Emerging Technologies and Innovations

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, with 68% of the global population expected to reside in urban areas by 2050, traffic congestion is likely to worsen. To address this issue, companies like Pegasus are developing innovative solutions, such as a helicopter that can be driven on the street like a regular car but also take to the skies to avoid congestion. This vehicle can reach speeds of 120 kmph on the ground and 160 kmph airborne, with a range of 420 km.

Transportation and Mobility

• Pegasus aims to manufacture 900 units annually, contributing to the growth of electric vehicles, which saw 13.6 million sales in 2023.
• Go Sun, a solar power charging device, has emerged as a solution to the challenge of installing enough charging stations, offering an extra 48 km of driving range per day and raking in over $2 million in pre-orders in just 45 days.
• Vario has developed a teleport system that moves locations from the real world to a virtual one, allowing users to explore them using a VR headset or web browser.
• A solar-powered robotic vacuum, the Solar Umbra 4000, has been tested on the streets of Austin, Texas, collecting over 91 kg of trash in a single day.
• New seats with added luxury will be available on larger planes at a premium price, and companies are working on advanced automation for vertical farming technology, which has attracted $54 million in investments.

Environmental Sustainability and Technology

• Photo Kite Sigma drones are tethered to a specific location and can climb up to 45 meters, staying in the air for up to 24 hours, allowing rescuers and professionals to respond effectively to threats.
• Researchers at CID have created a polymer that can fuse back together after being cut, with 97% recovery in just 2 hours, at room temperature, without special conditions.
• A device converts linear motion into rotation and then into electricity, producing an average power of 10 KW and a peak power of around 80 KW during testing.
• The Brooker h90 is a specialized tool for conducting remote hyperspectral analysis, designed to detect potentially dangerous gases, and can function effectively from several kilometers away.
• IBM has started a new era in Quantum Computing, introducing the world’s first modular quantum computer and its processor in 2023, which produces five times fewer errors and can handle complex math, chemistry, and physics problems.

Innovations in Music and Daily Life

• A foldable guitar called the Mugabi V3 has been created to make things easier for electric guitarists, with a 40mm speaker built into the body, a built-in preamp, and a Reverb effect.
• A small wiper for bikers, similar to car wipers, has been created with a brushless motor, making it reliable but expensive at $345.
• Islands can remove ammonia and phosphates from water and become a home for birds, with plants like Veta having deep roots.
• Correctly drying grain can bring several benefits, including speeding up the ripening process and extending storage life, and research institutes are working on effective and affordable drying methods for farmers.

Politics and Public Figures

A politician named Chrisy Gnome stood out in the right race for governor of South Dakota, handling strong verbal attacks and eventually winning the election to become the state’s first female governor. She once received a flamethrower as a Christmas gift, which she showed off on social media, using it to burn a pile of cardboard boxes.

Urban Planning and Development

• A European capital has banned the rental of electric scooters, which may lead people to look for alternative options like electric skateboards or unicycles.
• The Towers collect parameters such as ventilation, temperature, and lighting, and also have a UV sterilization system, allowing for the growth of various plants, including greens, cabbage, and berries.
• A separate concept explores making public transportation, like buses, more prestigious by featuring luxury brand logos, aiming to change the perception of using public transport as a status symbol.
• A solar electric capsule that runs on solar panels and follows a set route like a regular bus could gain popularity and secure contracts for mass deliveries to cities if produced by top brands like Audi.

Key Vocabulary

Watch The Video

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘to make something worse or more severe’ in the context of traffic congestion?

A) Urbanization
B) Innovate
C) Worsen
D) Automate

2. What does the term ‘teleport’ mean in the context of Vario’s system?

A) To move something from one place to another physically
B) To transport people or objects through virtual means
C) To change the location of something in the real world to a virtual one
D) To create a replica of a location

3. What is the primary function of the ‘Brooker h90’ device?

A) To generate electricity from linear motion
B) To conduct remote hyperspectral analysis and detect gases
C) To create a polymer that can fuse back together after being cut
D) To power a robotic vacuum

4. What is the term for the process of ‘converting linear motion into rotation and then into electricity’?

A) Quantum Computing
B) Automation
C) Electrification
D) Energy Harvesting

5. What does ‘hyperspectral analysis’ refer to in the context of the Brooker h90 device?

A) The analysis of sound waves
B) The detection of dangerous gases from a distance
C) The study of light and its properties
D) The examination of the Earth’s atmosphere

Answer Key:

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using the Present Simple and Present Continuous to Describe Trends and Ongoing Actions

Grammar Quiz:

1. The world ____________________ increasingly urbanized, with more people moving to cities every year.

• is becoming
• becomes
• has become
• became

2. By 2050, ____________________ 68% of the global population in urban areas.

• it is expected that there will be
• there will be
• is expected to be
• it expects to be

3. Companies like Pegasus ____________________ innovative solutions to address traffic congestion.

• are developing
• develop
• have developed
• were developing

4. The global population ____________________ to reside in urban areas by 2050.

• is expecting
• expects
• is expected to
• was expected to

5. Traffic congestion ____________________ to worsen as more people move to cities.

• is likely to
• likely to
• is likely
• will likely

Answer Key:

1. is becoming

2. there will be

3. are developing

4. is expected to

5. is likely to