BMW unveils car that changes colour at touch of a button

BMW has unveiled a chameleon car that changes colour, in the latest attempt by automotive firms to combine their vehicles with cutting-edge technology. The German car firm said it was “bringing the car body to life” with the specially developed body wrap for its all-electric iX SUV model, which uses the same technology as Amazon’s Kindle e-reader.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/05/bmw-unveils-car-that-changes-colour-at-the-touch-of-a-button?source=Snapzu

Revitalizing batteries by bringing ‘dead’ lithium back to life

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University may have found a way to revitalize rechargeable lithium batteries, potentially boosting the range of electric vehicles and battery life in next-gen electronic devices.
Read more: https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/news/2022-01-03-revitalizing-batteries-bringing-dead-lithium-back-life.aspx?source=Snapzu

Congress is preparing an oversight hearing on Bitcoin mining's environmental impact: sources

A Congressional subcommittee is preparing a hearing to examine the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies, especially bitcoin mining, three sources with knowledge of the matter have told The Block.
Read more: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/129336/congress-is-preparing-an-oversight-hearing-on-bitcoin-minings-environmental-impact-sources?source=Snapzu

LG makes the best TVs? Maybe not after Samsung's QD-OLED TV appeared at CES 2022

Get ready for a new OLED TV player. Samsung is the top-selling TV brand worldwide, but its QLED televisions have never performed as well as OLED TVs made by rivals like LG. At CES 2022, Samsung tackled those rivals head-on with its new QD Display, a new kind of big screen that relies on OLED technology.
Read more: https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/lg-makes-best-tvs-maybe-not-after-samsung-qd-oled-tv-appeared-ces-2022/?source=Snapzu

What The Disney Metaverse Experience Might Look Like In 2032

Starting Monday, November 29th 2021 thru Tuesday November 30th 2021, Voyager will offer new customers an additional $15 in Bitcoin on top of their regular $25 Bitcoin sign-up reward, giving $40 total in Bitcoin just for joining the popular and high-reward crypto exchange. This makes their sign-up incentive one of the largest in the industry, and does not even take the 12% interest that customers earn on their crypto into account.
Read more: https://cryptosauce.news/2022/01/05/what-the-disney-metaverse-experience-might-look-like-in-2032/?source=Snapzu

NASA will test Alexa voice control aboard the Artemis I mission

Alexa will be the first voice assistant available beyond Earth. Amazon and Lockheed Martin have revealed NASA will carry Alexa to space aboard the Artemis I mission launching later in 2022. While that flight is uncrewed, the companies are planning a "virtual crew experience" at NASA's Johnson Space Center that will let people in Mission Control (including students and special guests) simulate conversations between the digital helper and astronauts.
Read more: https://www.engadget.com/alexa-in-space-nasa-artemis-mission-143518042.html?source=Snapzu

Apple's Third Potential Supplier of Mini-LED Display Chips Hits Certification Hurdle

Apple's search for additional mini-LED display suppliers has hit a speed bump after its primary candidate's latest attempt to pass certification failed, according to a new industry report.
Read more: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/01/05/apple-mini-led-supplier-hits-quality-hurdle/?source=Snapzu

Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX is a 621-mile luxury hypermiler

This research concept went from sketches to the real world in just 18 months. It's loaded with advancements that could be in your next EV.
Read more: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/mercedes-vision-eqxx-concept-debut-ces-2022/?source=Snapzu

Amazon Alexa Devices Take Voiceprints, Misuse Biometric Data, Says Class Action

Amazon improperly collects and stores consumers’ biometric data through its Alexa voice-based virtual assistant devices, a new class action lawsuit alleges. Lead plaintiff April Schaeffer claims Amazon uses devices equipped with the Alexa virtual assistant, such as its Amazon Echo smart speaker and Fire tablet — in addition to many other company’s products — to capture and store voiceprints and create transcriptions. She wants to represent an Illinois Class of consumers who own an Alexa-enabled device.
Read more: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/privacy/amazon-alexa-devices-take-voiceprints-misuse-biometric-data-says-class-action/?source=Snapzu

Sony to establish new electric vehicle company

Japan's Sony Group will establish a new company for electric vehicles this spring, its chairman said, becoming the latest tech company to beef up its ambitions in the fast-growing market.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/technology/sony-says-establish-new-electric-vehicle-company-2022-01-05/?source=Snapzu

KFC to launch plant-based fried chicken made with Beyond Meat nationwide

KFC restaurants nationwide will add Beyond Meat's plant-based chicken to their menus, starting Monday for a limited time.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/04/kfc-to-launch-meatless-fried-chicken-made-with-beyond-meat-nationwide.html?source=Snapzu

Marvel Movies Made 30% Of The Total Box Office Last Year

The era of Marvel superhero movie domination is here to stay, and the proof is in the 2021 box office returns.
Read more: https://www.slashfilm.com/723877/marvel-movies-made-30-of-the-total-box-office-last-year/?source=Snapzu

BlackBerry: End of an era as company pulls plug on iconic handsets

The company itself now provides security software and had been maintaining support for the devices "as an expression of thanks" to loyal customers.
Read more: https://news.sky.com/story/amp/blackberry-end-of-an-era-as-company-pulls-plug-on-iconic-handsets-12508731?source=Snapzu

From Squid Game to Hellbound: how South Korean TV took over the world

This year saw the long-awaited return of music festivals, clubs, theatres and cinema, but the biggest entertainment story of the year was arguably one that took place on the small screen. Squid Game was the global media sensation of the year, a bonafide TV hit that smashed viewership records, and was the latest South Korean cultural artefact to set the world alight after BTS, Blackpink and Parasite.
Read more: https://theface.com/culture/korean-cinema-took-over-the-world-squid-game-dr-brain-hellbound-parasite-netflix?source=Snapzu

Anti-Vaxxers Spread Lies Online About Betty White's Death

Anti-vaccine activists have spent the past few days spreading lies about Betty White, the beloved actress who passed away at 99 years old on Dec. 31. But contrary to internet rumors, Betty White didn’t die after getting a covid-19 booster shot. “Betty died peacefully in her sleep at her home. People are saying her death was related to getting a booster shot three days earlier but that is not true,” White’s agent, Jeff Witjas, told Yahoo Entertainment.
Read more: https://gizmodo.com/anti-vaxxers-spread-lies-online-about-betty-whites-deat-1848299480?source=Snapzu

A new coronavirus vaccine heading to India was developed by a small team in Texas. It expects nothing in return.

The ambition is to create a low-cost, open-source alternative to expensive and limited supply mRNA vaccines for developing and under-vaccinated countries.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/30/corbevax-texas-childrens-covid-vaccine/?source=Snapzu

Toyota dethrones GM to become America's top-selling automaker in 2021

Toyota Motor has dethroned General Motors as America’s top-selling automaker in 2021, marking the first time since 1931 that the Detroit automaker wasn’t the best-selling car company in the U.S. It also marks the first time a non-domestic automaker has taken the top spot in America.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/04/toyota-dethrones-gm-to-become-americas-top-selling-automaker-in-2021.html?source=Snapzu

How we drained California dry

The wind finally blew the other way last night and kicked out the smoke from the burning Sierra. Down here in the flatland of California, we used to regard the granite mountain as a place apart, our getaway. But the distance is no more. With all those dead pine trees in thrall to wildfire, the Sierra, transmuted into ash, is right outside our door.
Read more: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/16/1041296/california-climate-change-water-drought/?utm_source=pocket-newtab?source=Snapzu

‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’ Canceled For Rest Of Week After Host Tests Positive For Covid

Covid-19 has hit another late-night host. Seth Meyers has revealed that he has tested positive for the virus and, as a result, Late Night will be canceled for the rest of the week. The former SNL star, who is vaccinated and boosted, added that he felt fine.
Read more: https://deadline.com/2022/01/seth-meyers-late-night-canceled-covid-1234904176/?source=Snapzu

David Bowie estate sells his songwriting catalog to Warner Chappell Music in latest such mega-deal

David Bowie's estate has sold the publishing rights to his "entire body of work" to Warner Chappell Music, the company said Monday, the latest massive deal in a roaring song rights purchasing boom. Warner Chappell didn't reveal financial terms of the agreement, but according to trade publications the price tag is estimated at upwards of $250 million.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-bowie-estate-songwriting-catalog-warner-chappell-music/?source=Snapzu