All posts tagged: powered

Bird poop powered this pre-Hispanic kingdom

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. When it comes to the success of ancient civilizations, the first things that come to mind are typically their military strength, roads, and trade. New research, however, highlights a potential key to the strength of a pre-Incan society that is both surprising and slightly disgusting: seabird guano, also known as bird poop. The successful power in question is the Chincha Kingdom (1000 – 1400 CE), a coastal society that ruled over the Chincha Valley in present-day southern Peru. In the first half of the 15th century the kingdom was integrated into the better-known Inca Empire without conflict. But what could the kingdom have used bird poop for? The answer is fertilizer, specifically for corn, according to a study published today in the journal new PLOS One. Ceremonial digging stick or paddle from coastal Peru showing seabirds and possible maize sprouting from abstracted fish and stepped-terrace motifs. Image: The Met Museum 1979.206.1025. “Pre-Hispanic communities in southern Peru used seabird guano to …

Disney’s First Quarter Is Powered by Box-Office Hits ‘Zootopia 2’ and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

Published by Sam Flores

But the entertainment giant cautioned that in the second quarter its Experiences division, which includes its theme parks, will likely see modest operating income growth due in part to a decline in visits from international tourists to the U.S. There’s been a drop in foreign visitors to the U.S. attributed to several factors, including President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, tariffs, an immigration crackdown and repeated jabs about the U.S. possibly trying to acquire Canada and Greenland. The Walt Disney Co. earned $2.4 billion, or $1.34 per share, for the three months ended Dec. 27. It earned $2.64 billion, or $1.40 per share, a year ago. Removing one time charges and costs, earnings were $1.63 per share. That’s better than the $1.57 per share that analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research expected. Disney, based in Burbank, California, reported revenue of $25.98 billion. Wall Street was calling for slightly higher revenue of $25.99 billion. Revenue for Disney Entertainment, which includes the company’s movie studios and streaming service, climbed 7%, while revenue for the Experiences …

Japan Box Office Roars Back to Record High in 2025, Powered by ‘Demon Slayer’ and ‘Kokuho’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Japan’s box office came roaring back to good health in 2025 — a hopeful indicator for the battered global theatrical business, delivered from what remains the world’s third-largest film market. Annual grosses surged 32 percent to a record 274.45 billion yen ($1.79 billion), according to figures released Thursday by the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. The 2025 total significantly surpassed the previous high of 261.18 billion yen ($1.70 billion) set in 2019, underscoring a decisive recovery after several years of pandemic-era disruption. The rebound was driven overwhelmingly by high-quality local hits, led by anime mega-blockbuster Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1, which dominated the market with 39.14 billion yen ($255 million). Nearly as significant for Japan’s domestic industry was the breakout success of Kokuho, a nearly three-hour-long live-action kabuki drama whose 19.55 billion yen ($127 million) haul made it the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film ever released domestically. Widely praised by critics, the film’s performance signaled renewed audience appetite for culturally specific, prestige-driven theatrical fare. Japanese productions proliferated throughout the top ranks of the …

Here’s When Apple Plans to Unveil a New Siri Powered by Google Gemini

Published by skeptic

Apple plans to unveil a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini next month, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. “The company has been planning an announcement of the new Siri in the second half of February, when it will give demonstrations of the functionality,” he wrote, in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter today. Gurman does not yet know if Apple plans to hold a full-out event to demonstrate the Siri upgrades, or if it will hold private briefings with the media. The more personalized Siri will be part of iOS 26.4, which will be available in beta in February and released to the general public in March or early April, according to Gurman. Based on that timeframe, the new-and-improved Siri should be available to all customers with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer in just a few more months. As previewed by Apple, the assistant “should be able to tap into personal data and on-screen content to fulfill tasks,” according to Gurman. Apple first announced the more personalized version …

Introducing the world’s first production motorcycle powered by solid-state batteries

Published by Jenni Sidey

A small Finnish electric motorcycle maker is making one of the boldest claims the electric vehicle world has heard in years. Verge Motorcycles says it is preparing to deliver the world’s-first production motorcycle powered by a solid-state battery, a technology long described as the future of electric transport. The company, based in Finland, developed the new battery system with Donut Lab, a technology firm founded by the same team behind Verge. Together, they say the battery will debut in an updated version of the Verge TS Pro, with customer deliveries expected in early 2026. If the claim holds, it would mark the first time a solid-state battery reaches consumers in any vehicle. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte used in today’s lithium-ion cells with a solid material. Researchers and automakers have pursued the technology for years because it promises longer range, faster charging, and improved safety. Despite frequent announcements from major automakers, production timelines have repeatedly slipped. Engineered around the donut motor, the TS Pro blends power, precision, and elegance in perfect harmony, giving you …

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