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TencentFrom video games to instant messaging, Tencent is a Chinese tech firm that has infiltrated nearly every facet of the social media and entertainment industries—and more.
With its origins in the early days of the internet nearly three decades ago, Tencent is responsible for some of the most ubiquitous technologies in China, such as WeChat, the country’s most popular messaging and payment app, and WeBank, the first digital bank in China. It holds major investments in some of the globe’s most industry-disruptive companies (including Tesla and Snap) and is the world’s largest video game company by revenue as of this writing.
In terms of market capitalization, it’s not only China’s biggest company, but also one of the 20 largest companies in the world.Explore Tencent
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Mark Zuckerberg views Meta as a technology company—not a social media companyDespite Meta's core products being social media apps, Zuckerberg is adamant that Meta is a technology company that has built social media apps, but can build and is comfortable building other technologies—like AI-integrated glasses and virtual reality labs. A US Department of Defense research lab developed the technology for the dark webAlthough encryption existed to mask the content of communications across the internet before the 1990s, those managing overseas network infrastructure could determine a spy's affiliation based on where they saw data sent to and received from. To keep this information secret, the US Naval Research Laboratory developed onion routing, which enabled anonymized web browsing. The release of the technology to the public obscured sensitive communications further by growing the volume of anonymous data. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMicrophone technology made crooning possibleBefore the electric microphone, vocalists needed to project to have their voices captured. The new technology, however, made softer, more intimate singing possible, leading to a new style of singing that took off in the late 1920s, with "crooners" becoming some of the first American pop stars. CheddarQuantum mechanics-based technology may explain the Fermi paradoxIt describes the discrepancy between the high likelihood of life beyond Earth given the vastness of the universe and the lack of evidence for such life, since extraterrestrial civilizations have not communicated with us. However, quantum communication—a more information-dense and effective method than classical means—requires massive receivers and very narrow signals, which would easily miss Earth, making a lack of signals expected. minutephysicsBillie Holiday's distinctive vocal technique was aided by new microphone technologyUnlike many of her contemporaries, Holiday's voice was more reserved and seductive. In the past, that wouldn't have been practical—earlier microphones required singers to belt in order to be heard throughout a club or theater. However, technological breakthroughs in the 1930s produced more sophisticated and sensitive microphones, enabling a singer like Holiday to experiment with vocal dynamics. Smithsonian MagazineFracking technology can help make geothermal power possible almost everywhereGenerating electricity from Earth's thermal energy has previously required existing underground reservoirs of hot water and permeable rocks through which the fluid naturally escapes. Today, fractures can be artificially created to form fluid pathways, and surface water can be injected underground and brought back to the surface. US Department of EnergyInside a company making millions on retro, refurbished technology Retrospekt is one of the many companies flipping old, fan-favorite technology like Polaroids, cassette tapes, and Tamagotchis. Studies show that nostalgia can make people spend money and is one of the driving forces behind the demand for second-hand gadgets. HubSpotRecombinant DNA technology turns microorganisms into protein factoriesGenes for molecules such as insulin can be inserted into loops of bacterial DNA called plasmids and reinserted into bacteria. Once placed in fermentation tanks, these bacteria use the gene to produce these molecules, which are then harvested and purified for eventual use. National Institutes of HealthCRISPR technology is removing allergens from common foodsProteins responsible for allergies to eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, and other foods can be genetically edited out of foods to reduce the risk of life-threatening reactions. The technique has also been used to produce caffeine-free coffee beans, spicier tomatoes, allergen-free pets, and more nutritious fish. Labiotech.euCRISPR technology has improved crop resistance to pests and diseasesThe gene editing tool is a modern version of the genetic modification that has been done on crops for centuries to create plants with preferred traits. Other applications of CRISPR include creating plants with higher yields and better resistance to climate challenges, as well as foods with improved shelf life and nutrition. Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)The Cybathlon is an international competition for assistive technologyThe competition pits teams against each other in eight races targeting different innovations, such as arm prostheses, leg prostheses, and vision assistance. Participants in the Cybathlon use it to push the boundaries of technology, including brain implants and assistive software that incorporates AI. The New York TimesMixed reality technology helped make repairs to a quantum physics facility in spaceIn 2021, astronaut Megan McArthur used a HoloLens to work alongside Earth-based engineers and make hardware replacements to the International Space Station's Cold Atom Lab, the first quantum science facility in Earth orbit. The facility cools atoms to near absolute zero to perform quantum chemistry experiments in a microgravity environment. NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryView a timeline of 3D printing technology through 2019The first working 3D printing device was invented in 1983 and utilized stereolithography, a process in which a laser triggers a chemical reaction that hardens liquid resin. Powder-based laser sintering technology was patented in 1987, with metal-based powders first being used for 3D printing in 1997. Mechanical Engineering MagazineBubbles can exist in markets for collectibles, not just industries and technologyThis podcast tells how "Magic: The Gathering" faced its own speculative bubble as rare cards surged in resale value—risking a Beanie Baby-style crash. It follows how the game’s creators tried to engineer a system to keep a collectibles market from collapsing. NPRScience fiction or new technology?Dystopian literature is no longer relegated to the page, with innovations like the Tesla Cybertruck and Meta virtual reality headsets mirroring the aesthetics of texts like "The Running Man" and "Neuromancer." In this essay, Casey Michael Henry argues that the images from these works remain while their messages have faded. The New York TimesMinor technology failures can spiral into massive internet outagesA mix of centralized cloud infrastructure and legacy protocols leaves the internet susceptible to downtime from minor cyberattacks or software bugs, infrastructure damage caused by extreme weather, and human error if a DNS service provider—the internet's phone book—or a backend system, such as Amazon Web Services, were compromised. The GuardianFintech relies on technology, not physical location, to serve financial customersMost of the industry's prominent players were created since 2010, and are still in a growth phase. These institutions have broadly disrupted traditional banking and have pushed physical banking locations toward obsolescence. McKinsey & CompanyTelenovelas evolved alongside technologyLike soap operas, telenovelas began as radio programs and then transitioned to television as the medium became widely available in Latin American countries. StorymapsNoise pollution from humans and technology alters animal behaviorAnimals may experience chronic stress and health issues due to noise pollution, which often interferes with their mating sounds. Due to traffic, nightingales sing louder on weekday mornings, and birds near airports start singing earlier to avoid upticks in takeoffs and landings. Smithsonian MagazineSelf-driving car companies like Waymo use lidar technology for navigationBy firing thousands of laser pulses in all directions, lidar systems construct 3D maps of a car’s surroundings, even in environments with limited lighting. The technology has also been incorporated into iPhones and the Vision Pro headset to improve camera focus. The VergeLaser disc technology stores binary data in etched pits and landsThe pits are dips in the LaserDisc, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray surface that do not reflect the laser from the optical drive back to the photoelectric cell, resulting in a coded zero. Lands are reflective plateaus on the surface that code for a one. Into the OrdinaryLaser technology powers communication, medical and manufacturing toolsLasers are used when scanning groceries, printing documents or undergoing cosmetic procedures to enhance efficiency, precision and accuracy. Missile defense, targeting and optical communication systems have made using laser technology habitual in the military. NoIR InSightSmart contracts are the foundational technology behind NFTs Smart contracts use “if that, then this” logic to track the ownership of NFTs and record when they are bought and sold on the blockchain. OpenSeaNintendo developed the character as its technology improvedNintendo developed the Mario character as video game technology became more sophisticated. In 1991, Charles Martinet began playing Mario at trade shows and then voiced the character for 1996’s “Super Mario 64,” which included the now-classic catchphrase, “It’s a-me, Mario!” Great Big StoryThe 1973 oil embargo by OPEC inspired advances in alternative energy technologyThe shortages imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) created a global energy crisis and economic instability after the Arab-Israeli War. This led to investments in green technologies and improvements in automobile fuel efficiency and manufacturing. Smithsonian InstituteNASA uses a specialized plasma wind tunnel to test heat shield technologyThe ArcJet Complex ionizes compressed air that fires onto shields at hypersonic speeds, replicating the conditions of high-speed, planetary reentry. An enhanced facility incorporates lasers to mimic the radiant heating experienced during high-energy atmospheric traversal. Scott ManleyBlackRock says investor demand and improvements in underlying fund technology have supercharged ETF availability in 2025Investors are likely most familiar with ETFs that invest in an index or other grouping of stocks. However, BlackRock breaks down a wide variety of options, including commodity ETFs, currency ETFs, and bond ETFs. BlackRockSanta Barbara divers helped innovate deepwater diving technologyDivers in the Santa Barbara channel innovated a more efficient type of diving helmet in the 1960s that used helium to allow for longer, deeper excursions for oil surveying, abalone collecting, and more. These innovators have since set the standard worldwide for military and industrial diving. Deepwater DivingChip technology replaced magstripes to stop easy card cloning and fraudThe magstripe on bank cards always gives the same data, making it simple to copy using a device called a grabber. In contrast, embedded chips create a unique code with every transaction, making it much harder to clone or steal card information. BBC Earth ScienceThe Apollo program built US space technology and showcased its Cold War dominanceBeyond landing humans on the moon for the first time, Apollo served to advance rocket engineering and guidance systems through crewed and uncrewed missions. By Apollo 15, the Lunar Roving Vehicle was developed and driven on the moon. NASASilicon Valley’s history in technology can be traced back to the late 1800sFrom its developments in radio, defense technology, and personal computing, Silicon Valley has been associated with innovating tech for more than a century. This animated timeline of Silicon Valley’s history helps visualize its evolution. Insider TechGeorge Westinghouse purchased Tesla's AC technology patents for $60,000 The seven patents in alternating current motors and power transmission formed the basis for a system of technologies including generators, transformers, and lighting. Nikola Tesla spent half the funds on a new laboratory to develop new inventions. PBSCritic Neil Postman argued modern technology is dystopianCultural critic Neil Postman argued in 1985's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" that mass media had made the dystopia of Huxley's "Brave New World" a reality. In 1992, he published "Technopoly," a wider critique of the utopian visions of technology or, as Postman calls it, "all of the machinery that takes people out of public arenas and keeps them fixed in their homes." BooknotesBiohacking: The effort to optimize health and extend life through technologyBiohacking seeks to optimize human health and performance through everything from simple lifestyle adjustments to more radical interventions like body modifications and experimental technology. At its core, biohacking covers a wide spectrum—ranging from improving sleep and focus to implanting devices that integrate technology with the human body. 144019th-century Americans used technology to try to prove the existence of ghostsIn the 19th century, following technological advancements like the telegraph, phonograph, and others, efforts were made to capture proof of ghosts. These technologies seemed supernatural in their own right and emerged at the same time Spiritualism took off in the US, resulting in new approaches to connecting with the dead. Science History InstituteAs technology evolved, so did Wall StreetBefore the telephone was invented in the mid 1800s, people had to trade stocks in person. But once office telephones and computers became commonplace, banks and other financial institutions didn’t necessarily need to have their headquarters near exchanges like Wall Street’s New York Stock Exchange. The Market UrbanistA detailed interactive timeline of technology since 1500Tech devices are heirs to a complex history of both technological invention and social history. What if you could visualize how radio, TVs, and other devices are connected to the past and each other? Trace the elaborate genealogies of your phone and computer with this interactive timeline showing tech inventions since 1500. Kate Crawford and Vladan JolerAs of February 2025, there are more than 150 clinical trials using CRISPR technologyThe clinical trials are designed to determine whether experimental CRISPR-related therapies are safe and effective. The majority of trials involve treatments for blood disorders, including beta thalassemia. CRISPR MedicineConnected technology improves infrastructure efficiency in smart cities Through information and communication technologies, smart cities can provide enhanced public services and improved quality of life by managing traffic and dynamic safety policies. They can also promote sustainability by automating energy use and redirecting resources according to need. TWIThe next technology epoch is hereFrom ChatGPT to DALL-E, 2022 saw the mainstream emergence of artificial intelligence for consumer use. Here's how these platforms will disrupt today's five biggest tech companies—Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft. StratecheryImpacts of climate change displayed using immersive graphics technologyThe Weather Channel's immersive reality tool reveals what American cities could look like in 2100 due to global warming. YouTubeHow existing technology could prevent nearly 80% of plastic pollutionMore than 28 million tons of plastic enters the environment each year, where it harms animals and damages habitats. A study co-authored by researchers at The Pew Charitable Trusts found that this flow can be reduced by nearly 80% in the next 20 years using existing waste management and recycling technology. The Pew Charitable TrustsExploring World War I technology on the battlefieldIndustrialization brought massive changes to warfare during the Great War. Newly-invented killing machines begat novel defense mechanisms, which, in turn spurred the development of even deadlier technologies. Nearly every aspect of what we would consider modern warfare debuted on World War I battlefields. Starting with soldiers on horseback carrying lances and ending in poison gas, machine guns, and aerial battles, this gallery shows the first tools of modern warfare. The AtlanticThe benefits of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologyAt the root of cryptocurrencies' allure is blockchain technology, an innovation bringing profound transformations to industries, especially the financial industry. This simple article breaks down the difference between cryptocurrencies and blockchain as well as the benefits of each. MakerDAOAn animated break down of blockchain technologyAn eight-minute animated video explaining what a blockchain is in very basic terms, using simple examples and analogies. YouTubeSome medical schools have phased out human cadavers for digital alternativesAI-based anatomy tools and digital cadavers are increasingly used to teach students, bypassing the ethical and consent concerns around the use of real bodies. Digital cadavers have also become less expensive than real ones, though the tactile and sensory experiences of real dissection may be irreplaceable. Smithsonian MagazineAstronauts have repaired DNA in space using CRISPRThe Genes In Space-6 experiment, conducted aboard the International Space Station, investigated the application of the gene editing tool in microgravity, a crucial experiment for long-duration space travel. The work was done three years after four Minnesota students proposed the experiment as part of a national contest in 2018. Space.comThe most common types of touchscreens are capacitive and resistiveCapacitative screens are coated with a conductive material that creates a uniform electric field, which is disrupted by fingers. This disruption is registered by the device across a grid to determine where contact was made. Resistive screens identify touch when fingers push gap-separated sheets into contact with one another. HPDNA computing allows for storage and processing of massive amounts of data Although costly and less efficient for simpler tasks, as of 2025, DNA could hold 455 exabytes of data with near limitless parallel computation potential in small data centers. Every movie ever made would fit inside the volume of a single sugar cube. PluralsightAliens may be closer to Earth than scientists have previously assumedThe hunt for extraterrestrial life is often associated with traveling far into the depths of space for clues. But answers could be closer than we think. Modern space missions have demonstrated our capability of sending probes beyond the solar system, making it plausible that other civilizations could do the same. Aeon
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