MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024
Electricity
Emerging Industry Strains Power Grid
The rapid growth of energy-intensive industries like data centers in Georgia is putting a strain on the state's power grid and clashing with its clean energy goals, as utilities scramble to meet the surging demand for electricity while also transitioning to greener sources.
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024
Commodities
Global Turmoil Sparks New Gold Rush
Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and ballooning global debt have fueled a surge in demand for physical gold from both individual investors and central banks, driving up gold prices by over 40% since October 2022 as people seek a tangible asset to shield themselves from potential catastrophes.
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024
Economy
Small Businesses Pass Along Inflation's Steady Pain
Many small businesses, squeezed by higher costs for materials, labor, and other inputs, are planning to raise prices again this year, which helps explain why inflation has remained stubbornly high despite the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024
EV
A Famed Car Designer's Doomed Attempt to Challenge Tesla
Electric-vehicle startup Fisker, founded by renowned car designer Henrik Fisker, burned through nearly all its cash, struggled to manufacture and sell its first model the Ocean SUV, and is now winding down operations, underscoring the challenges facing new EV makers trying to break into the capital-intensive auto industry dominated by established players.
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024
Business
The 100-Year Quest to Make a Paper Bottle
Companies like Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, and Diageo are working to develop paper bottles that can keep drinks fresh and fizzy while ensuring recyclability, as the paper packaging industry aims to offer a sustainable alternative to plastic, though technical challenges around leakage, flavor retention, and carbonation retention remain significant hurdles to overcome.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY, MAY 18 - 19, 2024
Healthcare
Surging Hospital Prices Are Helping Keep Inflation High
Rising hospital prices, particularly for procedures like angioplasties, intensive care for newborns, and breast biopsies, have contributed significantly to the persistently high inflation in the U.S., with hospital prices jumping 7.7% in the last month, the highest increase in 13 years.