UK to Streamline Planning Rules to Unlock Grid Infrastructure
The UK government announced on 21 April that new planning rules will let larger electricity substations be built without full applications, speeding grid connections for homes, businesses, EV chargers and data centres. The package also creates streamlined routes for routine grid works, temporary overhead lines and early ground surveys. It coincides with a record 8.4 GW of offshore wind offered in the next renewable auction and a cross‑government sprint to develop up to 10 GW of public‑estate wind and solar. These measures aim to accelerate the grid build‑out needed for rising renewable generation and electricity demand.
Last Week in ConTech - 20 April 2026
Construction robotics is entering a rapid growth phase, with 22 funding rounds delivering $250 million in 2025—13% more than 2024—and an additional $144.3 million raised for autonomous excavator solutions. The surge is driven by three converging forces: commoditization of hardware components, AI...
Fewer Flights, Higher Fares This Summer
Jet fuel prices have doubled since the Iran‑Israel conflict and the seven‑week closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Canadian airlines to add $18‑$44 (USD) fuel surcharges, raise the first‑bag fee to about $33 USD, and suspend several summer routes....
A Deal to End the Iran War Seemed Close. Then Trump Started Posting on Social Media
After seven weeks of fighting, the United States and Iran appeared close to a cease‑fire agreement, but President Donald Trump’s barrage of social‑media statements and contradictory briefings undermined the negotiations. Trump claimed Iran had accepted an unlimited nuclear suspension and...
They Want To Silence Nick Shirley Because He’s Exposing Too Much
California Assembly Bill 2624, dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” seeks to criminalize independent journalists and citizens who film or document taxpayer‑funded programs, directly targeting investigative reporter Nick Shirley. The bill frames its intent as protecting privacy in immigration services,...
The Lenovo Legion Go S Is RAMageddon’s Latest Victim
Lenovo’s 8‑inch Legion Go S handheld has seen its price nearly double since launch, with the SteamOS Z1 Extreme version climbing from $830 to $1,580 at Best Buy. The Windows Z1 Extreme model now lists at $1,680, though a sale price...
My Question Made It to the CA Governor’s Debate
At the California governor’s debate, pediatrician Dr. Joel Warsh’s full question on rising childhood chronic disease and autism rates was read aloud, not paraphrased. He highlighted that nearly half of California’s children live with a chronic condition and that autism...
WEBINAR ( 4/22/26): How to Get Your Work Published
The CISA Alumni Executive Board is hosting a hybrid webinar on April 22, 2026 titled “How to Get Your Work Published.” Moderated by Dr. Dayna Barnes, the panel features Editors‑in‑Chief from PRISM: The Journal of Complex Operations, Joint Force Quarterly, and Combating...
Lawyers Using ChatGPT: Let’s Be Careful
Lawyers are increasingly feeding confidential client information into ChatGPT, relying on the platform’s privacy toggle for protection. Recent analysis warns that the toggle does not guarantee data confidentiality and may conflict with Model Rule 1.6, which governs lawyer‑client privilege. The piece...
Lawyers Using ChatGPT: Let’s Be Careful
Lawyers are increasingly turning to ChatGPT for rapid drafting, but the tool’s privacy toggle may not shield client data as required by Model Rule 1.6. The article warns that confidential information entered into public‑facing AI can be retained, potentially creating a...
How to Complete Fate of the Prophets in Windrose
The Destructoid guide walks players through the advanced "Fate of the Prophets" side quest in Windrose, recommending a minimum player level of 14. It details three observatory locations, puzzle solutions, and the final showdown with the boss Chick Chan. Completing...
Golden Pass Texas Facility Ready for Inaugural LNG Export
Golden Pass LNG in Texas received its first export cargo as the Al Qaiyyah tanker, owned by QatarEnergy, docked on Monday. The plant, which began production earlier this year after years of delays and cost overruns, processed 400 million cubic feet of...
UNC Health’s Moosavi Says Analytics Teams Must Deeply Understand Requests Before Moving Forward; No Place for Ticket-Taking
In this episode, UNC Health’s Chief Analytics Officer Rachani Moosavi discusses how analytics teams must deeply understand stakeholder needs before building solutions, emphasizing that analytics is not a ticket‑taking function. She shares her diverse background—from nursing aide to patient‑flow consulting...
Japan Protests China's Oil and Gas Projects in the East China Sea
Japan lodged a formal protest after China began constructing a new offshore structure on its side of the East China Sea median line. Tokyo argues the median line should serve as the de‑facto boundary until a formal EEZ delimitation is...
Colleges Were Sweating a Major Compliance Deadline. Now the Justice Dept. Has Delayed It.
The Justice Department has postponed the federal web‑accessibility deadline for public colleges by one year, moving the primary compliance date to April 26, 2027 and extending it to April 26, 2028 for smaller entities. The original deadline, set for this Friday, required universities to...
AMD Bringing Back Ryzen 7 5800X3D to Save the World From DDR5
AMD announced a limited‑edition re‑release of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, pricing it at $449 to mark the 10th anniversary of the AM4 socket. The move gives gamers a high‑performance, 3D‑V‑Cache CPU that can run on existing DDR4 platforms, sidestepping today’s steep DDR5...
Major Antineoplastic Mechanisms of Combination Ivermectin-Mebendazole
Recent preclinical analyses highlight the anticancer potential of combining ivermectin and mebendazole, two antiparasitic drugs repurposed for oncology. Ivermectin suppresses proliferative signaling pathways such as Wnt/β‑catenin, Akt/mTOR, and STAT3, while mebendazole disrupts microtubule polymerization, inducing G2/M arrest. Together they inhibit...
Why Freight Rates Are Finally Heating Up
Mike Hosted, VP of ATBS, reports that 2026 spot‑market freight rates are finally rising after a four‑year flatline. Data from over 15,000 owner‑operators shows a sharp correction as excess capacity from the 2021 boom exits the market. Federal actions—tightening driver‑license...
Editing Grapevine DNA Could Boost Resistance to Disease and Drought
Researchers at Stellenbosch University and the Agricultural Research Council used CRISPR to knock out the VvDMR6.1 gene in grapevines, marking the first successful DNA edit of a woody crop in Africa. The edited vines showed markedly reduced susceptibility to downy...
Singapore, Los Angeles and Long Beach Renew Green Corridor Agreement
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, together with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, has renewed its three‑year memorandum of understanding to advance a green and digital shipping corridor across the trans‑Pacific trade lane. Since the corridor’s...
Marshall: Behavioral Health Providers Should Use One EMR, Dashboard
Sen. Roger Marshall (R‑KS) is urging Congress to mandate that all behavioral health providers adopt a single electronic medical record (EMR) system and a unified mental‑health dashboard. The proposal would tie compliance to federal funding, imposing penalties on providers that...
US Air Force Says Key Iran Warplane, the A-10 Warthog, Will Live on to 2030
The U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced that the A‑10 "Warthog" attack aircraft will remain in service until 2030, pushing back the previously slated 2026 retirement. The decision preserves a proven close‑air‑support platform that has been used against Iranian...
![[Podcast] AI Meets USPTO: The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Evolution in the Digital Era](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.14750_4752.jpg)
[Podcast] AI Meets USPTO: The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Evolution in the Digital Era
The United States Patent and Trademark Office launched a new podcast series highlighting its AI‑focused transformation. In the latest episode, the USPTO announced formal guidance on how artificial intelligence should be used by examiners and disclosed by patent applicants. The...
Everllence Ammonia Engine Passes Factory Acceptance Test
Everllence announced the successful factory acceptance test of its first dual‑fuel ammonia‑burning engine, the B&W 6G60ME‑LGIA, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries' licensee in South Korea. The engine will power a vessel for Singapore‑based Eastern Pacific Shipping, slated for delivery in October 2026,...
High-Grade Gold & a Fully Funded Drill Program: Goliath Update with Roger Rosmus & Russell Ashton
Goliath Resources announced that its flagship gold project is delivering high‑grade intercepts and that a fully funded 2024 drill program is now in place. In a detailed interview, Founder‑CEO Roger Rosmus and Head Geologist Russell Ashton outlined the latest assay...
Colorado Law Expands Mortgage Options for First Responders
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 26‑053, expanding eligibility for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) mortgage programs to include police officers, firefighters and EMTs. The legislation adds an income cap of 110% of the existing CHFA limit for qualifying...
Mission-Driven Independent Journalists Face Financial Strain, Report Shows
A new report from the Center for News, Technology & Innovation and Project C surveyed 43 independent information providers, revealing that most mission‑driven indie journalists struggle financially. Only five respondents can fully fund their lifestyle through content creation, while more...
Early Community Engagement May Avoid Data Center Delays, Industry Panel Says
Data center developers are being urged to engage local communities and policymakers early to avoid costly delays, panelists said at Data Center World. Brandie Williams highlighted that over 70% of projects from 2020‑2022 stalled due to poor communication. Regulators in...
How to Have Smarter Supplier Relationships in 2026
Cafe and restaurant owners are moving from reactive, price‑only negotiations to data‑driven supplier management powered by AI. Existing POS, ordering and accounting systems provide granular spend data that AI can analyze to uncover inefficiencies, price creep and fragmented ordering. By...
USSF Objective Force 2040 And USAF Satellite Purchases: What It Means For Europe
At Space Symposium 2026 the U.S. Space Force released its Objective Force 2040 roadmap, while the Air Force announced a shift to multi‑year satellite procurement contracts. The new acquisition model aims to cut costs and give manufacturers longer‑term certainty. Objective...
Sprigging Wheat Creates Ideal Corn Seedbed, Cuts Weeds
This is what our fields look like the next spring from relay wheat. I call this method sprigging or “hot ice” A vertical till pass in the fall distributes the straw from wheat and both plants and thins the volunteer...
Circular Water Recovery Transforms Mining Waste Streams
A new study of Poland’s hard‑coal sector reveals that roughly 200 million m³ of mine water—carrying about 1.5 million Mg of dissolved salts—are discharged each year, creating severe ecological pressure. By applying circular‑economy principles, researchers show that desalination and mineral crystallization can turn this...
Rio Tinto Charters Two Methanol-Capable Newcastlemax Bulk Carriers
Rio Tinto has signed a charter agreement with Japanese shipowner NS United Kaiun Kaisha to lease two dual‑fuel Newcastlemax bulk carriers equipped for methanol operation, with deliveries slated for 2028 onward. The contract is part of Rio Tinto’s broader strategy...
Stern+: How One of Germany’s Biggest Magazine Brands Rebuilt a Subscription Business From Scratch
German publisher RTL Deutschland rebuilt its digital subscription arm, stern+, from a seven‑person team to nearly 100 staff focused on product, data, engineering and marketing. The rollout introduced weekly pricing, personalized trial offers and a dynamic paywall that tailors free...
5 Of The Best Folding E-Bikes, According To Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has identified the five best folding electric bikes, highlighting the Velotric Fold 1 as the top‑rated model. The rankings span a price spectrum from $1,078 for the Lectric XP 4 to $1,899 for the Blix Vika+ Flex, and all five excel...
Scape Turns Student-Inspired Stories Into National Campaign via Jane Doe Creation
Jane Doe Creation launched “You Had To Be There,” an integrated campaign for Scape that turns student‑inspired moments into national brand storytelling across YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Meta, Reddit and out‑of‑home. The mixed‑media films showcase everyday campus connections, from hallway greetings to shared...
Interview with SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton Drops Tomorrow
I sat down with SoundCloud CEO eliahseton. You can watch and listen to our talk tomorrow, April 21, wherever you get podcasts.
Herbicide‑free Cover Crops Boost Tilth in Tough Soils
On our “tougher” soils this system has proven to add tilth to these timber white clays. We leave out any herbicide pass in the fall to encourage our “free” cover crop to establish. The haters will call it...
EVs Are Driving Cleaner Automotive Supply Chains — Here’s How
The new Lead the Charge Auto Supply Chain Leaderboard shows that EV manufacturers are outpacing gasoline‑car makers in battery recycling, low‑carbon steel and aluminium use, and responsible mineral sourcing. Tesla disclosed detailed emissions hotspots in its battery chain, while Mercedes,...
Progress MS-32 Departs ISS, Begins Destructive Re‑entry
Progress MS-32 departed the ISS for a destructive plunge into the Earth's atmosphere. FULL HISTORY OF THE MISSION: https://t.co/enMBZ6EjHi
China’s Solar Supply Triggers Tougher US Security Review
US Interior Security Doug Burgum said China’s key role in supplying US solar developments necessitates a more rigorous review process to ferret out any potential threats to national security https://t.co/VurNwiDahV
Why the Most Important Food Prices Are Rising Again
Canadian grocery inflation rose to 4.4% in March, outpacing the headline 4% CPI figure. Meat prices surged—beef up 12.7%, chicken 7.5%, pork 6.2%—as herd reductions and higher feed costs tighten supply. Vegetable prices also jumped, with cucumbers up 28.4% and...
Eight Insights From Fervo’s IPO Filing
8 Things We Learned From Fervo’s IPO Filing #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/hi45rLG0X7 https://t.co/NFv7QqXXQu
Canadian Developer Wins Grid Approval
Canadian developer lands grid approval for mammoth New England solar-battery hybrid project #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/89vg0EU4SH https://t.co/rrkbjdF6DV
Little Baobab Launches Monthly Senegalese Food and Music Nights at the Africa Centre in Southwark
Little Baobab, London’s sole Senegalese restaurant, has introduced a monthly Food and Live Music Night at the Africa Centre in Southwark. Each event, priced at £35 (about $45) per person, offers a buffet of traditional dishes and an acoustic concert...
David Moss Effortlessly Locates the Robotaxi
I think @DavidMoss seems to be able to find the @robotaxi just fine, but ok.
Gene Therapy Works Best for Deaf Children Aged 5‑8
AAV gene therapy for autosomal recessive deafness 9: a single-arm trial 🌟“Gene therapy for congenital deafness has shown promising results in children but lacks data in older populations… . An age-dependent therapeutic effect was observed, with optimal outcomes in 5- to...
China Puts Fully-Electric, Intelligent Containership in Service
China’s state shipbuilder has placed the first of two fully‑electric, intelligent containerships into service. The 128‑metre Ning Yuan Dian Kun can carry 740 TEU and is powered by ten container‑sized batteries providing about 19,600 kWh to drive two 875 kW propulsion motors,...
Only 7% FSD, yet Cyberbeast Hits 87%
This is the lowest FSD percentage I've seen anywhere on @fsd_database Just 7%... but then he also has a Cyberbeast at 87% 😂 @JC70769 https://t.co/HlLlN4v2WH
Chile to US Fruit Trade Down
Cool Carriers, the world’s largest reefer vessel operator, posted strong results for the 2025/26 summer season despite a sharp decline in Chilean fruit export demand to the United States. The subsidiary moved 260,000 pallets of cherries, blueberries, grapes and stone...