The oldest corner of the metaverse and how EV batteries work

Today’s headlines treat the Metaverse as a fuzzy dream yet to be built. But if it is defined as a network of virtual worlds that we can inhabit, its oldest corner has already been operating for 25 years.

It is a fantasy medieval kingdom created for the online role-playing game Ultima Online.

It was the first to simulate an entire world: a vast, dynamic realm where players could interact with almost anything, from fruit on trees to books on shelves.

Ultima Online has already endured a quarter century of market competition, economic turmoil and political strife. So what can this game and its players tell us about the creation of the virtual worlds of the future? Read the full story.

—John Clark Levin

How does an EV battery actually work?

Batteries powering electric vehicles have quickly become the most crucial component and expense for a new generation of cars and trucks.

The vast majority of electric vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which can also be found in smartphones. They can hold high voltage and exceptional charge, making them an efficient and dense form of energy storage.

But while they’re expected to remain dominant in electric vehicles for the foreseeable future, battery developers are working towards lighter, cheaper and more efficient alternatives. Read the full story.

—Patrick Sisson