A Chemical Breakthrough That Could Fix the Plastic Crisis

Denovia, a company based in Canada, has come up with a compound that more efficiently breaks down plastics and lower temperatures, meaning that plastic waste can be recycled at scale. 

There’s more to be done, but it’s a step in a better direction.  

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/chemical-breakthrough-could-fix-plastic-000100369.html

Scientists build near-invisible solar cells thinner than human hair

Here’s another step forward in the development of solar cells.  Thin, transparent cells that can cover a surface and still be clear enough to see through is an intriguing use case.  

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/ultrathin-transparent-solar-cells-ntu

Nasa Beamed 484 Gigabytes From The Moon, And It Could Redefine How Humans Experience Deep Space Forever

I noted on a previous post that nasa was using a laser to send compressed data back to earth. It had less lag than a traditional radio broadcast (as we used in Apollo), and contained way more data in the stream. They were able to broadcast near HD video from the spacecraft. 

Here some additional details on how this worked, and what they learned. 

https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/05/nasa-just-beamed-484-gigabytes-from-moon/

Scientists “bottle the sun” with a liquid battery that stores solar energy | ScienceDaily

The intent here is:

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara believe they may have found an answer that avoids the need for massive battery systems or reliance on the electrical grid. Writing in the journal Science, Associate Professor Grace Han and her research team describe a new material capable of absorbing sunlight, storing that energy in chemical bonds, and later releasing it as heat whenever needed. The material is based on a modified organic molecule called pyrimidone and represents a new step forward in Molecular Solar Thermal (MOST) energy storage technology.

Now that’s an advancement in a clean energy storage system. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260513221821.htm

The DOJ Is Demanding Apple And Google Identify Over 100,000 Users Of This Car App

This can’t end well. The DOJ asking for a list of everyone who downloaded an app sets a dangerous precedent for surveillance. These people may not have done anything wrong, or perhaps downloaded it in error. 

And yet their names will appear on a list that will surely lead to enforcement.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2026/05/14/government-demands-apple-and-google-identify-over-100000-users-of-car-app/

World’s largest operating tokamak restarts with 8-meter coils upgrade

Europe and Asia continue to lead in finding alternative fuel sources. Here’s a story about a tokamak that is being tested. 

A tokamak is an experimental device that uses powerful magnetic fields to confine a superheated plasma in the shape of a donut (torus). It is the leading design for harnessing nuclear fusion—the process that powers the sun—to create clean, limitless, and on-demand energy on Earth.

 

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/largest-operating-tokamak-begins-commissioning

California farmer prepares to rip up 9-year-old peach trees worth $12,500/acre after largest buyer collapsed

This is the story of fallout from sweeping changes by this administration. However it’s framed, Delmonte closed a packing plant, laid off workers, and now the effects are being felt by the growers who supplied produce. 

And of course, we’ll feel it at the grocery stores when we are unable to get fresh produce. 

FAFO indeed. 

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/energy/articles/california-farmer-prepares-rip-9-093500462.html