Behind the wheel
The US oil embargo causes another blackout in Cuba, with people sleeping by the sea for relief from the heat. / Associated Press
Unrelated: “The expansion would make Stargate one of the largest fossil fuel power plants in [Texas] ... emitting more annual greenhouse gases than nearly 2 million cars.” / The Texas Tribune
See also: Since 2000, the size of new passenger cars has steadily increased by around a half-centimeter a year. / T&E
EV exports from China are surging, due in large part to custom-built, roll-on/roll-off ships. / South China Morning Post
China’s EV dominance is ushering in robot dominance. “If a company can make auto components, then probably it can also do humanoids.” / The New York Times [$]
See also: As the US bans China’s robots, one company has figured out a way to make an almost China-free robot. / WIRED
To remain competitive as food costs soar, Whole Foods is making its store brands cheaper, and is increasing prices at a lower rate than Walmart and Kroger. / Los Angeles Times
Two Alberta food banks switch from bundled items to shoppable shelves to offer choice at a moment when people are “at their most vulnerable.” / CBC
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By publishing Anthony Fauci’s diary, Rand Paul also exposed the unredacted names and medical diagnoses—including cancer, Ebola, and HIV—of more than 20 individuals. / NOTUS
Kalshi says allowing users to bet on drug trials is about “surfacing information,” to the horror of those whose loved ones’ outcomes are reduced to a payday. / The Guardian
“What is the nuclear bomb but the ultimate expression of hubris?” Matt Zoller Seitz on reading Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains” on the exact day when it’s set. / Roger Ebert
An ocean engineering startup shows off its 35-by-8-foot underwater dwelling, the first of its kind in more than 40 years, in a new video. / Futurism, Mashable
“It's like a livestock building put into the sea without walls, without a floor, without a roof." Norway’s dominance in salmon farming has robbed its fjords of oxygen. / ABC
A seafood company has abandoned its plan to open the world’s first octopus farm, following public outcry and ethics concerns. / Gizmodo
“You can't make investors have a hard on for a ramp that doesn't connect to the cloud.” Silicon Valley loves selling the idea that it will “solve” disability. / Sightless Scribbles
Wordle is catnip for the stats-obsessed, but pairing it with WhatsApp data makes for an extremely obsessive dive into personal bests and worsts. / Max Glenister
More than 150 people gathered this week to hear the 17th chord change in an interpretation of a John Cage piece that began in 2001 and will take another 614 years to finish. / Associated Press
Take a virtual soundwalk through New York City with a professional listener. / The New York Times [$]
“I’d save the Red Lobster in Times Square by purchasing Google Play gift cards.” What my life would be like if all of those spam texts were legit. / The New Yorker