The News

US solar installations surge as federal tax credits begin phasing out

Built World

The US added 11.4 gigawatts of solar capacity in the second quarter of 2026 — a 45% jump from a year ago and the market's strongest quarter in years. Nearly all of it was utility-scale: developers rushed to start construction on large solar farms before a July 4 deadline stripped federal tax credit eligibility.

The US added 11.4 gigawatts of solar capacity in the second quarter of 2026 — a 45% jump from a year ago and the market's strongest quarter in years. Nearly all of it was utility-scale: developers rushed to start construction on large solar farms before a July 4 deadline stripped federal tax credit eligibility.

Updated 4 hours ago

Deadly ferry fire off Palawan leaves dozens dead and missing

Built World

Recovery teams pulled more remains from the burned MV June Aster on Saturday, raising the death toll to 76. Thirteen people remain missing, and forensic teams in Coron are working to identify the dead.

Recovery teams pulled more remains from the burned MV June Aster on Saturday, raising the death toll to 76. Thirteen people remain missing, and forensic teams in Coron are working to identify the dead.

Updated 4 hours ago

Houthis strike Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery, reopening a front held quiet since 2022

Force in Play

What began as a single drone strike on August 9 has grown into the most serious Saudi-Houthi fighting since the 2022 truce. On September 8, Houthi missiles and drones hit four Saudi cities, wounded 73 people, and set fires at oil sites. The 400,000-barrel-per-day Jazan refinery has not fully operated since late July.

What began as a single drone strike on August 9 has grown into the most serious Saudi-Houthi fighting since the 2022 truce. On September 8, Houthi missiles and drones hit four Saudi cities, wounded 73 people, and set fires at oil sites. The 400,000-barrel-per-day Jazan refinery has not fully operated since late July.

Updated 4 hours ago

Mercury's surface holds far less silicon dioxide than thought

New Capabilities

Mercury's surface holds about 37 percent silicon dioxide by mass, up to 25 percent less than earlier estimates. That gap points to a hotter volcanic past, with lava rising from deeper mantle regions melted at extreme temperatures.

Mercury's surface holds about 37 percent silicon dioxide by mass, up to 25 percent less than earlier estimates. That gap points to a hotter volcanic past, with lava rising from deeper mantle regions melted at extreme temperatures.

Updated 6 hours ago

Harvard researchers use sound waves to shield quantum bits from noise

New Capabilities

Harvard researchers extended the memory of a diamond-based quantum bit roughly threefold by surrounding it with a continuous stream of microscopic sound waves. The technique, published in Nature Physics, could let phonons both carry and protect quantum information in compact networks built on chips.

Harvard researchers extended the memory of a diamond-based quantum bit roughly threefold by surrounding it with a continuous stream of microscopic sound waves. The technique, published in Nature Physics, could let phonons both carry and protect quantum information in compact networks built on chips.

Updated 6 hours ago

US consumer confidence drops to second-lowest on record as gas prices jump

Money Moves

American consumers turned sharply more pessimistic in early September. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 47.8, the second-lowest reading since 1952, down from 51.7 in August.

American consumers turned sharply more pessimistic in early September. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 47.8, the second-lowest reading since 1952, down from 51.7 in August.

Updated 8 hours ago

Minnesota solar farms planted with native habitat see native bees multiply 20-fold

New Capabilities

In 2018, Enel Green Power seeded two retired farm fields in southern Minnesota with native grasses and wildflowers beneath its solar panels. By 2022, native bee numbers had grown 20-fold, total insects had tripled, and flowering plant species had increased sevenfold.

In 2018, Enel Green Power seeded two retired farm fields in southern Minnesota with native grasses and wildflowers beneath its solar panels. By 2022, native bee numbers had grown 20-fold, total insects had tripled, and flowering plant species had increased sevenfold.

Updated 9 hours ago

Salesforce unveils enterprise AI harness to govern agents across the business

New Capabilities

Enterprises are putting AI agents to work across their business systems, which creates a new problem: controlling what those agents can see, do, and spend. Salesforce's answer, unveiled September 10, 2026, is the Trusted Enterprise AI Harness, a software layer that wraps AI in six capabilities: context, agency, action, governance, security, and models.

Enterprises are putting AI agents to work across their business systems, which creates a new problem: controlling what those agents can see, do, and spend. Salesforce's answer, unveiled September 10, 2026, is the Trusted Enterprise AI Harness, a software layer that wraps AI in six capabilities: context, agency, action, governance, security, and models.

Updated 10 hours ago

Houthis seize strategic island at Red Sea shipping chokepoint

Force in Play

Ship crossings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to 15 on Friday, half the previous day's total. Houthi rebels seized Perim Island that day, completing their takeover of the strait that carries 10 to 12 percent of global trade.

Ship crossings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to 15 on Friday, half the previous day's total. Houthi rebels seized Perim Island that day, completing their takeover of the strait that carries 10 to 12 percent of global trade.

Updated 13 hours ago

US diesel prices hit record high as conflicts squeeze global supply

Built World

US diesel hit a record $6.05 a gallon Friday, September 11, according to AAA. That's more than 60 percent above the $3.76 average on February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran.

US diesel hit a record $6.05 a gallon Friday, September 11, according to AAA. That's more than 60 percent above the $3.76 average on February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran.

Updated 13 hours ago

California bans addictive social media features for users under 16

Rule Changes

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 child-safety bills on Sept 10 that bar social media platforms from offering addictive features to users under 16. The laws target autoplay and algorithmic feeds built around a user's history and profile. They take effect January 1 unless courts block them.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 child-safety bills on Sept 10 that bar social media platforms from offering addictive features to users under 16. The laws target autoplay and algorithmic feeds built around a user's history and profile. They take effect January 1 unless courts block them.

Updated 16 hours ago

DP World installs new harbor cranes in $800M modernization of Syria's Tartus port

Built World

Three mobile harbor cranes now work Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus. They are the first visible payoff of Dubai-based DP World's $800 million plan to rebuild a port wrecked by 13 years of civil war.

Three mobile harbor cranes now work Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus. They are the first visible payoff of Dubai-based DP World's $800 million plan to rebuild a port wrecked by 13 years of civil war.

Updated 16 hours ago

AlphaGenome Atlas maps every possible human DNA letter change

New Capabilities

Google DeepMind opened AlphaGenome Atlas to researchers on September 8. The searchable database predicts the molecular consequences of all 9 billion possible single-letter changes in the human genome — the result of testing all three alternative DNA bases at every position across the 3-billion-letter genome.

Google DeepMind opened AlphaGenome Atlas to researchers on September 8. The searchable database predicts the molecular consequences of all 9 billion possible single-letter changes in the human genome — the result of testing all three alternative DNA bases at every position across the 3-billion-letter genome.

Updated 16 hours ago

Researchers unveil fuel cell membrane that moves protons 6.5 times faster

New Capabilities

Chinese researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have built a fuel cell membrane that moves protons 6.5 times faster than today's designs and cuts the energy barrier by more than half. In tests the cell produced 0.75 watts per square centimeter at 0.7 volts, about four times the power of conventional membranes.

Chinese researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have built a fuel cell membrane that moves protons 6.5 times faster than today's designs and cuts the energy barrier by more than half. In tests the cell produced 0.75 watts per square centimeter at 0.7 volts, about four times the power of conventional membranes.

Updated 16 hours ago

SEC weighs Texas Stock Exchange's mandatory broker voting rule

Rule Changes

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opened formal proceedings on September 11 to decide whether Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE), a challenger to NYSE and Nasdaq, may require brokers to vote shares when clients give no instructions. The rule would allocate those uninstructed shares proportionally, matching how other investors voted on each proposal. If no one sends instructions on a matter, the shares would be cast as abstentions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) opened formal proceedings on September 11 to decide whether Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE), a challenger to NYSE and Nasdaq, may require brokers to vote shares when clients give no instructions. The rule would allocate those uninstructed shares proportionally, matching how other investors voted on each proposal. If no one sends instructions on a matter, the shares would be cast as abstentions.

Updated 18 hours ago

CME stops adding new sports and awards futures, winding down prediction markets

Rule Changes

In January 2026, CME began listing event contract swaps on sports and cultural awards. On September 11, after seven filings that added football, basketball, tennis, elections and the Oscars, the exchange stopped adding new expiries.

In January 2026, CME began listing event contract swaps on sports and cultural awards. On September 11, after seven filings that added football, basketball, tennis, elections and the Oscars, the exchange stopped adding new expiries.

Updated 18 hours ago

Native Forward turns MacKenzie Scott's $50 million gift into permanent endowment

Money Moves

MacKenzie Scott gave Native Forward Scholars Fund $50 million in September 2025, the largest gift in the nonprofit's 57-year history. Ten months later, the group announced the split: $40 million in a permanent endowment, $10 million in scholarships over five years.

MacKenzie Scott gave Native Forward Scholars Fund $50 million in September 2025, the largest gift in the nonprofit's 57-year history. Ten months later, the group announced the split: $40 million in a permanent endowment, $10 million in scholarships over five years.

Updated 19 hours ago

Global coal demand set to reach record as Iran war cuts gas supplies

Built World

In December, the International Energy Agency projected the world would burn slightly less coal this year. Now it expects a record 8.94 billion tonnes, up 1.2%: the war with Iran has cut LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, making coal the cheaper option for power generators.

In December, the International Energy Agency projected the world would burn slightly less coal this year. Now it expects a record 8.94 billion tonnes, up 1.2%: the war with Iran has cut LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, making coal the cheaper option for power generators.

Updated 19 hours ago