China unveils the world’s largest flying car


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China just sent a clear signal about where it believes air travel is headed next. A Shanghai-based aviation company called AutoFlight has unveiled Matrix, now recognized as the world’s largest flying car. This is not a concept image or a brief hover test. Matrix has already completed successful flight tests near Shanghai, bringing real size and real ambition to an industry still dominated by small prototypes.

The launch also highlights China’s push to dominate what it calls the low-altitude economy. That sector focuses on short-distance flights using electric aircraft to move people and cargo above busy roads.

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THE WORLD’S FIRST FLYING CAR IS READY FOR TAKEOFF

China unveils the world’s largest flying car

Matrix during flight testing near Shanghai, where the aircraft demonstrated real world performance at a scale rarely seen in flying car development. (AutoFlight)

Matrix becomes the world’s largest flying car

Matrix stands out immediately once you look at the specs. The aircraft weighs nearly 11,000 pounds. It measures about 56 feet long, stands roughly 11 feet tall and has a wingspan close to 66 feet. That makes it significantly larger than most flying cars currently under development. Most electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft today focus on compact designs. Many seat four to six passengers and prioritize lightweight frames. Matrix takes a different approach. Its scale allows it to operate more like a true aircraft rather than a personal air vehicle.

 Matrix comes in two versions. One supports passenger travel. The other focuses on heavy cargo transport. The passenger model can carry up to 10 people, which is well above the current industry norm. That added capacity matters. It improves efficiency, lowers cost per passenger and makes commercial operations far more realistic.

Why battery technology drives flying car progress

Size alone does not make Matrix possible, power does. AutoFlight receives backing from CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer. CATL holds a significant stake in the company and supports battery research and development.

Battery performance affects nearly every part of electric flight. It shapes range, safety margins and payload capacity. Stronger batteries allow aircraft to fly farther while carrying more weight. In flying cars, that difference often separates experimental designs from aircraft ready for real-world service.

TRUMP ADMIN CUTS RED TAPE ON COMMERCIAL DRONES TO COMPETE WITH CHINA’S DOMINANCE OF THE MARKET

Matrix flying vehicle in flight

The size of Matrix sets it apart, with a wide wingspan and passenger capacity that pushes electric air travel beyond small prototype designs. (AutoFlight)

China builds rules for the low-altitude economy

Matrix did not appear by accident. China is actively building a regulatory framework for the low-altitude economy. That includes standards for aircraft design, safety systems, air traffic control and supporting infrastructure. Officials plan to introduce baseline rules by 2027, with more than 300 detailed standards expected by 2030. These rules are meant to prepare cities for flying cars, cargo aircraft and air taxi services. While many countries still debate how electric air travel should work, China is already laying the foundation.

Cargo flights paved the way for passenger approval

Before shifting focus to passengers, AutoFlight proved itself with cargo. Its earlier aircraft, CarryAll, received full certification in China for design, production and airworthiness. It also completed a real-world cargo flight between two cities, covering about 100 miles in roughly one hour. That flight demonstrated practical use beyond test environments. It also helped build trust with regulators, which plays a critical role in approving passenger aircraft. Today, passenger travel has become the company’s main focus. About 70 percent of AutoFlight’s total orders involve passenger aircraft. Certification is still underway, but company leaders expect approval within one to two years. Orders are already being accepted for future delivery.

NEW PERSONAL EVTOL PROMISES PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER $40K

Matrix flying vehicle in the sky above a neighborhood

Flying cars like Matrix point to a future where short distance air travel could ease congestion and reshape how cities move people and cargo. (AutoFlight)

How Matrix compares to smaller flying cars like Pivotal

Matrix represents one side of the flying car future. Smaller aircraft such as the Pivotal flying car, which we have covered previously, focus on personal flight and short-range travel. These designs emphasize simplicity, individual control and compact size. Matrix takes the opposite approach. It focuses on shared passenger travel and heavy cargo transport at scale. Together, these models show how the flying car market is splitting into two paths. One is personal air mobility. The other is commercial electric aviation. Both paths matter, but they solve very different transportation problems.

When passenger flying car flights could begin in China

Industry experts see 2026 as a pivotal year for flying cars in China. Several companies plan to begin deliveries, and China could see its first paid passenger flying car flights. New infrastructure, such as landing pads and charging stations, will support this growth. AutoFlight is also looking beyond China. Demand is strong in regions with limited transportation networks. Island nations, mountainous areas and remote regions stand out. The company sees Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East as key markets.

What this means for you

Flying cars still feel futuristic, but they are moving closer to everyday use. Early flights will likely focus on specific routes, cargo delivery, emergency services and premium passenger travel. Over time, costs could fall to levels similar to high-end ride services on the ground. Even if you never board one soon, this technology will shape logistics, emergency response and how cities plan transportation. It also shows how quickly electric aviation can advance when regulation, manufacturing and demand align.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Matrix is more than a big flying machine. It shows how fast flying car ideas are turning into aircraft that can actually be certified and used. China is moving from concepts to real operations step by step. Widespread use will take time, but the trend is clear. Electric flight is becoming practical, scalable and much harder to ignore.

What would need to happen for you to feel comfortable riding in a flying car, and would you try it if one launched in your city? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Winter Olympics gold means ‘absolutely everything’ to Team GB’s Matt Weston


When Matt Weston came 15th in the skeleton at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, he asked himself whether he should continue competing at the sport.

Instead, he used his failure to fuel his route to victory at the Milano Cortina Games on Friday evening.

Speaking to Sky Sports News after he won a gold medal, the British athlete said the journey “hadn’t been easy”.

He said: “After Beijing it was really, really tough. I had a few weeks off after it where I was like, ‘why am I doing this? I don’t want to put myself through this anymore’ because it was so emotionally hard.

“But I kind of used that to really set the fire and get the motivation to come here and do what I’ve done over the last few days. So that was pretty insane.”

The 28-year-old, a world and European champion, had been the favourite for gold after leading at the halfway stage of the men’s singles skeleton on Thursday, with track records in the first two heats.

On Friday, the British athlete posted another track record on his third run – recording a 0.39-second advantage at the top of the leader board.

He then set a fourth track record to win gold with a final margin of victory of 0.88 seconds – a significant margin in the sport.

Winter Olympics gold means ‘absolutely everything’ to Team GB’s Matt Weston
Image:
Matt Weston said that when he reached the end of the track his ‘tears hit’. Pic: Reuters

Weston, who has previously won the world and European championships, said that an Olympic gold was the high point of his career.

He told Sky Sports News: “Winning this blows them all out the water. You probably saw it yesterday on the footage, I kind of couldn’t control my emotions at the bottom. It meant absolutely everything to me.”

Weston said he had improved his performance by working on the psychological aspect of his game.

“For me, a lot of the difference is mentality,” he said. “I do a lot of work with psychologists, like sport psychologists as well as clinical psychologists so they’ve made a massive difference in how I approach races, in how consistent I can be.”

Until he finished the race and checked his time, however, he did not know that he had taken first place.

He said: “The last couple of corners I knew I’d done a good job but you can never tell – it’s racing. You don’t know. I had no idea what anyone else had done.

“I kind of keep my helmet just low enough I can’t see any of the times when I’m at the block and as soon as I just came up in the outrun all I was looking for was green numbers and I saw them and then the tears hit.”

After retiring from a successful teenage taekwondo career due to injury, Weston made his debut in skeleton in 2019.

He said the journey from starting the sport nine years ago to becoming world champion was “pretty mad”.

Weston only took up skeleton after a teenage taekwondo that was ended via injury. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Weston only took up skeleton after a teenage taekwondo that was ended via injury. Pic: Reuters

In March 2025, Weston took his second world champion crown and last month he clinched his third successive overall World Cup title.

His Olympic win marks the first-ever gold in the men’s skeleton for Team GB.

Read more:
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Ukranian athlete banned over war-dead helmet

Weston is also the first individual male British competitor to win gold at a Winter Olympics since figure skater Robin Cousins in 1980.

Sir Keir Starmer celebrated the victory, with the prime minister saying in a post on X: “History-making. Congratulations Matt Weston!”


I enjoyed a classic British treat at a cute café where I was lucky to get a seat


The café was filled with people chatting and laughing away.

The cute Ely cafe with sweet bakes and cakes on offer

After a long walk around Ely, I was keen for a drink and a sweet treat. Strolling along the high street, I came across independent café Marmalade and Jam.

As I entered, there was one table left in the middle. I was lucky to get a seat, as only a few minutes after I entered, a group of people followed me in but couldn’t stay as there were no seats left.

I sat down and admired the cafe’s décor. It instantly gave me a cosy feel, with the eye-catching yellow feature wall that exuded happiness and positivity.

Before ordering at the till, I scanned the menu. This café offered a vast range of food and drink, ranging from large breakfasts to a range of bakes and cakes.

It was later in the afternoon, so although the breakfast dishes were very tempting, they weren’t quite right for that moment. So, I opted for a cream tea.

Instead of the pot of tea, I chose a raspberry lemonade, which the server was more than happy to replace. My drink came first, and it was a welcome sight. As I took a sip, the lemonade was cold and crisp – just what I needed. The raspberry sweetness came through straight away, with a refreshing edge.

Only a few minutes later, my food arrived. On my plate was a huge scone, with a dollop of jam and a dollop of clotted cream, each in its own pot. The scone was much larger than I thought, and I instantly knew this snack would tide me over until tea time.

I cut it in half and spread cream and jam on one half. The thick cream meant the scone, which crumbled in my mouth with its soft texture, wasn’t too dry but instead rich and comforting.

There were plenty of juicy raisins baked within the scone, giving it an extra sweetness. Combined, the thick, buttery scone with jam and cream was a perfect treat.

While I enjoyed my food, another thing I admired about the café was the chatter and laughter that surrounded me. There were friends catching up, but also couples enjoying an afternoon out together.

It showed me this was a friendly place where anyone and everyone can come. Anyone who is looking for a cosy café with a cute vibe should head to Marmalade and Jam.

All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.


Furious West Ham fans stage plane protest against ownership during live coverage of FA Cup tie


West Ham fans staged a plane protest against their owners during live coverage of their FA Cup clash with Burton Albion. 

The game, televised live on TNT Sports, was used as an opportunity for the beleaguered Hammers supporters to air their grievances, with the club currently locked in a relegation battle. 

Early in the game, a plane with a banner reading ‘Sullivan & Brady out – no more BS!’ was seen above Pirelli Stadium. 

And fans inside the ground played their part too, holding up red cards with ‘No more BS’, written on them. 

On the live coverage, the commentator said: ‘Now were were told to expect there would be a plane going over the stadium, a peaceful and special protest had been promised by West Ham supporters.’

On BBC Radio Five Live, former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green said: ”The [West Ham] owners have banned banners inside the London Stadium so you are not allowed to voice your protests in terms of signage or anything like that at the ground. The fans have been innovative.

Furious West Ham fans stage plane protest against ownership during live coverage of FA Cup tie

A banner protesting the West Ham ownership was seen flying above the ground 

‘Their concerns are still going on but what they can do is support the team on the pitch and they have good reason at the minute because they have good momentum.’

More to follow…  




I Tried Bricking My Phone And Was Shocked By The Changes In My Life


When this year started, I knew I had to make drastic changes… because my phone had taken over my life.

Screen time had skyrocketed. Humour circled around TikTok reactions. I found myself scrolling through waves of news horrors and memes before I was fully awake each day.

Enter the Brick, which has emerged as the go-to app for people looking to reset their relationships with their phones.

“Bricking” your phone has now become a verb for people to share the news that they are logging off and to tell others. I actually learned about “bricking” and “unbricking” myself through the loud declarations of other writers and influencers.

I was skeptical at first about whether an app blocker that costs over $50 could be worth it. But I had tried free ways of deleting social media apps and blocking them from my phone through features like Apple’s Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing, and they hadn’t worked because they are easy to bypass.

However, the Brick is a little square device that pairs with an app you download on your phone through a QR code. Once you connect your phone to your Brick, you can select which apps you need to block and for which hours of the day.

Then, the real test begins. You tap the physical Brick device with your phone to activate its app-blocking features – you need to touch the Brick again if you want to regain access to your blocked apps.

I was struck by how hard it was to leave the house for a whole day with a bricked phone. I even delayed using it at first because of this anxiety, which only strengthened my resolve that I probably needed to go through with this experiment.

So, after a day of too much scrolling, I put myself to the test and put my Brick on my fridge. Now, I would have to get up from the couch or get back home from work if I wanted to access that tantalising Reddit post.

I am happy to report that after more than a month of use, my brain feels different. I expected the strict enforcement of a Brick to change me – but even I was surprised by how much it did.

What you should know before you try a Brick

I Tried Bricking My Phone And Was Shocked By The Changes In My Life
I stuck my Brick device on my fridge. Needing to walk 10 steps from my couch to unlock Instagram has curbed my scrolling habits.

The Brick, available for iOS and Android, lets you set modes for “deep work” and “family time” hours, so bricking automatically happens during the natural rhythm of your day. It also keeps a running tally of how many hours you have been bricked each day, and on average, presumably to encourage you to stay strong and go a little longer without unbricking.

If you forget to use the Brick on your phone in your rush out the door, you can also Brick your device by pressing the Brick icon on the app’s homepage from where you are, but you will still need to go back to where your actual Brick is to unlock what you want to unlock.

What I loved about it

The first week I used it, I was surprised and embarrassed by how often my fingers would automatically tap the social media apps my Brick blocked me from accessing. My Brick bouncer would gently scold me whenever I tried to instinctively check Instagram or TikTok.

The app gives you five “emergency” unbricking workarounds if you really need to access an app you have blocked and you’re not near your Brick device, but I have yet to use one. Needing to use “emergency” unbricking to make an Instagram story about the Galentine’s party I attended really put into perspective what exactly I was doing with my one precious life.

The Brick challenged my belief that real-time social media feedback was necessary to stay connected with my friends or to be good at my job. In my opinion, this forced reflection is the Brick’s best benefit. I’ve missed a few direct messages from my friends, I’m not seeing as many funny TikTok memes anymore, and I’m out of the loop on some social media trends, but I feel more in control of what I am consuming. At the very least, I am paying more attention to how I spend my time on my phone.

What I think could be better — and why I’m sticking with my Brick

The Brick costs around $59 for one device. Though I find this little plastic box to be prohibitively expensive for what it is, I like that more than one person can use the same Brick, so you could theoretically get your roommate or partner to split the costs, too. I also like that once you buy it, you don’t need to pay a subscription fee to keep using it, unlike many other apps.

However, bricking yourself is not going to transform you completely.

Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette, said the Brick is “a wonderful device,” but can’t be a long-term solution to endless social media scrolling on its own.

“Once you’re home [where your Brick is], the impulse still exists,” she told me. “So it doesn’t actually teach you how to work through that impulse to say…‘How do I really want to spend my time? How do I work through this emotion that I’m trying to avoid by scrolling?’”

Answering those questions is a bigger journey only you can answer. For Pearlman, it meant finding other ways to use her screen-free time.

“I knew I wasn’t going to stop using my phone, but I wanted to have an alternative,” she said as an example. “And then when the newspapers got too upsetting, I went to Kindle. So now I just read books in my Kindle, and I read eight books in January.”

If you want to get serious about blocking social media not just on your phone but on your computer as well (which your Brick cannot access), Pearlman suggested the free website blocker Cold Turkey.

As for me, I’m continuing to brick myself in the evenings, so that I can learn a new screen-free hobby of crochet. Just this past week, my phone screen time dropped 62% compared to the week before. Making loops of crochet rows with my hands feels more satisfying than the loops of TikToks I watched each night, but I don’t think I would have stuck with my new hobby without the Brick’s admonishments.

I’ve gone from my high of nine hours of daily screen time to a more reasonable five or six hours during a workday. I still have lapses where I will go a night without Bricking, but I feel much calmer when I do. When my head is not cluttered with the pulls of social media notifications and enticing Reels, I have time to figure out what I really want to do. And that’s a gift that I think is worth keeping.




Britain to deploy UK warships to Arctic after Trump’s Greenland threats


British warships are set to patrol the Arctic following Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland over security concerns, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

Speaking to world leaders at the Munich Security Conference, the prime minister said the US, Canada and other Nato allies would join Britain in bolstering security across what is known as the High North.

Mr Trump has claimed Denmark, of which Greenland is a territory, does not do enough to defend the region, which is strategically important to the US, from threats by Russia and China.

During his address, Sir Keir also hit out at Mr Trump’s claims that he is unsure if other Nato allies would come to the US’s defence. He told him: “Be in no doubt, if called on, the UK would come to your aid today.”

Britain to deploy UK warships to Arctic after Trump’s Greenland threats

Keir Starmer announced that British warships are set to patrol the Arctic (Stefan Rousseau/AP)

He also warned that when it came to Russia, Europe had to be ready to “fight” if it came to it.

The conference is taking place as the world approaches the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine later this month.

Sir Keir told the conference: “I can announce today that the UK will deploy our carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and the High North this year, led by HMS Prince of Wales, operating alongside the US, Canada and other Nato allies in a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.”

Earlier this year, European nations rallied to Denmark’s side amid the suggestion that the US could annex Greenland.

In a strong message to President Trump, Sir Keir also said the UK would honour the Nato commitment to defend its allies if called upon.

One of the alliance’s founding principles, Article 5, is that an attack on one Nato member is an attack on all. It has only been invoked once, after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.

Sir Keir said: “I am proud that my party fought for Nato’s creation, what our then-foreign secretary Ernie Bevin called a spiritual union of the West.

“And we’ve shown our fidelity to that ideal, asserting each other’s sovereignty as we did on Greenland, and crucially, coming to each other’s aid under Article 5, we fought together in Afghanistan at terrible cost to many in my country and across many allied countries.

“So I say to all Nato members, our commitment to Article 5 is as profound now as ever, and be in no doubt, if called on, the UK would come to your aid today.”

In his speech, Sir Keir also outlined plans for Britain to move towards “deeper economic integration” with the European Union, aiming to “move closer to the single market” in various sectors. He said the current EU-UK “status quo is not fit for purpose”, acknowledging that such a shift would entail “trade-offs”.

After an attempt by the Scottish Labour leader to oust him from office, Sir Keir also said he “ended the week much stronger than I started it.”

His speech came less than an hour after an address by the US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who warned Europe that the US did not want to be caretakers of Western “decline”. Mr Rubbio also criticised past errors by Western nations over the last four decades, while simultaneously appearing to try to improve strained relations between the US and Europe.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany

US secretary of state Marco Rubio speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

On Friday, he declined to attend a Ukraine meeting at the conference, even as allies reaffirmed their support for the war-torn nation.

US officials attributed his absence to scheduling conflicts, but European observers widely interpreted it as a potential indicator of the White House’s declining interest in involving them in efforts to resolve the conflict.


Asking Eric: Son judges parents’ marijuana use



Asking Eric: Son judges parents’ marijuana use

Dear Eric: My husband and I are in our early 70s. We’re both in good health. We have one child who is an adult and lives independently but close by.

My husband and I enjoy marijuana now that it has been legalized in our state. Between the two of us, we smoke one joint after 7 p.m. about four days a week. We also enjoy it on special occasions like holidays and birthdays.

Lately, when our adult child has been over to visit and we step away to share a joint, they’ll comment “I thought you only smoked on these days” or something to that extent. I feel like they’re keeping tabs on us, or even judging us by saying, “OK” in a disapproving way.

We are never in a “far out” state of mind after we smoke (or eat edibles). It relaxes us to enjoy music, watch a funny movie or program until we get tired and go to bed. If we had to go somewhere in an emergency, we would Uber it. Our adult child is aware of this.

I’d like to mention that up to a year ago, this adult child smoked marijuana with us at times. They had some health issues that have since been taken care of. They’re not anti-marijuana but seem to be focusing on our use. It makes me uneasy in my own home when this happens. Sometimes we have to “sneak” it in while they’re visiting to avoid any questions/comments.

When these comments start coming, I want to tell this adult child that it’s none of their business what we do in our home. I feel policed and judged by them. I also feel like I don’t have to explain anything. Any advice?

— Senior High

Dear High: Bring it up to your child in a neutral manner and ask your adult child to have a discussion with you about it. Start by saying something like, “I’ve noticed that when we smoke, you often comment.” Then explain how you feel when that happens and ask them if you’re reading the situation in the way they’re intending. Something like, “when that happens, it makes me wonder if you think we’re using marijuana too much. Do you?”

The goal of the conversation is to get and give more information. Maybe your child’s response is more about their own journey, and they don’t realize how they’re coming off. Or maybe they do have concerns. If the latter turns out to be the case, it’s better for both of you that those concerns are verbalized. It’s up to you whether you agree with those concerns and whether you decide to make a change. But by opening the door to a conversation about what’s being said, you free both yourself and your child from interior narratives that can cause resentments.

Dear Eric: My 80-year-old sister lives alone after her husband passed away a long time ago and has no children. She lies so much that it’s upsetting.

She lies to everyone around her about her previous job and even her education. She even tells the senior center that her children live out of state.

She used to be a poet and published two books, but she lied about her education in the author bios.

I’ve repeatedly told her that lying is wrong, but she refuses to listen to my advice. It’s sad that I can’t respect her like this, but sometimes I even hate her. What should I do as her sister? I want to be honest with everyone around me about my sister, but I also have to consider her pride.

— Upset Younger Sister

Dear Sister: Lying this much indicates that there’s something deeper going on. Perhaps it’s psychological, perhaps it’s emotional. Perhaps she’s trying to cope with grief or disappointment or shame. It’s not for me to diagnose.




Battery Game Changer: AI Identifies Key Conditions for All-Solid-State Battery Electrolyte Materials | Newswise


Newswise — Lithium-ion batteries serve as the core energy storage devices in various industries and everyday products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and ESS (energy storage systems). However, conventional lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes, posing a risk of fire or explosion when subjected to external impact or overheating. Recent electric vehicle fire incidents have heightened concerns about their safety. As an alternative to overcome these limitations, ‘all-solid-state batteries’-which use non-flammable solid materials as electrolytes-are gaining attention as next-generation battery technology.

However, amorphous solid electrolytes-the core material for all-solid-state batteries-have faced limitations in analyzing lithium-ion transport mechanisms due to the irregularity of their internal structure. Consequently, performance improvements have been achieved empirically by altering electrolyte composition or compression conditions, making it difficult to systematically explain the causes of performance differences.

A research team led by Dr. Byungju, Lee at the Computational Science Research Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Sang-Rok Oh) has identified key factors governing lithium ion movement in amorphous solid electrolytes through AI-based atomic simulations. The team analyzed lithium-ion movement by distinguishing it into ‘ease of movement between sites’ and ‘connectivity of movement paths’. They confirmed that overall performance is more significantly influenced by the difficulty of ions moving from one site to the next than by path connectivity.

In fact, while ion conductivity performance varied by up to fivefold depending on lithium ion mobility, the effect of pathway connectivity was limited to approximately a twofold difference. This provides a quantitative basis for interpreting performance variations that were previously difficult to explain due to the amorphous structure. Furthermore, the research team identified specific structural conditions that enhance lithium ion mobility. The higher the proportion of structures where four sulfur atoms surrounded a lithium ion, the faster the ion migration became. Optimal performance was achieved when the size of the internal void space fell within an appropriate range. Notably, excessively large voids actually hindered ion migration and degraded performance. This finding overturns the conventional wisdom that ‘lower density leads to higher conductivity’.

The results of this study can be directly applied to the design and manufacturing process of solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries. Simply controlling the internal structure by adjusting the electrolyte composition ratio or compression/molding conditions can improve ionic conductivity performance without requiring additional material changes, making it highly applicable in industrial settings. Furthermore, the analytical method proposed in this study can be extended to the development of various solid electrolyte materials. By pre-selecting high-performance candidate materials, it can dramatically enhance performance prediction and accelerate material development speed. This is expected to advance the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries in fields where safety and energy density are critical, such as electric vehicles and energy storage devices.

Dr. Byungju, Lee of KIST stated, “This research is significant in that it clearly identifies the key factors determining the performance of amorphous solid electrolytes.” He added, “As it presents design criteria enabling systematic improvement of material performance, we expect it to contribute to accelerating the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries.”

###

KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://kist.re.kr//eng/index.do

This research was conducted as part of KIST’s major projects and the Materials Global Young Connect Project (RS-2024-00407995), supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Bae Kyung-hoon). The research findings were published in the latest issue of the international journal Advanced Energy Materials (IF 26.0, JCR field 2.5%).




‘We’re so vulnerable’: How Canadians can cope with anxiety in the face of existential threats from the U.S. | CBC News


U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term has threatened Canada with annexation and economic ruin and destabilized much of the international order that has governed the world since the Second World War, leaving many Canadians feeling anxious and concerned.

The barrage includes comments about Canada becoming the 51st state, warnings not to challenge Trump, job insecurity because of the existing trade war and threats of increased tariffs.

“Any talk of assaulting my country in any way, whether it’s economic or territorially … I mean, I could cry right now,” said Lili Wexu, a French Canadian originally from Montreal who’s living and working in Los Angeles as a bilingual voice actress.

“My Canadian heart just got ripped apart. I mean it was like somebody is assaulting me personally.”

Wexu is not the only one struggling. A Jan. 28 Angus Reid poll found four out of five Canadians are feeling more fear than hope about the Canada-U.S. relationship in the year ahead.

Canadians were asked if they felt Trump will pursue more “regime change” operations, such as the one in Venezuela or if they felt that was an isolated incident. Three-quarters say they expect the Trump administration to pursue more regime operations.

woman sitting on a wooden bridge in a garden
Lili Wexu says she’s practising self-care — eating well, doing yoga and limiting her screen time — but she’s still anxious about U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to Canada. (Lili Wexu)

“We’re in a world now where the superpowers are just trying to get more,” Wexu said. 

“Russia is invading Ukraine. The U.S. has their sight [set] on Canada and Greenland.… China’s going for Taiwan. We just live in a world where I think none of us are going to be safe from that.”

‘It feels really vulnerable ’

Those feelings of fear and anxiety are valid and normal reactions that can be exacerbated if someone has already experienced violation, disrespect and lack of consent, said Carolyn Klassen, a therapist at Wired for Connection in Winnipeg.

Rather than ignore those feelings, Klassen suggests we honour them, regulate them and figure out how to manage them.

“We feel like we’re in a new territory and that’s alarming because it’s unfamiliar and we don’t quite know what to do in this space.”

Klassen also noted we share a border with the United States.

“They’re literally down the road … and now it feels like the rules are changing and that is uncertain,” she said.

“It feels really vulnerable.”

WATCH | Anxiety over the Canada-U.S. relationship:

The fear factor hanging over the Canada-U.S. relationship

Winnipeg therapist Carolyn Klassen validates feelings of anxiety and fear some Canadians are experiencing amid economic and sovereignty threats from the Trump administration.

Retired environmental consultant Barry Lunseth agrees, pointing to American interventions that overthrew governments in Chile in 1973 and Iran in 1953.

“If you look at history … the U.S. has gotten involved in other countries over the past 70 years. They’ve gotten involved in Chile, they overthrew the government there, they got involved in Iran and they overthrown that democratic collective government there. So it’s not the first time,” the Calgary man said.

“So that’s why we have to be very careful, cautious and not overreact, but at the same time, you know, stand on our own two feet.”

For many Inuit, Trump’s obsession with Greenland has also been an ongoing concern.

“Inuit culture would be in jeopardy,” Kaujja Qumangaapik said in Inuktitut, at the Iqaluit airport.

“Inuit in Canada would be impacted,” Titus Alooloo said.

“If you look at Alaska, it’s an American state and if Greenland were to become an American state, Canada is right in the middle and would be caught in the middle, and it’s very uncertain times right now.”

woman smiling
Carolyn Klassen, a therapist at Wired for Connection in Winnipeg, says rather than ignore our anxiety, we should honour our feelings, regulate them and figure out how to manage them. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

Klassen says it’s important to stay informed and understand how the threats and real impact of job loss are affecting people, but she recommends managing news and social media consumption because “being informed is different than being flooded.”

And instead of hiding fear and concern, she also suggests finding people or a community who can support you.

“We are wired for connection and we need each other like we need food, water and oxygen,” Klassen said. “When we share our distress, we are able to manage it better. It’s just important that we not do this alone.”

For Alooloo, that’s a natural approach.

“Inuit have to stand together and support each other,” he said.

‘It’s too close’

Finding support can be especially important if someone is from a country where they have already experienced what happens when threats to sovereignty become reality, Klassen said. 

Yaroslav Zhovner, a Ukrainian, moved to Winnipeg from Poland in July 2022. His wife and three children joined him from Lviv three months later.

“When the war started, at that time I was working in Poland, but it’s still too close to Ukraine,” he said. “We have to move somewhere else to stay safe and keep kids in a safe area.”

They chose Canada because it was safe, he said.

man sitting with his phone at a table
Yaroslav Zhovner follows the war in Ukraine closely and checks on family and friends every day. He feels anxious when he hears threats involving Canada from the Trump administration because it sounds all too familiar. (Karen Pauls/CBC)

But now, he said he is hearing similarities between threats from the Trump administration and what Russian President Vladimir Putin was saying ahead of the invasion and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and again in the weeks and months leading up to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“We had the same situation 2014 and 2022 … now we can see what’s happened,” Zhovner said.

“It’s too close…. The leader’s words, but what everyone is talking, it’s pretty close and pretty the same.”

Zhovner and his wife still have family members and friends in Ukraine so “when bombs hit the city, it’s terrible,” he said.

“We call to our parents every day, check how they are.”

His wife feels a lot of anxiety and his children, aged five, nine and 13, often have questions.

All he can do, he said, is tell them they’re safe. “Just keep working, keep living and try to make our life easy and better.”

A time for unity, not separation

Lili Wexu says she’s practising self-care — eating well, doing yoga and limiting her screen time.

Still, she said she feels helpless and worried for loved ones in Canada, especially with Quebec and Alberta potentially facing referendums on sovereignty.

“I’m definitely concerned with people who want to separate from that right now because we need to come together as Canadians,” she said.

“A lot of bad things can happen when a population is divided. So this is not the time to be divided.… We’re so vulnerable as a soft power.”