nine months away from being revealed, will leverage the same AI system used in Carbon’s other equipment but perform tasks beyond weeding. “It’s very flexible, capable of doing a lot with the world around it, understanding what it’s seeing, what’s happening,” Mikesell said of Carbon’s system that uses an array of AI, computer vision and machine learning technology. “We see our ability to reinvest in that platform and double down on what it can do in some new activities..........…..Read More

A remarkable discovery may open the door to gene editing, tripling yields of wheat and other grain crops

A groundbreaking discovery from the University of Maryland promises to revolutionize wheat cultivation and dramatically boost global food security. Researchers have identified the gene responsible for an extraordinary trait in a unique wheat mutant that produces three ovaries per flower instead of the single ovary typical in conventional bread wheat. Each ovary holds the potential to develop into a grain, indicating that this genetic trait could exponentially increase the number of kernels per wheat spike, offering a compelling strategy to meet rising food demands without expanding agricultural land.”...……. Read More

Major NHS AI trial delivers unprecedented time and cost savings

A groundbreaking pilot of Microsoft 365 Copilot across 90 NHS organisations found that AI-powered administrative support could save NHS staff on average 43 minutes per staff member per day or more - that’s 5 weeks of time per person annually. Results from the trial show that a full roll-out could save up to 400,000 hours of staff time per month, equating to millions of hours every year, enabling staff to focus more effectively on frontline care...…..Read More

How a genetically modified, disease-resistant Australian banana could prevent a global crop collapse

In a small plot in the Northern Territory, banana plants have thrived for almost a decade in soil that should kill them. According to those who have tried the fruit, they taste exactly like a banana should. But the plants near Humpty Doo have a secret hiding in their DNA: a genetic modification that protects bananas from a disease that is on the verge of wiping out crops around the world..…..Read More

‘World’s largest’ industrial heat battery is online and solar-powered

Rondo Energy has begun commercial operations of what it says is the world’s largest industrial heat battery – a 100 MWh system now operating at a Holmes Western Oil facility in California. Powered entirely by an onsite solar array, the system supplies constant high-pressure steam and heat to the plant, demonstrating how renewable energy can directly power heavy industry.......…..Read more

Driverless taxis from Waymo will be on London’s roads next year, US firm announces

People in London could be hiring driverless taxis from Waymo next year, after the US autonomous vehicle company announced plans to launch its services there. The UK capital will become the first European city to have an autonomous taxi service of the kind now familiar in San Francisco and four other US cities using Waymo’s technology. The launch pits an innovation sometimes dubbed the “robotaxi” against London’s famous black cabs, which can trace their history back to the first horse-drawn hackney coaches of the Tudor era.....……. Read More

Engineering crops to photosynthesise better just got one step closer to reality

Rubisco just might be the most important enzyme on Earth. However, it acts slowly and sometimes reacts with oxygen instead of CO₂, wasting valuable resources. These shortcomings mean Rubisco is a significant bottleneck to plant growth. To compensate, so-called C3 crops (a group which includes wheat, rice, canola and many others) mass-produce Rubisco to help with photosynthesis. This comes at a huge cost, wasting energy, water and nitrogen. On the other hand, cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) have taken a more elegant approach. They have evolved a “carbon-concentrating mechanism”, increasing the amount of CO₂ surrounding Rubisco to keep it on task......…..Read more

Walmart partners with OpenAI for ChatGPT shopping feature

Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab said on Tuesday it was partnering with OpenAI to enable customers and Sam’s Club members to shop directly within ChatGPT, using the AI chatbot’s Instant Checkout feature. Shares of the company rose 5% to $107.21 at market close following the announcement........…..Read more

Exoskeletons including high-tech glove trialled to reduce workplace injuries

Retail giant Ikea has already gone global with exoskeletons, rolling out more than 400 units across 14 countries last year to reduce warehouse injuries and fatigue. The company says the technology helps minimise the physical toll of heavy lifting and repetitive motion, allowing workers to finish shifts with “more energy”......…..Read more

Kia Charge reaches one million European charge points

The achievement by Kia mirrors the seven-digit milestones recently hit by other OEM roaming networks, such as Nissan Charge and Polestar Charge. It marks another step towards making EV ownership as convenient and seamless as ever, and comes as its fully-electric portfolio is bigger than ever – now consisting of the EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, EV9 and PV5. Plug and Charge is also starting to be rolled out across Kia EVs and compatible CPOs, allowing the charging authentication process to be completely automated – with the car acting as the payment device.....​....…..Read more

Naked mole rats’ DNA could hold key to long life

They are weird, bald, subterranean rodents that look like sausages with teeth, and they have just revealed a genetic secret to long life. A new study of the bizarre naked mole rat shows that the animals have evolved a DNA repair mechanism that could explain their longevity. These burrow-dwelling rats have a maximum life span of nearly 40 years, making them the world’s longest-lived rodent....​....…..Read more

Walmart deploys millions of new sensors in retail’s first large-scale deployment of IoT tech

The retail giant is using technology from Wiliot in what the IoT vendor is calling the first large-scale deployment of ambient IoT in the retail sector and one of the largest such implementations to date. Ambient IoT is a class of IoT devices mainly powered by harvesting ambient energy from radio waves, light, motion, heat, or other viable ambient energy sources. It’s an evolution of legacy IoT and radio frequency identification technologies that promise lower costs and high scalability....​....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also be presenting at a leadership panel for Victoria’ Seniors Festival on leadership opportunities in semi-retirement and retirement and the AICD on how directors navigate uncertainty. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

If you want to sign up to listen to the AICD panel in Melbourne go to: Join us at the Melbourne Directors’ Briefing on 21 October to learn why resilience is now the ultimate business advantage.

If you want to listen to the leadership panel tomorrow (14th October, then go to: https://lnkd.in/gvETHGtd

They are also running similar panels in other states.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was (yet again):

On accidental design, incessant chewing, and the brilliance of the VW axle stop

The red, rubbery snowman shape above may appear unfamiliar to many of you, but there are two types of people for whom it is instantly recognizable: dog owners, and Volkswagen Bus owners. It is the Kong chew toy, a classic beloved by pooches and their owners since 1976. Known for its unpredictable bounce, nearly indestructible construction, and hollow core for hiding treats, the Kong performs like it was invented by an obsessed genius in some corporate laboratory specifically to meet the particular needs of the canine mind. Except, it wasn’t. The original was invented by the Volkswagen Group. And it wasn’t meant for dogs at all.....…..Read more

What are we Writing About?

Paul is part of a panel at the AICD on October 21st on helping directors deal with complexity and uncertainty. Last edition we mentioned he had written a piece on LinkedIn on some of the points he will make. You can book for the event at: Melbourne Directors Briefing: Boardroom Resilience - Navigating Complexity with Confidence and read the article at: Directors and Complexity. Now he has written a follow up piece: Operationalising Foresight for Directors

What’s Emerging

CATL says next-gen sodium-ion battery supports 500 km range, readies for 2026 mass production

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) announced that its sodium-ion battery has achieved an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and can support more than 500 kilometres of pure electric driving range. The company said the technology will enter mass supply next year, depending on customer rollout schedules........…..Read More

Scientists Confirm Massive Underground Tunnels on Venus

We’ve known for quite some time that molten rock gouged enormous tunnels into the surface of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. In fact, scientists have proposed that the vast lava tubes under the surface of the Moon and Mars could one day serve as homes for space colonists that provide shelter from space radiation and micrometeorite strikes...........…..Read More

A Startup Used AI to Make a Psychedelic Without the Trip

Mindstate Design Labs, backed by Silicon Valley power players, has created what its CEO calls “the least psychedelic psychedelic that’s psychoactive.”...……. Read More

The single-container system, installed at a commercial site near Bremen Airport in northern Germany, delivers 400 kW of power and offers nearly 1 MWh of storage capacity. It is paired with an existing 50 kW solar array and is currently operating in island mode, optimizing on-site energy consumption while powering electric vehicle chargers.....….….Read more

Electroflow promises to make LFP material for 40% less than Chinese producers

“We think LFP is the missing ingredient for energy prosperity. The problem is it’s literally 99% made in China,” Eric McShane, co-founder and CEO of Electroflow, told TechCrunch. “If we want to have a chance of competing, we’ve got to flip that script.” McShane and his co-founder, Evan Gardner, have developed a technology they think is capable of undercutting Chinese producers on cost by removing several steps in the production process. If they can deliver, they could reduce the cost of an LPF battery by as much as 20% while building a domestic supply chain..…..Read More

Eastern Australian humpback whale population now well above pre-whaling levels, report finds

Eastern Australian humpback whale numbers last year reached at least 50,000 individuals, far surpassing population numbers seen before commercial whaling, according to a new population estimate. Why these humpbacks have bounced back quickly and other whales have not is unknown but having safe havens to give birth and nurse offspring, and less competition for food, may play a part.…..Read More

Intense rain, landslides and potholes everywhere: how climate change is trashing Australia’s roads

Australia has one of the world’s longest road networks, covering almost 900,000 kilometres. More than 80% of it is rural or remote. It was hard and expensive enough to maintain this network before climate change began causing havoc. But the job of roadworkers, engineers and transport departments is getting much harder. As many drivers know, roads are suffering. Potholes are everywhere.

Climate change is a major cause of this accelerated deterioration. Extreme heat and bushfires are projected to do more damage in Australia’s southern and eastern regions. To date, water is doing the most damage through extreme rainfall and floods. Floods are projected to hit harder and more often in the continent’s northern and eastern regions.......…..Read more

Using learning curves to guide the energy transition with the example of heavy electric trucks

The model shows several tipping points that can lead to fast eTruck adoption. Policies could leverage these tipping points by rewarding longer range, faster charging, vehicle-to-grid capabilities, and an open and interoperable network of eTruck fast-chargers to drive a rapid and cost-effective transition to eTrucks.......……. Read More

Swinburne University engineers team with builder to deliver Ballarat’s first 3D-printed home

Swinburne University engineers have teamed up with Oasis Building Group to deliver the two-bedroom, two-bathroom project, about 121 kilometres north-west of Melbourne’s CBD. Director of Oasis Building Group and Ballarat local Ash Quiddington said he was “happy to be able to do this” project in his local area.

“With the construction time frames being sped up by 50 per cent, it means that we can meet the demand for housing using the existing trade labour base and just training them up on this new technology,” Mr Quiddington said.....…..Read more

InnerPlant Makes World’s First Real-Time Detection of Fungal Infection in Soybeans, Unlocking Early Action to Save Yields

CropVoice sensors were triggered by a fungal infection in Yankton County, S.D., and northern Cedar County, Neb., and sent out the first-ever disease alert to farmers, indicating that the field was infected. The alert provided affected farmers with confirmation of an infection weeks before symptoms were visible in the field, giving them ample time to take action to protect their yields.......…..Read more

How Unilever is Spending Half its Budget With Creators

While overall ad spending with creators is clearly on the rise, it’s still not that easy for individual brands to allocate budgets at a high level in a universe where there are literally millions of options. That’s why it was more than eye-opening back in March when Unilever’s incoming CEO Fernando Fernandez announced that the marketing giant plans to spend 50% of its media budget with creators - while upping the number of creators the company works with 20x......…..Read more

Startup lets you query AI with silent speech

A new technology promises to allow people to issue voice commands to a computer without having to utter speech......​....…..Read more

Students’ color-changing tomato reaches national contest finals

Developed through the National Science Foundation’s Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS), the students’ genetically modified sensor plants could one day help gardeners, farmers and hydroponic growers assess if their plants need more nitrogen. When the sentinel plants turn red, growers may then target where and when to fertilize. Farmers currently apply up to 50% more nitrogen than needed, which has led to run-off that pollutes groundwater and lakes, where it promotes harmful algae blooms...​....…..Read more

Programmable Aptamer-Embedded Circular RNAs for Targeted Antigen-Presenting Cells Immunotherapy

The targeted delivery of mRNA to specific cell types in vivo remains a major unmet need in mRNA-based therapeutics. Conventional strategies rely on nanocarriers engineered with various modifications. However, these exogenous materials could cause adverse reactions, and their complex manufacturing processes often hinder clinical application....​....…..Read more

SwarmFarm Robotics harvests $30 million for its farm bot fleet

Queensland’s SwarmFarm Robotics has landed $30 million in Series B funding as farmers look for affordable alternatives to rising farm machinery costs. Paul: this is an amazing Australian company that is redefining how agriculture might work in the future....​....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also be presenting at a leadership panel for Victoria’ Seniors Festival on leadership opportunities in semi-retirement and retirement and the AICD on how directors navigate uncertainty. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was:

On accidental design, incessant chewing, and the brilliance of the VW axle stop

The red, rubbery snowman shape above may appear unfamiliar to many of you, but there are two types of people for whom it is instantly recognizable: dog owners, and Volkswagen Bus owners. It is the Kong chew toy, a classic beloved by pooches and their owners since 1976. Known for its unpredictable bounce, nearly indestructible construction, and hollow core for hiding treats, the Kong performs like it was invented by an obsessed genius in some corporate laboratory specifically to meet the particular needs of the canine mind. Except, it wasn’t. The original was invented by the Volkswagen Group. And it wasn’t meant for dogs at all.....…..Read more

What are we Writing About?

Paul is part of a panel at the AICD on October 21st on helping directors deal with complexity and uncertainty. He has written a piece on LinkedIn on some of the points he will make. You can book for the event at: Melbourne Directors Briefing: Boardroom Resilience - Navigating Complexity with Confidence and read the article at: Directors and Complexity

What’s Emerging

CSIRO Conversations: AI with ROI - A guide to smarter AI investment

A discussion on how to invest in AI. Including a guide you can download............…..Read More

3D printed mini-placentas offer a new way to study pregnancy complications

The placenta is a unique organ which exists only during pregnancy, growing at tumour-like speed to the size of a small dinner plate. The placenta is essential to the growth of every baby, but we’re missing key details about how it develops...........…..Read More

Cisco Foundation Backs Fractal Agriculture’s Equity Financing Model for Regenerative Ag

Fractal Ag believes a new model is required to drive alignment between farmers and investors, and the Cisco Foundation agrees. Led by co-founders Ben Gordon and Dr. Emma Fuller, Fractal Ag harnesses deep roots in agriculture, data science and finance to empower farmers with flexible capital. Their unique approach lets growers tap into the equity of their own land without losing control, using proceeds to invest in expansion or infrastructure, for example. In return, the capital is tied to measures like soil health and climate impact. It’s a financing solution built to align with long-term resilience, not just short-term returns...……. Read More

Green Gravity secures old coal mine shaft to test gravitational energy storage

Renewable energy company Green Gravity will install its electricity-generating technology at Number 4 Shaft coal mine at Russell Vale.The deal between the company and mine owner Wollongong Resources is the first opportunity to demonstrate the technology beyond a prototype...….….Read more

Supermarkets are an increasingly popular EV charging destination in the UK

New data published by Zapmap and the RAC shows that the number of EV charge points located at UK supermarkets has increased by 34% in just 18 months. Paul: I have long believed that destination charging like this would beat out any revamped petrol station model..…..Read More

China Energy Engineering launches record 25 GWh storage tender as prices hit historic low

The CEEC procurement was split into three packages, totaling 25 GWh and covering systems with durations of one, two, and four hours. Over 70 companies submitted bids, underlining the intense competition:

• Package 1 (1-hour systems): 3 GW/3 GWh, with bids ranging from CNY 0.673–0.89/Wh ($0.093–$0.123), averaging CNY 0.7863/Wh ($0.109).

• Package 2 (2-hour systems): 6 GW/12 GWh, with offers between CNY 0.416–0.5764/Wh ($0.058–$0.08), averaging CNY 0.4646/Wh ($0.064). Ten companies submitted nearly identical top bids of CNY 0.428–0.44/Wh ($0.059–$0.061).

• Package 3 (4-hour systems): 2.5 GW/10 GWh, with the most competitive range of CNY 0.37–0.495/Wh ($0.051–$0.068), averaging CNY 0.4249/Wh ($0.059). The lowest bid of CNY 0.37/Wh ($0.051) represents a 30% drop from 2024 levels, setting a new industry record

......…..Read more

In an Australian first, chip company recycles leftover cooking oil into packaging to reduce emissions

Snackbrands Australia, which produces a range of chips including Thins, CCs and Cheezles, has finished the first stage of its trial at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery. The refinery normally produces soft plastics using fossil fuels but, at the start of this year, it trialled replacing crude oil with used cooking oil, importing about 120 tonnes from Snackbrands Australia’s Sydney facility......……. Read More

Amazon Ads launches new agentic AI tool that creates professional-quality ads

Amazon Ads has announced a new agentic AI tool that empowers advertisers to easily create professional-quality ads for campaigns. Within Creative Studio, advertisers can now click “chat” to access a conversational, AI-powered creative partner that conducts product and audience research, brainstorms ideas, develops creative concepts in a storyboard format, and produces compelling video and display ads. Paul: I know that this is an ad in itself but it is interesting to think about what happens as this space is commoditised.....…..Read more

SpaceX buys $17 billion worth of satellite spectrum to beef up Starlink broadband service

For SpaceX, the spectrum purchase means more capacity on its direct-to-cell satellites, further enabling broadband data access to cell phones in the future. The company estimates the new spectrum could increase the throughput of the next-generation satellites up to 20 times compared to the generation in orbit right now......…..Read more

5,000 Podcasts. 3,000 Episodes a Week. $1 Cost Per Episode — Behind an AI Start Up’s Plan

The company is able to produce each episode for $1 or less, depending on length and complexity, and attach programmatic advertising to it. This generally means that if about 20 people listen to that episode, the company made a profit on that episode, without factoring in overhead. Paul: What does this mean? is it just a podcast alternative to email and text spam? If revenue needs are very low this opens the system up to rorts on what is a “listen” for advertisers. Quality content will still win out but the space may be flooded for the rest. BTW those pictures are AUI generated hosts.....…..Read more

How the First AI-Generated Genomes were Built

This details some of the technical innovations that enabled the generation of viable bacteriophage genomes with substantial evolutionary novelty. Paul: what could possibly go wrong?.....​....…..Read more

Climate Risk Assessment’s ‘high risk’ warning for 1 million Australian homes

One million homes will be in “very high risk” zones by 2050 and effectively uninsurable, the National Climate Risk Assessment has warned, with the wider economy expected to take a hit from the effects of climate change...​....…..Read more

The thousand-year story of how the fork crossed Europe, and onto your plate today

In today’s world, we barely think about picking up a fork. It is part of a standard cutlery set, as essential as the plate itself. But not that long ago, this now-ordinary utensil was viewed with suspicion, derision and even moral outrage....​....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also be presenting at a leadership panel for Victoria’ Seniors Festival on leadership opportunities in semi-retirement and retirement and the AICD on how directors navigate uncertainty. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was:

21 Ways People Are Using A.I. at Work

Recent surveys have found that almost one in five U.S. workers say they use it at least semi-regularly for work...….….Read more

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section for this edition

What’s Emerging

Glow-in-the-dark succulents: night lights of the future

Researchers have injected succulents with light-emitting compounds to produce multicolour luminescent plants for the first time. The work brings us a step closer to developing sustainable, plant-based lighting. “Picture the world of Avatar, where glowing plants light up an entire ecosystem,” says Shuting Liu of South China Agricultural University, first author of the study presenting the research in the journal Matter.............…..Read More

The quiet revolution in robotics isn't humanoids.

It's the rise of inspection & maintenance robots, quietly scaling across dirty, dangerous, and distant industrial environments. A thread from Lukas Ziegler. Paul: I have never understood the obsession with humanoid robots..........…..Read More

Full-body scans of 100,000 people could change way diseases are detected and treated

Scientists expect to gain unprecedented insights into human ageing and the earliest signs of disease after scanning 100,000 people from head to toe in the world’s largest whole body imaging project. The completion of the decade-long task means qualifying researchers worldwide will have access to 1bn de-identified images of the hearts, brains, abdomens, blood vessels, bones and joints of volunteers alongside medical histories and rich data on their genetic makeup, health and lifestyle....……. Read More

Pinterest’s male audience is booming. Here’s what they’re searching for

Pinterest now counts more than 171 million male users, driven by Gen Z interest in wellness, grooming, AI tools, and fatherhood content....….….Read more

Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue rejects ‘credibility’ of business council modelling on 2035 emissions target

The BCA member criticises climate modelling commissioned by lobby group that ‘underplays’ economic opportunities and does not factor in cost of inaction..…..Read More

On accidental design, incessant chewing, and the brilliance of the VW axle stop

The red, rubbery snowman shape above may appear unfamiliar to many of you, but there are two types of people for whom it is instantly recognizable: dog owners, and Volkswagen Bus owners. It is the Kong chew toy, a classic beloved by pooches and their owners since 1976. Known for its unpredictable bounce, nearly indestructible construction, and hollow core for hiding treats, the Kong performs like it was invented by an obsessed genius in some corporate laboratory specifically to meet the particular needs of the canine mind. Except, it wasn’t. The original was invented by the Volkswagen Group. And it wasn’t meant for dogs at all.....…..Read more

Antarctic expeditioners join research project to help astronauts on space missions

Expeditioners at Australia's Antarctic stations are taking part in a research project to better understand the cognitive and physiological impacts of extended deployments. Some studies have shown sensory deprivation and social isolation can lead to temporary shrinkage in parts of expeditioners’ brains, as well as reduced smell and taste.....……. Read More

Liberal Party risks ‘permanent opposition’ without youth vote

Paul: I don't like the headline here as nothing is permanent in politics but the article is more nuanced. Worth reading.....…..Read more

Changing one gene can restore some tissue regeneration to mice

Regeneration is a trick many animals, including lizards, starfish, and octopuses, have mastered. Axolotls, a salamander species originating in Mexico, can regrow pretty much everything from severed limbs, to eyes and parts of brain, to the spinal cord. Mammals, though, have mostly lost this ability somewhere along their evolutionary path. Regeneration persisted, in a limited number of tissues, in just a few mammalian species like rabbits or goats.....…..Read more

Voice AI in Firms: A Natural Field Experiment on Automated Job Interviews

70,000 applicants were randomly assigned to be interviewed by human recruiters, AI voice agents, or given a choice between the two. In all three conditions, human recruiters evaluated interviews and made hiring decisions based on applicants' performance in the interview and a standardized test. Contrary to the forecasts of professional recruiters, the findings were that AI-led interviews increase job offers by 12%, job starts by 18%, and 30-day retention by 17% among all applicants.....…..Read more

Does LLM Traffic Convert Better Than Organic? A New Data-Backed Study

With the rise of large language models (LLMs) and AI chatbots, there have been a lot of claims about how these platforms accelerate the customer journey and essentially replace traditional search engines. Many people in the industry suggest that traffic from LLM referrals is more qualified and converts at a higher rate than traditional Search.....​....…..Read more

Geothermal is too expensive, but Dig Energy’s impossibly small drill rig might fix that

The startup, which has been operating in stealth for the last five years, developed the water-jet drilling rig in an effort to make geothermal heating and cooling so inexpensive that it will displace fossil fuel boilers and furnaces. The rig is central to that, promising to slash drilling costs by up to 80%. Dig has spent years refining the design of its rig, drilling test holes near its offices in New Hampshire. They’ve drilled through soil, gravel, clay, sand, and a range of different rock types, including sandstone, limestone, granite, slate, and shale..​....…..Read more

EVs now account for 26.5% of new car registrations in the UK

The latest figures bring the total number of new EVs registered so far this year to 276,635 units. That compares to 213,544 by the same period last year, marking a 29.5% rise in EV registrations. This also means that the year-to-date EV market share now stands at 21.9%, compared to 17.2% by the same period last year...​....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also be presenting at a leadership panel for Victoria’ Seniors Festival on leadership opportunities in semi-retirement and retirement and the AICD on how directors navigate uncertainty. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition (again) was:

A.I. Is Making Sure You Pay for That Ding on Your Rental Car

Hertz and other agencies are increasingly relying on scanners that use high-res imaging and A.I. to flag even tiny blemishes, and customers aren’t happy......…..Read more

What are we Writing About?

Paul has written a short article on LinkedIn: A Lens can Inform and Warp looking at the book Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future

What’s Emerging

Why China is becoming the world’s first electrostate

The superpower is dominating the global clean technology sector. It’s not all about climate change...........…..Read More

21 Ways People Are Using A.I. at Work

Recent surveys have found that almost one in five U.S. workers say they use it at least semi-regularly for work...….….Read more

Farrell Gregory on X: "I read the new critical minerals list report so you don't have to

An interesting thread on the risks in the supply chains or a large list of critical minerals. “USGS ran more than 1,200 scenarios to determine the likelihood and vulnerability of supply disruptions across 84 different materials”...…..Read More

What Is Your AI Agent Buying? Evaluation, Implications and Emerging Questions for Agentic E-Commerce

Paul: an early picture of a war between AI agents representing you as a shopper and seller AI agents constantly tweaking the sales side to respond.............…..Read More

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising medical image analysis

Researchers from CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC) are using visual language models to produce diagnostic reports from X-ray images......……. Read More

Net zero transition at risk of stalling amid shortfall of 42,000 workers

The warning from the Powering Skills Organisation coincides with the release of their 31-point plan to address training backlogs......…..Read more

Havas Media Network UK Launches AI Brand Insights Tool for Large Language Models

The latest addition to Havas’s Converged.AI operating system launched in 2024, the technology will give clients new insight into how the LLMs are influencing consumer behaviour in today’s media ecosystem.....……. Read More

Wall Street Exit Culminates in Climate Group Halting Activities

The world’s biggest climate alliance for banks suspended its activities and proposed a vote on scrapping its current structure after a wave of exits that started on Wall Street grew into a global exodus.....…..Read more

New data shows a jump in older people dying from drug overdoses

Since 2001, unintentional overdose deaths have declined by about one-third among people under 30. But deaths in those aged 50–59 have increased three-fold. Among 60–69 year olds, deaths have nearly doubled....…..Read more

Amazon rolls out same-day delivery of perishable groceries in 1,000 US cities

Amazon is now letting shoppers in 1,000 cities across the U.S. order perishable food items through its Same-Day Delivery service, as the e-commerce giant seeks to compete more directly with Instacart and Walmart+ in the growing quick-commerce space. Amazon plans to expand the option to over 2,300 cities by the end of the year. Paul: We worked with a medium sized food business 3 years ago and Amazon rolling this out in the future in Australia was one of the scenarios on the table .....…..Read more

“Skibidi” and “Delulu” Are Officially in the Cambridge Dictionary

• Cambridge Dictionary has officially added “skibidi” and “delulu” to its online edition

• The two words were among over 6,000 new entries by the dictionary, alongside words such as “tradwife,” “red flag,” “mouse jiggler” and “work wife”.

Paul: It is amazing how many words are added. I like to annoy our teenager by misusing new slang terms. She thinks I am totally delulu.....​....…..Read more

Global electricity demand to keep growing robustly through 2026 despite economic headwinds

Global electricity demand is expected to expand at one of the fastest sustained paces in over a decade despite ongoing economic pressures, according to a new IEA report, with renewables, natural gas and nuclear all contributing to meet the additional demand.....​....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was :

A.I. Is Making Sure You Pay for That Ding on Your Rental Car

Hertz and other agencies are increasingly relying on scanners that use high-res imaging and A.I. to flag even tiny blemishes, and customers aren’t happy......…..Read more

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition.

What’s Emerging

ubitricity installs its 10,000th UK public charger

Now accounting for 12% of all public charge points in the UK, this achievement cements ubitricity’s position as the largest charge point operator in the country..........…..Read More

Farmers say Victorian regulations are restricting practical renewable energy microgrids

Current Victorian government regulations limit the sharing of generated power between properties. Senior climate and energy advisor with Environment Victoria, Kat Lucas-Healey, said Victoria had a "one property title, one meter model". "So if a farmer wants to send power across multiple property titles, the retailers and networks consider them as separate customers," she said. Ms Lucas-Healey said it was holding producers back..….….Read more

AlphaEarth Foundations helps map our planet in unprecedented detail

AlphaEarth Foundations provides a powerful new lens for understanding our planet by solving two major challenges: data overload and inconsistent information. First, it combines volumes of information from dozens of different public sources— optical satellite images, radar, 3D laser mapping, climate simulations, and more. It weaves all this information together to analyse the world's land and coastal waters in sharp, 10x10 meter squares, allowing it to track changes over time with remarkable precision. Second, it makes this data practical to use. The system's key innovation is its ability to create a highly compact summary for each square. These summaries require 16 times less storage space than those produced by other AI systems that we tested and dramatically reduces the cost of planetary-scale analysis...…..Read More

What Can a Cell Remember?

A small but enthusiastic group of neuroscientists is exhuming overlooked experiments and performing new ones to explore whether cells record past experiences — fundamentally challenging what memory is..............…..Read More

World on brink of climate breakthrough as fossil fuels ‘run out of road’, UN chief says

António Guterres says ‘sun is rising on a clean energy age’ as 90% of renewable power projects cheaper than fossil fuels.......……. Read More

Death rates from cardiovascular disease have fallen dramatically — what were the breakthroughs behind this?

In the United States alone, the age-standardized death rate from cardiovascular disease has fallen by three-quarters since 1950. This means that for people of the same age, the annual risk of dying from cardiovascular disease is now just one-quarter what it was in 1950.......…..Read more

Anthropic unveils new rate limits to curb Claude Code power users

Anthropic says its rolling out new weekly rate limits for Claude to curb usage among subscribers who are running its AI coding tool, Claude Code, “continuously in the background, 24/7.” Anthropic says the rate limits also aim to stop a handful of users who are violating Claude’s usage policy by sharing accounts and reselling access to Claude Code....……. Read More

Chevrolet Silverado EV breaks range world record, achieving 1,059 miles on one charge

Much of the impressive achievement can be put down to this Silverado EV’s gargantuan 205 kWh battery pack, the largest offered on its electric pickup. The testing took place on roads around General Motor’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan, with the final trip taking place on Detroit’s Belle Isle. Paul: while this was under test conditions designed to maximise range it is still impressive......…..Read more

Ukraine rescues soldier via drone delivery of complete e-bike

Ukraine's 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade of the National Guard, dubbed "Rubizh," has just shared video of a large quadcopter drone that it used to conduct just such a mission. (And, because this is modern warfare, you can watch a 16-minute video about the operation on the brigade's YouTube channel). Paul: is that the most 2025 story ever?...…..Read more

Inside Unilever’s AI beauty marketing assembly line — and its implications for agencies

“It’s a different way of working. We used to send briefs off and get content back. Now it’s this agile, iterative approach,” Selina Sykes, global vp and head of marketing transformation, beauty and wellbeing, told Digiday. Sykes estimated that on average, Unilever was using the system to create 400 creative assets per product: “Before, we’d be doing 20 assets per campaign, and now we’re doing hundreds.”.....…..Read more

Google briefs brands on AI Mode ads ahead of Q4 rollout

A new internal document, first reported on by Ad Age, outlines how ads in AI Mode will function. The company says it will target ads based not just on a user’s query, but on the entire context of the AI conversation, marking a departure from traditional keyword-based targeting.....​....…..Read more

Smart tires will report on the health of roads in new pilot program

Do you remember the Pirelli Cyber Tire? No, it's not an angular nightmare clad in stainless steel. Rather, it's a sensor-equipped tire that can inform the car it's fitted to what's happening, both with the tire itself and the road it's passing over. The technology has slowly been making its way into the real world, starting with rarified stuff like the McLaren Artura. Now, Pirelli is going to put some Cyber Tires to work for everybody, not just supercar drivers, in a new pilot program with the regional government of Apulia in Italy.

The Cyber Tire has a sensor to monitor temperature and pressure, using Bluetooth Low Energy to communicate with the car. The electronics are able to withstand more than 3,500 G as part of life on the road, and a 0.3-oz (10 g) battery keeps everything running for the life of the tire....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria and working with the Broadmeadows Basketball Association on their planning. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was (yet again x 2):

Paul has written a short piece on LinkedIn - A Lesson in the Preposterous…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition. Refer above to Paul’s piece on LinkedIn which was the most read link last newsletter.

What’s Emerging

Scientists believe new colourful concrete on Sydney Harbour seawall could revive marine life

Researchers from Macquarie University attached red, green, yellow and grey concrete squares to seawalls in Sydney Harbour to mimic the colours of natural shorelines.The year-long experiment found the coloured tiles were able to influence different invertebrates like algae and barnacles to grown on them, compared to grey concrete walls which currently dominate many coastlines.........…..Read More

Europe now has 30 EV battery gigafactories in operation

Combined, the 30 sites have a total potential annual production capacity of over 300GWh – enough to supply batteries for an estimated 3.75 million electric passenger cars (assuming each car has an 80kWh battery pack)..….….Read more

'Positive review only': Researchers hide AI prompts in papers

Research papers from 14 academic institutions in eight countries -- including Japan, South Korea and China -- contained hidden prompts directing artificial intelligence tools to give them good reviews, Nikkei has found..…..Read More

Triassic diapsid shows early diversification of skin appendages in reptiles

Complex integumentary appendages such as avian feathers and mammalian hair play a principal role in tetrapod evolution, with critical functions in insulation, sensation, display and flight. Although feathers and hair originated in the stem-lineages of birds and mammals, respectively^1,2, their underlying gene regulatory network has much deeper amniote roots. Paul - put more simply these things evolved earlier, giving more clues to evolutionary history.............…..Read More

TRIC Robotics raises seed funding to help farmers control pests and plant disease

TRIC Robotics, which focuses on autonomous pest and plant disease control, has secured $5.5 million in seed funding. The company plans to scale its autonomous robots for specialty crop farming, starting with strawberries—one of the most labor-intensive and pesticide-reliant crops.......……. Read More

A.I. Is Making Sure You Pay for That Ding on Your Rental Car

Hertz and other agencies are increasingly relying on scanners that use high-res imaging and A.I. to flag even tiny blemishes, and customers aren’t happy......…..Read more

Netflix uses generative AI in one of its shows for first time

The series, which follows survivors of a rapid and devastating toxic snowfall, involved Netflix and visual effects (VFX) artists using AI to show a building collapsing in Buenos Aires.“The cost of [the special effects without AI] just wouldn’t have been feasible for a show in that budget,”....……. Read More

Across China: Scientists witness first wild reproduction of Yangtze sturgeon after decades of conservation

The video footage was simple but extraordinary -- a tiny, half-translucent grey larva, no bigger than a grain of rice, wriggled out of its egg casing in the shallow waters of the Chishui River in southwest China's Guizhou Province. To an untrained eye, it might have looked like just another fish hatching. But for the team of scientists watching anxiously, this fragile creature represented something far greater: the first successful natural reproduction of the critically endangered Yangtze sturgeon in the wild in over two decades......…..Read more

If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them?

Studies show that the obesity and diabetes medication also reduces heart attacks, cancer risk, migraines, and memory loss. How is that even possible? And at what point should we all be on it? Paul: I am very wary and cynical about a “drug for everything...…..Read more

Her features are flawless. But this blonde, blue-eyed Vogue model isn't real

For the first time in history, Vogue has featured an AI model in its pages. The two-page spread, an ad for Guess's summer collection, is in the fashion bible's August print edition. But it has sparked significant online controversy, with some claiming it threatens diversity in fashion and reinforces already unattainable beauty standards......…..Read more

Google users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the results

Last year, Google introduced “AI Overviews,” a feature that displays an artificial intelligence-generated result summary at the top of many Google search pages. This feature is available to millions of U.S. Google users. Online publishers recently have attributed declining web traffic to these summaries replacing traditional search results, claiming that many users are relying on the summaries instead of following links to the publishers’ websites.....​....…..Read more

There are now more than half a billion mobile money accounts in the world, mostly in Africa

You dial a short code for the mobile money provider, choose “send money”, and enter the recipient’s phone number (which serves as their account number). Next, type the amount and your secure PIN.³ That’s it — both the sender and recipient get an SMS confirmation within seconds. If you need to add funds to your mobile money account or retrieve your PIN, you can visit a local mobile money agent, often found in small shops or kiosks, which can be easier to reach than traditional banks....…..Read more

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria, and working with the Broadmeadows Basketball Association on their planning. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was yet again:

Paul has written a short piece on LinkedIn - A Lesson in the Preposterous…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition. Refer above to Paul’s piece on LinkedIn which was the most read link last newsletter.

What’s Emerging

Work begins to create artificial human DNA from scratch

The World's largest medical charity, the Wellcome Trust, has given an initial £10m to start the project and says it has the potential to do more good than harm by accelerating treatments for many incurable diseases. Dr Julian Sale, of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, who is part of the project, told BBC News the research was the next giant leap in biology. "The sky is the limit. We are looking at therapies that will improve people's lives as they age, that will lead to healthier aging with less disease as they get older.........…..Read More

Large Hadron Collider glimpses clue in search for universe's missing antimatter

Scientists have uncovered another clue in the effort to solve one of the great puzzles of modern physics: why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe. The discovery relies on observations made with the world's largest machine, the Large Hadron Collider, which helps researchers to probe the fundamental nature of matter..….….Read more

Inhaled tuberculosis vaccine effective against world's deadliest infectious disease

A research team from north Queensland has found delivering the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine directly to the lungs could create stronger protection against the world's deadliest infectious disease.There is one available vaccine to protect against TB, developed in 1921, with little known about why the vaccine sometimes stops offering protection in adolescence.…..Read More

Lifetime emissions of EVs are four times lower than petrol cars, including the production stage

A new 2025 study from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) proves once again that fully-electric passenger cars are significantly greener than the equivalent petrol car, when it comes to life-cycle emissions...............…..Read More

Trials for GM oilseeds for dairy proteins get green light

THE AUSTRALIAN Government’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has granted a licence to New Zealand-based start-up Miruku Australia to run field trials of genetically modified canola and safflower lines designed for dairy protein production. This marks the first time these types of GM oilseed have been approved for field trials anywhere in the world......……. Read More

Barn-owl project reducing farmers' reliance on poison to manage rats and mice

In a groundbreaking fusion of biotechnology and environmental science, MIT researchers have created glowing bacteria capable of transmitting chemical signals to drones, revolutionizing long-range biosensing applications.....…..Read more

Australian breakthrough could lead to more climate change resilient crops

A plant biology breakthrough including work from researchers at Victoria's Monash University could help breeders tailor crops specifically suited to individual climatic zones....……. Read More

Scientists complete largest wiring diagram and functional map of the brain to date

The MICrONS Project is considered the most complicated neuroscience experiment ever attempted.......…..Read more

New York City’s congestion pricing has cut pollution and traffic – but Trump still wants to kill it

With less congestion, less carbon pollution, less accidents, could it be a model for other US cities? Six months in, environmentalists say yes.....…..Read more

Robots in China are riding the subway to make 7-Eleven deliveries

Earlier this week, more than three dozen autonomous, four-wheeled delivery robots boarded and exited active subway trains, and eventually delivered packages to several 7-Eleven convenience stores. Although this demonstration was only a preliminary test and took place during off-peak hours, the company behind the subway-riding robots believes they could soon help stock shelves at around 100 7-Eleven locations. The initiative is part of a broader effort in China and other countries to normalize the presence of delivery robots operating in public spaces.......…..Read more

Colombia Seizes First Unmanned Narco-Sub Equipped With Starlink Connection

This marks the first known discovery of an autonomous narco-submarine in South American waters. Officials confirmed that the vessel was not carrying any drugs at the time of the seizure in April, but it was designed to carry up to 1.5 tons of cocaine and travel a distance of about 800 miles....​....…..Read more

Devices that pull water out of thin air poised to take off

The devices have existed for decades but typically are too expensive, energy-hungry, or unproductive to be practical. Now, however, two classes of materials called hydrogels and metal-organic frameworks have touched off what Evelyn Wang, a mechanical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), calls “an explosion of efforts related to atmospheric water harvesting.”...…..Read more

Business and Other Tips

Please note that after a couple of hundred tips we are discontinuing this section from the next edition onwards as it is getting a bit repetitive.

Running vs. Walking: Which Is Better for Lasting Health?

Walking is among the world’s most popular forms of exercise, and far and away the most favored in the United States. And for good reason: It’s simple, accessible and effective. Taking regular walks lowers the risk of many health problems including anxiety, depression, diabetes and some cancers. However, once your body becomes accustomed to walking, you might want to pick up the pace, said Alyssa Olenick, an exercise physiologist and postdoctoral research fellow in the energy metabolism lab at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Paul: Taking this advice I am two weeks into a run walk program to build up for the cricket season …….Read More

10 ways to boost your productivity at work

Atlassian WorkLife tips Paul: These seem straightforward but are you doing them?……….Read More

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria, and working with the Broadmeadows Basketball Association on their planning. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was:

Paul has written a short piece on LinkedIn - A Lesson in the Preposterous…..Read More

What are we Writing About?

There is nothing in this section this edition. Refer above to Paul’s piece on LinkedIn which was the most read link last newsletter.

What’s Emerging

They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.

Generative A.I. chatbots are going down conspiratorial rabbit holes and endorsing wild, mystical belief systems. For some people, conversations with the technology can deeply distort reality.........…..Read More

OpenAI hits $10 billion in annual recurring revenue fueled by ChatGPT growth

For all of last year, OpenAI had around $5.5 billion in ARR. Reaching its meteoric growth rates requires a substantial amount of cash. The San Francisco-based startup lost about $5 billion last year..….….Read more

HUMANOIDS NOT READY FOR FACTORIES

An interesting thread on the issues.…..Read More

Octopus Energy and BYD launch UK’s first V2G bundle

Octopus Energy and BYD have launched the UK’s first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bundle. The all-in-one package includes a V2G-capable BYD Dolphin, bi-directional charger and smart tariff – offering drivers completely free home charging and turning EVs into flexible energy assets...............…..Read More

A biocompatible Lossen rearrangement in Escherichia coli

Making paracetamol from PET waste via inserted biochemical pathways in E Coli......……. Read More

MIT’s glowing bacteria now beam chemical messages to drones

In a groundbreaking fusion of biotechnology and environmental science, MIT researchers have created glowing bacteria capable of transmitting chemical signals to drones, revolutionizing long-range biosensing applications.....…..Read more

Grain-fed cattle emissions 56 per cent lower than previous estimates, research finds

All cattle producers have been under scrutiny for contributing to about 15 per cent of the world's total greenhouse gas outflow according to CSIRO, but a new Australian-focused emission calculation has disputed the contribution from Australia's grain-fed cattle....……. Read More

Genetically Engineered Trees, Coming Soon to a Grove Near You

The USDA is considering approving genetically modified chestnut trees for commercial sale and widespread planting in the wild. If authorized, the new strain would be the first genetically engineered (GE) tree to receive approval and the first time any GE plant has been approved for widespread release in the wild. It would also pave the way for engineering other tree species with possible commercial applications to accompany potential environmental threats.......…..Read more

Electric Vehicle Outlook 2025

The Electric Vehicle Outlook is BNEF’s annual flagship report looking at how electrification and other changes will impact road transport in the years ahead. The report draws on our team of specialists around the world and covers all major vehicle markets. It includes analysis on vehicle sales, oil markets, electricity demand, charging infrastructure, batteries, metals and CO2 emissions........…..Read more

Agatha Christie Comes to Life in AI-Enhanced BBC Maestro Writing Course

Actress Vivien Keene and the technology will bring the iconic mystery author to life in the result of a partnership between BBC Studios and the Christie estate......…..Read more

Young People Are Making Up to $36K a Year Renting Their T-Shirts and Speakers

Rental apps like Pickle and Yoodlize are helping millennials and Gen Zers turn their closets and tools into extra cash...​....…..Read more

Work begins to create artificial human DNA from scratch

The World's largest medical charity, the Wellcome Trust, has given an initial £10m to start the project and says it has the potential to do more good than harm by accelerating treatments for many incurable diseases. Dr Julian Sale, of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, who is part of the project, told BBC News the research was the next giant leap in biology.......…..Read more

Business and Other Tips

Inside a Superforecaster’s Toolbox: Belief Updating as a Mindset

Paul: This Substack provided useful tips on forecasting skills. You can subscribe for free …….Read More

The Effectiveness Equation

How to understand the full impact of your marketing strategy and prove it to the rest of the company. Paul: this is obviously self-serving from Google but also useful.……….Read More

Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI

Companies with more diverse teams tend to perform better across several key metrics, including revenue, profitability and worker satisfaction. Businesses with diverse workforces also have an edge in innovation, recruitment and competitiveness, research shows. The general trend holds for many types of diversity, including age, race and ethnicity, and gender. ..………..Read More

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria, and work with a sport association on their planning. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was :

Can you cut your neighbour's overhanging trees? Here are the rules

Here are the rules for Australia……….Read More

What are we Writing About?

Paul has written a short piece on LinkedIn - A Lesson in the Preposterous…..Read More

What’s Emerging

How ‘Coffees’ Made With Chickpeas and Barley Compare

Alternative coffee producers say blends made with ingredients like mushrooms and chickpeas will gain market share as regular bean supplies become scarcer and more expensive due to climate change........…..Read More

Waymo now has a quarter of the rideshare market in San Francisco, nearly half of Uber's volume

.….….Read more

China’s scientists use tellurium to restore vision in mice, let monkeys see infrared

The rare element, tellurium, mimics how photoreceptor cells function in a healthy retina work, converting infrared light into electrical signals which the brain can interpret as images...…..Read More

BYD to roll out 15,000 megawatt EV chargers across China

The large deployment comes less than three months since BYD originally revealed its ‘Super e-Platform’ for new EVs, allowing for models based on this platform to receive charging speeds of up to 1,000kW from a megawatt charger – allowing around 400 kilometres worth of range to be added in just five minutes................…..Read More

Grape growers trial disease-fighting robots as wine industry struggles with rising costs

Wine grape growers grappling with declining sales and rising expenses hope advancements in autonomous technology can help to safeguard the industry.......……. Read More

Inside Ukraine’s Fiber-Optic Drone War

A Ukrainian commander gives us new details on the advantages and limitations of using fiber optic cables to control FPV attack drones......…..Read more

Nissan Leaf EV batteries find second life as battery storage at Rome Airport

Nissan Energy has assisted Aeroporti di Roma Fiumicino with a new second-life battery storage system composing of repurposed Nissan Leaf batteries, as the airport works towards its own net-zero goals. Using 84 end-of-life Nissan Leaf EV batteries, the reconditioned batteries will be used to supply 2.1MWh worth of energy storage to Enel’s large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the airport....……. Read More

Explainer: How human-caused aerosols are ‘masking’ global warming

Human-caused emissions of aerosols – tiny, light‑scattering particles produced mainly by burning fossil fuels – have long acted as an invisible brake on global warming.......…..Read more

Unbelievable Discoveries About Tardigrades

Paul: The natural world can often surprise us or give us new ideas and these little guys are amazing.

Public support for CRISPR gene edited food surges in the UK

The recent survey, conducted by British Sugar, found that Gen Zs are leading the call for gene editing to be used, with a staggering 80% supporting the technology. All age groups viewed sustainability as the leading motivator, with 44% citing green credentials as a key reason for backing gene editing. By improving crop efficiency, reducing water and fertiliser use, gene editing not only promotes sustainable farming practices but also cuts emissions.....…..Read more

Building a Sustainable Forest Ecosystem in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River

The program was implemented in 35 counties in Sichuan Province, starting in May 2020. A variety of approaches were adopted to improve forest quality and management, including afforestation and reforestation, diversified species planting, natural forest regeneration, landscape protection, forest tending with supplementary planting, rehabilitation of degraded forests, and assisted natural regeneration. These efforts aimed to build a high-quality and sustainable forest ecosystem..​....…..Read more

New gene-editing therapy shows early success in fighting advanced GI cancers

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have completed a first-in-human clinical trial testing a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique to help the immune system fight advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The results, recently published in Lancet Oncology, show encouraging signs of safety and potential effectiveness of the treatment......…..Read more

Business and Other Tips

Choice report finds popular Australian sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims on label

Consumer group Choice tested 20 sunscreens and found only four provided the SPF protection their label claimed. The brands dispute the findings and say their own testing shows their sunscreens meet or exceed their SPF claims…….Read More

That Cup of Coffee May Have a Longer-Term Perk

A new study of over 47,000 women found links between coffee drinking and healthy aging……….Read More

Regularly Giving Blood Could Benefit Your Own Health, Too

Giving blood regularly may not just be saving the lives of other people, it could also be improving your own blood's health at a genetic level, according to a new study.An international team of researchers compared samples from 217 men who had given blood more than 100 times in their lives, to samples from 212 men who had donated less than 10 times, to look for any variance in blood health..………..Read More

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria, and work with a sport association on their planning. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan and presenting on the future of Agriculture to the Commonwealth Bank. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono and grant work in the sector. You can see the details HERE although it is not publicly launched yet. Please get in touch if you think we can help you or point us to tenders you think might be in our wheelhouse.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was :

Can you cut your neighbour's overhanging trees? Here are the rules

Here are the rules for Australia……….Read More

What are we Writing About?

Paul has written a piece in the Our Community newsletter: How not-for-profits can plan for the future in uncertain times…..Read More

What’s Emerging

DeepMind unveils ‘spectacular’ general-purpose science AI

The system, called AlphaEvolve, combines the creativity of a large language model (LLM) with algorithms that can scrutinize the model’s suggestions to filter and improve solutions. It was described in a white paper released by the company on 14 May........…..Read More

This face tattoo can read your mind and could make you a better worker

Researchers have developed an e-tattoo to measure brainwaves and monitor a person's mental fatigue. They say the e-tattoo could help people in high-risk jobs, like air traffic controllers and truck drivers, avoid mental strain when working..….….Read more

UK’s Royal Mail acquires its 7,000th EV, with further expansion planned

Royal Mail only purchased its first electric vans in 2017, highlighting just how rapidly the postal service has adopted EVs, and once again proves the capabilities of electric vans in what is a heavy-demand and critical application for keeping the country’s postal service moving....…..Read More

CERN gears up to ship antimatter across Europe

Unfortunately, the hardware used to capture antiprotons also produces interference that limits the precision with which measurements can be made. So CERN decided that it might be good to determine how to move the antimatter away from where it's produced. Since it was tackling that problem anyway, CERN decided to make a shipping container for antimatter, allowing it to be put on a truck and potentially taken to labs throughout Europe. Paul: Sounds like the start of a Bond movie...............…..Read More

Baby Is Healed With World’s First Personalized Gene-Editing Treatment

The technique used on a 9½-month-old boy with a rare condition has the potential to help people with thousands of other uncommon genetic diseases.......……. Read More

WeightWatchers scraps business model to team up with anti-obesity drugs provider

All CheqUp members will be able to access a WeightWatchers app, which has been specifically designed for people on weight-loss injections, with guidance from experts on food recommendations to minimise the side effects of the medication, such as nausea, while supporting healthy weight loss......…..Read more

Increase in value of agricultural land exceeds all other property types, report finds

An Australian Property Institute report reveals farmland in western Victoria has increased in value by 800 per cent over the last 20 years. Agricultural property values increased by 256 per cent over the last 20 years, compared to 154 per cent for housing, the report found...……. Read More

The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive

The highly infectious virus was found in two healthy, polio-vaccinated children who were screened following detection of the virus during routine wastewater sampling in Lae, PNG’s second largest city. Wastewater samples are also positive in the capital Port Moresby, indicating the potential of spread around the country.

The strain has been identified as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, similar genetically to a strain circulating in Indonesia.......…..Read more

Klarna changes its AI tune and again recruits humans for customer service

Over a year after claiming that its AI chatbot could do the work of 700 representatives, Klarna is turning back to people to help with customer service work..​....…..Read more

UK’s first AC V2G chargers installed in fleet depots in huge step for grid stability

This bidirectional flow can significantly reduce costs for fleet operators, improve grid stability, and support the UK’s push towards net zero. By charging during off-peak hours when prices are low and feeding energy back during peak demand, fleets can potentially save thousands of pounds each year.....…..Read more

Visa and Mastercard unveil AI-powered shopping

AI agents will be able to shop and make purchases on behalf of consumers, based on preselected preferences. Paul: what could possibly go wrong?.​....…..Read more

Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI

In the corporate world, DEI initiatives are intended to promote diversity, and research consistently shows that diversity is good for business. Companies with more diverse teams tend to perform better across several key metrics, including revenue, profitability and worker satisfaction.....…..Read more

Business and Other Tips

A Ministroke Can Have Major Consequences

So-called transient ischemic attacks can eventually lead to cognitive declines as steep as those following a full-on stroke, new research finds. Paul: Read this and do not shrug off minor signs in the future if you have them…….Read More

Exploding Topics

Another useful newsletter you can sign up to look at trends. Paul: Think about them critically though, trends themselves are not much use. Ask yourself what are the second and third order consequences, what if the trend breaks, how do I combine trends into scenarios I can think about?……….Read More

Compression tights and tops: do they actually benefit you during (or after) exercise?

You’ve seen them in every gym: tight black leggings, neon sleeves and even knee-length socks. Compression gear is everywhere, worn by weekend joggers, elite athletes and influencers striking poses mid-squat. But do compression garments actually improve your performance or is the benefit mostly in your head?..………..Read More

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria, and work with a sport association on their planning. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. Paul will also continue working on his new startup which now has partial funding. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono work in the sector.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was :

Inside arXiv—the Most Transformative Platform in All of Science

If arXiv were to stop functioning, scientists from every corner of the planet would suffer an immediate and profound disruption. “Everybody in math and physics uses it,” Scott Aaronson, a computer scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, told me. “I scan it every night.”....….….Read more

What are we Writing About?

Paul has written a short piece about the Chinese car market and his previous foresight work for a major international car company where one of the scenarios came true……. Read More

What’s Emerging

Crushed basalt used in roads could cut expensive fertiliser bills, trap carbon dioxide

Once treated as mining waste, basalt is now being spread on trial plots to test its use as a natural fertiliser........…..Read More

Waymo reports 250,000 paid robotaxi rides per week in U.S.

That figure is up from 200,000 in February, before Waymo opened in Austin and expanded in the San Francisco Bay Area in March...….….Read more

Volvo Trucks reaches milestone of over 5,000 electric trucks sold

The 5,000 units milestone comes after Volvo Trucks sold its first electric trucks to customers in 2019, spanning 50 countries – with Germany, the Netherlands, the U.S., Norway, and Sweden existing as its biggest sales markets for such trucks. Combined, these electric trucks already in operation have already driven nearly 170 million kilometres in service across endless operation types, proving the diverse capabilities of electric trucks. ....…..Read More

S4 Capital trades billable hours for outputs as AI redraws agency economics

“If AI cuts 20% of the time it takes to manage our media,” they’re asking, “does that mean fees drop 20% too?” The answer, of course, isn’t that simple but the expectation is there, and agencies have no choice but to adapt. Agencies either adapt or get left behind. The old billable hours model is slowly being swapped out for output-based pricing — less about time spent, more about results delivered...............…..Read More

JPMorgan Says India-Assembled iPhone Within Spitting Distance of China Price

India’s plants near Chennai and Bengaluru already produce about 3.5 million phones a month — roughly 40 million a year. Covering America’s needs would require an extra 35 million units annually, a scale analysts say the country’s labour pool and land reserves can handle. Even if New Delhi copied Washington’s 20% duty, the India-made handset would still undercut a U.S. build......……. Read More

Skype is dead. Here’s why it almost wasn’t born

It used to cost money to call someone, and if that someone was in another country, you would pay a premium: In the mid-90s, a prime time call to Paris from New York cost around $113 an hour (in 2025 dollars). Then came the internet, paving the way for cheap and free calls to and from anywhere in the world. Guess what? Traditional long-distance telephone companies felt threatened. Paul: I remember sitting in a telephone booth in Italy in 1988 and calling home. It displayed the call cost in real time and was in Lire, so it whirled around like a poker machine display...……. Read More

Australia's childhood vaccination rates are declining, sparking fears about risk to herd immunity

Vaccination rates among children and teens have reached "critical" levels, according to experts, who are warning deaths are inevitable if Australia does not do more to turn around a steady decline in immunisation rates......…..Read more

Electric vehicle sales hit 20% milestone globally, driven by China and emerging markets

China led the global shift with 11 million EVs sold, making up nearly half of its total vehicle sales and reinforcing its status as the largest EV market. The strongest relative growth, however, came from South-East Asia and Latin America, where EV sales surged by 50% year-on-year.​....…..Read more

The FDA Just Approved CRISPR-Edited Pigs for the Dinner Table

PIC’s edit is intended to tackle the virus behind porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). It knocks out a receptor on pig cells that is commonly hijacked by the virus to cause infection. The modified pigs should be resistant to nearly all strains of the PRRS virus circulating today (some rare subtypes may still cause infection).....…..Read more

Lufthansa Group introduces AI software to reduce in-flight meal wastage

The Lufthansa Group has revealed how it is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce the amount of wastage created by overproducing inflight meals and to reduce costs. The software, known within the airline as ‘Tray Tracker’, has been developed in-house by Lufthansa Group technicians to precisely measure and reduce the number of inflight meals that are returned and left uneaten, leading to them having to be disposed of.​....…..Read more

Tourism to the US is tanking. Flight Centre is facing a $100m hit as a result

Flight Centre, one of the world’s largest travel agencies, has warned it could lose more than A$100 million in earnings this year, citing weakening demand for travel to the United States. In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), the company pointed to “volatile trading conditions” linked to changes in US entry policies.....…..Read more

Long-term EV battery health continues to improve, shows new study from Generational

The new data shows that for used EVs that had covered around 90,000 miles, 2016 and 2017 models recorded an average battery health of 75.87%. However, for 2023 models that had covered the same number of miles, battery health stood at a higher average of 86%. Even at a lower mileage of 50,000, 2023 EVs saw battery health, on average, 5% higher than 2016 and 2017 models....…..Read more

Business and Other Tips

How Google are using AI to combat the latest scams

…….Read More

Can you cut your neighbour's overhanging trees? Here are the rules

Here are the rules for Australia……….Read More

Store-bought bee hotels doing more harm than good for native species

Pre-made bee hotels being sold in shops and online are often not designed to protect native bees. Experts warn that cheap imported options may actually harm native species, as they can be treated with chemicals..………..Read More

In the next few weeks Paul will continue to work on the strategy implementation consultation process with RSL Victoria and present on the future of AI to a CEO roundtable. He will also be assisting Blue Light Victoria on their strategy and working with the Shrine of Remembrance on reviewing their strategic plan. Paul will also continue working on his new startup which now has partial funding. He will also continue in his role of Chair with venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne. This includes launching a new low bono consulting model for the not-for-profit sector which will provide low cost/high value consulting services with all the money generated going to Social Venture Partners Melbourne to continue their pro bono work in the sector.

If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations, please Contact Us.

The Emergent Futures Team

In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition was (yet again):

Think your specialist is expensive? Look at what others are paying

Mean (average) fees charged by doctors in 17 specialties in Australia for initial face-to-face appointments after a GP referral..……….Read More

What are we Writing About?

Paul has been on holidays so this nothing in this section for this edition.

What’s Emerging

Used EV batteries could power vehicles, houses or even towns – if their manufacturers share vital data

By 2030, around 30,000 tonnes of EV batteries are expected to need disposal or recycling in Australia. By 2040, the figure is projected to be 360,000 tonnes and 1.6 million tonnes by 2050. Is this a problem? Not necessarily. When a battery reaches the end of its life in a vehicle, it’s still got plenty of juice. Together, they could power smaller vehicles, houses or, when daisy-chained, even whole towns........…..Read More

Inside arXiv—the Most Transformative Platform in All of Science

If arXiv were to stop functioning, scientists from every corner of the planet would suffer an immediate and profound disruption. “Everybody in math and physics uses it,” Scott Aaronson, a computer scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, told me. “I scan it every night.”....….….Read more

Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is funding a secretive EV startup based in Michigan called Slate Auto that could start production as soon as next year, according to multiple sources and documents that link the billionaire’s family office to the startup. Slate, which took root in another Bezos-connected company called Re:Build Manufacturing, has been operating quietly since its founding in 2022. The company has hired hundreds of employees while in stealth — many of whom come from Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Harley-Davidson. Paul: An interesting approach to manufacturing- complete minimisation ....…..Read More

Temu slashes U.S. ad spending, plummets in App Store rankings after Trump China tariffs

Temu has pulled back on its online ad spending in the U.S. in the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs...............…..Read More

How are US consumers and firms responding to tariffs?

Rapid downward revisions to earnings expectations

New orders falling, capex plans falling

Inventories rising before tariffs......……. Read More(pdf)

Waymo and Toyota Outline Strategic Partnership to Advance Autonomous Driving Deployment

Toyota and Waymo aim to combine their respective strengths to develop a new autonomous vehicle platform....……. Read More

Don’t call it a drone: Zipline’s uncrewed aircraft wants to reinvent retail

Zipline is launching its airborne delivery service for real, rolling it out in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Mesquite ahead of a gradual spread that, if all goes according to plan, will also see its craft landing in Seattle before the end of the year......…..Read more

Unlocking EV charging potential: Revolutionising accessibility by leveraging private chargers

Focusing solely on public infrastructure overlooks a massive, untapped resource: private chargers. In the UK alone, there are approximately 930,000 EV chargers, with the vast majority installed at homes and business premises. This means over 850,000 private chargers remain largely inaccessible to the public. If just 10% of these were made available, it could effectively double the UK’s current public charging capacity.​....…..Read more

Business and Other Tips

The Best Fast Chargers for Every Device

The outdated USB chargers clogging store shelves and online listings won’t charge your latest gear as fast as possible. New fast chargers are safe, affordable, and up to three times faster than the old ones many people have had lying around for years.…….Read More

Marketing’s New Middleman: AI Agents

From discovery to decision, large language models are starting to gatekeep the marketing funnel, so brand stewards must learn to speak their language.……….Read More

Tempted to turn on the aircon? Science says use fans until it’s 27°C

Fans still use electricity, but it’s as little as 3% of the electricity used to run air conditioning. That means you can run more than 30 fans with the same amount of energy it takes to run a single aircon unit. A basic pedestal fan is cheap to buy (A$20 to $150), requires no installation and minimal maintenance, and can be easily moved around to keep you cool in any part of your house. Simply turn on the fan as soon as you start feeling slightly warm.………..Read More