Li Auto's new i6 electric vehicle has a very interesting look. It makes me think of something out of some futuristic movie or The Jetsons. It certainly has an MPV (multipurpose vehicle) design that is current in China but not really anywhere else. Anyway, aside from the futuristic, cool styling, ... [continued]

The post New Li Auto i6 Goes 811 km (504 Miles) appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Some DOE programs deserve to end. The problem is a budget request that cuts weak hydrogen bets while stripping support from technologies already delivering electrification.

The post Trump's DOE Budget Request Cuts Weak Bets And Useful Energy Research Together appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Billionaire blackout or bad timing: "Musk" the documentary by Alex Gibney closes after just one week in theaters across the US.

The post Who Killed The Elon Musk Movie? Nope, Not That Billionaire, Must Be Another One appeared first on CleanTechnica.

TL;DR: Get a grade-A refurbished HP EliteBook 830 G8 with an Intel Core i7 and 32GB of RAM for $429.99 (reg. $1,499.99).

Cheap laptops usually skimp on memory, and 8GB of RAM slows down fast once you have a video call, a spreadsheet, and a few dozen browser tabs open at the same time. — Read the rest

The post A business-class HP EliteBook with 32GB of RAM is $430 refurbished appeared first on Boing Boing.

The transformation of Europe's busiest shopping street should be a case study in making cities greener, less congested and more inviting places to live

Sadiq Khan has been trying to pedestrianise Oxford Street since he first became the mayor of London in 2016. On Monday, after numerous setbacks, his plan will finally come to fruition. The busiest stretch of the nation's famous shopping street will be closed to traffic in a scheme designed to improve the area and make it more attractive to pedestrians. It should be an emblematic case study in making cities greener, less congested, more inviting places to live and visit.

The Greater London Authority hopes it will rejuvenate a high street fallen on hard times. Since the pandemic, the number of vacant shops on Oxford Street has more than quadrupled. It estimates that the scheme will generate £82m of value a year in the area by increasing footfall and encouraging visitors to linger. This impact remains to be seen, but research from other cities suggests that shops experience higher sales once an area is pedestrianised. Given the prime minister's focus on rejuvenating British high streets, whose dilapidation is correlated with support for Reform UK, he should be watching with interest.

It's a dark night but the pub is full of people. So full that reaching the bar is less joining a queue and more allowing the current to take you there. I succeed remarkably quickly and allow myself to be swept back towards the door. There's a bench outside and a cold seat seems preferable to standing in a crowd, especially given what is to come.

I'm quickly joined by other old 'uns. I don't know them but we exchange pleasantries and settle down to wait. Gradually, people spill from the pub and take up positions where we can all watch the unlit lane beneath us. It's remarkably quiet because everyone is listening.

Then it comes. There's a drumbeat and pitch torches flare into the darkness. There's the sound of heavy footsteps and Old Glory molly dancers gradually come into view, only hats and grey faces visible in the guttering light. Behind them come the musicians, unsmiling, heads wreathed in ivy.

The procession passes and turns into a large space beside the pub, followed by the crowd. The musicians, all women, take up position and the men begin to dance. The light is dim and they are moving fast, but there must be at least 20 dancers.

They wear heavy boots, but their timing is impeccable. Most are dressed in old-fashioned clothes: cord trousers, collarless shirts, waistcoats, trilby hats and neckerchiefs. Two are dressed as gentry, a large man in a tailcoat and a top hat, and a slender man in a long dress with a flowing beard. These are the Lord and Lady, and they lead the dancers.

The only voice is that of the Brolly Man, who introduces the dances, including a nautical one. This is a reminder that during the hard days of winter farmworkers would find work on fishing boats to try to make ends meet. Then the Lady grabs my hand, the rest of the audience is also swept up by the dancers, and we are spun round in a decreasing spiral, laughing and trying to get the steps right.

There is something mystical about all this; the dim light, the music, the work clothes of the dancers and the ivy headdresses of the musicians. Words come to mind: enchanting, wonderful; fantastic; other-worldly; fabulous; magical; but those all suggest something light and airy.

This is the complete opposite - not mundane, but through that and out the other side to another kind of magic. Something solid, keeping the spirit of the earth alive through the cold winter.

The history of Molly dancing is practical, though - born of the need for rural workers to get through the hard days of winter with few opportunities to earn money. Faces were disguised with ashes and soot, nowadays grey facepaint. The dancers are determinedly unsmiling because the pattern of a performer's teeth could give away his identity. This really mattered when lampooning the gentry could result in the loss of both job and tied cottage.

The exhausted and laughing crowd sweep the dancers and musicians into the pub, and I try to talk to performers. They won't have it, I'm greeted by a polite but firm direction to the Brolly Man, the only one who can speak for them. He finds me, and there is a distinct flicker of recognition from him. He knows me, I'm sure, but he's not letting on and I can't place him, beneath his grey facepaint.

We talk about Old Glory and the revival of Molly dancing. The temperature drops when I mention Morris dancing: "Some sides do Morris in the summer. We don't". We can agree on Molly dancing having more of an authentic feel than other folk dances. It was by-passed by the revival of interest in folk dances at the end of the 19th century - probably too working-class for the sensibilities of the collectors. The result is it's refreshingly twee-free.

I'm told Old Glory chose early-Edwardian farmworkers' clothes as the costume for its dancers. But it was immediately recognisable to me from my childhood in rural Hertfordshire. The main difference was the trilby hats replacing the flat caps worn by my farmworker uncle and bricklayer father. Indeed, there are local farmers here in Suffolk whose garb is not so very different today.

Molly is traditionally danced on Plough Monday, after the blessing of the plough on Plough Sunday, the traditional start of the agricultural year. It's now possible to see Molly dancing throughout the winter. Old Glory's programme* starts on 31 October for Samhain, then runs through December and January to the celebration of Imbolc on 30 January. They do still collect money, but without menaces and it goes to charities.

Old Glory performs around the north-east of Suffolk. Elsewhere in the region there's Gog Magog Molly (who will be guesting with Old Glory on 30 January), Pig Dyke Molly and Cambridge Morris (who led the revival of Molly dancing in 1977) in Cambridgeshire. Ouse Washes Molly Dancers are based in Norfolk. Milkmaid Molly in Bury St Edmunds is a participatory group for able-bodied and those with disabilities. In Essex, Belchamp Morris dance Molly in the winter.

The Seven Champions Molly Dancers (lately escaped from the Kentish Treacle Mines) practice mostly, but not exclusively, in Kent. They and Old Glory share a bond and often invite each other as guest sides.

*Please note, Old Glory will not be in Whittlesey on 16 January. They are hoping to find an alternative venue.

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Concrete sprawl in Yaoundé has devastated the city's trees and parks, so volunteers are stepping up, shrub by shrub

A little piece of paradise is buried under the asphalt that is now lined with parked cars. The romantic spot where Sosthène Hugues Ngono used to bring his first dates had been green and beautiful. "It wasn't just a park," he says, standing at the edge of what is now a private car park in Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé.

"It was where I came to clear my head when things felt confused," he says. "Where I met people; where I fell in love, more than once."

It was the race that didn't happen. A long day of waiting around, hoping for visibility to improve and a final farewell to Phillip Island to take place. But the weather never eased off enough to make racing possible. In this episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast, David, Neil, and Adam discuss whether this was the send off Phillip Island deserved, who, if anyone, is to blame, why the race was cancelled, and what this all means for the championship. Plus our winners and losers, and how do you give a MotoGP race that didn't happen a grade? We gave it our best shot.

Please join our merry band of supporters by signing up to the Paddock Pass Podcast Patreon to get access to our Discord server and a host of exclusive content. Show you are listening to the world's smartest racing podcast by getting your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more from our merch store. Enjoy the show!

• Read more about Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 588: Australian Grand Prix Review - The Grand Prix That Wasn't
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Over the last few years, I have bought many books from Hilaritas Press, the publishing imprint for  the Robert Anton Wilson Trust. Many of these books have been editions of RAW's works, but many also have been works by other writers. What I've almost always done is buy the book as soon as it was released.

This time, I am doing something different. I have preordered Maybe Magick, the latest compilation of RAW's writings, due for release Oct. 31.

I don't suppose that my one order will make much difference, and several preorders by other fans likely won't make much difference, ether, but preordering books  helps  them become a success. As ChatGPT explains, "the biggest reason is that preorders can influence how publishers, bookstores, and the media judge a book's prospects for success. A preorder is more than a promise to buy a book: it can help build momentum before the book even reaches store shelves." Follow the link for a longer explanation.

Here is the Amazon page to preorder. Here is the Bookshop page.  You can also preorder from Barnes and Noble. 

Of course, I will still cover the full announcement when the book is released. 

Whenever a company asks me to review their gadgets, I always ask if it is USB-C powered. If not, I'm not interested. So, welcome to the future where your chair is USC-C rechargeable!

WHAT?!

The LiberNovo Omni looks like a standard office chair - but has two secret features.

First, is that it is exceedingly comfortable. Full foam cushions, lovely headrest, and a recline which almost gets you horizontal.

Second, it is USB-C powered. There's a small battery pack which plugs in to the chair. Why? Read on!

OK, let's start at the beginning.

Flat-pack chairs like this are normally notoriously hard to assemble. The LiberNovo bucks that trend - not only does it include a how-to video, it prints the instructions on a MASSIVE piece of cardboard.

I'm used to peering at tiny black-and-white diagrams in a flimsy paper booklet. IKEA could learn a thing or two from this.

The screws are all labelled and a hex-driver is included. What's an even nicer touch, however, is some safety gloves:

That's the sort of thing which doesn't cost much to the manufacturer, but is such a thoughtful gesture. There's nothing too sharp as you assemble, but who wants to cover their new chair in blood, eh?

The parts come in two large boxes, but there aren't that many separate bits.

Building it took about half an hour. It's easier with a friend to help - as are most things in life - but doesn't require much skill.

The battery pack is a 2200mAh unit with a USB-C port to recharge. It connects in to the chair with this slightly unusual connector:

The internals of the chair have a USB-C cable to connect everything up.

LOL!

On the side of the left arm-rest are three buttons.

Two of them move the lumbar-support up and down. Depending on how your back is feeling and how far you are reclined, you can adjust the the back-support position.

That's the build-in back massager, silly!

Yes. Being able to instantly adjust the back support without having to twist around is fantastic, especially for those of us reaching a certain age.

The "massage" feature essentially just moves the support up and down for five minutes before returning to its previous location. When sat upright, it feels great. But the real benefit is when you're laying down.

160° - not quite flat, but good enough when you're taking a break from Typing Real Hard. You don't want a photo of me sprawled out, so LiberNovo have helpfully provided some stock photos of much better looking folk.

It is incredibly stable. At no point did it tip over or feel like it was going to deposit me on the floor. What really helps is the included foot stall.

Unsurprisingly, this is not USB-C powered. A sturdy plastic footrest with a deeply padded leg rest on top.

Again, assembly was a cinch - follow the large printed instructions and clip it together. It's rated for 40㎏, so you shouldn't stand on it but it is more than enough to rest your weary legs.

I hope you're sitting down for this.

Direct from LiberNovo, you can expect to pay around £700 - although there are bundles with extra batteries, the footrest, and even an eye mask which will shoot that price up. You can get the full bundle on Amazon for around £1,000.

There's two ways to look at that price. Firstly, youch. But, alternatively, that's still cheaper than a Herman Miller Aeron. And Herm's doesn't come with a built-in lumbar massage.

(There is also an upgraded version which has a built in fan under the seat. Personally, I suggest eating a healthier diet.)

I can't deny that's a chunk of change. If you're anything like me, you probably spend most of your day sat down. You might as well sit on something comfortable.

Having the back-rest adjustable via arm-rest buttons is a genius touch. I just wish it went further. I'd love a control panel (or, dare I say it, app) which let me adjust the seat height, recline, headrest position etc. Who can be bothered with fiddly manual levers when electricity can do the work for us?

Building this chair was a breeze - and it was delightful to get a pair of safety gloves with it.

The chair is extraordinarily comfortable and the back massage, while not on the level of a "shiatsu" style heated massage pillow, is delightfully pleasant. Would I lie all the way back and sleep in it? Yeah! Certainly more comfortable than an economy airline seat.

If you spend a lot of time sitting at your computer, your arse deserves something supportive. Your back deserves some love too. Yes, the USB-C power-pack is a little bit of a gimmick - but it is a hell of a good one.

In my opinion, this is worth splashing out on.

Queensland researchers say a published study contains 'silly mistake' that over-inflates vaccine's efficacy, but the regulator is standing by decision to approve it

At wildlife hospitals across eastern Australia, many koalas brought in have distinctive brown patches on their bottoms - a sign of urinary incontinence and a painful inflamed bladder. Others have red, weeping eyes, pointing to a bacterial disease that can cause blindness in the endangered marsupials.

Chlamydia infection, also known as chlamydiosis, is the most significant disease affecting koalas. The culprit is most commonly the bacterium Chlamydia pecorum, which is spread via mating or close contact.

The visit by MotoGP to Phillip Island came to a fitting end. To steal a phrase used by the young or the terminally online, that was the most Phillip Island to ever Phillip Island. Phillip Island did everything expected of it, and more. Glorious sunshine on Friday, a breathtaking sprint race on Saturday, and all action called off because of the weather on Sunday. The fact that Sunday was sold out merely makes the irony all the more delicious.

Not for the poor souls who braved the utterly miserable conditions on Sunday at the Island. For them I have nothing but the deepest admiration. For their fortitude, but also for their optimism. It's MotoGP at Phillip Island. The Curse Of The Australian Grand Prix Corporation lies upon it.

• Read more about Phillip Island MotoGP Sunday Round Up: A Fittingly Farcical Final Farewell
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The 2030 target for 80% of new cars to have zero emissions could be cut to as low as half

Electric cars make people happy. More than nine in 10 EV drivers - 94% in a recent poll - are saving money, and a similar number would stick with electric for their next purchase, and recommend them to family and friends. Sales are soaring: more than half of the new cars sold in the UK last month were electric, if hybrids are taken into account, and about 28% of new car sales overall were electric only.

This is hardly surprising, given that soaring petrol and diesel costs have pushed up the price of a full tank to about £120. EV drivers are paying about 2.4p a mile.

Every autumn, Corvo Island in thre Azores turns off its public lighting for a few key days to help fledgling Cory's shearwaters as they attempt to fly to the ocean guided by the stars

Once a year, Corvo, the smallest and most northerly island of Portugal's Azores archipelago, goes dark. Since 2019, the island's 450 or so inhabitants have chosen to switch off the lights every autumn for five nights to tackle the disastrous effects of artificial light on Cory's shearwaters, a seabird endemic to the Atlantic Ocean.

It began in 1991 when the community noticed huge numbers of deaths among young shearwaters.

A newborn Cory's shearwater chick

Driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial electrification, global electricity demand continues to rise, making solar power a focal point for investment in energy infrastructure. For investors aiming for a daily return of $3,000, what scale of power generation capacity would be required? ... [continued]

The post Invest in solar and earn $3,000 a day? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Building a UK datacenter spans three government departments: one handles datacenter policy, another telecoms, and a third energy.

MPs this week explored what Prime Minister Andy Burnham's summer reshuffle means for businesses navigating Whitehall.

Liz Lloyd, parliamentary under-secretary of state, sits across two departments with a portfolio of responsibilities as long as a weekly shopping list. She explained to MPs this week that, following the decision to get rid of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), liaison with the tech industry on datacenter construction fell to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST).

Lloyd, who works across BIST and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), went on to explain that digital infrastructure sits within DCMS.

Speaking to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Lloyd acknowledged that some departmental responsibilities overlapped.

"In terms of sector responsibilities, that is clear that technology, sorry, that telecom sits with DCMS and datacenters with BIST. When you're actually in an industry or you're trying to run a business, that that that is clear," the junior minister said.

Any business trying to build a datacenter might also want to know how to get power to it. As far as The Register can figure out, that would be the Department for Energy and Net Zero. Planning permission rests with local government, although the overall policy lies with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It may be clear, but it is hardly simple.

The problem is real, though. Earlier this month, Microsoft pulled out of plans for Britain's largest AI supercomputer because of difficulties securing power for the facility.

Elsewhere in the hearing, Lloyd was asked about the government's early 2025 claim that modernizing aging technology and digitizing processes could deliver £45 billion in productivity savings.

Asked if the government stood by the figure, the junior minister said: "The £45 billion figure was an estimate of long-term productivity gains. It wasn't a kind of one-off figure for savings… it was never a figure that was a target or a cashable savings figure."

When the figure was publicized under the Starmer government in January 2025, the press release was headed "Archaic tech sees public sector miss £45 billion annual savings." It continued: "Taxpayer funded services from the NHS to local councils are missing out on £45 billion in productivity savings because they are too often dependent on old and outdated technology."

It claimed the government would "tackle these issues" using "digital tools, AI and common sense to overhaul public sector technology." ®