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September 26^th 2025

Before we get into this week’s news, I’m excited to share a new partnership with Nanalyze.

They’ve been covering disruptive technologies for over 20 years, and what sets them apart is their no-hype, detail-driven approach to investing - sniffing out red flags while highlighting companies with real staying power. Their work includes 2,700+ in-depth research articles with deep dives into tech themes from AI to clean energy, plus clear advice on which companies to avoid, which to hold, and which to watch. If you’re curious, you can explore their work here.

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US engineers launch first live quantum internet on Verizon fiber using standard web technology

Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have made a big leap by successfully transmitting quantum data on Verizon’s commercial fiber network using a silicon-based “Q-chip” which lets quantum and regular internet signals travel together safely. The chip preserves fragile quantum states while enabling real-time routing and error correction, achieving over 97% signal fidelity despite real-world noise. Published in Science, this breakthrough demonstrates a scalable path to a quantum internet using existing infrastructure.

⚡️ Energy

🇬🇧 UK researchers outline fusion method promising 1,000x energy gain and low-cost clean power

British company First Light Fusion has proposed a commercially viable nuclear fusion approach that could achieve an unprecedented energy gain of 1,000 - far surpassing current records. Their method, called FLARE (Fusion via Low-power Assembly and Rapid Excitation), separates fuel compression and ignition steps to enable more efficient, low-cost inertial fusion using pulsed power instead of lasers. Described in a new white paper, the system could dramatically cut costs and make fusion energy economically transformative; details were published by the Oxfordshire-based company.

🚘 Transport

🇸🇪 🇧🇪 Swedish firm deploys self-driving electric truck in Belgium, showcasing scalable Level 4 freight tech

Sweden’s Einride has become the first company to operate a fully autonomous, heavy-duty electric truck on a public road in Belgium, under the nation’s regulatory framework. The demonstration, conducted at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges - one of the world’s most complex logistics hubs - showcases the viability of Level 4 autonomous freight systems in real-world, high-traffic environments. Backed by years of operational data and a purpose-built, cabless design, Einride’s platform enables scalable and cost-efficient freight operations with minimal human intervention, offering a model for cleaner and smarter logistics in Europe.

🌎 Sustainability

🇸🇪 🇺🇸 Swedish-American team creates world’s first near-zero CO₂ steel for US wind turbine towers

SSAB, a Swedish-American steelmaker, has produced the world’s first near-zero CO₂ steel using hydrogen-reduced iron and renewable energy at its Iowa facility. Verified to meet international decarbonization standards, the new SSAB Zero steel will be used in GE Vernova’s onshore wind towers, demonstrating a real-world application of low-emission steel in clean energy infrastructure. This breakthrough marks a major step in industrial decarbonization and supports global net-zero goals.

🇦🇺 Australian engineers create low-emission building material from cardboard waste and local soil

Engineers at RMIT University in Australia have developed cardboard-confined rammed earth, a sustainable construction material that uses recycled cardboard, water, and soil as a low-carbon alternative to concrete. With just one-quarter the carbon footprint and less than one-third the cost of concrete, it offers a scalable solution to reduce emissions and landfill waste, especially in hot or remote regions. The material can be made on-site, cuts transport costs, and was detailed in the journal Structures.

🇰🇷 South Korean researchers create solar device that removes 95% radioactive cesium from soil in 20 days

Scientists at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) in South Korea have developed a solar-powered artificial plant that mimics natural transpiration to extract radioactive cesium from contaminated soil. The device purifies over 95% of cesium in just 20 days, offering a fast, reusable, and non-invasive alternative to traditional soil removal methods. Fully powered by sunlight and requiring no external water or electricity, it holds major promise for nuclear cleanup efforts in remote or disaster-affected areas.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 🇬🇧 US-UK team slows Huntington’s disease by 75% with single-dose gene therapy in landmark trial

In a groundbreaking international trial, researchers from uniQure, University College London, and other institutions have demonstrated that the gene therapy AMT-130 can slow the progression of Huntington’s disease by 75% over three years. Delivered via a single brain surgery, the therapy uses engineered viruses to teach neurons to destroy toxic gene products without altering DNA. Published results mark the first real therapeutic success for Huntington’s, potentially transforming care for a disease that was previously untreatable.

🇺🇸 US researchers create AI-powered bandage that speeds up wound healing by 25% using smart therapy

Engineers at the University of California, Santa Cruz have developed a wearable device called a-Heal that uses AI, imaging, and bioelectronics to monitor wounds and deliver personalized treatments in real time. The smart bandage speeds up healing by about 25% compared to standard care by applying targeted medicine or electric fields based on the wound’s healing stage. Published in npj Biomedical Innovations, this closed-loop system could revolutionize chronic wound care, especially for patients in remote or resource-limited settings.

That’s all for today, please reply to this email if you have any comments or feedback, we’d love to hear from you about what we can do better!

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See you soon,

Max

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