?? Welcome to Technology Radar ?? - Vol. 25

Embark on an exhilarating journey at the forefront of discovery with Technology Radar, your ultimate destination for the latest developments and innovations in technology and science. Dive deep into the ever-evolving landscape of innovation as we unravel groundbreaking discoveries, disruptive technologies, and cutting-edge advancements shaping the future.

Microsoft unveils chip it says could bring quantum computing within years

Microsoft has revealed the world’s first quantum chip—Majorana 1—that’s powered by a new material (called a topoconductor) that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information and perform calculations much faster than regular chips in regular computers.

Apple is reportedly developing AirPods with cameras: Here's what that means

Apple is reportedly prototyping AirPods with integrated cameras. The integration may be aimed at bringing Visual Intelligence to the AirPods, allowing them to understand the outside world and provide information to the user. They could be used together with Vision Pro headsets to enhance the user experience and strengthen the spatial computing ecosystem. The AirPods' cameras could enable in-air gesture controls. The tech is unlikely to debut anytime soon - it won't be released until 2027 at the earliest.

Why China Is Building a Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor

China plans to start building a demonstration thorium-based molten-salt reactor in the Gobi Desert next year. The 10-megawatt reactor project is scheduled to be operational by 2030. Thorium-232 is more abundant on Earth than uranium-235, but it isn't directly fissile, so it must first be transformed into fissile uranium-233, which is technically feasible, but it is unknown whether that is economical and practical. If feasible, thorium, which is waste product of China's huge rare earth mining industry, could reduce dependence on uranium.

Diamond optical discs could store data for millions of years

Chinese researchers have achieved a record-breaking diamond storage density of 1.85 terabytes per cubic centimeter. The diamonds are able to retain data for millions of years at room temperature without requiring any maintenance. The system currently requires complex lasers, imaging cameras, and other equipment, but the researchers believe they will be able to eventually fit everything inside a microwave oven-sized device. The technology will be particularly useful for governments, research facilities, and large libraries.

Gyroscope-on-a-Chip Targets GPS' Dominance

Anello Photonics and OSCP showcased their gyroscope-based navigation systems at CES earlier this year. Anello's devices, which can fit in the palm of a person's hand, deliver high precision for multiple applications. OSCP's multi-gyroscope inertial measurement units provide location accuracy to within centimeters. These systems are designed to work alongside GPS as a fallback in case GPS interference is detected.

Airborne microplastics aid in cloud formation

New research suggests that microplastics in the air could affect weather and climate by producing clouds in conditions where they would not form otherwise. Clouds form when water vapor sticks to tiny floating particles in the atmosphere. Water droplets with microplastic particles can produce ice crystals at temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius warmer than droplets without microplastics. Precipitation typically starts as ice particles. More information about microplastic concentrations at the altitudes where clouds form is needed before scientists can make theories on how exactly microplastics affect weather and climate.

Toyota's futuristic Woven City in Japan is ready for its first residents

Toyota's Woven City, a $10 billion project being built on the site of a former car factory in Japan, is almost ready for its first residents. The city is supposed to be a 'living laboratory' where people can live while testing out futuristic projects. It will allow residents to test out inventors' ideas in a secure real-life setting. Toyota will welcome its first 100 residents, all of whom will be Toyota employees or its subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, to the city in the fall of 2025. The first phase of the city will eventually house 360 residents. A concept video that details Toyota's plans is available in the article.

In 2025, People Will Try Living in This Underwater Habitat

Ocean exploration organization Deep has embarked on a multiyear quest to enable scientists to live on the sea floor at depths of up to 200 meters. It is currently developing and testing a small modular habitat called Vanguard that is capable of housing up to three divers for up to a week or so. Vanguard is a steppingstone to a more permanent modular habitat system called Sentinel set to launch in 2027. Deep is aiming for a permanent human presence in the ocean by 2030. Its plans are possible thanks to an advanced 3D printing-welding approach that can print these large habitation structures.

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