The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina are poised to showcase groundbreaking athletic achievements and innovative performances, even as the event faces environmental concerns and geopolitical challenges. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates are preparing a matador-inspired routine, aiming to surpass past Olympic disappointments with a boundary-pushing performance, according to multiple news sources. Simultaneously, skater Ilia Malinin is expected to push the boundaries of figure skating with the quadruple axel.
The quadruple axel, involving 4.5 revolutions in the air between takeoff and landing, is a feat of athleticism that has captured the attention of figure skating fans. According to Time, even casual fans are likely familiar with the triple axel, and Malinin's quad axel is expected to generate significant buzz. The axel jump, whether single, double, triple, or quad, includes an extra half rotation, making it particularly challenging.
Beyond the athletic arena, the 2026 Winter Olympics will proceed without Russia due to the nation's invasion of Ukraine, as reported by various news outlets. The games also face environmental concerns.
In other news, advancements in robotics are occurring, with projects like James Bruton's At-At walker highlighting the challenges in achieving precise and controlled movement in large robots, according to BBC Technology. These advancements rely on more efficient and intelligent actuators to mimic the fluidity of animal motion. Actuators are the motion-activating components that drive the movements of robots.
Outside of the Olympics and robotics, recent events include the unveiling of NEXUS, a large tabular model designed to improve business forecasting, and rising European EV sales led by Volkswagen, according to Time. David Wright was also recognized as TIME Dealer of the Year. In a separate incident, Colin Demarco was arrested for allegedly plotting to murder a government official due to political fears, highlighting rising political extremism. Cameron Faulkner has also published protective case reviews for the Nintendo Switch 2, offering practical advice for owners.
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