Recycleye grabs $17M, calling plastic crisis a ‘tremendous business opportunity’

Recycleye grabs $17M, calling plastic crisis a ‘tremendous business opportunity’

Highlighting the plastic industry’s infamous track record on recycling, London-based Recycleye says it raised $17 million in new funding led by “deep tech” investor DCVC. The startup claims its recycling-picking robots can identify materials “at an unrivaled 60 frames per second” and sort them more accurately than humans can. Ultimately, the startup says its tech […]

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E Ink’s latest color displays have me dreaming of electronic paper magazines

E Ink’s latest color displays have me dreaming of electronic paper magazines

There’s still nothing quite like thumbing the pages of a real-life print magazine, but the latest evolution of E Ink’s color tech is creeping tantalizingly close — at least as far as my eyes are concerned. You’ve heard it all before: A lifetime of staring at screens has worn out my eyes, leading me down […]

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Parsing Samsung’s data breach notice

Samsung’s new washer captures microplastics from your dirty laundry

Unless you live in a natural fibers-only household, your laundry is likely exacerbating an environmental crisis with each wash. The terrible microplastics mess we’re making — thanks in great part to the rise of synthetic clothing — apparently inspired Samsung to develop some new washing machine tech, which it called a “breakthrough in the fight […]

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Want a Tesla Solar Roof? You may need to shell out for a Powerwall first

Want a Tesla Solar Roof? You may need to shell out for a Powerwall first

At Tesla, the company’s stock price apparently isn’t the only thing that’s climbing lately. Powerwall sales are also poised to rise, now that the automaker’s big batteries are reportedly a prerequisite for Solar Roof installations. The requirement is new as of September, and it comes as Tesla ramps up Powerwall production at its Nevada factory, […]

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Live Nation bets millions on high-tech reusable cups to combat plastic waste

Live Nation bets millions on high-tech reusable cups to combat plastic waste

Picture the aftermath of a festival: A sea of fans depart, leaving behind any number of empty water bottles, disposable cups, wristbands, lost IDs and maybe even some used-up whipped cream chargers. For all the environmental lip service we hear from megastars, the carbon footprint of live entertainment has only recently received the attention it […]

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Apple announces ‘Beats x Kim’ collab, but all I see is shapewear

Apple announces ‘Beats x Kim’ collab, but all I see is shapewear

Apple and Kim Kardashian announced their first collaboration this week, taking the Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds to new, nude-toned heights. In hues so neutral they could make even Sir Jony Ive blush, Apple said the buds will come in three flavors: “moon,” “dune” and “earth.” They’ll debut on Apple.com on August 16 and “in […]

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Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy backs Terabase’s robot-built solar farms

Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy backs Terabase’s robot-built solar farms

Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate-focused VC firm linked to some of Earth’s wealthiest individuals, has joined a $44 million bet on solar startup Terabase Energy. Terabase aims to rapidly build new solar farms “at the terawatt scale,” CEO Matt Campbell said in a statement. The startup claims its automated, on-site factory can already speed up […]

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Climate-focused VC stays scorching as Buoyant Ventures targets $100M fund

Climate-focused VC stays scorching as Buoyant Ventures targets $100M fund

Like a groundhog and its shadow, many venture capitalists see a shrinking economy and burrow away, resting their check-signing hand for better days. But climate-focused VCs are on a tear lately, pumping well over a billion dollars per quarter into startups that strive to mitigate emissions as the Earth bakes. Buoyant Ventures is one such firm […]

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Private equity descends on Chartbeat

Private equity descends on Chartbeat

Chartbeat, a website that tells publishers about their readers, is getting the private equity treatment. Launched out of Betaworks in 2009, the service offered real-time analytics back when Google Analytics made you wait 24 hours to see who was clicking around your site. Eons later, private equity firm Cuadrilla Capital has swooped in to buy […]

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World Fund joins $128M bet that quantum can deliver climate breakthroughs

World Fund joins $128M bet that quantum can deliver climate breakthroughs

World Fund, a newcomer in climate-VC land, is taking the lead in a $128 million round for IQM, with hopes the Finnish quantum computing company will one day deliver carbon cuts by the megatonne. Quantum computing trades the bits of conventional computers for quantum bits, and in theory, quantum machines may be better suited for […]

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