According to the most recent wave of Statista's Consumer Insights survey, consumers in Finland and Poland have the highest affinity for sustainable fashion among all countries surveyed. 33 percent of respondents in said countries have recently bought second-hand clothing online or in person, putting the two nations ten percentage points above the average respondent share of 23 percent. Resident...

AI startups grab 1 in 3 VC dollars. Silicon Valley is becoming even more dominant. Positive signs from tech IPOs. We break down key changes in the venture landscape.AI has established a commanding presence across the VC landscape.In some ways venture has become less dramatic. The period of steep decline in funding that followed the dizzying heights of 2021 has given way to relatively moderate q...

Researchers have developed an AI-powered “electronic tongue” capable of distinguishing subtle differences in liquids, such as milk freshness, soda types, and coffee blends. Key FactsThe electronic tongue uses AI to identify subtle differences in food quality with over 95% accuracy.The device’s neural network performs better when defining its own analysis metrics.Applications extend beyond fo...

Farmers are increasingly prioritizing productivity. A shift toward operations-focused solutions underscores a broader trend in agriculture, where efficiency and sustainability are becoming paramount.Farmers worldwide are navigating challenges such as increased input prices, extreme weather events, and commodity price volatility. Given the current macroeconomic environment, the priority for farm...

The Birkin bag maker reported a hefty rise in third-quarter sales on Thursday, continuing to outperform rivals hit hard by a sharp slowdown in luxury demand. Sales growth at Hermès eased in the final quarter of last year, missing market forecasts and sending its shares down as much as 7 percent.Birkin bag maker Hermès reported on Thursday a hefty rise in third-quarter sales, continuing to out...

Materials researchers have created a new composite material that combines two incompatible properties: stiff yet with a high damping capacity.Oscillations and vibrations damage machines and buildings, while noise affects human health and wellbeing. Damping materials are consequently needed that are not only both rigid and load-bearing but also mitigate noise.Based on simulations, ETH materials...

The world’s largest coffee chain is losing customers. Yesterday, Starbucks reported that its profits (earnings per share) fell by 25% in the last year, driven by a major slowdown in the US. In short, Americans went to Starbucks a lot less but paid more when they got there: comparable US transaction volumes fell 10% in the quarter, but were offset by a 4% rise in the average ticket size (for a...

Technology is today bridging gaps between thought and expression in more ways than previously possible. This is especially true in the case of people facing limitations with verbal speech and expression thereof. Many who resonate with the thought that every person – irrespective of their limitation – deserves a voice or perhaps a way to communicate have been working with neurodiverse learners...

The Fuse GLD raises vinyl appreciation to room showpiece level.Though streaming accounts for much of our music consumption these days, vinyl records have been rising in popularity over the last few years. If you want your latest purchase to stand out while playing, then why not have it stand up on the Fuse Audio GLD vertical turntable?First up – for those concerned by recent headlines claiming...