SUSTAINABILITY
China’s journey toward corporate sustainability reporting has gained momentum in recent years. The Ministry of Finance (MOF), collaborating with nine other departments, unveiled the Basic Standards on December 17, 2024, aiming to standardize ESG disclosures nationwide. DETAIL
Japan’s environment and industry ministries have finalized a plan to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035, marking an ambitious update to its prior target of a 46% reduction by 2030. The new plan also outlines a trajectory toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050. DETAIL
The transition team of US President-elect Donald Trump is planning a far-reaching reversal of Biden’s EV and emissions policies. Instead of transforming the transport sector, they will focus on the country’s defence. DETAIL
Work on a new factory in Brazil built by Chinese BYD, one of the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers, was halted after it was discovered that Chinese workers were working in “slavery-like” conditions at the construction site. The incident caused a stir regarding the violation of workers’ rights, and BYD severed ties with the subcontractor. DETAIL
China has greenlit the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. This ambitious project aims to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—over three times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the largest in the world. DETAIL
A new study led by researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in Spain found that individual tea bags can release billions of micro- and nanoplastic (MNPL) particles in every millimeter of water they're dunked into. DETAIL
Methane emissions from oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin decreased by 26% in 2023, according to an analysis by S&P Global Commodity Insights. This reduction, amounting to 34 billion cubic feet (bcf) of methane, is equivalent to 18.5 million tons of carbon dioxide avoided—matching the emissions avoided by all electric vehicles on U.S. roads in 2023. DETAIL
HEALTH
The microbes living in our guts may have helped humans grow bigger brains. Lab experiments revealed that human gut microbiomes focus on energy production to feed our brains, rather than storage like in other animals. DETAIL
Treatments for anxiety, ranging from psychological interventions to antidepressants, can be very effective for some people. Experts also advise self-care, including avoiding alcohol and illegal drugs, regular exercise, regular sleeping and eating habits, and relaxation techniques, including mindfulness. Now, a study has found that mindfulness may be as effective as antidepressants in relieving anxiety. DETAIL
As of December 14, there have been 32,085 cases of pertussis reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year. That’s a fivefold increase from the tally recorded in 2023, which only saw around 6,500 cases. There are several factors to blame for the surge, experts say, including declining vaccination rates. DETAIL
DIGITAL / TECHNOLOGY / SCIENCE / ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Now robots can even do backflips. US-based robotics company Boston Dynamics shared a special video of its humanoid robot Atlas for Christmas week. Atlas, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, did a backflip like a human in the video.
Sanctuary AI, which also works on humanoid robots, has created one of the most advanced robotic hands to date with its new miniature hydraulic valve system, which is said to be 50 times faster and 6 times cheaper than normal hydraulic valves. The robotic hand, which can make adjustments to the object it holds (for example, it can open the front of a key it is holding) thanks to the small hydraulic valves it carries, opens the way for many new usage scenarios in this regard. DETAIL
On December 20, OpenAI's o3 system scored 85% on the ARC-AGI benchmark, well above the previous AI best score of 55% and on par with the average human score. It also scored well on a very difficult mathematics test. DETAIL
While investigating a mysterious radiation signal that has never been seen before, astronomers have discovered two supermassive black holes with a 'monstrous' appetite. Often referred to as 'cosmic monsters', supermassive black holes are terrifying cosmic objects with masses ranging from 100,000 to billions of times the mass of the Sun. They can consume stars and emit powerful radiation pulses that spread over vast distances. DETAIL
A recent NATO report found critical materials linked to potential adversaries could present strategic vulnerabilities for the 32-member bloc. The production of at least seven materials—aluminum, gallium, germanium, graphite, tungsten, titanium, and rare earth elements—is dominated by China, a strategic challenge to the military alliance as Beijing increasingly flexes its leverage to signal displeasure with export controls imposed by the West. DETAIL
Researchers from Northwestern University have successfully demonstrated quantum teleportation over a fiber optic cable already carrying internet traffic. The work introduces the new possibility of combining quantum communication with existing internet cables — greatly simplifying the infrastructure required for advanced sensing technologies or quantum computing applications. DETAIL
Germany continues to make a name for itself when it comes to 3D construction. Most recently, a sustainable and affordable housing complex was built in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia using 3D printing technology. The project, completed in the city of Lünen, consists of six publicly funded apartments and was built in just 118 hours. DETAIL
Fossilized remains of a new herbivorous dinosaur species that lived 193 million years ago have been unearthed in southwestern China. Paleontologists from Yunnan University have named this newly identified species – Archaeocursor asiaticus. This newly identified dinosaur species represents the oldest and most primitive type of ornithischian dinosaur found in Asia so far. DETAIL
ENERGY / TRANSPORTATION
Fuel cell specialist zepp.solutions has signed a cooperation agreement with the Dutch Aerospace Centre NLR. The goal is to develop a new type of FC system and realise a manned flight with liquid H2. DETAIL
Chinese automaker GAC has introduced Govy, a new brand for eVTOLs, as well as the Govy AirJet. GAC plans to begin airworthiness certification of the Govy AirJet in 2025, set up production lines, and open reservations. The Govy A recent NATO report found critical materials linked to potential adversaries could present strategic vulnerabilities for the 32-member bloc. The production of at least seven materials—aluminum, gallium, germanium, graphite, tungsten, titanium, and rare earth elements—is dominated by China, a strategic challenge to the military alliance as Beijing increasingly flexes its leverage to signal displeasure with export controls imposed by the West. is GAC’s second flying taxi. It has an electric range of 200 kilometres. That is ten times the range of the Govy AirCar, which is best suited for short-distance travel, with a range of 20 kilometres. The top speed is 250 kph, and the fast-charging time is 30 minutes. GAC also plans to equip the Govy AirJet with solid-state batteries in the future, which will provide an estimated range of 400 km to enable long-distance flights. DETAIL
Tesla is reportedly in talks with the state government to test its driverless ride-hailing service in several cities in Texas starting next year. DETAIL
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, an energy startup founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later became independent, has announced that it will begin construction of the ‘world’s first’ grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant in the US state of Virginia. The company’s announcement suggests that we may be one step closer to using the infinite energy source that powers stars on a grid scale. The facility has raised billions of dollars in investment with this goal. DETAIL
China continues to achieve hard-to-achieve feats by implementing projects that are considered the “world’s largest” in the energy sector in just months, not years. The country, which commissioned its largest compressed air energy storage (CAES) system in the summer of this year, is now building the world’s largest compressed air energy storage facility with a capacity of more than twice that, at 700MW. DETAIL
China has launched its first-ever hydrogen-powered container ship to demonstrate the potential of fossil-fuel-free transport. Dubbed Dong Fang Qing Gang, the vessel is 211 feet (64.5 m) long and has a carrying capacity of 64 containers or ~1,450 tons. DETAIL
CURIOSITY
An undersea power cable that runs between Finland and Estonia was disconnected on Christmas Day. Finland is pretty sure that Russia is to blame. On Thursday, Finnish authorities boarded an oil tanker that is part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to dodge sanctions and that just so happened to be spotted passing over the EstLink 2 underwater cable as it stopped working, according to the Financial Times. DETAIL