Geeky international news on technology, business and culture.
Trump tariffs reignite Europe’s push for cloud sovereignty
16 April 2025 @ 5:15 pm
The Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs have ruffled feathers across the world — and reignited Europe’s push for digital sovereignty. One of the key focus points has been Europe’s cloud infrastructure, which is currently dominated by US tech giants: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Together, the “big three” account for more than 50% of the continent’s cloud market. “Europe has been heavily reliant on US tech and cloud for decades,” said Mark Boost, CEO of UK-based web hosting company Civo. “But there are alternatives, where France, Germany, and the UK have full control of their…We stepped inside IQM’s quantum lab to witness a new frontier in computing
16 April 2025 @ 8:10 am
“The Future is Here,” declares a glowing neon sign at the entrance to IQM’s quantum data centre in Munich. It’s a bold claim — but one the Finland-based startup is determined to fulfil. To the right of the entrance sign stands a hefty, metal blue door. My host, physicist Frank Deppe, IQM’s head of quantum processing unit (QPU) technology, ushers me inside. Opened last year as part of IQM’s European expansion, the facility hosts six state-of-the-art superconducting quantum computers — used for the company’s own research and offered as a cloud-based service to scientists around the globe. IQM’s Munich quantum…Dutch neobank Bunq accelerates US expansion plan after second year of profitability
15 April 2025 @ 3:42 pm
Dutch neobank Bunq, Europe’s second-largest digital bank, is gearing up to expand across the Atlantic. The fintech company has filed for a broker-dealer licence with US regulators, completing the first phase of its two-step expansion strategy. The licence will allow Bunq to offer American users investment options — stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds — alongside cash management tools. These will include features like automatic transfers and Mastercard-backed debit cards. However, Bunq isn’t diving into the deep end just yet. This phased approach lets the company gather real-world data and user feedback before it applies for a full US banking licence…LinkedIn’s AI action figure fad is ‘obviously unsustainable,’ warns UK tech mogul
15 April 2025 @ 11:31 am
If you’ve been scrolling social media over the past week, you may have noticed miniature action figure versions of friends, family, or colleagues neatly wrapped in a blister pack. These plastic-fantastic portraits are the latest AI-powered photo trend to sweep the internet — especially LinkedIn. After digital avatars and Studio Ghibli-inspired selfies, we now have the action figure, produced using ChatGPT’s free image generator. It’s all fun and games, right? But look closer, and behind the gloss and giggles lies some pretty crucial fine print. With this action figure, sustainability is not included. Mel Morris, the founder of research engine…How the McMurtry Spéirling defied gravity to become the first car to drive upside down
14 April 2025 @ 6:59 pm
Motorheads have long theorised that the extreme downforce generated by high-performance cars could one day let them drive upside down. Now, British carmaker McMurtry has turned that wild idea into a reality for the first time. In a stunt that would make Batman jealous, McMurtry drove its insanely fast electric Spéirling flipped over. More impressively, it did that for over a minute while keeping the vehicle completely stationary — save for a quick acceleration to prove the car wasn’t tied down. While it might look like the car has defied gravity, in reality, it’s basic physics coupled with some clever…Quantum utility is at most 10 years away, industry experts believe
14 April 2025 @ 5:01 pm
Quantum professionals around the world overwhelmingly agree that quantum utility will arrive within the next decade, according to a new survey by Economist Impact. Quantum utility refers to the point at which quantum computers provide practical advantages over classical computers in solving specific real-world problems. A whopping 83% of the survey’s respondents think that moment will come within 10 years or less. One-third of them are even more optimistic, predicting that quantum utility could be achieved within the next one-to-five years. That’s more in line with the roadmaps of quantum companies like Finnish startup IQM, which is targeting quantum utility as…TECH5: DACH’s 5 top scaleups enter ‘Champions League of Technology’
14 April 2025 @ 7:12 am
Five fast-rising scaleups from the DACH region have qualified for TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” The DACH entrants fought off off stiff competition to reach the finals, which will crown the hottest scaleup in Europe. Comprising Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, DACH blends deep industrial roots, high R&D spending, elite research institutions, and a growing startup scene. Collectively, the three nations have created a regional tech powerhouse. Individually, each of them has unique strengths. Germany leads with a booming startup scene in Berlin and a deep tech hub in Munich. The county also had Europe’s second-highest total VC investment last…Former ASML CEO: Deep tech will ‘make the impossible possible’
11 April 2025 @ 1:39 pm
After steering Dutch chip giant ASML to become Europe’s most valuable tech firm, Peter Wennink is now focused on the next frontiers of deep tech. Wennink has already been involved in numerous breakthroughs in the field. Over his 25-year career at ASML — including over a decade as CEO — the company laid foundations for countless deep tech innovations. Under his leadership, the business earned renown as the sole supplier and producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. These systems are essential for manufacturing the world’s most advanced chips. They’ve become a crucial force in today’s AI boom, supporting everything…Return of the dire wolf? More like a Colossal case of conservation-washing
10 April 2025 @ 6:10 pm
US biotech startup Colossal Biosciences has resurrected the dire wolf — or at least that’s what the company would like you to believe. Social media is abuzz with viral videos, memes, and images of fluffy white wolf puppies. The Game of Thrones references are — predictably — omnipresent. The news even made it to Time magazine’s latest cover. But behind the hype lies a dangerous de-extinction delusion that could distract from proven solutions to the biodiversity crisis. The Trump administration is already using Colossal’s claims as an excuse to slash endangered species protections. First, let’s set something straight — Colossal…An answer to AI’s energy addiction? More AI, says the IEA
10 April 2025 @ 1:00 pm
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published its first major report on the AI gold rush’s impact on global energy consumption — and its findings paint a worrying, and perhaps contradictory, picture. Energy use from data centres, including for artificial intelligence applications, is predicted to double over the next five years to 3% of global energy use. AI-specific power consumption could drive over half of this growth globally, the report found. Some data centres today consume as much electricity as 100,000 households. The hyperscalers of the future could gobble up 20x that number, according to the IEA. By 2030, data…
Santa Clara-based eVTOL maker Archer has its sights set on making air taxis a thing, like, really soon. It's just revealed plans for a network of vertiports from which its electric aircraft can take off and land in New York (NYC) – so you can beat street traffic and get around town in minutes.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, Transport
While hydrofoils lift out of the water thanks to an underwater fin, hydroplanes zoom along by riding directly on the surface of the water. A slick carbon-fiber scale model from startup CovaConcepts shows off the latter concept in a fun new video.Continue ReadingCategory: Marine, TransportTags: Hydrofoil, Hydroplane, 
For the first time, surgeons have successfully performed a remarkable new heart transplant in which the donor organ never skips a beat in the process, reducing the damage that can occur during such a complex operation. It ushers in a new era of more successful heart transplant surgery.Continue ReadingCategory: Heart Disease, Illnesses and conditions, Body & MindTags: 
The British Army has successfully tested a Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) that took out multiple swarms of drones simultaneously and near instantaneously using high-frequency radio waves at a cost of 10p (US$0.13) per shot.Continue ReadingCategory: Military, TechnologyTags: British Army, Directed Energy Weapon, 
In the world's largest study into the long-term health impacts of flooding, scientists have quantified the widespread and shocking ways in which this traumatic experience affects people. The results call for urgent action to address these potentially deadly issues.Continue ReadingCategory: Illnesses and conditions, Body & MindTags: Monash University, 
Looking beyond jabs, sprays or tablets, scientists are thinking outside the box for delivering antiviral medication to prevent the spread of highly transmissible bugs. Their secret weapon? Chewing gum – but not any gum. This one is made from a rather fascinating bean.Continue ReadingCategory: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body & MindTags: 
We've deployed so many satellites into space over the last few decades that we now have a massive orbital junk problem. The European Space Agency (ESA) noted in its Annual Space Environment Report that more than 6,600 tons of space junk are currently floating about in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), between 100 - 1,200 miles (160 - 2,000 km) above our planet's surface.Continue ReadingCategory: 
The lightest-weight full-bodied pickup truck camper we've ever covered has somehow gotten even lighter. While the average pickup camper manufacturer struggles to build products any lighter than 1,500 lb (680 kg), Texas startup Peak Performance spent 2024 getting the word out about a pop-up camper weighing in at a mere 550 lb (249 kg), as midsize truck-friendly as you'll find.Continue ReadingCategory: Outdoors
Billed as a vision for a bridge between adventure and refinement, the Genesis X Gran Equator Concept has been unveiled at the New York Auto Show.Continue ReadingCategory: Automotive, TransportTags: Genesis, Concept Vehicle
While it's great to be able to virtually ride some of the world's best cycling routes on rainy or snowy days, sometimes you just wanna ride VR versions of your own favorite local roads. Rouvy's Route Creator lets you do exactly that, utilizing ride footage that you shoot yourself.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: Cycling, 
Is there anything equivalent to this in Google Docs?
However, now OneDrive Desktop gives a login error.
Is it possible to force Microsoft 365 apps to use Chrome to login, to avoid using Edge WebView component?
To better explain, WebView2 enables the app to display web content, like a mini web browser. Chrome also displays web content.
For example, Windows 11 comes with Outlook Web access installed as an app, which uses Edge. But if I browse to Outlook Web Access using Chrome, and th
(Arrival is a fantastic movie. Watch it, but don’t stop there – read the Story of Your Life novella it was based on
With early computers, you didn’t boot up to a fancy schmancy desktop, or a screen full of apps you could easily poke and prod with your finger. No, those computers booted up to the command
We know Cassian's fate thanks to Rogue One, but the Star Wars series could launch other characters into new stories.
Daredevil: Born Again and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man gave us bad guys who are jerks first, and it's a great change of pace.
Meta is being very transparent on accident.
Gear up with a new pair of great headphones from Bose at a steep discount.
The drama involving Musk's growing hoard of offspring is heating up.
Save 50% on the Gooloo GP4000 portable charger with jumper cables for a limited time.
The mostly black-and-white episode transports a Hollywood star into a recreated vintage movie, where real sparks unexpectedly fly.
In a new report, the bipartisan House committee came to the unsurprising finding that DeepSeek sends user data back to China.
A study with over 14,500 participants links intense workouts within four hours of bedtime to poorer sleep quality and duration.
The quirky and unpredictable Commander Lawrence may have finally found his place in season 6.
ProWritingAid VS Grammarly:
Are you searching for an