technologySaturday, July 25, 2026
Today's technology news is a study in contrasts: SpaceX notches a major milestone with Starship's successful test flight, while Finland quietly deploys a giant sand battery to solve renewables' intermittency problem. Meanwhile, the AI data scramble takes a bizarre turn as firms buy up old books for 'slop-free' training data.
Two very different kinds of progress: one in the sky, one underground.
SpaceX's Starship completed a successful test flight with a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, a major step forward for the megarocket program. Multiple outlets covered this, signaling its significance.
Finland's Pornainen town has deployed the world's largest commercial sand battery, a 13m tall, 15m wide facility storing 100 MWh of thermal energy. It's a practical, low-tech answer to renewable energy's intermittency problem, using crushed soapstone to store heat for weeks.
The scramble for clean training data gets physical, and a startup flips the recruiter model.
AI data broker ISBNdb is buying up old printed books because pre-internet-era content is uncontaminated by AI-generated text. The process involves physically slicing spines off books to scan them, a grimly literal take on 'data mining.'
Startup Refer offers an AI 'reverse recruiter' that works for job seekers, taking a cut of salary if it finds them a job. It's a new twist on AI intermediation, but the pay-if-hired model raises questions about incentives.
Nvidia and others push back against open-source AI restrictions, while Trump wades into the data center debate.
Nvidia and other tech firms signed an open letter urging policymakers not to ban open-source AI models, pushing back against reported Trump administration efforts to limit them. The debate pits innovation against national security concerns, especially around Chinese-developed models.
ModelExpress: Distributing Model Artifacts at the Speed of Lightdeveloper.nvidia.com
I've tried and tested 68 wired headphones and these are the best of the lotwww.creativebloq.com
Remember Tesla?www.theatlantic.com
Selectoropsmtrs.com
Why I’ll Never Buy a Raspberry Pi Alternative Againraspberrytips.comWhat founders told us about working with AI tools for startupsrobots.thoughtbot.com
Based on conversations with startup founders, mentors, and advisors, this article explores the nuanced reality of using AI tools for startups. While AI enables non-technical founders to ship working prototypes quickly, it doesn't solve fundamental challenges like validating wheth
As Outcry Grows Over Data Centers, Trump Claims 'Smart' Towns Want the Energy-Sucking, Water-Guzzling Facilitieswww.commondreams.org
President Trump claimed that "smart communities" want AI data centers despite widespread protests from his own supporters across 42 states. The facilities are known for raising electricity bills, consuming millions of gallons of water daily, and creating few permanent jobs. Trump
Nexthinkopsmtrs.com
Nexthink is a global leader in digital employee experience (DEX) solutions. Their product helps enterprises create highly productive digital workplaces by optimizing end-user experiences. The article appears to be a product or company overview page describing Nexthink's platform
Two new Galileo satellites enter servicewww.esa.int
Two new Galileo satellites have officially entered service, joining Europe's satellite navigation constellation to enhance its capabilities, resilience, and autonomy. The satellites were launched on 17 December as part of the Galileo launch 14 mission. Four Galileo First Generati
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 misses the mark as screenless trackers take overwww.androidpolice.com
The article argues that Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 is falling behind in the wearable market as screenless fitness trackers (like smart rings and bands) gain popularity. It criticizes Samsung for doubling down on traditional smartwatch features rather than innovating toward simpler,
One of NASA’s Most Important Deep Space Observatories Hit by Spanish Wildfireswww.wired.com
Wildfires in Spain have overrun one of NASA's three Deep Space Communications Complex observatories near Madrid, which is used to communicate with spacecraft including Voyager 1, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Artemis mission. Spain declared a wildfire emergency with eva
What Is Gibberlink Mode, AI’s Secret Language?www.forbes.com
A viral video shows two AI agents conversing, with one suggesting they switch to "Gibberlink Mode" — a protocol that enables AI-to-AI communication using machine-efficient sounds incomprehensible to humans. The article explores this phenomenon, drawing parallels to pop culture (S
Cyber Governance in ASEANstratheia.com
This article examines the evolving landscape of cyber governance in ASEAN as the region undergoes rapid digital transformation. It highlights how cyberspace has moved from a technical concern to a central arena for strategic rivalry, economic integration, and regional security. A
This AI Stock Needs to Cool Off After Gaining More Than 200% Year to Datewww.fool.com
Ultra Cleaning Holdings (UCTT) has seen its stock surge over 200% year to date in 2026, driven by investor enthusiasm for its role in AI infrastructure. The company provides purity cleaning services that remove contaminants from AI chips and semiconductor products during manufact
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