๐ Waymo launches driverless taxi rides in four new cities and presents next-generation technology
Data from over 127 million miles driven shows that Waymo's driverless cars have ten times fewer serious crashes and twelve times fewer crashes with pedestrians compared to human drivers. The company has launched new sensor technology with the ability to drive in extreme winter weather.
๐ Aurora triples its driverless truck network and expands across the southern United States
Aurora has expanded its driverless network from three to ten routes. The Fort WorthโPhoenix route of approximately 1,000 miles is the first driverless freight route to exceed mandated driving time limits, nearly halving transit times.
๐คง A single nasal spray vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus
Researchers have developed a "universal vaccine" in the form of a nasal spray that in animal experiments protected against virtually all tested viruses, bacteria and even allergens. The method puts immune cells in the lungs in a heightened state of readiness.
โฒ๏ธ New world record โ fusion reactor held plasma stable for 22 minutes
The research reactor WEST in France held plasma stable for just over 22 minutes, which is a new world record. The record surpassed China's previous mark by approximately 25 percent. The test showed that the reactor's internal surfaces withstood the demanding conditions without breaking down.
โจ๏ธ Geothermal power around the clock: Hot well in Utah shows the technology can scale up
Fervo Energy has drilled its hottest well yet at a new geothermal site in Utah, with measured temperatures exceeding 555ยฐF at approximately 11,200 feet deep. Fervo pumps cold water underground, where it is heated by the Earth's natural heat. The water is then brought back to the surface.
๐ New bridge in Sierra Leone cuts journey from half a day to five minutes
The Gendema Bridge replaces a 50-year-old hand-pulled ferry across the Sewa River. The bridge is part of a larger effort where a total of eight bridges are being built to connect farmers with markets across the country.
๐ณ Amazon deforestation continues to decline โ lowest level since 2014
Satellite data shows that deforestation in the Amazon between August 2025 and January 2026 dropped to 1,325 square kilometers, the lowest level for the period since 2014. Total deforestation over the past twelve months decreased to 3,770 square kilometers, also the lowest figure since 2014.
๐ฆ Bacteria in mosquitoes reduced dengue cases by 70 percent in Singapore
In a two-year experiment in Singapore, the number of wild mosquitoes decreased by 77 percent in areas where Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes were released. Residents in treated neighborhoods had approximately 70 percent lower risk of developing symptomatic dengue.
๐งฎ AI helps mathematicians solve problems that have been unsolved for decades
Since October, AI tools have helped move about 100 of Paul Erdลs' mathematical problems into the "solved" category. Large language models function as powerful research assistants that can find and combine existing mathematical results in new ways.