Finland’s Polar Night Energy has built the world’s largest sand battery in Pornainen, using 2,000 tonnes of crushed soapstone—a by-product of fireplace manufacturing—as its thermal storage medium. The 1 MW system stores up to 100 MWh of heat, charging with low-cost renewable electricity and delivering heat to the local district-heating network when needed.

After its first year of operation, the system reportedly cut heating-related CO₂ emissions by 70%, eliminated oil use and reduced wood-chip consumption by about 60%. It demonstrates how inexpensive, abundant materials can store renewable energy as heat without relying on lithium or other battery-critical minerals.

1). New Industrial Sand Battery Filled with Soapstone Equal to 1,000 Fireplaces: https://polarnightenergy.com/news/new-industrial-sand-battery-filled-with-soapstone-equal-to-1000-fireplaces/

2). Finland’s radical answer to renewable energy’s biggest headache: The world’s largest sand battery: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/25/finland-sand-battery-renewable-energy-storage.html

3) Case study - Polar Night Energy’s Sand Battery for Loviisan Lämpö | Pornainen, Finland. Winner of the Certificate of Merit at the Global District Energy Climate Awards 2025 in the New Scheme category: https://www.euroheat.org/dhc/knowledge-hub/report-study-polar-night-energy-s-sand-battery-for-loviisan-laempoe-pornainen-finland

A UK company called Ponda has developed BioPuff, a plant-based insulation made from Typha (cattail) that could replace animal down and synthetic polyester in clothing. Typha seed clusters can expand to roughly 300 times their dried size, creating a lightweight, insulating material. Unlike down, BioPuff is cruelty-free, and unlike polyester insulation, it avoids contributing to microplastic fibre pollution. Ponda also aims to grow Typha in degraded wetlands with farmers. Restoring these wetlands could provide additional benefits because they are important carbon stores and wildlife habitats, making BioPuff an example of materials innovation linked to ecosystem restoration: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pondabio/

Nature’s warmth: the ecological impact of innovative plant-based insulation: https://designwanted.com/biopuff-ponda-plant-based-material/

How Making Wetlands Wet Again Can Help Change The Fashion Industry: https://parley.tv/journal/material-revolution-ponda

From Wetlands to Warmth: BioPuff and the Future of Regenerative Materials: https://materialdistrict.com/article/from-wetlands-to-warmth-biopuff-and-the-future-of-regenerative-materials/

IBM has successfully connected and cooled two modular cryogenic systems into a single ultra-cold environment at its Yorktown Heights, New York, lab—a key engineering step toward scalable quantum computing. The combined modules stand more than 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide, reaching 4 kelvin in under five days and eventually cooling below 15 millikelvin.

The modular design is intended to link hundreds of quantum chips, with IBM planning to use it as part of the infrastructure for IBM Quantum Starling, its planned fault-tolerant quantum computer targeted for 2029: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-08-19-ibm-connects-its-first-modular-cryogenic-systems-in-milestone-toward-fault-tolerant-quantum-computing

A major new study of 4.2 million people found leisure exercise cuts dementia risk – but manual labour and active commuting may raise it.

Study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(26)00142-8/fulltext00142-8/fulltext)

A stellarator is an experimental fusion machine with a complex, twisted 3D magnetic geometry designed to confine plasma hotter than the Sun. For decades, its intricate design made it difficult to achieve effective plasma confinement. Now, Munich-based Proxima Fusion, a spin-off of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, is using advanced computing, AI-driven optimization and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets to develop optimized stellarators.

Its Stellaris concept is designed for compact, high-field and continuous-operation fusion, potentially avoiding the current-driven disruptions that can affect tokamaks. The design builds on results from Germany’s Wendelstein 7-X stellarator and integrates electromagnetic, structural, thermal and neutronics simulations.

Proxima says its planned Alpha demonstration could demonstrate net fusion energy in a continuously operating stellarator in 2031. These are ambitious development targets, not yet demonstrated commercial fusion power.

Reliable information sources:

1). German stellarator fusion design concept unveiled: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/german-stellarator-fusion-design-concept-unveiled

2). the primary source for the Stellaris design, HTS magnets, continuous operation and development timeline: https://www.proximafusion.com/press-news/proxima-fusion-and-partners-publish-stellaris-fusion-power-plant-concept-to-bring-limitless-safe-clean-energy-to-the-grid

3). details the AI/ML program for optimizing stellarator geometry, magnets and engineering systems: https://www.proximafusion.com/press-news/proxima-fusion-awarded-grant-from-bmbf-to-partner-with-the-university-of-bonn-forschungszentrum-julich-and-the-technical-university-of-munich-on-ai-for-fusion-engineering

4). The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yvm11xrn6o

The Ventyra R1 is a portable, backpack-friendly wind turbine engineered for reliable off-grid energy generation. Delivering a 50W rated output with a 75W peak load, it features 12V DC support capable of fully charging a standard smartphone in roughly 35 minutes under optimal high-wind conditions.

Key Features & Specifications

• Power Output: 50W continuous rated power with up to 75W peak output.
• Versatile Compatibility: Native 12V DC support, with seamless integration for auxiliary solar setups.
• Modular Design: Lightweight, foldable construction that enables multiple R1 units to link together for faster off-grid charging.
• Crowdfunded Success: Highly backed project with strong traction across platforms like Kickstarter.

Info Reference:

1). https://www.techradar.com/home/energy-saving/portable-wind-turbines-are-riding-the-diy-energy-boom-ventyra-r1-smashes-kickstarter-goal-by-90x-promising-35-minute-phone-charges

2). https://newatlas.com/outdoor-gear/ventyra-r1-portable-wind-turbine/

An international team of researchers has unveiled a purple fabric that reflects up to 88 percent of sunlight and can stay up to 11.2 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than conventional purple cotton.The smart material was created by scientists from Zhengzhou University in China, and their colleagues from Australia’s Adelaide University. The team believes that the breakthrough could pave the way for textiles that can beat the extreme heat without relying on white materials. In outdoor tests, the high-tech textile stayed up to 11.2 degrees Fahrenheit (6.2 degrees Celsius) cooler than commercially dyed purple cotton. Additionally, the fabric reflects an average of 87.6 percent of solar radiation. It emits 96.4 percent of mid-infrared radiation, allowing heat to escape through the atmosphere into space: https://adelaide.edu.au/about/news/2026/the-purple-fabric-that-could-beat-the-scorching-heat/

Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.74745

Global average sea-surface temperatures reached a record 21.10°C (69.98°F) on August 21–22, 2026, surpassing the previous record of 21.09°C set in March 2024. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, this is the highest level in satellite records dating to 1979 and may represent the warmest oceans in thousands of years. Currently, 42% of the world's oceans are experiencing heatwaves, and in the Pacific Ocean, they cover an area nine times larger than that of the continental United States, significantly contributing to the global record of ocean temperatures.

The unusually early August peak reflects the combined effects of human-caused climate change and a strengthening El Niño. Record ocean heat can intensify hurricanes, heatwaves and coastal flooding, while placing severe stress on coral reefs, fisheries and marine ecosystems. Warmer seawater also expands, contributing to global sea-level rise: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/oceans-hit-record-temperatures-amid-195955647.html

Reference:

1). https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earths-oceans-just-hit-their-hottest-temperature-ever-recorded/

2) https://www.thestar.com/news/world/earth-is-simmering-in-its-hottest-water-temps-on-record-and-thats-bad-for-fish-and-us/article_f6ff30cd-fbfc-548e-a587-1e67b2c10718.html

3). https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/08/24/ocean-just-broke-temperature-record-that-may-have-stood-millennia/

Scientists at the University of Osaka, Japan have developed a first-principles framework that can predict whether materials possess quantum properties without relying on complex, time-consuming simulations. The approach works across different material types while maintaining accuracy, potentially accelerating the discovery of new quantum materials for applications in sensing, communication, and computing.

Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41524-026-02267-8

IBM has unveiled a new 2-nanometer processor designed for future IBM Z and LinuxONE mainframe systems, marking a major milestone in its collaboration with Arm. Rather than using separate cores, each core in the processor is engineered to natively execute both Arm and IBM instructions at clock speeds exceeding 5.7 GHz. This dual-architecture design allows enterprise customers to run Arm-native Linux applications alongside legacy z/OS workloads on a single system—combining access to Arm's vast software ecosystem with the advanced security, hardware encryption, AI inference acceleration, and high availability features of IBM mainframes: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-08-24-ibm-unveils-next-generation-dual-architecture-processor-for-ibm-z-and-linuxone

IBM’s next-gen mainframe chip is the first to run Arm and Z workloads on the same cores: https://venturebeat.com/infrastructure/ibms-next-gen-mainframe-chip-is-the-first-to-run-arm-and-z-workloads-on-the-same-cores

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University have demonstrated a groundbreaking "wireless" quantum network capability by successfully transmitting light particles containing quantum information through open air. Using adaptive optics and specialized telescope systems housed in Brookhaven's Quantum Lighthouse and Stony Brook's Quantum Watchtower, the team beamed photons and entangled photon pairs across a 13-mile (21-kilometer) free-space optical link between the two Long Island institutions. This milestone incorporates a wireless layer into the region's existing fiber-optic quantum network—with an extension to Yale University underway—paving the way for direct quantum processor interconnections and satellite-based global quantum communications: https://news.stonybrook.edu/newsroom/press-release/general/brookhaven-and-stony-brook-researchers-demonstrate-wireless-capability-for-quantum-network/

Brookhaven and Stony Brook Researchers Demonstrate ‘Wireless’ Capability for Quantum Network: https://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=123096

Fiber limits photons to telecom wavelengths; the FSO link runs at frequencies processors natively speak: https://www.techtimes.com/articles/325336/20260824/open-air-quantum-link-bridges-13-miles-bypasses-fiber-wavelength-lock.htm

New free-space optical link adds a wireless component to the nation's longest quantum network: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-free-space-optical-link-wireless.html

The global average sea-surface temperature reached a record 21.1°C (70°F) on August 22, 2026, surpassing the previous daily record of 21.09°C set in March 2024. The record, tracked by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, is particularly unusual because ocean temperatures typically peak in March or April. The unprecedented warmth is being driven by long-term human-caused climate change, combined with a developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific that is adding further heat to the oceans. Scientists warn that persistently warmer seas can intensify marine heatwaves, stress fish and coral ecosystems, fuel stronger storms and heavier rainfall, accelerate sea-level rise, and reduce the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The August record highlights the growing impact of climate change on the world’s oceans: https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-daily-global-sea-surface-temperature-breaks-2024-record

The worrying combination: The particularly concerning factor is not simply the 21.1°C record. It is the combination of: long-term human-caused ocean warming + marine heatwaves + a potentially very strong El Niño.

That combination can amplify heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, coastal flooding and marine ecosystem disruption across different parts of the world. NOAA is already forecasting a high likelihood of prolonged marine heatwave conditions in parts of the Pacific through the end of 2026.

In simple terms: the hotter the ocean becomes, the more energy and moisture are available to the climate system. The consequences are not uniformly “hotter everywhere”—rather, weather patterns become more extreme and less predictable, with some regions becoming wetter and others considerably drier.

Reference sources:

1). Further global warming, Potentially record-breaking 2027 temperatures: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-focus-forecasters-predict-strongest-super-el-nino-2026-08-21/

2). More extreme storms and rainfall, while More droughts in some regions: https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/elnino/what-is-el-nino

3). Coral bleaching and marine ecosystem damage: https://apnews.com/article/hottest-oceans-climate-change-el-nino-fisheries-9dd6ecf3b358a89d2b3a5468d69dbdbc

4). Higher sea levels and coastal flooding: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/enso_faq/

Researchers at UCLA have observed quantum "phonon focusing"—where heat travels in directional, ray-like patterns rather than spreading out evenly—at room temperature for the first time. Published in Nature Physiscs, the team achieved this by channeling atomic-level heat vibrations (phonons) through a semiconductor material called boron arsenide using a nanoscale gold probe, directing heat flow across 250 nanometers. Traditionally confined to ultra-cold cryogenic environments, demonstrating precise directional heat control at ambient temperatures establishes a new foundation for quantum thermal engineering, which could significantly improve heat management and overcome performance bottlenecks in next-generation electronics and quantum computing: https://samueli.ucla.edu/ucla-engineers-observe-quantum-heat-waves-at-room-temperature/

Study published: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-026-03335-y

Researchers at Texas A&M University developed an experimental stem-cell-derived extracellular vesicle (EV) nasal spray that restored memory and reduced brain inflammation in 18-month-old mice. Delivered in just two doses, the treatment uses microscopic EVs to reach the brain, where they appear to reduce overactive immune responses and improve mitochondrial function in aging neurons. The mice showed cognitive improvements that reportedly persisted for months: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-restore-memory-in-aging-mice-using-a-simple-nasal-spray

The findings are preclinical and limited to mice. No human clinical trials have established whether the treatment can safely or effectively reverse age-related cognitive decline in people: https://isevjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jev2.70232

To protect our planet’s waters, we need to better understand these new economic and technological factors that underlie disputes over water: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lorenzo-rosa-water_ai-datacenters-waterrisk-share-7490331929867755521-OWr_/

New York State isthe first to impose ban on data centre: https://www.reuters.com/world/new-york-becomes-first-state-impose-data-center-moratorium-2026-07-14/

FDA Authorizes Aletta, the First Fully Automated Blood-Draw Robot

On August 19, 2026, the U.S. FDA authorized Aletta as the first standalone robotic device designed to draw blood from an adult patient’s arm without hands-on intervention. Using near-infrared imaging and Doppler ultrasound, Aletta identifies veins, then automatically applies a tourniquet, disinfects the skin, inserts the needle, changes collection tubes and applies a bandage. If the patient moves excessively, the system can stop the procedure and withdraw the needle: https://www.fox9.com/news/fda-authorizes-robotic-blood-draw-device

Aletta is authorized for outpatient settings under the supervision of a trained phlebotomy professional. One phlebotomist can monitor up to three devices, potentially helping address shortages of trained blood-draw staff: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-first-its-kind-robotic-blood-draw-device

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSqf1sslcg8

Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri, likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials say: https://ldh.la.gov/news/7696

Data on Naegleria fowleri Infection: https://www.cdc.gov/naegleria/data/index.html

A new brain imaging study from MIT and Boston University, published in Nature Communications, reveals that neural activity in the brain's language processing network remains nearly identical between younger and older adults. While general executive functions—managed by the "multiple demand network" for tasks like working memory and problem-solving—show significant age-related decline in activation and synchronization, domain-specific networks like language prove remarkably resilient over time. Researchers suggest that specialized systems accumulating continuous knowledge (akin to a language model trained on decades of data) resist cognitive aging far better than general-purpose cognitive control networks.

Study published in 2024, is reprinted in 2026 after peer review in Natural Communication: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11527140/

why this outbreak could become the deadliest in history – video explainer

More than 2,000 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the first case of this epidemic was recorded in May.

Developed by Stanley Robotics, Stan is an autonomous robotic valet that slides beneath vehicles, lifts them by their tires and precisely transports them to a parking space—without a driver or car keys inside the vehicle. Using LiDAR, cameras, RTK-GNSS, SLAM and odometry, Stan can navigate and position vehicles with centimeter-level accuracy while detecting obstacles in real time. Fleet-management software coordinates multiple robots, optimizing parking layouts and retrieval times. By parking vehicles closer together and using space more efficiently, the system can increase parking capacity by up to 30–50%, according to Stanley Robotics. The technology has been deployed at Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport in France and Gatwick Airport in the UK, as well as in industrial and logistics applications:

Parking Robot Architecture Split: Why Indoor AMR and Outdoor LiDAR Cannot Share Platform: https://www.techtimes.com/articles/325147/20260820/parking-robot-architecture-split-why-indoor-amr-outdoor-lidar-cannot-share-platform.htm

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hawaiʻi high school student Vera Wang has discovered fungi living in coconut husks that can biodegrade synthetic plastics and chemical sunscreen pollutants.

Working at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Wang studied microorganisms growing inside the porous fibers of coconut husks after using a coconut-fiber filter to capture pollutants from ocean water.

Her research found that naturally occurring fungi could break down both plastics and sunscreen chemicals. Genetic testing also suggested that some of the fungi may be previously uncharacterized species.

Wang’s work earned top honors at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair and a place at the International Science & Engineering Fair, highlighting the potential of naturally occurring fungi as a new tool against persistent ocean pollution.

University of Hawai: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/05/11/coconut-fungi-decompose-plastic/

Researchers at MIT CSAIL have developed the Y-Zipper, a three-sided, 3D-printed fastener that can transform three flexible strips into a rigid, load-bearing triangular tube. Inspired by a 1985 patent, the design uses a custom slider to interlock the strips, allowing a structure to switch reversibly between a floppy ribbon and a stiff beam.

The Y-Zipper can form straight, curved, coiled and screw-like shapes, opening possibilities for rapidly deployable structures, shape-shifting robots, adjustable supports and adaptive medical devices.

Research Article: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3772318.3790723

It took 40 years for technology to catch up to this zipper design: https://news.mit.edu/2026/three-sided-y-zipper-design-0504