Transportation

Hypersonic aircraft startup Hermeus' Quarterhorse Mk 1 on a runway

Hypersonic startup unveils its first aircraft

Hermeus just unveiled its first flight vehicle, putting it a major step closer to developing first-of-their-kind hypersonic aircraft.

Kristin Houser

A solar-powered car races along a highway surrounded by sparse vegetation under a clear blue sky.

Cars

Why aren’t there solar-powered cars?

There are a number of reasons why solar-powered cars aren’t an option for everyday travel, at least not yet.

Chen Liu

Black electric sedan in motion on a road with motion blur effect.

Transportation

Elon Musk: Tesla will unveil a “robotaxi” on 8/8

While denying reports that Tesla won’t be making a low-cost EV, CEO Elon Musk announced plans to unveil a “robotaxi” on August 8, 2024.

Kristin Houser

the cockpit and propellers of Sirius' hydrogen VTOL

Transportation

Swiss startup unveils the world’s first hydrogen VTOL jet

Swiss startup Sirius Aviation has unveiled a hydrogen VTOL it says could carry three passengers more than 1,000 miles without refueling.

Kristin Houser

An image of a woman driving a car with car cameras.

Privacy

Are modern cars keeping us safe, or invading our privacy? Or both?

Modern cars have cameras to track your speed, your lane position, and if you're distracted, all in the name of safety. What about privacy?

M. Hadi Amini

a train-like robot moving along an underground track

Transportation

Autonomous tech is taking over last-mile delivery

Autonomous robots, drones, and even underground tunnels could be the standard for last-mile delivery in the future.

Kristin Houser

A man sitting in a chair in front of a tv.

Cars

We test drove BMW’s life-sized remote-controlled car

BMW revealed a remote-controlled car concept at CES 2024. Currently positioned as a remote valet concept, the potential extends much further.

Kevin Dickinson

A black land rover driving down a city street.

Cars

Ever-larger cars and trucks are causing a safety crisis on US streets

Deadly traffic incidents have declined in most developed countries in recent years. But in the U.S. they’re becoming more common.

Kevin J. Krizek

Mercedes-benz c-class electric car at sunset.

Automation

Mercedes-Benz adds special blue lights when its self-driving cars are “on”

Mercedes-Benz has added turquoise lights to its self-driving vehicles to indicate when its autonomous driving system is engaged.

Kristin Houser

Sustainability

Green shipping picks up speed

The shipping industry aims to get to net-zero emissions by 2050. Can novel fuels, wind power and coordination on a global scale get it there?

Elise Hansen | Knowable Magazine

an airship outside a hangar with many people standing near it

Transportation

Biggest aircraft since the Hindenburg cleared for test flights

Pathfinder-1, a massive airship developed by Google cofounder Sergey Brin’s LTA Research, has begun flight testing.

Kristin Houser

A phone displaying the Waze app's Crash History Alerts on a blue background

Transportation

Waze will now tell you if a road has a history of car accidents

Navigation app Waze’s new Crash History Alerts let drivers know when they’re approaching an area prone to car accidents.

Kristin Houser

Series| Hard Reset Podcast

Hard Reset Podcast: Sidewalks | Episode #9

1:07:58

Much of U.S. infrastructure is designed with cars in mind, not pedestrians. Here’s how we can fix that.

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.