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Mach Industries valuation hits $3.7B after $600M Series C extension

Defense tech startup Mach Industries raised $600 million in a Series C extension, pushing its valuation to $3.7 billion just three months after a $300 million round valued it at $1.8 billion. Backers in both rounds include Ribbit Capital, Infinite Capital, Bedrock Capital and Sequoia. The company makes unmanned military vehicles, including VTOL drones, long-range strike systems and counter-drone tech, from its Huntington Beach, California facility.

Rails 8.0 nears end of security support as Rails 8.1 becomes current release

Rails 8.0, released in November 2024 with built-in authentication, Solid Queue/Cache/Cable, Kamal 2 deployment and production-ready SQLite, is now down to security-only fixes that end November 7, 2026. Rails 8.1, released in October 2025, is the actively maintained version, while Rails 7.1 and 7.2 have already fallen out of support entirely.

New open-source library brings Durable Objects model to Postgres, SQLite, MySQL

A developer released Solid Objects, an open-source library that replicates the Durable Objects programming model—one identity, one state, one ordered mailbox per object—without requiring a dedicated vendor runtime or daemon. Instead, it runs directly on databases developers already operate, including SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. The release follows the creator's frustration with vendor lock-in and unpredictable metered billing tied to existing Durable Objects platforms.

Belkin unveils UltraCharge Pro power banks with semi-solid-state batteries at IFA 2026

Belkin has introduced its UltraCharge Pro lineup of power banks, featuring semi-solid-state battery technology that allows thinner designs and longer lifespans. The range includes a 5,000mAh magnetic model just 8.8mm thick priced at $64.99, and a 10,000mAh version with a status display and 60W output for $79.99. Alongside these, Belkin also revealed cross-platform SureFind trackers and a magnetic ring stand compatible with Pixel 9 and 10 phones.

Belkin launches UltraCharge power banks and semi-solid-state batteries at IFA 2026

Belkin unveiled a new lineup of power banks at IFA 2026, including the 22,000mAh UltraCharge 22K and 11,000mAh UltraCharge 11K, both featuring digital displays and retractable cables. The company also introduced semi-solid-state battery models, the credit-card-sized UltraCharge Pro Slim Magnetic Power Bank and the higher-capacity UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K, alongside a new SureFind line of tracking devices.

Belkin launches semi-solid-state power banks claiming 3x longer lifespan

Belkin has released two new power banks built with semi-solid-state battery technology it calls BoostSolid Cell, joining rivals like BMX, Kuxiu, and Zens in adopting the format. The lineup includes a $69.99 magnetic 5,000mAh Qi2 model with 15W wireless charging and a $89.99 10,000mAh unit with a display supporting up to 60W across multiple ports.

KIT and Tsukuba researchers build heat-driven solid-state cooler with no electric motor

Scientists from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Tsukuba built a solid-state cooling prototype that uses a shape-memory titanium-nickel film to convert heat directly into the mechanical motion needed to drive elastocaloric cooling, replacing the usual electric actuator. In tests, heating the actuator film to 86°C produced a 4.0 K temperature difference across the cooling device, and swapping in an external 130°C heat source still yielded a 2.2 K span, showing waste heat alone can power the cycle.

WIRED's 2026 kitchen composter tests find most machines dry scraps, not compost them

After two years of testing electric kitchen composters, a WIRED reviewer found that most devices marketed as composters actually just grind and dehydrate food scraps rather than produce true garden-ready compost. The reviewer's top pick, the Reencle Prime, was singled out as the rare model that yields something closer to actual compost.

Solid-state transformers gain traction as AI data centers drive demand

Rising electricity demand from AI data centers is spurring investment in solid-state power transformers, which use semiconductor switching instead of the century-old copper-coil design of conventional transformers. Unlike traditional units, which are hand-built and face multi-year delivery backlogs, solid-state versions can be mass-produced using materials like silicon carbide, making them smaller, lighter, and modular. Tech companies building AI infrastructure are especially drawn to them because they suit the direct current power setups increasingly used to run dense racks of AI chips.