Battery recycling company Ascend Elements files for bankruptcy
Ascend Elements announced Friday that it has begun Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States, a major blow to investors who have poured nearly $900 million into the company. Ascend CEO Lynne Austin announced the decision in a post on LinkedIn. He said the company faces “insurmountable” financial challenges. Ascend’s filing comes amid a […]
Space expert Ed Macaulay says there is ‘reason to believe’ Artemis II heat shield is flawed ahead of 25,000 mph re-entry into the atmosphere
The Artemis II Orion spacecraft is expected to splash down later today (April 10) as the world awaits the return of the crew of the record-setting mission. So far, Artemis II’s lunar exploration has been a huge success, but some experts have concerns about the final leg of the journey. There is a problem with […]
Stalking victim sues OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT fueled her abuser’s delusions and ignored warnings
After months of conversations with ChatGPT, the 53-year-old Silicon Valley entrepreneur became convinced he had discovered a cure for sleep apnea and that powerful people were coming after him, according to a new lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco County. He then allegedly used the tool to stalk and harass his ex-girlfriend. […]
Is the moon green or brown? Why scientists are already excited about Artemis II’s historic moon photos
The four Artemis II astronauts will return to Earth on Friday (April 10), bringing not only images of themselves, but also a treasure trove of rare images from their trip to the moon. And the geologists supporting this mission can’t wait to jump in. “The images are definitely spectacular,” Gordon Oshinsky, a crater expert and […]
“I saw a movie. What a horrible way to die”: What it’s like to survive being sucked into a tornado
Tornadoes produce some of the highest wind speeds in the world and can cause monumental destruction. In 2008, atmospheric scientist Perry Samson was investigating a supercell storm in Oberlin, Kansas when he got a closer look at the devastating weather event than he expected and got caught in a tornado. Samson, professor emeritus of atmospheric […]
France ditches Windows for Linux to reduce dependence on US technology
France is moving away from Microsoft Windows. The country announced plans to move some government computers currently running Windows to the open-source operating system Linux in a bid to further reduce dependence on U.S. technology. Linux is an open source operating system that is free to download and use, and includes a variety of customized […]
‘More questions than answers’: Experts baffled by Alaskan mammal-eating killer whale discovered near Seattle
Scientists are puzzled over why three mammal-eating killer whales appeared in Seattle waters in March, after apparently migrating 1,500 to 2,000 miles (2,400 to 3,200 kilometers) south from Alaska. Monica Wieland Shields, director of the Orca Behavior Institute, a Seattle-based nonprofit research organization, told Live Science in an email: “It’s extremely rare for a previously […]
Every fusion startup that has raised over $100M
Over the last several years, fusion power has gone from the butt of jokes — always a decade away! — to an increasingly tangible and tantalizing technology that has drawn investors off the sidelines. The technology may be challenging to master and expensive to build today, but fusion promises to harness the nuclear reaction that […]
Last 24 hours: Save up to $500 on Disrupt 2026 passes
This one. The clock is running low. Tonight is your last chance to save up to $500 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass. These discounts end at 11:59 PM PT. Register here to secure your limited time offer. What Disrupt offers every year This year, Disrupt will take over Moscone West in San Francisco from […]
PSA: If you use the Meta AI app, your friends will find out and embarrass you
Meta on Wednesday released a new Muse Spark AI model as part of a major overhaul of its AI efforts. The time has come for Meta to die. — The company can’t afford it. investSpending billions of dollars again on things that don’t work, like the Metaverse. Well, they literally could afford it, but it […]