When you’re on Twitter and comply with information about China, you probably have heard a reasonably wild rumor just lately: that President Xi Jinping was underneath home arrest and that there was about to be a significant energy seize within the nation.
Initially, let’s be very clear: this report is fake and shouldn’t be taken severely. No credible sources on China have purchased it. It’s wishful pondering at finest, and intentional disinformation at worst.
But it surely’s attention-grabbing to dissect how a ridiculous rumor could possibly be elevated and unfold so extensively that it made it to Twitter’s deeply flawed trending listing over the weekend, because of influencer translation and amplification from accounts primarily based in India. Learn the total story.
—Zeyi Yang
This story is from China Report, MIT Know-how Assessment’s new publication supplying you with the within scoop on what’s occurring in China. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Tuesday.
How robots and AI are serving to develop higher batteries
The information: Initially of this yr, Carnegie Mellon researchers used a robotic system to run dozens of experiments designed to generate electrolytes to cost lithium-ion batteries sooner, addressing one of many main obstacles to the widespread adoption of electrical autos.
How they did it: A system of automated pumps, valves, and devices combined numerous solvents, salts, and different chemical compounds collectively, then measured how the answer carried out on essential battery benchmarks. These outcomes have been then fed right into a machine-learning system, generally known as Dragonfly, that used the information to suggest completely different combos that may work even higher.
Why it issues: Creating higher electrolytes is essential for enhancing the efficiency, security, and price of batteries. Sooner-charging batteries are particularly essential for making electrical vehicles and vehicles extra interesting. Learn the total story.