The smallest soft lithium-ion battery ever made consists of just three tiny droplets formed from a silk-based hydrogel. The droplet battery can deliver defibrillator electric shocks to beating mouse hearts, along with providing pacemaker-style control – but it may eventually power biomedical implants and wearable electronics for humans.

“Potentially, our tiny battery could be used as an implantable microrobotic battery, which can be moved to target locations by a magnetic field and then release its energy for medical treatments,” says Yujia Zhang at the University of Oxford.

Zhang and his colleagues designed the tiny batteries as three connected droplets that can self-assemble in a liquid solution, after the various ingredients are injected into the liquid by micro-syringe. One droplet contains lithium manganese oxide particles and acts as the battery’s negative electrode, while a second droplet contains lithium titanate particles and represents the positive electrode. A central droplet filled with lithium chloride separates these electrodes. UV light activates the battery by rupturing the layers separating each droplet and allowing lithium ions to flow freely between them.

The droplet batteries are 10 times smaller in length than previous soft lithium-ion batteries. At just 600 micrometres, it is about six times the width of a human hair. The batteries are also 1000 times smaller in volume than similar flexible lithium-ion batteries. And because the central droplet can incorporate magnetic nickel particles, the batteries can be controlled remotely via an external magnetic field.

Such miniature batteries also deliver an unprecedented amount of energy given their tiny size, says Wei Gao at the California Institute of Technology. “This energy density is notably higher than what has been achieved in other similar-sized batteries,” he says.

The droplet batteries were tested in mouse hearts that were removed from the animals’ bodies. They successfully acted as defibrillators to restore a normal heartbeat and pacemakers to regulate heartbeats. Additional testing showed that the batteries retain 77 per cent of their original capacity after 10 charge and discharge cycles.

The simplicity and scalability of such droplet batteries could represent a potential advantage over traditional battery manufacturing in the future, says Gao. He suggested that such batteries can power minimally invasive biomedical implants and biodegradable medical devices.

“What impressed me most was how this soft battery mirrors the aqueous environment of human tissue by being hydrogel-based,” says Gao. “However, we still need to consider the safety and biocompatibility of the materials used in this battery, especially as we move toward commercialisation or further research applications.”

The showcases in 2024 gave us a ton of upcoming games to look forward to. From Doom: The Dark Ages to Perfect Dark and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, plenty of new entries to beloved franchises are on the way. However, nothing gets us quite as excited as a new game set in a mysterious world we’ve never seen before. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 comes from a new developer but has the promise to be one of the best games in a stacked year already. With so much to discover, join us on our expedition to learn everything there is about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Release date window

As of right now, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 only has a rough release window of spring 2025. That could be as early as March but could be April or May as well if there are no delays.

Platforms

Trailers

Gameplay

Preorder

We only know the expedition will begin sometime in spring 2025 for now, so preorders aren’t ready just yet. If you’re eager, you can still wishlist the game on any platform to be notified when preorders do go live. Of course, we will also keep this post up to date with all the latest information as it becomes available.

Google Fi has internally released fixes for the SIM card issues that several subscribers were facing. The search giant is also issuing $60 bill credits to those who faced problems with their SIM cards.

Google Fi acknowledges and fixes SIM card issues

Google Fi Wireless, the lesser-known telecom service provider in the US, has cellular service operational in the country. It offers decent plans for wireless communication and internet.

Some Google Fi subscribers recently experienced SIM card failures. Impacted users started receiving an “Insert SIM card” error message on their smartphones. The issue is noticeable on Android phones primarily because modern Apple iPhones only support eSIM in the US. For some reason, devices were failing to recognize that a SIM card was inserted. Users would continue to get this error even if the SIM card was swapped out for a new one.

Google sent out emails acknowledging the issue. The email confirms Google Fi “recently discovered that certain SIM cards have been failing due to a manufacturing issue.” As compensation for the issue, Google seems to be sending out $60 bill credits to those who were impacted. Subscribers who are facing problems with Google Fi SIM cards need to get a replacement card.

How did Google address faults in SIM cards?

Just like every other carrier, Google also sources SIM cards from third-party manufacturers. Although the company hasn’t disclosed the source, it could be safe to presume the company could be buying SIM cards in bulk from multiple manufacturers.

Google claimed it had “resolved” the manufacturing issue. The company has assured that the “new SIM cards should work as expected.” The most reliable way to permanently address this issue would be to opt for an eSIM. Opting for an eSIM essentially involves the digital activation of a smartphone on a carrier’s service. Needless to say, phones must support the eSIM standard.

Google Fi is offering a free replacement for subscribers who wish to insert a physical SIM in their devices. Those impacted by SIM card issues can order a new one with expedited shipping for free.

Though it disappeared over 40 years ago, International Harvester is a mythical brand in North America thanks in part to the Scout, one of the world’s first SUVs. Now, Scout Motors is back under Volkswagen as an all-new marque and just revealed its first two models: the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV. Both use a brand-new EV platform and will start at under $60,000 before incentives when production launches in 2027.

Scout motors says its “priority was to honor the spirit of the original Scout,” sold by International from 1961 to 1980 in various forms. Though the Traveler and Terra clearly have modern designs, they use rounded contours and a “black mask” on the front and rear fascias to invoke the older models. They also come with separate bumpers and upward-sweeping side windows, again reminiscent of the classic Scout.

Other design elements are fully modern, like a thin LED strip around the “grill” and rectangular headlights bisected by slim daytime running lights. (The models shown here are 85 percent of what we’ll see in final production vehicles, Scout said).

The original Scout and International 150 pickup were practical and tough (we called it “Inter-smashable” back in the day), and the new models will keep some of those aspects. Both have body-on-frame construction with a solid rear axle, along with front and rear locking hubs for off-road use. They’ll offer 2,000 pounds of payload along with 7,000 pounds of towing capacity for the Traveler and 10,000 pounds for the Terra pickup. Both will come with all-wheel drive via front and rear electric motors.

That should keep working and outdoorsy buyers happy, but the vehicles can also raise your hairs. Both will accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 3.5 seconds thanks to an estimated 1,000 pound-feet of torque and four-wheel-drive system, though Scout has yet to provide a top speed.

The base trim package will offer up to 350 miles of range while the extended range version is effectively a hybrid that will go up to 500 miles using a gas-powered range extender. Charging times aren’t mentioned, but they’ll use an 800-volt architecture that supports up to 350 kW speeds. It will also feature bidirectional charging and vehicle-to-home capabilities, along with over-the-air updates and remote diagnostics.

The cabin is as far as it can be from the spartan interior on the originals. It looks luxurious and high-tech with a digital cluster and large displays, along with a promised “responsive” infotainment system and high-resolution backup cameras. At the same time, it comes with toggles and dials for climate and other controls. The seats and panels are covered with a mix of brown leather, fabric and a wood-like material.

Both have a frunk with 120-volt and USB-C outlets and can fit golf clubs, a gym bag and a small cooler, Scout says. The Terra’s 5.5-foot bed will also contain a 120- and 240-volt outlets for tools, compressors and the like.

The Traveler, meanwhile, will have a split tailgate and come with two roof options. The first is a Cabana top with panels that fold back for open-air motoring, while the second is a glass roof with a powered shade. Both vehicles will be available with a front bench seat to increase passenger capacity.

Much like Tesla, Scout will sell its vehicles directly to consumers without a dealership in the middle. Purchasing one will take “minutes” with the company promising full price transparency and handling sales, delivery and service. You’ll be able to check them out in person at dedicated “Scout Workshop” retail and service locations.

Both models are designed and engineered in Michigan and will be built at a new factory in Columbia, South Carolina by some 4,000 workers. Production starts in 2027 with vehicles arriving for the 2028 model year. Prices will start under $60,000, according to Scout Motors, and reservations are now open.

For the third month in a row, a football game has taken the top slot in the U.S. sales charts, according to industry-tracking firm Circana. Granted, the three games represent two different kinds of football — while Madden NFL 25 and EA Sports College Football 25 dominated August and July, respectively, September’s big seller was EA Sports FC 25. Circana reports that the latter also broke a record, having the highest launch month sales of any soccer game released in the U.S.

However, the picture was not so rosy elsewhere on Circana’s report. Video game hardware sales are still in freefall, while overall sales numbers for the industry are down year-over-year. Mat Piscatella, Circana’s executive producer for games reports, said in a statement, “September video game hardware spending fell 44% when compared to a year ago, to $251 million. This is the lowest monthly hardware spend total for a September month since 2019 ($242 million).”

The sales charts for the year-to-date are not much better, showing that total sales almost flat from September 2023’s chart. While video game content specifically is up 6% YoY, that number is dragged down by the almost 30% decrease from YTD 2023 to YTD 2024. Mobile content spending is up, according to Sensor Tower’s data, but most other stats are down.

There are a few things worth noting from the specific sales results: Circana’s sales show that the Xbox Series X is slightly edging out the Series S in sales, making up 51% of Xbox Series units sold life-to-date. Accessory sales are still holding on, with the PlayStation Portal being the best-selling accessory for the year-to-date — 3% of all PlayStation 5 owners also own a Portal.

Circana September 2024: Top 20 best-selling games in the U.S.

October’s sales charts contains a high saturation of new games, with seven new games making it into the top 20 slots — five of them in the top 10. The top game is the aforementioned EA Sports FC 25, which beat last year’s EA Sports FC 24 in sales and broke the record for launch month sales for a soccer title. The fact that EA’s soccer title continues to chart well despite the company’s break from the FIFA branding. The game was also the best-selling title on PlayStation and Xbox platforms, and the fifth best-selling title on Nintendo Switch. NBA 2K25 and NHL 25 also bring sports game success, debuting at 7th and 9th place on the charts, respectively.

Sony’s Astro Bot follows FC 24 at second place, and is also the second best-selling game on PlayStation platforms. Nintendo’s new Zelda title, Echoes of Wisdom is the fourth best-selling title and could have been higher, but Circana only has physical sales data for Nintendo products. Space Marine 2 is not only the 18th best-selling title, it was also the third most-played game on Steam during September. The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is the final new game that made the charts with its brand recognition and familiar characters.

Circana’s September 2024 chart might be the most chaotic yet

September’s sales charts contains not only a number of new games, but also a high number of games that have jumped up the charts from a relatively low position. The biggest example of this is Dead Rising, which went from 502nd place to 11th thanks to the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Piscatella clarified on Bluesky that games are tracked by stock-keeping units (SKUs), which means that sales of the remaster count towards the number of the original as well. Age of Mythology appears to have received a similar boost thanks to the launch of its Retold remaster.

Other games that jumped up several places are Final Fantasy XVI and God of War Ragnarok, which launched on PC on September 17 and 19, respectively. The PC launches have boosted the profile of both games, though God of War Ragnarok has weathered some discontent from players for requiring a PSN account in order to run the game.

Circana September 2024: 20 best-selling games of 2024 so far

Unlike the September sales charts, the year-to-date charts remain relatively unchanged, albeit slightly remixed. The only September game that made it to this chart was EA Sports FC 25, which also pushed its predecessor EA Sports FC 24 one place down the list. Madden NFL 25 has also gotten a boost up the list with its continued high sales.