Category: Technology

BusinessEnergyTechnology

Energy Efficiency Emerges as Grid’s First Line of Defense Against Soaring Demand

With electricity demand projected to grow 25% by 2030, energy efficiency is making a comeback as utilities’ most immediate solution for grid strain. Analysis suggests efficiency programs could help avoid expensive infrastructure upgrades while keeping customer bills manageable during the transition to electrification.

The Grid Under Pressure

America’s power grid is facing its most significant stress test in decades, according to industry analysis that projects electricity demand could surge 25% by 2030 and a staggering 78% by 2050. The triple threat of data center expansion, manufacturing growth, and widespread electrification is creating unprecedented 24/7 load growth that existing infrastructure wasn’t designed to handle.

by Jessica Moore P.E.
BusinessSoftwareTechnology

Netflix Shuts Down Squid Game Mobile Studio in Gaming Strategy Shift

Netflix has reportedly shut down Boss Fight Entertainment, the mobile game studio it acquired in 2022 that developed the popular Squid Game: Unleashed title. The closure comes despite Netflix executives recently praising the game’s performance and occurs as the streaming giant shifts its gaming focus toward TV-based party games. Industry sources indicate this marks Netflix’s second major gaming studio closure in recent years.

Mobile Gaming Studio Abruptly Closed

Netflix has reportedly shut down Boss Fight Entertainment, the studio behind the successful mobile game Squid Game: Unleashed, according to multiple posts from former staffers on LinkedIn. The closure comes just over three years after Netflix acquired the studio in March 2022, with executives at the time praising Boss Fight’s “extensive experience building hit games across genres.”

by Jessica Moore P.E.
AIEnergyTechnology

US Energy Dept pushes 60-day grid approvals for AI datacenters

The US Energy Department is pushing regulators to slash wait times for connecting power-hungry AI datacenters to the electrical grid. Under new proposals, connection reviews would be limited to 60 days instead of the current multi-year delays that threaten to stall America’s AI infrastructure buildout.

The Biden administration is taking direct aim at one of the biggest bottlenecks facing America’s artificial intelligence boom: the painfully slow process of connecting massive datacenters to the nation’s overtaxed electrical grid.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has directed federal energy regulators to implement new rules that would dramatically accelerate grid connections for the megawatt-hungry computing facilities powering the AI revolution. According to a letter obtained by industry sources, Wright instructed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish procedures that could slash connection review times to just 60 days.

by Michael Turner
BusinessSoftwareTechnology

Aomei Backupper Standard Expands Windows Data Protection with Automated Backup Features

Aomei Backupper Standard is reportedly expanding Windows data protection capabilities with automated backup scheduling and flexible recovery options. The software aims to simplify system migration and disaster recovery for both technical and non-technical users. Industry analysts suggest such tools are becoming increasingly vital as data protection needs grow more complex.

Comprehensive Backup Solution Emerges for Windows Users

Data protection just got more accessible for Windows users, according to recent analysis of Aomei Backupper Standard’s capabilities. The software appears positioned as a comprehensive solution that spans from basic file backups to full system recovery scenarios, addressing what industry observers note is a growing need for reliable data protection strategies.

by Jessica Moore P.E.
InnovationSoftwareTechnology

EU Slaps Meta, TikTok With Digital Services Act Violation Charges

The European Union has formally charged Meta and TikTok with violating the Digital Services Act, alleging failures in data transparency and user protection systems. Both companies face potential fines up to 6% of global revenue if they cannot demonstrate compliance with EU regulations.

Major Platforms Face Regulatory Reckoning

The European Commission has taken formal action against two of the world’s largest social media platforms, charging both Meta and TikTok with violations under the EU’s sweeping Digital Services Act. According to regulatory findings, the companies failed to meet critical obligations around researcher data access and user protection systems that form the backbone of Europe’s digital governance framework.

by Michael Turner
AIManufacturingTechnology

Apple Accelerates US AI Server Production in Houston Ahead of Schedule

Apple has reportedly started building and shipping artificial intelligence servers from its new Houston manufacturing facility, moving ahead of its original 2026 schedule. The development signals the company’s alignment with the Trump administration’s push to bring technology manufacturing back to American soil, according to exclusive reports from Fox Business.

Apple has quietly begun shipping American-made artificial intelligence servers from its newly operational Houston facility, according to exclusive reporting from Fox Business. The accelerated production timeline marks a significant shift in the company’s manufacturing strategy and represents a direct response to the Trump administration’s repeated calls for technology companies to bring jobs and production back to the United States.

Manufacturing Momentum

by Michael Turner
EnergyInnovationTechnology

Arbor Energy Raises $55M for Carbon-Capture Power Plants That Burn Gas and Biomass

Arbor Energy has reportedly secured $55 million in Series A funding as the startup adapts its carbon-capture power technology to burn natural gas in addition to biomass. The pivot comes amid surging electricity demand from data centers, with the company aiming to deploy its technology more widely while maintaining carbon capture capabilities. Sources indicate the funding was led by Lowercarbon Capital and Voyager Ventures.

From Vegetarian to Omnivore Power

Arbor Energy, founded by former SpaceX engineers, is reportedly shifting its carbon-capture power plant technology toward what industry observers are calling an “omnivore” approach. According to recent reports, the company’s systems will now burn natural gas alongside the biomass they were originally designed to process.

by Jessica Moore P.E.
CybersecurityGovernmentTechnology

EU regulators find Meta, TikTok violated Digital Services Act transparency rules

European Union regulators have determined that both Meta and TikTok are failing to comply with key transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act. The preliminary findings indicate significant issues with researcher data access and content moderation systems across the platforms.

European Union regulators have reportedly identified significant compliance failures by two of the world’s largest social media platforms. According to European Commission findings released Friday, both Meta and TikTok appear to be violating the bloc’s landmark Digital Services Act through inadequate researcher access and problematic content moderation systems.

Researcher Access Under Scrutiny

by Michael Turner
BusinessStartupsTechnology

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Side Events Reveal Major Networking Opportunities

The side event schedule for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 reveals over 50 networking opportunities throughout the Bay Area tech scene. Major gatherings include SignalFire’s poolside after-party and specialized sessions from MongoDB and women in tech organizations. These events aim to connect thousands of attendees during the October 25-31 conference week.

Beyond the Main Stage

While the official TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 agenda gets most of the attention, industry observers note the real magic often happens in the side events. This year’s lineup, reportedly featuring over 50 gatherings throughout the Bay Area, suggests organizers are leaning heavily into what many call “the unconference within the conference.”

by Jessica Moore P.E.
InnovationScienceTechnology

Brain’s Hidden Nanotube Network Discovered, May Explain Alzheimer’s Spread

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown network of microscopic tubes in the brain that transport toxic substances between neurons. This finding could fundamentally change our understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease spreads through brain tissue.

Brain’s Secret Transport System Revealed

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have uncovered what appears to be a hidden highway system within the brain—microscopic tubes that shuttle toxic substances between neurons. According to their recently published study in Science, these nanotube networks might explain both how brain cells clear waste and how Alzheimer’s-related proteins spread throughout the brain.

by Jessica Moore P.E.