Chinese electric vehicles are poised to disrupt the U.S. market, while NASA faces continued challenges with its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents express frustrations on online forums. Simultaneously, the promise of AI is hampered by fragmented data systems, and new biotechnology may offer solutions for extracting metals needed for clean technology.
The Verge reported on February 4, 2026, that Chinese cars are now competitive and ready for the U.S. market. John Voelcker wrote that after driving the Zeekr 7X, Geely, and Lynk & Co vehicles, he believed they "would clean up in the US." The Zeekr 7X, a compact battery-electric crossover, is aimed directly at the Tesla Model Y and is already a bestseller in Europe, with a price around $32,000 in China.
Meanwhile, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket program continues to face setbacks, according to Ars Technica. The program, now a decade and a half old, has cost U.S. taxpayers over $30 billion. The report noted the rocket's "expensive" and "slow" development, highlighting the failed launch attempts in March 2022 due to issues with the rocket's "prickly hydrogen propellant."
Wired reported on an online forum where current and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers vent their frustrations. The forum, with over 5,000 members, contains posts dating back over a decade. One user wrote, "I'm all for removing illegals, but snatching dudes off lawn mowers in Cali and leaving the truck and equipment just sitting there? Definitely not working smarter." Users complained of long working hours and the agency becoming the center of public ire.
VentureBeat highlighted the challenges hindering the successful implementation of AI strategies. According to Certinia, the "Franken-stack" of disconnected point solutions, brittle APIs, and latency-ridden integrations prevents AI from accessing the necessary context to function effectively. Raju Malhotra of Certinia stated that when AI fails, "AI doesn’t struggle because it lacks intelligence. It struggles because it lacks context."
MIT Technology Review reported on the potential of biotechnology to extract metals needed for clean technology. As demand for metals like nickel and copper increases, mining companies are looking for new ways to extract these resources. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, microbes could be used to extract nickel from the Eagle Mine, which is nearing the end of its life. The article noted that "producing these metals is becoming harder and more expensive because miners have already exploited the best resources."
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