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The Download: US-built EV batteries, and California’s monkeypox emergency

The Download: US-built EV batteries, and California’s monkeypox emergency


The information: The US Senate Democrats released a bill last week that would considerably reduce the nation’s carbon emissions. One of the invoice’s key elements is an extension of electrical car tax credit, that are designed to assist push adoption of EVs by giving patrons $7,500 credit score in the direction of buying a qualifying new electrical car, or $4,000 for used automobiles.

The hitch? For a brand new car to qualify for the tax credit score, its battery and the important thing minerals utilized in it want to come back principally from the US or from international locations it has free-trade agreements with.

Why it issues: Currently most lithium-ion cells for EV batteries are in-built China. The US manufactures solely about 7% of world provide. The laws is an try to incentivize firms to construct extra capability for mining and battery manufacturing within the US. While the restrictions might assist to construct a safe provide chain for batteries within the US in the long run, some consultants are unsure how shortly US firms will have the ability to reply.

The greater image: The formidable EV tax credit might play a task in constructing home battery manufacturing and inspiring new provide chains within the US—and are an apparent try to sluggish China’s battery dominance. But whether or not these modifications will come quick sufficient to maintain up with booming EV gross sales stays very a lot an open query. Read the full story.

—Casey Crownhart

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.

1 California declared a state of emergency over its monkeypox outbreak
It has greater than 800 confirmed circumstances, and is the second state in three days to announce emergency measures. (CNN)
+ The US allowed tens of millions of vaccines that would defend towards monkeypox to run out. (NYT $)
+ India has recorded its first dying from monkeypox. (BBC)
 
2 Amazon’s carbon emissions grew by 18% final 12 months
Despite its makes an attempt to color itself as a inexperienced champion. (The Verge)
+ Just two years in the past, it created a $2 billion local weather fund. (MIT Technology Review)
 
3 What Facebook friendships can educate us about lowering poverty
Poor youngsters with richer buddies are more likely to earn extra as adults. (NYT $)
 
4 Black Mirror hasn’t helped the case for brain-computer interfaces
While the know-how might assist tens of millions, many individuals are nonetheless understandably cautious. (Wired $)
+ Why facial expressions are the brand new Xbox controllers. (WP $)
+ Brain implants could possibly be the subsequent laptop mouse. (MIT Technology Review)
 
5 How Roblox responds to grooming
Leaked paperwork element the favored gaming platform’s response to main moderation challenges. (Motherboard)
 
6 Schools are failing to guard youngsters’s delicate information 
Hacks and breaches might significantly have an effect on their future prospects and employment. (NYT $)
 
7 A hateful Arabic anti-LGBTQ+ group is prospering on Twitter 
After being kicked off Facebook in early July. (Rest of World)
+ Anti-vaxx Twitter accounts are peddling meals disaster misinfo. (The Guardian)
+ The firm is probing Elon Musk’s associates about his deal to accumulate it. (WP $)
 
8 Electric automobiles are too quiet 🚙
But selecting a sound that gained’t drive us all to distraction is surprisingly arduous. (New Yorker $)
+ Their adoption means fuel stations are poised to pivot to…one thing else. (Protocol)
 
9 How daters ended up in a long run relationship with Tinder 📱
After a decade on the app, some customers really feel a dedicated partnership is additional away than ever. (The Cut)

10 We nonetheless wish to look good on BeReal
The app needs us to be genuine, however doesn’t negate that urge. (The Atlantic $)
+ Retraining your social media algorithm is a grueling enterprise. (The Information $)

Quote of the day

“You’re already chasing your tail in the event you’re going to attend for a case to point out up.”

—Dr Yvonne Maldonado, a professor on the Stanford School of Medicine, tells Undark that as a result of US public well being companies don’t typically check sewage for polio, the virus had doubtless unfold earlier than a person in Rockland County sought medical consideration for it in June.

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