🎙️ Interview with Jonas Birgersson about EnergyNet & Project Energy Society
In the Volts podcast, Jonas Birgersson explains why today’s power grid is built for yesterday. What is referred to as EnergyNet in the conversation is Project Energisamhället in practice: a digital, local, electricity-first grid designed for electrification.
⚰️ US murders fell 21 percent – the largest drop ever recorded
Murder rates in 35 large US cities dropped by 21 percent in 2025, the largest single-year decrease ever recorded. The murder rate was 4 per 100,000 residents, likely the lowest level since 1900. 11 of 13 tracked crime categories decreased compared to the previous year.
😴 New AI model can predict over 100 diseases from one night's sleep
The model was trained on nearly 600,000 hours of sleep data from 65,000 participants and shows high accuracy for cancer, heart disease, and dementia, among others. The AI model performs as well as or better than today's leading methods for sleep analysis.
🌾 Scientists solve hybrid rice's biggest problem: seeds that lose their yield advantage
Researchers have developed hybrid rice that produces genetically identical seeds generation after generation. The system achieves over 99 percent cloning efficiency with normal seed production. The technology could eliminate the need for farmers to buy new hybrid seeds every season.
🤨 Researchers question high-profile studies on microplastics in the human body
Seven studies reporting microplastics in the brain, testes, and other organs have been challenged by other researchers in scientific journals. Analytical techniques for measuring microplastics in tissue can produce false positive results because body fat can be confused with common plastics.
💧 California completely drought-free for the first time in 25 years
California has no dry areas for the first time since 2000 according to the US Drought Monitor. Heavy winter rains have filled the state's reservoirs far above historic averages.
⚗️ Amazon buys copper produced with microorganisms in new climate-friendly process
The process uses microorganisms to extract copper from ore that previously often became waste, eliminating the need for traditional smelters and refineries. The technology can strengthen domestic copper supply without waiting for permits for new mines, a process that normally takes many years.
👩⚕️ Huntington's disease has been successfully treated for the first time
A gene therapy has for the first time been shown to slow Huntington's disease by 75 percent after three years in a clinical trial. The results provide proof that the disease can be treated, opening possibilities for other neurodegenerative conditions as well.
🔭 Google's former CEO is funding four new telescopes to be completed within four years
Eric and Wendy Schmidt are investing in building four large telescopes, including a space telescope that will rival Hubble. One of the telescopes, Argus Array, consists of 1,200 small telescopes that together can photograph the entire northern sky in a few minutes.