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Tech News
Citing the United Nations' e-Waste Monitor, the report notes that global electronic waste reached about 62 million tons in 2022, an 82% rise over the prior decade, with a further 32% increase projected by 2030. It notes that less than a quarter of e-waste worldwide is properly recycled, and suggests recycling or donating old phones instead of discarding them.
Scientists developed a method that pulverizes decommissioned wind turbine blades and applies bursts of energy to extract usable materials. These recovered materials, according to the researchers, could be incorporated into the manufacturing of new turbine blades.
On the Everything Electric podcast, Oxford's Professor Jan Rosenow told host Robert Llewellyn that electricity currently accounts for only 20% of global energy use, with transport and heating still largely reliant on fossil fuels. He argued that shifting these sectors to electrification could cut total global energy demand in half, since current fossil-fuel systems waste roughly two-thirds of energy as heat.
A Reddit user says they installed Garmin Messenger on a second phone, entered their existing number, verified it via SMS, and saw their full conversation history reappear without entering a Garmin account password. The second device then began sending and receiving messages, with no apparent way to view or disconnect other active sessions. Garmin has reportedly been notified but has not confirmed any fix.
Scientists have reported a new depolymerization method that uses silylium-ion catalysis with phosgene-type deoxygenative chlorinating agents to cleave Si–O–Si bonds in silicone polymers under mild conditions. The reaction converts linear and cyclic siloxanes, including commercial silicone oils and elastomers, back into dichlorosilane, the industrial building-block monomer used to manufacture new silicones.
Google ended software support in October 2025 for first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats, cutting them off from app connectivity, accessory integration, and updates after roughly 14 years of use. The devices still function for basic on-device temperature control and scheduling, and Google has offered discounted upgrades to its fourth-generation thermostat as an alternative.
MIT engineers led by research scientist Svetlana Boriskina created a stretchy thermoplastic yarn using two polyethylene variants instead of blending spandex with polyester or nylon. Because both components share the same chemical base, the yarn can be melted down and respun without separating fibers, retaining its strength and flexibility even after 10 melt-respin cycles. The team now aims to knit and weave the material into actual fabric.
Researchers led by Haiwei Zhou at the University of Melbourne estimate that emissions from manufacturing lithium-ion batteries currently make up about 0.18 percent of global annual greenhouse gas output. Using International Energy Agency demand scenarios for electric vehicles and energy storage, they project this figure could grow more than tenfold by 2050 as battery use expands. The study compares demand-side strategies, such as reducing the number of batteries built, against supply-side fixes like efficient manufacturing, recycling, and sourcing less energy-intensive materials.
Helix Carbon has built an electrolyzer-based process that converts carbon dioxide from blast furnace exhaust back into carbon monoxide, which can be reinjected into the furnace to help reduce iron ore. CEO David Brown says the system can process raw, unpurified exhaust directly, unlike most electrolyzers that require concentrated CO2 feedstock. The company says this reduces the amount of coke needed in iron production.
When an EV battery is taken out of a car — due to reduced range, a fault, or crash damage — technicians inspect and test it to decide its next stage of life rather than discarding it. Depending on its condition, individual modules may be repaired and the pack reused in another compatible vehicle, or the battery may be repurposed for stationary energy storage or sent for recycling. Severely damaged packs, such as those from total-loss crashes, are harder to salvage.
Edinburgh-based Danu Robotics has closed a $5 million late-seed funding round for its H.E.R.O. robot, which uses a pincer claw and AI-driven software to sort recyclable materials. The company reports $500,000 in signed contracts, letters of interest from two large customers, and over 200 prospects in its sales pipeline.
Gigaphoton has launched a new neon gas recycling system called hTGM for its ArF excimer lasers, achieving a 50% recovery rate in testing. The development aims to address neon shortages impacting the semiconductor industry, which previously relied heavily on Ukrainian exports before disruptions in 2022. The system's efficiency could improve further with configuration adjustments, potentially reducing material costs and supply chain dependence.