Power Technology

Russia has started rationing fuel following a large Ukrainian drone strike that hit fuel infrastructure. Reports say Ukrainian long-range drone technology is outmatching Russia's jet-powered drones, forcing Moscow to restrict petrol supplies in parts of the country. The strikes mark an escalation in the drone war between the two countries, with Ukraine targeting refineries and depots deep inside Russian territory.

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

Commentators are arguing that artificial intelligence developers should draw on decades of nuclear weapons safety practice as they work to manage powerful new technology. The piece draws parallels between how the nuclear field built safeguards, protocols and international controls, and the governance challenges now facing AI companies as their systems grow more capable and potentially risky.

Nissan has introduced the third generation of its e-POWER powertrain, the series hybrid system in which a gasoline engine acts solely as a generator for an electric motor that drives the wheels. The company has published details of the new system on its global technology page, and tech readers are discussing what the updated drivetrain could mean for efficiency and future Nissan models.

A new commentary argues that artificial intelligence companies should draw safety lessons from the history of nuclear weapons, an earlier technology where catastrophic risk prompted international treaties, safeguards and institutional controls. The piece suggests parallels between how governments managed nuclear dangers and how AI development might be regulated to prevent misuse and accidents. It reflects a growing debate over how to govern powerful technologies before harm occurs.

MI5 has issued an unprecedented public warning about a new Chinese espionage threat aimed at British academics. The Security Service says a Chinese institute is secretly attempting to exploit the expertise of UK universities and research bodies to help Beijing develop more powerful technology. The warning urges researchers and institutions to be vigilant about approaches from individuals or organisations linked to the Chinese state.

Betfair, the Paddy Power-owned betting exchange, is drawing attention in the UK alongside a wave of horse racing tips and betting previews from punters and tipsters covering meetings at Musselburgh, Catterick and Kempton. The platform's technical capacity has also been highlighted, with reports noting Couchbase technology helps it process over one million transactions per second.

Sony is bringing its AI-powered upscaling technology, previously exclusive to the PS5 Pro, to the standard PlayStation 5. Digital Foundry reports that Sony announced QSSR AI upscaling for the base console, set to be used in upcoming titles Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei. Gaming outlets including Game Informer and The Verge are covering the announcement, with players discussing what it means for the value of the more expensive Pro model.

Successful Farming asks whether modern farms could keep operating if the power grid or internet connection failed, a question growing more urgent as agriculture depends on connected equipment, GPS guidance, online markets and automated systems. The piece prompts farmers to review backup plans and consider how vulnerable their operations are to outages.

Solar power is outperforming what has long been considered nuclear energy's strongest advantage, according to a new analysis. The discussion argues that falling costs and rapid deployment are letting solar match or beat nuclear on its traditional selling points, such as reliable large-scale clean power. The comparison has drawn large audiences interested in how the two technologies stack up in the ongoing energy transition.

China is emerging as a major force in health technology, spanning AI-driven healthcare, biotech and drug development. The story argues that the country's scale, investment and regulatory speed are allowing it to close the gap with Western pharmaceutical and medtech leaders, making its ascent strategically important for global healthcare, drug pricing and the future balance of technological power.

The US Energy Information Administration's educational timeline on the history of photovoltaic technology is drawing attention. The page traces the development of solar cells from early scientific discoveries to modern solar power, as part of the agency's history of energy resources for students and the public.

The US government's America.gov website has relaunched with AI features, built by former members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and powered by Musk's Grok chatbot. The project ties the federal web presence directly to Musk's xAI technology, raising questions about procurement, political influence and the role of AI in official government communications.

Mozilla is discontinuing Solo, its AI-powered website builder, according to a shutdown FAQ published on the Solo support site. The announcement is being shared and discussed on technology forums, where users are commenting on the decision. Details about timelines for existing sites and user migration options are laid out in the company's shutdown documentation.

Italy's Senate has given final approval to a law from Giorgia Meloni's government establishing a new framework for producing nuclear energy, nearly four decades after the country abandoned nuclear power following the 1987 referendum. The government plans to focus on new-generation nuclear technology. Supporters see it as a step toward energy security and lower emissions, while critics recall Italy's long-standing opposition to atomic power.

Google's Project Suncatcher, an experimental effort to test running AI data center hardware in space, has launched aboard a SpaceX rocket. The mission marks a first step toward Google's longer-term ambition of orbiting data centers that use solar power to meet the enormous energy demands of AI. Observers in technology and space circles are watching closely to see whether the test hardware can operate reliably in orbit.

Discussion is focused on how soon small modular reactors could realistically be deployed. The debate centres on whether SMR technology is genuinely near commercial readiness or still years away, with questions about costs, regulatory approvals and construction timelines dominating the conversation as interest in nuclear power as a climate solution grows.

A new intelligence council report examines how openly available AI model weights are changing the strategic competition between the United States and China. The analysis suggests that free dissemination of powerful model weights, including those from Chinese labs like DeepSeek, is narrowing the technology gap and complicating Washington's export-control strategy. The report has drawn attention from policy watchers tracking how openness affects national security and AI leadership.

Law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips is hosting the 19th episode of its Digital Law and Technology Policy Forum webinar series, titled 'AI Safety: Going off the Rails'. The session examines how artificial intelligence safety issues are challenging regulators, companies and policymakers, and what legal and policy frameworks may be needed as AI systems increasingly behave in unpredictable ways.

A new commentary argues that despite rapid advances in AI chip technology, faster semiconductors are not arriving on the expected timeline. The piece examines the bottlenecks keeping high-performance AI processors from reaching the market, a topic of growing interest as demand for AI computing power continues to outstrip supply. Details of the specific constraints were not provided in available coverage.

Sony is rolling out AI-powered graphics upscaling to the standard PlayStation 5, technology previously associated with the PS5 Pro. The Verge reports the feature improves image quality on the base console without requiring the upgraded hardware. The news is drawing attention from gamers debating whether the Pro's technical advantages have narrowed, and what it means for owners of the original console.

Japan's entertainment robots are diversifying with artificial intelligence, offering companionship and emotional comfort to users. Kyodo News reports the shift as robotics companies move beyond traditional programmable machines toward AI-powered robots that can interact and respond to people. The development reflects Japan's ongoing role as a leader in consumer robotics amid an aging population and growing demand for companion technology.

US prosecutors have charged a man with illegally shipping Nvidia chips to China, in breach of American export controls on advanced semiconductors. The case highlights ongoing US efforts to stop sensitive chip technology from reaching Chinese buyers, and comes as Washington tightens restrictions on Nvidia's most powerful AI processors being sold abroad.

Google has unveiled the first prototype satellite for Project Suncatcher, an initiative to test artificial intelligence hardware in orbit. The prototype is designed to evaluate how AI compute systems perform in space, where solar power is more abundant. The announcement has drawn attention from technology observers discussing what it could mean for the future of data centers and space-based computing.

A panel at Tulane University's Future of Energy Forum examined how artificial intelligence could help expand access to energy. The discussion comes as AI's own massive electricity demands draw scrutiny, raising questions about whether the technology can balance its growing power consumption with tools that improve grid efficiency, planning, and delivery of electricity to underserved communities worldwide.

A new analysis traces the long history of civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and China, examining how the two countries have partnered on peaceful atomic energy even amid deep strategic rivalry. The piece explores what decades of shared nuclear technology and commerce reveal about the current state of the relationship and its future.

Reports are highlighting that Europe is moving ahead with plans to build what is described as the first real fusion power plant, a facility designed to generate electricity from nuclear fusion rather than just experimental energy gains. The project is drawing attention because fusion promises abundant clean power, and Europe's efforts are being framed as a potential milestone in bringing the technology from laboratories toward the grid.