A look inside imagineering

Crunchlabs was able to go inside Disney imagineering's labs and shows us around!

You can see many of the things they are working on. It's wicked cool. 

https://youtu.be/16LuvR2CARA?si=qFLC0dJvc7vgapBk

From a personal standpoint, this was always my dream job …. So it's really fun to take a peek at what they're doing. And I do appreciate that several imagineers remind kids that they can create the future through imagineering, engineering, or simply being creative. 

Disneys Cotino community

You may recall that back in 2022, Disney announced plans to create a master planned community near Palm Springs. 

Well, the first part is set to open soon. Disney has fulfilled on its desire to create some kind of storybook living. 

And in a way, you could argue that this is at least a little like the original plans for Epcot. Its a place built (and managed, I think?) by Disney. 

https://people.com/disney-cotino-planned-community-reportedly-set-to-welcome-first-residents-this-spring-11699853

Hope for paralysis

Here's a piece on a Chinese research team and their attempts to help people who have been paralyzed. In summary:

The Chinese team's advance was made possible by implanting electrode chips in the brain and spinal cord to create a bridge or "neural bypass" – thus reconnecting the body's own pathways.

Which is a hopeful finding. 

But also not to be missed is the fact that they take some not-so-subtle jabs at Elon in the article. Which goes to show how much of a Dr Evil he's become. 

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3301416/chinas-neurotechnology-breakthrough-challenges-elon-musks-verdict-paralysed-patients

Intriguing idea for the future of power sources

The idea of a Natrium power source isn't new, but it's always been somewhat theoretical until recently. 

The concept is to create a nuclear reactor and use liquid sodium to cool the materials, rather than water. 

This would have two benefits: it would increase energy production and decrease the risk of an accident. 

They're building a power plant in Wyoming, to test this out. I look forward to seeing how this works out. 

And by the way, the article notes that Bill Gates thinks this is a good direction for the future of energy. I just wanted to point out that Gates is smarter than Elon is; so I can at least accept that through independent thought he might have some idea what he's talking about.  But maybe that's just me. 

https://jasondeegan.com/bill-gates-argues-that-the-future-of-energy-isnt-in-renewables-or-fusion-but-in-natrium/

Musk is so stupid

And the GOP just rolls with it. 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/elon-musk-discovers-magic-money-computers-or-how-the-u-s-financial-system-actually-works-43a21350

That’s some dumb shit.

Another leap forward in science

Here's a look at how scientists are developing up better means of transmitting power with less loss, over longer distances by using different materials and configurations of those materials.  

https://hackaday.com/2025/03/16/transmitting-wireless-power-over-longer-distances/