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Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe study of UFOs goes mainstreamFor decades, much of the discourse around UFOs has been confined to science fiction movies and novels. In the absence of government commentary on the topic, conspiracy theories around the U.S. hiding alien life and technology in secret compounds like Area 51 have run rampant. In an attempt to address potential national security questions, Washington, D.C. has taken up the charge to publicize and legitimize the study of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, as the military is calling UFOs.

Locations: Washington

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCan superyachts go electric? Solar-powered electric yachts have hit the superyacht market. Silent Yachts and Sunreef Yachts are two companies working on developing this technology. Allied Market Research predicts the solar boat industry will grow 14% by 2031 to $2.4 billion. CNBC headed to the Cannes Yachting Festival to get an inside look at the companies building solar-powered electric yachts, and to explore the challenges the technology faces in playing a wider role in the future of maritime transportation.

Organizations: Silent Yachts, Sunreef Yachts, Allied Market Research, CNBC, Cannes Yachting Festival

☆ What fewer riders mean for NYC's subway
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | Jeniece Pettitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhat fewer riders mean for NYC's subwayRemote work has meant fewer riders on New York City's subway and a drop in fare revenue for the system's operator, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Fare evasion has taken its toll on the transit authority too, costing the MTA $690 million last year including $285 million on its subways.

Organizations: Metropolitan Transportation Authority Locations: New York

☆ Why NYC’s subway is struggling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hybrid work has meant fewer riders on New York City's subway and a drop in fare revenue for the system's operator, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The number of paying weekday subway riders averaged 3.6 million in June, according to the MTA, compared with daily ridership of almost 5.5 million in 2019. Inflation and transit crime have also impacted subway ridership. The MTA is the operator of New York's more than 6,400 subway cars, more than 5,700 buses, two of the country's busiest commuter trains, and multiple bridges and tunnels. So when will New York City subway riders return in greater numbers?

Persons: Sarah Kaufman, New York University Rudin, they're Organizations: Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York University, New York University Rudin Center for Transportation, New Locations: New York, New York City

☆ How layoffs and A.I. are impacting tech workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Tech companies shed more than 386,000 jobs last year and in the first half of this year, according to Layoffs.fyi. But while layoffs have taxed workers, a booming artificial intelligence market is giving the industry a renewed sense of optimism. "I have been in San Francisco for almost 12 years now and I have never felt this kind of energy," said Flo Crivello, CEO of AI startup Lindy. Generative AI startup deals announced or finalized In the first quarter of this year totaled more than $12 billion, compared to about $4.5 billion invested in the space all of last year, according to PitchBook. So how have layoffs impacted tech workers and what will the AI boom mean for their future?

Persons: Flo Crivello, Crivello, it's Organizations: Microsoft Locations: San Francisco

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNew York City taxis battle Uber and Lyft for ridersNew York's yellow taxis are an iconic symbol synonymous with the city. But taxis have had to contend with a host of issues. Medallion prices were artificially inflated in the early 2010's due to predatory lending forcing many owner-operators into bankruptcy. The industry has also been overwhelmed by ride hailing services like Uber and Lyft. Today roughly 13,000 yellow taxis compete with about 80,000 ride-share drivers.

Persons: Uber Organizations: New Locations: New York City

New York City's yellow taxis have been a symbol of the metropolis for decades. But taxi drivers only make up about 10% of the total driver landscape in the city — giving way to Uber and Lyft . In addition, to driving a taxi, drivers have to own or lease a medallion, which can cost a fortune. Prices subsequently tanked with the rise of Uber and Lyft which caused great anguish for drivers who owned their own medallion. Now, taxi drivers are fighting for space in the industry as they recover from the medallion crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: it's, hailers, David Do Organizations: National Library of Medicine, New York, New York City Taxi, Limousine Commission Locations: York, New York City

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy good Wi-Fi is so hard to get on airplanesAirplane Wi-Fi has been around for decades but its reliability and speeds can vary widely depending on the airline, the route and the type and age of the aircraft. American Airlines, United and other U.S. airlines have been updating their fleets to provide better wifi. Delta has spent over $1 billion retrofitting its planes to bring free wifi to its customers. CNBC got an inside look at how Delta is working to upgrade over 1,200 planes by 2024.

Organizations: American Airlines, United, CNBC

☆ Marlboro maker Altria says it wants to move away from cigarettes. Here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | Jeniece Pettitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMarlboro maker Altria says it wants to move away from cigarettes. Here's howAltria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA and the nation's largest tobacco company, says it wants to help smokers transition away from cigarettes. The Marlboro maker is launching new products like e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products. But Altria's pivot has raised eyebrows among its critics. Cigarettes and cigars made up about 89% of the company's sales in 2022.

Persons: Altria, Philip Morris Organizations: Philip Morris USA Locations: Marlboro

☆ Marlboro maker Altria’s bet on smoke-free products
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

But decades of evidence that smoking kills has caused consumption to plummet. The tobacco industry sold fewer than 11 billion packs of cigarettes in the U.S. in 2020, down from more than 21 billion packs two decades earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA and the nation's largest tobacco company, reported an almost 10% drop in cigarette sales last year compared with the year prior. The maker of Marlboro says it wants to help smokers transition away from cigarettes to what it calls "reduced harm alternatives" such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products. So, are e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products less harmful than traditional cigarettes?

Persons: Philip Morris Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Philip Morris USA Locations: U.S, Marlboro

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow new lithium extraction tech could help meet EV targetsA suite of new, but largely unproven, technologies known as direct lithium extraction could revolutionize lithium mining from brine, making it more efficient and sustainable and eliminating the need for large evaporation ponds. A number of companies including EnergyX, Lilac Solutions, and Standard Lithium are entering the DLE market and getting ready for commercial implementation across South America and the U.S., while automakers like BMW, GM and Ford are investing.

Organizations: EV, Solutions, South, BMW, GM, Ford Locations: South America, U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInside the world's largest lithium producerAlbemarle, the world's top producer of lithium and the operator of mines in Australia, Chile and the U.S., says it plans to bring its Kings Mountain, North Carolina mine online by 2027. The company, along with its main competitors SQM and Pilbara, control about 40% of the world's lithium supply, according to KeyBanc Capital Markets. Lithium is a critical mineral in electric vehicle batteries. CNBC got an inside look at Albemarle's operations in the U.S. and Chile.

Persons: Albemarle Organizations: KeyBanc, CNBC Locations: Australia, Chile, U.S, , North Carolina

☆ The rise of Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Demand for lithium, a key component for electric vehicle batteries, is expected to surge, from 500,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate in 2021 to three to four million metric tons in less than a decade, according to McKinsey & Company. Albemarle, the world's top producer of this critical metal and the operator of mines in Australia, Chile and the U.S., says it plans to bring another domestic lithium mine online by 2027 — Kings Mountain in North Carolina. Albemarle is also building a $1.3 billion processing facility in South Carolina, where it will process battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The plant will support the manufacturing of 2.4 million electric vehicles annually and be able to process lithium from recycled batteries. Despite that growth, Albemarle faces a number of potential headwinds including a possible economic downturn that could slow the demand for EVs, new battery chemistries that could reduce the need for lithium, battery recycling and additional competitors.

Persons: Tesla Organizations: McKinsey & Company, CNBC, U.S . Locations: Australia, Chile, U.S, North Carolina, Nevada . Albemarle, South Carolina, Albemarle, Texas

With 4.5 billion passenger trips taken each year and more than 16 million planes taking off in the U.S. every year, aircraft are responsible for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, and the problem is growing. One proposed solution rivals the power of fossil fuels without the emissions — hydrogen. Aircraft giant Airbus is exploring the technology, as are startups ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen. CNBC explores hydrogen planes and whether they could fix aviation's emissions problem.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Delta moves 100,000 bags daily at the world's busiest airportU.S. airlines carried more than 470 million passenger bags in 2022. For decades most bags flew for free, but in recent years fees have surged, boosting the bottom line of the nation's carriers. Bag fee revenue for U.S. airlines was more than $6.7 billion in 2022. To prevent lost luggage and ensure passengers are reunited with their bags upon arrival a complex ecosystem has evolved. CNBC got a behind-the-scenes look at at Delta's baggage operation in Atlanta to find out.

☆ How U.S. airlines make $7 billion a year from checked bags
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. airlines had baggage fee revenue of more than $6.7 billion last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. American Airlines alone earned almost $1.4 billion from checked bags, accounting for more than 2% of the carrier's full-year revenue. For decades, most bags flew for free, but in recent years fees have surged, boosting the bottom line of the nation's carriers. U.S. carriers hauled more than 470 million passenger bags last year. So what steps do airlines take to prevent lost luggage and how does Delta Air Lines move 100,000 bags a day through the world's busiest airport?

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Chile is shaping the global lithium industryChile contains some of the largest and highest quality lithium-brine resources in the world. And with demand booming for electric vehicles and the lithium-ion batteries that power them, Chile's vast salt flats have become a vital national resource. Now, the government has released its long-awaited national lithium policy, which requires private companies to partner with the state to further develop the country's lithium resources, ushering in a new era for the industry. 21:22 38 minutes ago

☆ What Chile's state-led lithium policy means for the future of the electric vehicle industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The only two lithium companies currently operating in Chile are North Carolina-based Albemarle , the largest lithium producer in the world, and SQM , the No. Chile's lithium is of particular strategic importance to the U.S., which has a free trade agreement with the country but not with neighboring Argentina. The plan calls for the creation of a national lithium company to partner with all private businesses looking to enter the sector. Bags of battery-grade lithium carbonate at La Negra, Albemarle's lithium processing plant near Antofagasta, Chile. Lenny-Pessagno told CNBC in January that Albemarle supports the creation of a state-owned lithium company.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow autonomous inventory robots could save retailers billionsOutfitted with cameras and sensors, autonomous inventory robots can verify price signs and look for out-of-stock items. Inventory is one of the biggest challenges retailers face. Missed sales from empty shelves and out-of-stock items cost U.S. retailers $82 billion in 2021, according to NielsenIQ. But an army of inventory robots is being deployed that could help retailers appease angry customers, boost sales and respond to the ongoing worker shortage.

☆ How A.I.-powered robots are changing retail
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Eager to boost sales, relieve workers from mundane tasks and respond to the ongoing labor shortage, retailers and supermarkets are adding robots to their store aisles. Outfitted with cameras and sensors, autonomous inventory robots that can verify price signs and look for out-of-stock items are being deployed at big box stores like BJ's Wholesale and Walmart-owned Sam's Club . Inventory is one of the biggest challenges retailers face. Missed sales from empty shelves and out-of-stock items cost U.S. retailers $82 billion in 2021, according to NielsenIQ. So what impact will inventory robots have on U.S. retailers and the livelihood of its workers?

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow old airline seats get refurbishedAirplane seats get used a lot. And replacing them can be expensive. Many airlines chose to refurbish or refresh the seats by stripping down the ones they already have in service or those they've acquired from another airline or leasing company. CNBC visited Latitude Aero, a refurbishment company in Greensboro, North Carolina, to see what goes into giving airplane seats a second life.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy predicting the weather is so hardWeather forecasting is a complicated task for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that begins with collecting billions of observations per day on metrics like temperature and wind speed. This information is then fed into supercomputers that produce weather models that meteorologists use to come up with forecasts. But these models are not perfect. Now, NOAA is exploring buying data as a service from startups like Tomorrow.io and Saildrone to improve its forecasting.

☆ How Sam's Club plans to take on its rival Costco
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | Darren Geeter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Sam's Club plans to take on its rival CostcoThe U.S. warehouse club industry, which includes Costco, Sam's Club and B.J. 's Wholesale is valued at more than $320 billion, according to an estimate by ResearchAndMarkets.com. In return, they get access to low-priced goods and services in a warehouse setting. With over 65 million paying members, Costco controls the lion's share of the market. But Walmart-owned Sam's Club is tweaking the formula, betting that investments in robotics and technology can help them better engage with budget-conscious shoppers and take on its competitors.

☆ Can Costco maintain its edge over Sam’s Club?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. warehouse club industry, which includes Costco , Sam's Club and B.J. With over 65 million paying members, Costco controls the lion's share of the market. But Walmart-owned Sam's Club is tweaking the formula, betting that investments in robotics and technology can help it better engage with budget-conscious shoppers and take on its competitors. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon called Sam's Club an "innovation engine for the company" during an August 2021 earnings call. So how do warehouse clubs like Sam's get members to pay to shop?

Zimbabwe has been mining lithium for 60 years and the government estimates that its Chinese-owned Bikita mine, which is located 300 km south of the capital Harare, has about 11 million metric tons of lithium resources. In December, the country passed the Base Mineral Export Control Act, which banned the export of raw lithium. However, companies that are already developing mines or processing plants in Zimbabwe are exempt from this ban. This includes Chinese firms Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt , Sinomine Resource Group and Chengxin Lithium Group , which have invested $678 million into lithium projects in Zimbabwe. CNBC explores Zimbabwe's mining sector to find out why China has a stronghold on the country and why it matters to the U.S.

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