Hello!
Welcome back to another edition of our weekly curiosity corner where tech, innovation, and a bit of global intrigue meet for your inspiration and amazement.
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“That’s one small step for man…” And a Giant Leap Back in Time
On July 20, 1969, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission made history as humans set foot on the Moon for the very first time.
Now, you can relive that incredible journey in real time through an extraordinary website project, which has curated over 2,000 photos, 11,000 hours of mission control audio, and 240 hours of spacecraft-ground station communications. It’s a masterpiece of digital storytelling and proof that the internet, when used wisely, is magic.
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China’s Silent Victory in the Electric Vehicle Race
While the EU and US tried to steer the world toward electric vehicles years ago, they didn’t quite foresee how much it would empower China. Even today, many overlook the full picture.
For instance, while brands like Tesla and BYD are often in the spotlight, 6 out of the world’s top 10 EV manufacturers are now Chinese, some virtually unknown to the Western consumer and yet they’ve captured up to 85% of market share in certain regions, including Türkiye.
Tesla, once the undisputed leader, is facing a tough road. Sales, profits, and share prices are falling yet the company is still valued at 190 times its annual revenue, which analysts call dangerously inflated. The real storm may just be beginning.
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Apple’s Innovation Struggles Continue
Since Steve Jobs passed, Apple’s track record of groundbreaking innovation has taken a hit. Now, the company is reportedly exploring foldable iPhones with a 5.5-inch screen when closed, and 7.8 inches when open. Exciting? Maybe. Game-changing? We’ll see.
Meanwhile, concept designers are pushing something more radical: the modular smartphone. The “H-One Pro” lets users customize and swap out parts like cameras, speakers, batteries, or memory as needed. Creator Mechanical Pixel has other futuristic concepts worth exploring, too.
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The Digital Maze: Disinformation & Disappearing Clicks
A recent report from WeMove Europe found that out of 125 complaints made about state-backed Russian disinformation campaigns on Twitter (now X), only one was addressed. The rest? Ignored.
And on the topic of the web AI-powered search summaries are beginning to devastate website traffic. Pew Research revealed that users who are shown AI summaries are 50% less likely to click on actual search results. A strange paradox, especially since Google profits heavily from ads on those same sites.
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The Rise of AI Celebrities & Synthetic Fame
In Brazil, a synthetic influencer named Lu of Magalu (powered by AI) made $2.5 million last year on Instagram alone earning $34,000 per post. The most-followed virtual influencer across platforms? A sausage-shaped character named Nobody Sausage. You can’t make this up.
Last week, Spotify was caught hosting AI-generated music falsely credited to deceased musicians without consent. The tracks were removed after investigative reporting revealed the practice. A haunting reminder of how AI may blur the lines of creativity and consent.
Meanwhile, China hosted the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai with 800 companies and over 3,000 products. Premier Li Qiang proposed a global AI governance body, suggesting Shanghai as its headquarters a bold geopolitical move.
And in a sci-fi twist, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman is reportedly seeking up to $7 trillion to produce 100 million AI chips, claiming they’ll enable “supernatural” achievements. Believe it or not, that’s more than the GDP of Japan.
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FutureTech: Wearables, Robots & Road Materials
Meta has unveiled the prototype of a neural wristband, tracking nerve signals from your fingers to control devices without touching anything. No keyboard, no mouse just your thoughts and tiny movements.
Then there’s Walker S2, a humanoid robot designed for factories, which changes its own battery when low. Oddly mesmerizing to watch.
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As motorbike usage continues to grow with 6 cities in Türkiye now having more motorcycles than cars helmet tech is leveling up too. Spanish brand Zyon created a $935 helmet with a 4-layer filter protecting against dust, allergens, bugs, and even toxic gases. You can monitor air quality and filter life via a mobile app. Fancy and functional.
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Smart Recycling: From Cigarettes to Asphalt
Researchers in Spain and Italy have discovered a way to recycle e-cigarette butts into durable material for asphalt road repairs — with backing from the Chinese government. Their creation not only reduces waste but outperforms traditional asphalt in strength and longevity.
In the UK, Portsmouth University scientists are making eco-friendly bricks by compressing powdered glass with soil. It’s sustainable, resilient, and another great step in reducing landfill waste.
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Political Situation in Istanbul and Turkiye
As of today, July 28, 2025, Ekrem İmamoğlu has been in prison for 127 days. He was formally arrested and sent to Marmara Prison in Silivri on March 23, 2025, following his detention on March 19. After announcing his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, he was reportedly taken into custody the very next day. Several other mayors from the main opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party) have also been imprisoned or detained in recent times.
Meanwhile, the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) has controversially released some individuals who were serving life sentences, such as Veysi Aktaş, fueling further public debate. The AKP currently governs in coalition with the pro-Kurdish HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party), a partnership many analysts believe could cause internal political tensions and instability in the near future.
Public demonstrations against these developments have been taking place across Turkiye. However, most mainstream TV channels, owned by wealthy individuals close to the government, rarely cover these protests. Halk TV stands out as the only channel broadcasting live coverage of the demonstrations but was subjected to a 10-day broadcast blackout imposed by the president, showing the extent of media control and censorship in the country.
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That’s all for this week.
From the Moon to modular phones, and AI musicians to recycled roads, the world continues to evolve in unexpected and exciting ways.
Until next time, keep your curiosity alive.
Warm regards,
Zafer
Istanbul