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6 articles from Technology Review Feed - Tech Review Top Stories

The UAE’s transition to a net-zero future

As the impacts of climate change like desertification, biodiversity loss, pollution, and severe weather persist, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is approaching the green transition and decarbonization with a great sense of urgency. Between its ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement, its $160 billion investment in renewables over the next 30 years, and its green…

New research aims to bring odors into virtual worlds

Scientists have come up with a new way to introduce odors into virtual reality via small, wireless interfaces.  Creating smells in virtual reality is a vexing problem that has prevented consumer VR devices from offering a full sensory experience in most settings. “People can touch in VR,” says Xinge Yu, a professor at the department of biomedical engineering at the City University of...

Harnessing technological transformation in the era of climate change

With greater awareness and urgency around the climate crisis and the impact of energy consumption, 140 countries have announced or are considering net zero targets, covering close to 90% of global emissions. These efforts will collectively support the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Additionally, the number of large cities with net zero targets has doubled since December 2020—from...

A first look at Peridot, the new AR game from the creators of Pokémon Go

My pet Orzo was panting, excited to bring me the tennis ball I had thrown a few feet away. Orzo’s eyes were bright and it wagged its tail. “Good job, buddy!” I cooed. Orzo indicated it wanted a belly rub, so I obliged.  Orzo is not a real pet. It is a virtual creature on Peridot, a new mobile augmented-reality game from Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, that’s launching in...

This abundant material could unlock cheaper batteries for EVs

Move over, lithium—there’s a new battery chemistry in town. Lithium is currently the ruler of the battery world, a key ingredient in the batteries that power phones, electric vehicles, and even store energy on the electrical grid. But as concerns about the battery supply chain swell, scientists are looking for ways to cut down on battery technology’s most expensive, least readily...