The conductive fast-charging system as we know it today has drawbacks such as long dwell times, high power demand from the grid, availability and reliability issues, and the need for end-users to deal with heavy cables, dirty connectors, and buggy user interfaces. Battery-swapping is an emerging technology that aims to address all of these shortcomings. Besides easily upgrading battery technology, reducing the purchase price of EVs (by decoupling the cost of the battery from the EV), and massively decreasing charging times, it is also important to note that the battery swapping stations themselves can become independent energy storage facilities with grid-balancing ability. As we electrify the various vehicle segments, can battery swapping be considered a viable recharging strategy for them all? Continue reading
Equifax Launches Second Annual Developer Challenge and Accelerator Program
Today, Equifax® (NYSE: EFX) announced that applications are open for its second annual developer challenge and accelerator program in partnership with 1871, a Chicago-based business incubator that supports early stage tech start-ups, growth stage tech leaders and corporate innovators. Following the success of the inaugural Equifax Accelerate in 2021, Equifax is continuing the program to challenge U.S.-based software developers to create transformative solutions designed to foster financial inclusion and improve access to services with the powerful suite of Equifax Cloud™-enabled Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Continue reading
JIM IRSAY, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS OWNER & CEO, RETURNS TO HIS HOMETOWN, CHICAGO, TO DISPLAY HIS WORLD-RENOWNED ARTIFACT COLLECTION FEATURING NEWLY ACQUIRED GUITARS FROM KURT COBAIN AND JANIS JOPLIN
Jim Irsay, owner & CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, is bringing items from The Jim Irsay Collection – his renowned assemblage of historic and iconic artifacts from rock music, American history and pop culture – to his hometown of Chicago on Tuesday, August 2, showcasing his passion for curating culturally-significant artifacts to share with the world. Continue reading
80% of people feel more included in the metaverse than in real life
Metaverse discussions about creating virtual worlds consume the plans of many fashion, automotive and retail brands. However, the human side of consumer activities in the metaverse have not been a significant part of the dialogue. A global study by Momentum Worldwide, metaverse partners to the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As), found that 80% of people feel more included in the metaverse than in real life. Consumers are now looking to the metaverse to fill three core aspects of life—inspiration, individuality and inclusion. Continue reading
OPINION: Europe classifying gas and nuclear power as green is greenwashing
Esther Bollendorff and Olivier Vardakoulias are policy experts with Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe.
Earlier this week, the European Parliament adopted the Delegated Act on Taxonomy classifying fossil gas and nuclear as “green” activities for private investors.
This highly controversial act developed by the European Commission, pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron, and supported in early stages by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz illustrates how politics can overrule science.
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OPINION: Food crisis promises a global wave of unrest
Andrew Firmin is editor-in-chief at CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, and one of the lead authors of the 2022 State of Civil Society Report.
For the past couple of weeks, mass protests have brought the South American nation of Ecuador to a standstill.
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How Star Wars’ Jedi were inspired by the Knights Templar
Patrick Masters, University of Portsmouth
Star Wars is once again in the spotlight and pulling on nostalgic heartstrings in the new Disney+ limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen. The series follows members of the knightly order of Jedi as they are persecuted across the galaxy. What many might not know is the idea of the Jedi was heavily influenced by the real history of the Knights Templar.
Boris Johnson: a terminal case of hubris syndrome
As Boris Johnson barricades himself in Number 10, apparently unwilling or unable to listen to the advice of close party colleagues who are calling on him to resign, how can we understand this bizarre melodrama?
As I watched Johnson’s appearance in front of the House of Commons Liaison Committee on the afternoon before his showdown with key members of his cabinet, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a deeper malady at play. It was as if an existential disconnect had settled across the comfortingly boring committee room.
Higgs boson: ten years after its discovery, why this particle could unlock new physics beyond the standard model
Martin Bauer, Durham University and Stephen Jones, Durham University
Ten years ago, scientists announced the discovery of the Higgs boson, which helps explain why elementary particles (the smallest building blocks of nature) have mass. For particle physicists, this was the end of a decades-long and hugely difficult journey – and arguably the most important result in the history of the field. But this end also marked the beginning of a new era of experimental physics.
Formula for peak performance and staying power of family businesses revealed: Global report
Successful family businesses have common characteristics that drive their performance and continuity from one generation to the next, finds a new global report by KPMG Enterprise and the STEP Project Global Consortium. According to the report, three key characteristics help to sustain their success: a strong entrepreneurial orientation across the generations; family connection and attachment to the business; and ambitious next-generation leadership. Continue reading