Toby Markowitz

Meet WindRunner: The Massive Plane That Transports Wind Turbine Blades The world's largest airplane will transport massive wind-turbine blades to onshore farms in an attempt to reshape the future of wind energy logistics.

This was fascinating: An airplane longer than a football field built for the sole purpose of transporting new, much longer wind turbine blades.

Worth the read in @spectrum.ieee.org, as always.

NASA's Quiet Supersonic Jet Takes Flight The X-59 successfully completed its inaugural flight—a step toward developing quieter supersonic jets that could one day fly customers more than twice as fast as commercial airliners.

The X-59 successfully completed its inaugural flight—a step toward developing quieter supersonic jets that could one day fly customers more than twice as fast as commercial airliners. www.wired.com/story/nasas-...

Eight years ago today, while in the Trump motorcade, I saw a bicyclist give the bird to the president's vehicle. I tweeted an AFP photographer's picture of Juli Briskman. It went viral. She got fired. Then she got elected. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...

Best gravel bikes 2025: Our pick of the best bikes for drop-bar off-road action https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-gravel-bikes/

Amazon wants to buy ‘thousands’ of Rivian’s pedal-assist cargo bikes The company is interested in deploying Also’s TM-Q quad vehicles as part of its delivery fleet in the US and Europe.

Amazon wants to buy ‘thousands’ of Rivian’s pedal-assist cargo bikes

My Scars Were a Haunting Reminder of My Surgery. These Silicone Sheets Helped Me Heal. A photo grid shows the healing process of a scar on someone's throat.

These silicone sheets are a noninvasive, inexpensive treatment that may help fade the appearance of many scars. nyti.ms/48p7jey

These 2 quick tests can tell you if you’re as fit as an 80-year-old elite athlete Measure your strength, power and coordination with these two simple fitness checks.

Are you as fit as an 80-year-old elite athlete? The answer might be a mortifying surprise.

Measure your strength, power and coordination with these two simple fitness checks.

Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted.

With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted. www.wired.com/story/satell...

YouTube video by Driven Car Reviews With Tom Voelk Would I Do it Again? 6 Months With a Used Porsche Taycan 4S. #automobile #Porsche

I bought a used 2021 @porscheusa.bsky.social Taycan 4S 6 months ago. Here’s what it’s like to live with a high-performance EV with 32,000 miles on clock. Likes. Gripes. Issues. Real world range. Charge speed. Would I do it again? It’s all here… #automotive
youtu.be/LHtmrg-i70Q

So much for Ford and GM’s scheme to extend the EV tax credit They were hoping to soften the blow.

So much for Ford and GM’s scheme to extend the EV tax credit

Porsche’s electric Cayenne has so much screen they had to bend it Haven’t seen this before.

Porsche’s electric Cayenne has so much screen they had to bend it

Chasing storms across the Midwest with a ‘Twister Sister’ As a member of the storm-chasing reality TV show, Melanie Metz has become a legend among her peers.

Melanie Metz is one of the most famous storm chasers in the world. We traveled around North Dakota with her to learn why she loves to capture extreme weather.

When this EV maker collapsed, its customers became the car company Meet the Fisker Owners Association.

When this EV maker collapsed, its customers became the car company

Automaker Geely Launched Its Own Satellites Into Space, Highlighting China’s Ambitions It’s a bird, it’s a plane—it’s the latest sign that Chinese automakers intend to dominate the global car industry for decades to come.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane—it’s the latest sign that Chinese automakers intend to dominate the global car industry for decades to come. www.wired.com/story/geely-...

New US-EU Trade Framework May Impact Safety, Benefit Automakers On Both Sides By Sam AbuelsamidThe United States and the European Union have announced a new framework trade agreement designed to limit the damage from the Trump administration’s global trade war. At a high level,...

The new EU-US trade framework deal has an interesting detail about mutual recognition of automotive standards. I had some thoughts about how this might impact the US auto industry and I don't think its the way the admin in DC wants it www.telemetryagency.com/post/new-us-...

An engineer restores pay phones for free public use In a rural Vermont county, spotty cellphone coverage is the norm. But a local tinkerer is using old technology to help his community stay connected free of charge.

In a rural Vermont county, spotty cellphone coverage is the norm. But a local tinkerer is using old technology to help his community stay connected free of charge.

A Little League coach went viral for his dad joke on the mound. It taught a bigger lesson In a tense moment, coach Jake Riordon asked his players, "Do you know why a koala bear is a marsupial and not a bear?"

From @theathletic.com: A Little League coach made a dad joke during a tense game. The moment went viral. It was equal parts strange, funny and endearing, our columnist writes. "Sometimes the best coaching has nothing to do with baseball."

Former F.D.A. Chief Backs Kennedy’s War on Processed Food

NEW: David Kessler, who went after Big Tobacco when he ran FDA and later advised Biden, has given RFK Jr and Trump a legal strategy to go after Big Food. It’s a political gift and a shot across the bow. Will they take it?

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/u...

Chevy Silverado EV smashes world record for longest drive on a single charge 1,059.2 miles

Chevy Silverado EV smashes world record for longest drive on a single charge

Ford’s planning a ‘Model T moment’ for EVs on August 11th Ford is betting on a low-cost EV platform.

Ford’s planning a ‘Model T moment’ for EVs on August 11th

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Hurry up! Scientists predict today will be (slightly) shorter than normal The earth doesn't rotate exactly on schedule. Scientists believe that today is going to be around a millisecond short of a typical 24-hour day.

The earth doesn't rotate exactly on schedule. Scientists believe that today is going to be around a millisecond short of a typical 24-hour day. https://n.pr/45f3pCW

Iconic Stone Arch Bridge will reopen even earlier than expected Gov. Tim Walz will celebrate the bridge’s reopening on July 21. An official ribbon cutting and public celebration will take place on Aug. 9.

The Stone Arch Bridge will open Monday afternoon, even earlier than previously announced.

Agree with this, today's Superbagnères finish is a really scenic climb and worth riding even if it's a dead-end road. It's not a typical ski station access road and feels like balcony in the high mountains

Louisiana's coast is eroding. One engineer found a fix in her wine bottle Louisiana has two problems: an eroding coastline and limited glass recycling. Engineer Franziska Trautmann is solving both by turning bottles into beach sand.

Louisiana has two problems: an eroding coastline and limited glass recycling. Engineer Franziska Trautmann is solving both by turning bottles into beach sand.

Where bike trails and breweries meet: The 13 best Twin Cities area beer hubs for bicyclists The metro area is known for both bike trails and breweries, and here are our favorite pairings, from Luce Line and Back Channel out west to Pryes and Utepils in town.

The metro area is known for both bike trails and breweries, and here are our favorite pairings, from Luce Line and Back Channel out west to Pryes and Utepils in town.

it's about time

An open letter to the American public on respiratory virus vaccines Read an open letter to the general public from the AMA and medical societies reaffirming support for vaccination to protect against flu, COVID-19, and RSV.

This is unprecedented. The AMA and other medical professional societies speak as one on respiratory virus vaccines and in their own way, say the Trump Administration cannot be trusted with your health. www.ama-assn.org/delivering-c...

More here from Charged EVs:

New UCI gear rules will restrict SRAM's use of 10t cog, but there could be implications for wider tyres too SRAM teams no longer able to use 10t sprocket with standard road setups

New UCI gear rules will restrict SRAM's use of 10t cog, but there could be implications for wider tyres too