TechCapsules

Fusion power has gained significant traction in recent years, with investors pouring in millions to support startups working on commercially viable fusion power plants. Companies like Commonwealth Fusion Systems, TAE Technologies, and Helion have made notable advancements, leveraging breakthroughs in computer chips, AI, and high-temperature superconducting magnets to develop sophisticated reactor designs and control schemes. A recent experiment at a U.S. Department of Energy lab crossed the scientific breakeven threshold, further solidifying the potential of fusion power [...]

Austrian satellite propulsion startup Gate Space has secured 6.3 million euros ($7.2 million) in funding from Europe's government-backed accelerator program. The funding will accelerate the industrialization of chemical propulsion technology, set to debut on Austria's inaugural military satellite, BeaconSat, in February. Gate Space is developing high-thrust chemical propulsion systems for satellites, capsules, and landing vehicles, with a focus on providing reliable maneuvering capabilities for safe collision avoidance and de-orbiting. The startup has also secured customer missions, including [...]

ElevationSpace Inc. has secured US $40 million in its Series B funding round, bringing the total raised to US $63.5 million. The company is developing space-to-Earth transportation services and a space environment utilization and recovery platform, leveraging Japan's expertise in small satellite lift-guided re-entry. The funding will support the development and operation of the company's services, as well as its global expansion. ElevationSpace is close to completing the assembly of its first private re-entry satellite, the "AOBA," [...]

Hanwha Aerospace is seeking partners to co-develop next-generation technologies by publicly disclosing its internal development challenges. The South Korean defense company participated in the NextRise 2026 startup fair to recruit partners for 12 projects, including autonomous-driving AI and counter-drone systems. Hanwha aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, as dependence on overseas vendors has become a liability in the past. The company is looking for domestic alternatives to critical parts, such as a 28-volt vehicle DC generator [...]

Yann LeCun, a prominent AI expert, has expressed doubts about Elon Musk's AI venture, xAI, calling it "kind of a failure" due to the departure of its founding team. LeCun, founder of AMI Labs and former chief AI scientist at Meta, questioned xAI's ability to attract top AI talent and compete with rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. Musk's company has built significant computing infrastructure, but LeCun believes this may not be enough to ensure success. The criticism [...]

NASA has announced a public-private partnership with Relativity Space to design, build, and launch a spacecraft carrying the Aeolus instrument suite to Mars in 2028. The Aeolus mission will provide daily measurements of the planet's global environment, collecting data on Martian dust and cloud cover, winds, and temperatures. The partnership aims to allow NASA to concentrate its resources on science discovery, with Relativity Space responsible for designing the spacecraft, launch, and satellite operations. The mission will refine [...]

Early investors in AI startup Manus, including HSG, ZhenFund, and Tencent, are planning to buy the company back from Meta for US$2 billion, according to a report by The Information. This move comes after China ordered Meta to unwind its acquisition of Manus amid tightening scrutiny of US investment in Chinese startups developing advanced AI technologies. Manus has grown significantly since the Meta deal, with its annualised revenue run rate surging to between US$400 million and US$500 [...]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined India's vision for Artificial Intelligence at the 10th edition of the VivaTech Summit in Paris. He emphasized the importance of democratizing AI to ensure its benefits reach everyone. Modi rolled out the red carpet for top tech companies, easing regulations and expanding ease of doing business. The India pavilion showcased emerging technologies, including AI solutions for detecting cancers and advanced genetic engineering therapies. Modi highlighted India's AI prowess, citing examples such as [...]