JOHN MARKOFF | The Seattle Times

A photo povided by Zap Energy, a fusion energy startup, shows the company’s experimental reactor core in Seattle. Zap Energy says its experimental reactor core is ready for a milestone test, but skeptics routinely question whether the technology is currently possible. (Zap Energy via The New York Times) – NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY SLUGGED FUSION ENERGY STARTUP BY JOHN MARKOFF FOR JUNE 22, 2022. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. – XNYT95

June 27, 2022 at 8:00 am

Seattle startup says it’s close to cracking nuclear fusion; some experts say otherwise

Zap Energy, a startup working on a low-cost path to producing electricity commercially, says it has taken an important step toward a workable generator.

Business

Bob Mumgaard, a plasma physicist and chief executive of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, in Cambridge, Mass., June 25, 2021. The company, founded by scientists at MIT, has been testing an extremely powerful magnet necessary to generate immense heat. (Tony Luong/The New York Times) XNYT150

August 17, 2021 at 6:00 am

Startup seeks breakthrough in power from nuclear fusion

A startup founded by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is nearing a technological milestone that could take the world a step...

Business

Metamaterials, which could improve smartphones and change how we use other technology, allow scientists to control light waves in new ways. (James Yang/The New York Times) — NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY METAMATERIALS POTENTIAL BY JOHN MARKOFF FOR APRIL 27, 2021. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. — XNYT35 XNYT35

May 2, 2021 at 3:00 pm

These materials could make science fiction a reality

Metamaterials, which could improve smartphones, enable the viewing of 3D avatars with augmented reality glasses, and change how we use other technology, let scientists control...

A computer scientist argues that the quest for fully automated robots is misguided, perhaps even dangerous. His decades of warnings are gaining more attention. (Pete Sharp/The New York Times) — NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY COMPUTER SCIENTIST ROBOTS BY JOHN MARKOFF FOR MAY 22, 2020. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. — XNYT165

May 24, 2020 at 1:01 pm

Why robots will need humans in the future

Tesla chief Elon Musk and other big-name Silicon Valley executives have long promised a car that can do all the driving without human assistance. But...

Business

In an image provided by the company, an artist’s rendering of a brain/computer interface made by Neuralink. The San Francisco-based company funded by Elon Musk says it has created a device that could one day wire data links directly to the brain. (Neuralink via The New York Times) — NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY BRAIN-INTERNET BY MARKOFF FOR JULY 16, 2019. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. — XNYT356 XNYT356

July 16, 2019 at 6:02 pm

Elon Musk company takes baby steps to wiring brains to the Internet

Neuralink, a San Francisco company funded by Elon Musk, says it has created a device that could one day wire data links directly to the...

Business

FILE â€” Mike Zimmerman, the founder and chief executive of Ionic, a battery technology startup, at his lab in Woburn, Mass., Dec. 9, 2016. Ionic plans to announce in August 2017 that it has found a way to turbocharge alkaline batteries for a safer, cheaper and rechargeable alternative to lithium ion batteries. (Tony Luong/The New York Times)

August 3, 2017 at 6:52 pm

A better, safer battery could be coming to a laptop near you

Executives at Ionic Materials announced a design breakthrough that could make solid-state alkaline batteries a viable alternative to lithium-ion and other high-energy storage technologies.

Business

April 24, 2017 at 7:46 pm

It’s not exactly George Jetson’s aerocar, but flying car closer to becoming reality

The approaches by companies vary and the realization of their competing visions seems far in the future, but they have one thing in common: a...

Business

In an undated handout photo, Robert Taylor at Xeroxâ€™s Palo Alto Research Center in Palo Alto, Calif. Taylor, whose work was instrumental in the creation of the internet, the modern personal computer and the mouse, died April 13, 2017, at the age of 85. (Palo Alto Research Center via The New York Times) — NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH OBIT TAYLOR BY JOHN MARKOFF FOR APRIL 15, 2017. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. —

April 15, 2017 at 3:45 pm

Robert Taylor, internet and personal-computer pioneer, dies at 85

Robert W. Taylor was instrumental in creating the internet and the modern personal computer.

Nation & World

March 5, 2017 at 5:00 pm

That cool robot may be a security risk

Significant security flaws were found in an examination of six home and industrial robots, according to a report from IOActive, a Seattle-based computer security consulting...

December 24, 2016 at 6:52 pm

Finally, better battery technology is hot — but not too hot

Batteries have been a glaring exception to the exponential progress of computer processing and storage. But after decades of excruciatingly slow development, the latest research...