Novel Material Offers Potential Solution to E-Waste Challenge - 1

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Novel Material Offers Potential Solution to E-Waste Challenge

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

MIT News reported yesterday on a recent study exploring a novel substrate material for flexible electronics. The research suggests a potential solution to the increasing electronic-waste problem by developing a material that facilitates the recycling of components from disposable and wearable devices.

The new material developed by researchers at MIT, and Meta could provide a significant advancement in addressing the growing issue of e-waste. The material, a form of polyimide, offers potential improvements in both the manufacturing and recycling of electronic devices.

“We recognize that electronic waste is an ongoing global crisis that’s only going to get worse as we continue to build more devices for the internet of things, and as the rest of the world develops,” says Thomas J. Wallin, an assistant professor at MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in the MIT News article.

The newly developed material offers several potential advantages. It can be processed more efficiently than traditional polyimide. This processing requires lower temperatures and less time. Additionally, the material’s structure allows for the recovery of valuable components . These components include precious metals and microchips. This recovery occurs at the end of a product’s lifecycle. Such capabilities could reduce the environmental impact of e-waste. They could also alleviate supply chain pressures for critical materials.

Beyond recycling, the material’s properties could enable the creation of more complex and compact electronic devices. Its potential to serve as a substrate for multilayered circuits offers opportunities for technological advancements.

The developed material holds promise but requires further optimization. While comparable to industry standards, it falls short in specific areas. The research paper suggests enhancing properties like thermal conductivity and dielectric constant. This can be achieved by adding fillers or modifying the material’s structure.

Improving the material’s polyimide characteristics or degradation rate is also crucial. Recycling the material could be a future option, but its economic viability is uncertain.

Mexican Fintech Stori Gets $212 Million In Funding - 2

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Mexican Fintech Stori Gets $212 Million In Funding

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Mexican fintech Stori raised $212 million in funding during a recent round according to a press release published by the company on Tuesday. The Latin American unicorn—with a valuation of over 1 billion— will use the new funds to expand and offer new services to its customers.

According to Reuters , Stori offers customers credit cards with modest credit limits—starting at 500 Mexican pesos or $25.89—, and also savings accounts with a very high yield of 15%.

Just over half of the Mexican citizens rely on financial products like bank accounts according to a study led by the Mexican government agency Condusef.

Stori expects to gain more customers—it currently has 3 million users—to compete against its rivals Mexico Nubank—with over 7 million users— and Uala—with over 1.5 million.

“Since the beginning, my co-founders and I recognized the unfair gap in the traditional financial system in Mexico, which has historically served only certain sectors of the population,” said Marlene Garayzar, CGO and Co-founder of Stori in the press release. “This investment will enable us to continue developing innovative solutions, through technology, that promote financial inclusion and education. It is also a statement of confidence in the future of Mexico.”

As detailed in the document, of the $212 funds raised, $107 million represents new debt financing, provided by Goldman Sachs and Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP, and $105 million in equity led by Notable Capital and BAI.

“We are proud to support Stori in its groundbreaking mission to redefine financial access across Mexico and Latin America. Stori’s visionary approach to developing a comprehensive, finance-led, multi-product app, combined with its unwavering commitment to financial inclusion, positions it as a transformative leader in the region,” said Hans Tung, Managing Director at Notable Capital.

The fintech also announced a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Diego Cabrera Canay who previously stood out in roles in Latin American companies like DLocal—as CFO—, and Mercadolibre—as VP of Finance.