Category: Innovation

InnovationManufacturingTechnology

Nike’s Project Amplify: Robotic Footwear System Aims to Make Running and Walking Easier

Nike has introduced Project Amplify, a robotic footwear system that enhances lower leg and ankle movement. The innovation, still in testing, targets casual athletes with mile paces of 10-12 minutes. It’s expected to launch broadly in the coming years.

Nike’s Robotic Footwear Innovation

Nike has unveiled Project Amplify, a new robotic-powered footwear system designed to assist with running and walking, according to reports. The system integrates a motor, drive belt, and rechargeable cuff battery into a carbon fiber-plated running shoe, aiming to augment natural lower leg and ankle movement. Sources indicate that while the technology looks promising, it may still be some time before consumers can experience it firsthand.

by Samuel Kim
InnovationSoftwareTechnology

Microsoft PowerToys Update Resolves Theme-Switching Issues and Enhances User Control

Microsoft has rolled out PowerToys 0.95.1, addressing user complaints about automatic theme switching and introducing new scheduling options. The update also includes fixes for Command Palette, Find My Mouse, and installer stability. Users can download it via the Microsoft Store or GitHub for enhanced functionality.

PowerToys Update Tackles Theme-Switching Bugs

Microsoft has released PowerToys version 0.95.1 for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users, focusing on resolving key issues reported by the community. According to reports, this update specifically addresses problems with the Light Switch module, which enables automatic theme switching but had been causing unintended changes for some users.

by Priya Kapoor
InnovationScienceTechnology

Leadership Shifts Across Tech and Biotech: New Appointments at Allen Institute, AWS, NuScale, and More

The Allen Institute appoints immunology expert Susan Kaech to lead its Immunology Moonshot. AWS shifts Jason Bennett to worldwide startups role, while NuScale Power names a new chief legal officer. Discover these and other executive changes shaping technology and healthcare innovation.

Immunology Moonshot Gains New Leadership

Award-winning immunologist Susan Kaech has been named executive vice president of the Allen Institute’s Immunology Moonshot, according to reports from the organization. The initiative aims to deepen understanding of the immune system’s role in human health and disease. Kaech currently leads the NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and will join the Allen Institute in January.

by Priya Kapoor
BusinessInnovationTechnology

Private Credit Firms Seize Control of Telecom Supplier Netceed in Debt Restructuring

Major private credit lenders are acquiring struggling telecom equipment provider Netceed through a comprehensive debt restructuring. The agreement reportedly includes substantial debt forgiveness and €70 million in new liquidity to stabilize the company’s operations.

Private Credit Lenders Assume Ownership of Telecom Supplier

Private credit firms including Pemberton Asset Management, Blue Owl Capital Inc., and Hayfin Capital Management are taking control of telecommunications supplier Netceed through a debt-for-equity swap arrangement, according to reports from people familiar with the matter. The restructuring represents a significant shift in ownership for the Cinven-controlled company, which has been facing financial challenges in the competitive telecom equipment sector.

by Samuel Kim
EnergyInnovationTechnology

Entergy Mississippi Expands Natural Gas Portfolio with $1.2 Billion Vicksburg Power Facility

Entergy Mississippi is building a $1.2 billion natural gas power plant in Vicksburg as part of its comprehensive grid modernization strategy. The facility represents the utility’s third major power plant announcement and promises significant customer savings through improved efficiency.

Major Grid Modernization Initiative

Entergy Mississippi is moving forward with construction of a 754-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas-fired power plant in Vicksburg, according to company reports. The $1.2-billion facility will replace the retired Baxter Wilson Steam Electric Station and represents the latest component in what sources indicate is the largest grid upgrade in the company’s history.

by Priya Kapoor
AIInnovationSoftware

MIT Media Lab Launches Framework for Auditable AI Decision Systems

MIT Media Lab’s new sAIpien program focuses on creating AI systems that leadership can actually explain and audit. The initiative transforms responsible AI from policy discussion to engineering discipline with verifiable governance artifacts.

New Framework for Auditable AI Systems

The MIT Media Lab has launched a new initiative called the Scalable AI Program for the Intelligent Evolution of Networks (sAIpien) that aims to make artificial intelligence systems truly auditable at the board level, according to reports. Rather than developing another AI model, the program focuses on creating human-AI interfaces that teams can inspect, adapt, and use for collective decision-making across healthcare, urban planning, and corporate environments.

by Priya Kapoor
InnovationScienceTechnology

Quantum Sensing Firm Expands with Berlin Photonics Spin-Off Focused on Micro-Integrated Engines

Rydberg Technologies has established Rydberg Photonics in Berlin to advance micro-integrated photonic engines for quantum applications. The spin-off from Ferdinand-Braun-Institut will develop hybrid laser systems and optical frequency references. This expansion aims to accelerate quantum technology deployment across global markets.

Quantum Technology Expansion Through Photonics Innovation

Rydberg Technologies, a specialist in quantum sensing and imaging solutions, has reportedly launched a new subsidiary named Rydberg Photonics based in Berlin. According to reports, the newly formed company aims to develop next-generation compact, micro-integrated photonic engines designed to power various quantum technologies. This strategic move represents a significant expansion in the quantum technology landscape, with sources indicating the company will leverage extensive research from the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut.

by Priya Kapoor
BusinessInnovationTechnology

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Unveils Comprehensive Roundtable Agenda Featuring AI, Space Economy, and Startup Innovation

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 has revealed its complete roundtable session agenda, featuring over 25 interactive discussions led by top industry experts. The event, scheduled for October 27 at Moscone West in San Francisco, will cover AI innovation, space economy, fintech transformation, and startup scaling strategies. Early registration offers significant savings before door prices take effect.

Comprehensive Roundtable Agenda Revealed for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

With TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 just days away, sources indicate the event will feature an extensive lineup of interactive roundtable sessions spanning artificial intelligence, space commercialization, fintech transformation, and startup scaling strategies. According to reports, the three-day event at Moscone West in San Francisco will host more than 25 roundtable discussions led by prominent founders, investors, and industry operators.

by Samuel Kim
HardwareInnovationTechnology

Vintage Netbook Fails Modern Computing Test in 2025 Experiment

A technology enthusiast’s attempt to revive a 2009 Toshiba netbook for modern use reveals significant compatibility and performance hurdles. The experiment demonstrates how outdated hardware struggles with today’s web browsing and software demands. Even with SSD and maximum RAM upgrades, the device proved inadequate for contemporary computing tasks.

The Netbook Experiment

A technology enthusiast recently attempted to use a 2009-era Toshiba netbook as a modern productivity machine, with results that sources indicate were predictably disappointing. According to reports, the experiment aimed to determine whether the compact, low-power devices that peaked in popularity during the early 2010s could still handle contemporary computing demands.

by Samuel Kim
InnovationScienceTechnology

Researchers Achieve Breakthrough in Creating Reconfigurable Light-Based Quasicrystals

An international research team has created the first reconfigurable polariton quasicrystal using a unique optical technique. The breakthrough demonstrates long-range order and nontrivial phase synchronization in an aperiodic structure, revealing new quantum behaviors.

Breakthrough in Quantum Material Science

An international team of researchers has reportedly created the first reconfigurable polariton two-dimensional quasicrystal, according to findings published in Science Advances. The collaboration between Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, University of Iceland, University of Warsaw, and the Institute of Spectroscopy of the Russian Academy of Sciences has demonstrated that this unique state of matter exhibits long-range order and a novel type of phase synchronization. Sources indicate this discovery opens new pathways for research into exotic phenomena such as supersolids and superfluidity in aperiodic settings.

by Priya Kapoor