Jones Hall

China Opened The World’s First Robot Mall In Beijing’s E-Town. Modeled After “4S” Car Dealerships (Sales, Service, Spare Parts, & Surveys), The 4-Storey Mall Offers 100+ Robot Types ($278–137k+) From 200 Brands Like Ubtech & Unitree. Visitors Can Test Bots, Dine At Robot-Run Restaurants, & See A $97k Einstein Bot & Other Animatronic Icons.

Japan Launched Asia’s First Osmotic Power Plant In Fukuoka After Denmark’s World-First In 2023. Japan’s Is Larger, Generating 880,000 kWh/yr To Power 220 Homes & A Desalination Facility. This Renewable, CO₂-Free Energy Runs 24/7, But Scaling Is Hindered By Pumping & Membrane Losses. If Solved, It Could Meet 15% Of Global Demand By 2050.

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China’s UBTECH Launched Walker S2, The First Humanoid Robot That Can Autonomously Swap Its Battery, Enabling 24/7 Operation. At 5’3″ & 95 lbs, It Runs On Dual 48V Lithium Batteries, Walks 2 Hrs Or Stands 4 Hrs, Has 52 Degrees Of Freedom For Its Joints & Mechanisms Motions, Wireless Connectivity, & Serves In Factories/Public Venues As A Greeter. …

Australia’s First Multi-Storey 3D-Printed Home, Built By Contec In Perth, Had Both Floors Printed On-Site In 18 Hrs. The Hybrid Build, Printed Walls Plus Human Labor, Took 5 Months With Roofing, Wiring, & Interiors. The Build Is Termite-Proof, Cyclone-Rated, & 22% Cheaper Than Conventional Due To, E.G., Rapid Construction & Minimal Waste.

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Kokichi Akuzawa, 102, Became The Oldest To Summit Mt. Fuji, Japan, On 8/5/25, Earning A Guinness World Record. Over 3 Days He Climbed With His Daughter Despite Health Setbacks, Surpassing Teiichi Igarashi (99, 1986) & Ichijiro Araya (~100, 1994). Having Climbed At 96 & Seen It Many Times, He Joked The View “Wasn’t Special” But Felt Proud.

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China’s $2.2B Animated Blockbuster Ne Zha 2 Is Now The Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever, Surpassing 2024’s Inside Out 2 ($1.7B). Released 1/29/25 In China, Its English Dub Hits U.S. Theaters 8/22/25 Via A24 In IMAX/3D, With Michelle Yeoh Voicing Lady Yin, Ne Zha’s Mum. Critics Praise Its Visuals & Mythic Storytelling (94% On Rotten Tomatoes).

For The First Time, USC Engineers Created Haptic Gloves That Simulate Emotional Touch In VR Using Vibration Motors. Unlike Earlier Training Or Industrial Models, They Let Up To 16 Users Feel Handshakes, Pats & Gestures Via Full-Body Avatars, Boosting Connection & Aiding Depression/Anxiety, Remote Learning, Healthcare & Long-Distance Bonds.

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The World’s First Humanoid Robot Games Were Held In Beijing, Aug 15–17, 2025, With ~500 Robots From 280 Teams Across 16 Countries Competing In 26 Events Like Soccer, Boxing, Running, Tai Chi, Medicine Sorting, & Cleaning. Tickets Cost $17.83–$80.77. The Event Showcased Robotics Progress And China’s AI Drive Amid Aging Demographics And Tech Rivalry.

US Scientists Created Aromatic Thermosetting Copolyester (ATSP), The World’s First Recyclable Carbon-Fiber Plastic That Heals Like Skin, Reshapes With Heat, And Is Stronger Than Steel Yet Lighter Than Aluminum. It Enables On-Demand Repairs In Aerospace & Auto Industries, Boosting Safety & Improving Durability Across Multiple Stress Cycles.

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The Unitree B2, Billed As The Fastest Quadruped Robot, Hits 6m/s, Carries 120kg Standing/40kg Walking, & Costs ~$86k–$106k. IP67-Rated, It Operates From -20°C–55°C, 20+ km Range, Leaps 1.6m, Climbs 45° Slope, Wheeled-Foot Option, & Plug-In Battery. With 360 N·m Torque, AI, & 3D LiDAR; It Is Ideal For Inspection, Logistics, & Defense.