Future of flying: Fuel-sipping jet promises quieter, greener skies

Delta Air Lines is partnering with aerospace startup JetZero to introduce a revolutionary aircraft design that has the potential to transform the future of commercial flying.
This new design, called the blended wing body (BWB) aircraft, differs dramatically from the traditional tube-and-wing planes in service.
By combining the wings and fuselage into a single, wide, flat shape, the BWB reduces drag and weight, resulting in fuel efficiency improvements of up to 50% compared to today's aircraft.
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The blended wing body (BWB) aircraft represents a critical component of Delta's strategy to decarbonize aviation, with its fuel efficiency gains directly supporting the airline's 2050 net-zero target. By leveraging existing engine technology, the design avoids delays associated with developing new propulsion systems, enabling faster adoption across fleets.
The aircraft's capacity to transport over 250 passengers, matching mid-sized international jets in range and wide-body models in seating, positions it as a practical solution for reducing emissions without compromising operational needs. Its noise-reducing engine placement and compatibility with current airport infrastructure address both environmental and logistical challenges, while integration with sustainable aviation fuels amplifies its role in cutting lifecycle carbon emissions.
This multifaceted approach demonstrates how innovative airframe technology can accelerate the industry's shift toward cleaner travel.
Delta is deeply involved in the project beyond financial support. Through its Sustainable Skies Lab, the airline is contributing operational expertise to help make the BWB aircraft commercially viable. This includes advising on maintenance, airport operations and other practical considerations necessary for the aircraft's success in everyday airline service.
Amelia DeLuca, Delta's chief sustainability officer, highlights the importance of this collaboration, stating that working with JetZero to develop a new airframe and passenger experience is an essential step toward advancing the airline industry's fuel-saving and innovation goals.
The interior of the BWB aircraft is being thoughtfully redesigned to enhance comfort and accessibility. The wider and flatter shape of the plane's body allows for new cabin layouts. Delta aims to provide dedicated overhead bin space for every passenger, more accessible seating and lavatories and fewer rows to create a less crowded environment.
Additionally, the engines will be mounted on top of the aircraft, which is expected to significantly reduce cabin noise and lower noise pollution around airports.
This partnership follows JetZero's receipt of a significant grant from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 to build a full-scale demonstrator aircraft, with a first flight planned for 2027. The grant, along with collaborations with aerospace leaders such as Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites, reflects strong government and industry support for the BWB concept. Delta has been involved with JetZero since 2021, providing valuable guidance on how to bring this technology to market.
Over the past 50 years, the aviation industry has made impressive gains in fuel efficiency, improving by roughly 80% through innovations like winglets and lighter materials. Delta alone saved more than 40 million gallons of fuel in 2024 by optimizing operations and upgrading its fleet. Still, the industry acknowledges that incremental improvements are insufficient to meet pressing climate goals. Technologies like the BWB aircraft are necessary to achieve the significant reductions in emissions and fuel consumption that the future demands.
Delta and JetZero's collaboration marks a meaningful step toward a cleaner, quieter and more efficient future for air travel. While challenges remain, including regulatory approvals and ensuring passenger comfort with the new design, this partnership exemplifies the aviation industry's dedication to innovation and sustainability. The future of flying is being reshaped by bold ideas like the blended wing body aircraft, which promise to make air travel more environmentally responsible while improving the overall passenger experience.
Would you be excited to fly on a radically redesigned airplane that promises greater comfort, quieter cabins and a smaller carbon footprint — even if it means adjusting to a very different cabin layout and window view than what you're used to? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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New York Post

a day ago

• New York Post

Best US airlines for 2025 revealed — and one topped the list for the seventh straight year

They're flying high. Travel blog The Points Guy (TPG) has named the best airlines in the US for 2025 — with Delta Airlines taking the crown for the seventh year in a row. The top-tier carrier was also named the most reliable on-time airline in America. Advertisement The rankings were devised to 'help consumers navigate the constantly changing aviation landscape' that's rife with 'changing airline policies, systemic delays and increased scrutiny on air travel,' per the site's founder Brian Kelly. 5 Delta Airlines nabbed the top spot for the seventh year in a row. kamilpetran – While they didn't place first across all other categories — notably falling short in affordability and the mileage customers got out of the SkyMiles rewards program — Delta soared above the competition due to their collective performance across four separate metrics. Advertisement 'What put Delta over the top in 2025 was its strength across all the categories we analyzed, from the consistently strong, on-time airline operation it runs to the experience customers have at the airport and in their seats,' TPG wrote in their report. In December, Delta Air Lines collaborated with Shake Shack to bring the fast-food giant's popular cheeseburgers to first-class cabins on domestic flights traveling more than 900 miles. United Airlines came in second place, rising from third last year. The carrier eclipsed Delta when it came to loyalty rankings and also improved in two main categories compared to last year: overall reliability and passenger experience. Advertisement United could potentially fly even higher next year due to the recently announced 'Blue Sky' agreement with JetBlue, which will increase the airline's footprint and improve perks for loyalty members, CBS reported. To compile the list, the Points Guy team analyzed each airline across four categories: reliability (based on delays, cancellations, lost luggage and more), passenger experience (inflight amenities, customer satisfaction, lounges, etc.), the caliber of the airline's loyalty program, and the cost and reach of each carrier. They then rated them on a scale of zero to 10. 5 United placed second overall. robin – Advertisement TPG based its list on 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, including passenger complaints filed with the DOT, along with mishandled baggage reports for each carrier and operational data. TPG also examined international route networks using aviation analytics firm Cirium — although they emphasized domestic networks — as well as each carrier's financials and publicly available fleet information. 'Our Best Airlines Report thoroughly analyzes and compares each airline's performance to help consumers make the right choice for them, because not all airlines are created equal,' TPG's Kelly added. 'Ultimately, we want consumers to know they have a choice so they can fly the airlines that best align with their needs.' 5 Airlines — including Alaska, above, which ranked fourth — were rated across several categories from reliability to the power of their loyalty programs. KKF – Southwest Airlines jumped up two spots to notch the No. 3 position, which TPG attributed, in part, to the carrier boasting the lowest cancellation rate in the industry for 2024. They noted that the carrier maintained its cost and reach last year — thanks, in part, to the lack of add-on fees. However, the budget carrier could face some headwinds next year following some major changes, including the rollout of checked bag fees and the phase-out of their popular 'first come, first served' policy in favor of the more standard assigned seating. Rounding out the top five were Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Advertisement 5 'Our Best Airlines Report thoroughly analyzes and compares each airline's performance to help consumers make the right choice for them, because not all airlines are created equal,' The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly said. 'Ultimately, we want consumers to know they have a choice so they can fly the airlines that best align with their needs.' Lukas Gojda – 5 Southwest Airlines made the top three. Carlos Yudica – TPG's 10 Best Airlines for 2025 Delta Air Lines United Airlines Southwest Airlines Alaska Airlines Hawaiian Airlines JetBlue American Airlines Allegiant Air Spirit Airlines Frontier Airlines Other takeaways included that American Airlines saw the biggest year-over-year decline in rankings, plunging three spots to seventh overall. Advertisement That fall from grace comes as AA plays catch-up to United and Delta in terms of profitability, as well as upmarket amenities such as business-class seats, cabin features and lounges. Budget airlines Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier occupied the last three spots in the rankings, which TPG attributed to their myriad add-on fees, lacking loyalty programs and amenities that paled in comparison to the competition. Unfortunately, U.S. airlines fared poorly on the international stage, too. Advertisement In Skytrax's recent ranking of the best airlines in the world for 2025, Delta placed the highest on list — but in an abysmal 22nd place, followed by United in a miserable 51st. Meanwhile, Air Canada topped the list of North America's top airlines for 2025, Delta came in second, and Canadian carrier Porter Airlines rounded out the top three.

Fox News

a day ago

• Fox News

What AI's insatiable appetite for power means for our future

Print Close By Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report Published June 20, 2025 Every time you ask ChatGPT a question, to generate an image or let artificial intelligence summarize your email, something big is happening behind the scenes. Not on your device, but in sprawling data centers filled with servers, GPUs and cooling systems that require massive amounts of electricity. The modern AI boom is pushing our power grid to its limits. ChatGPT alone processes roughly 1 billion queries per day, each requiring data center resources far beyond what's on your device. In fact, the energy needed to support artificial intelligence is rising so quickly that it has already delayed the retirement of several coal plants in the U.S., with more delays expected. Some experts warn that the AI arms race is outpacing the infrastructure meant to support it. Others argue it could spark long-overdue clean energy innovation. AI isn't just reshaping apps and search engines. It's also reshaping how we build, fuel and regulate the digital world. The race to scale up AI capabilities is accelerating faster than most infrastructure can handle, and energy is becoming the next major bottleneck. TRUMP'S NUCLEAR STRATEGY TAKES SHAPE AS FORMER MANHATTAN PROJECT SITE POWERS UP FOR AI RACE AGAINST CHINA Here's a look at how AI is changing the energy equation, and what it might mean for our climate future. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join. Why AI uses so much power, and what drives the demand Running artificial intelligence at scale requires enormous computational power. Unlike traditional internet activity, which mostly involves pulling up stored information, AI tools perform intensive real-time processing. Whether training massive language models or responding to user prompts, AI systems rely on specialized hardware like GPUs (graphics processing unit) that consume far more power than legacy servers. GPUs are designed to handle many calculations in parallel, which is perfect for the matrix-heavy workloads that power generative AI and deep learning systems. To give you an idea of scale: one Nvidia H100 GPU, commonly used in AI training, consumes up to 700 watts on its own. Training a single large AI model like GPT-4 may require thousands of these GPUs running continuously for weeks. Multiply that across dozens of models and hundreds of data centers, and the numbers escalate quickly. A traditional data center rack might use around 8 kilowatts (kW) of power. An AI-optimized rack using GPUs can demand 45-55 kW or more. Multiply that across an entire building or campus of racks, and the difference is staggering. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Cooling all that hardware adds another layer of energy demand. Keeping AI servers from overheating accounts for 30-55% of a data center's total power use. Advanced cooling methods like liquid immersion are helping, but scaling those across the industry will take time. On the upside, AI researchers are developing more efficient ways to run these systems. One promising approach is the "mixture of experts" model architecture, which activates only a portion of the full model for each task. This method can significantly reduce the amount of energy required without sacrificing performance. How much power are we talking about? In 2023, global data centers consumed about 500 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. That is enough to power every home in California, Texas and Florida combined for an entire year. By 2030, the number could triple, with AI as the main driver. To put it into perspective, the average home uses about 30 kilowatt-hours per day. One terawatt-hour is a billion times larger than a kilowatt-hour. That means 1 TWh could power 33 million homes for a day. 5 AI TERMS YOU KEEP HEARING AND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY MEAN AI's energy demand is outpacing the power grid The demand for AI is growing faster than the energy grid can adapt. In the U.S., data center electricity use is expected to surpass 600 TWh by 2030, tripling current levels. Meeting that demand requires the equivalent of adding 14 large power plants to the grid. Large AI data centers can each require 100–500 megawatts (MW), and the largest facilities may soon exceed 1 gigawatt (GW), which is about as much as a nuclear power plant or a small U.S. state. One 1 GW data center could consume more power than the entire city of San Francisco. Multiply that by a few dozen campuses across the country, and you start to see how quickly this demand adds up. To keep up, utilities across the country are delaying coal plant retirements, expanding natural gas infrastructure and shelving clean energy projects. In states like Utah, Georgia and Wisconsin, energy regulators have approved new fossil fuel investments directly linked to data center growth. By 2035, data centers could account for 8.6% of all U.S. electricity demand, up from 3.5% today. Despite public pledges to support sustainability, tech companies are inadvertently driving a fossil fuel resurgence. For the average person, this shift could increase electricity costs, strain regional energy supplies and complicate state-level clean energy goals. Can big tech keep its green energy promises? Tech giants Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta all claim they are working toward a net-zero emissions future. In simple terms, this means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases they emit with the amount they remove or offset, ideally bringing their net contribution to climate change down to zero. These companies purchase large amounts of renewable energy to offset their usage and invest in next-generation energy solutions. For example, Microsoft has a contract with fusion start-up Helion to supply clean electricity by 2028. However, critics argue these clean energy purchases do not reflect the reality on the ground. Because the grid is shared, even if a tech company buys solar or wind power on paper, fossil fuels often fill the gap for everyone else. Some researchers say this model is more beneficial for company accounting than for climate progress. While the numbers might look clean on a corporate emissions report, the actual energy powering the grid still includes coal and gas. Microsoft , Google and Amazon have pledged to power their data centers with 100% renewable energy, but because the grid is shared, fossil fuels often fill the gap when renewables aren't available. Some critics argue that voluntary pledges alone are not enough. Unlike traditional industries, there is no standardized regulatory framework requiring tech companies to disclose detailed energy usage from AI operations. This lack of transparency makes it harder to track whether green pledges are translating into meaningful action, especially as workloads shift to third-party contractors or overseas operations. AI CYBERSECURITY RISKS AND DEEPFAKE SCAMS ON THE RISE The future of clean energy for AI and its limits To meet soaring energy needs without worsening emissions, tech companies are investing in advanced energy projects. These include small nuclear reactors built directly next to data centers, deep geothermal systems and nuclear fusion. While promising, these technologies face enormous technical and regulatory hurdles. Fusion, for example, has never reached commercial break-even, meaning it has yet to produce more energy than it consumes. Even the most optimistic experts say we may not see scalable fusion before the 2030s. Beyond the technical barriers, many people have concerns about the safety, cost and long-term waste management of new nuclear systems. While proponents argue these designs are safer and more efficient, public skepticism remains a real hurdle. Community resistance is also a factor. In some regions, proposals for nuclear microreactors or geothermal drilling have faced delays due to concerns over safety, noise and environmental harm. Building new data centers and associated power infrastructure can take up to seven years, due to permitting, land acquisition and construction challenges. Google recently activated a geothermal project in Nevada, but it only generates enough power for a few thousand homes. The next phase may be able to power a single data center by 2028. Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Microsoft continue building sites that consume more power than entire citie. SCAMMERS CAN EXPLOIT YOUR DATA FROM JUST ONE CHATGPT SEARCH Will AI help or harm the environment? This is the central debate. Advocates argue that AI could ultimately help accelerate climate progress by optimizing energy grids, modeling emissions patterns and inventing better clean technology. Microsoft and Google have both cited these uses in their public statements. But critics warn that the current trajectory is unsustainable. Without major breakthroughs or stricter policy frameworks, the energy cost of AI may overwhelm climate gains. A recent forecast estimated that AI could add 1.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide to global emissions between 2025 and 2030, roughly 4% more than the entire annual emissions of the U.S. Water use, rare mineral demand and land-use conflicts are also emerging concerns as AI infrastructure expands. Large data centers often require millions of gallons of water for cooling each year, which can strain local water supplies. The demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements — used in servers, cooling systems and power electronics — creates additional pressure on supply chains and mining operations. In some areas, communities are pushing back against land being rezoned for large-scale tech development. Rapid hardware turnover is also adding to the environmental toll. As AI systems evolve quickly, older GPUs and accelerators are replaced more frequently, creating significant electronic waste. Without strong recycling programs in place, much of this equipment ends up in landfills or is exported to developing countries. The question isn't just whether AI can become cleaner over time. It's whether we can scale the infrastructure needed to support it without falling back on fossil fuels. Meeting that challenge will require tighter collaboration between tech companies, utilities and policymakers. Some experts warn that AI could either help fight climate change or make it worse, and the outcome depends entirely on how we choose to power the future of computing. HOW TO LOWER YOUR CAR INSURANCE COSTS IN 2025 Kurt's key takeaways AI is revolutionizing how we work, but it is also transforming how we use energy. Data centers powering AI systems are becoming some of the world's largest electricity consumers. Tech companies are betting big on futuristic solutions, but the reality is that many fossil fuel plants are staying online longer just to meet AI's rising energy demand. Whether AI ends up helping or hurting the climate may depend on how quickly clean energy breakthroughs catch up and how honestly we measure progress. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Is artificial intelligence worth the real-world cost of fossil resurgence? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at . For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover Follow Kurt on his social channels Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Print Close URL

Yahoo

2 days ago

• Yahoo

Did Cotton Prices Just Hit a Bottom After Falling to a 9-Week Low?

July ICE cotton futures (CTN25) were under modest selling pressure on Wednesday and slipped to a nine-week low below 65 cents a pound. The overall technical posture for the cotton futures market favors the bears as prices are in a seven-week downtrend on the daily bar chart. However, there are also some early, bullish clues that the cotton market has forged a price bottom. Since scoring a contract low of 62.05 cents a pound on April 4, July cotton futures have chopped in a sideways trading range. This is likely 'basing' action on the daily chart that has put in a price bottom. Coffee Prices Plummet on an Improved Supply Outlook Coffee Prices Sink on the Outlook for Ample Supplies Can Soybean Prices Keep Trending Higher? Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! With a price bottom likely in place, the cotton bulls now need some bullish fundamental news to start a price uptrend. Last week's monthly USDA supply and demand report had some price-friendly elements for the cotton market. The 2025/26 marketing year U.S. cotton balance sheet was revised to show lower production, beginning stocks, and ending stocks, with consumption, imports, and exports unchanged from last month. U.S. harvested area was lowered 2% to 8.19 million acres following extensive rainfall and delayed planting in the Delta. The national average yield for 2025/26 was reduced more than 1% from last month's report, to 820 pounds per harvested acre, also because of the conditions in the Delta. As a result, U.S. cotton production was forecast down 500,000 bales, to 14.0 million, and is below the 14.4 million bales produced in 2024/25 and the second-smallest crop in the past decade. Beginning U.S. stocks for the 2025/26 marketing year were reduced 400,000 bales following a corresponding increase in projected U.S. exports for 2024/25. As a result, 2025/26 ending stocks were lowered 900,000 bales to 4.3 million, for a stocks-to-use ratio of 30.3%. The projected season-average price for 2025/26 was unchanged in the USDA June report, at 62 cents per pound. For the 2025/26 marketing year, USDA forecast downwardly revised global cotton production, consumption, beginning and ending stocks, and world trade. World production was lowered over 800,000 bales as a 1-million-bale increase for China was more than offset by reductions for India, the United States, and Pakistan. Global consumption was reduced by over 300,000 bales for 2025/26. Beginning world cotton stocks for 2025/26 were lowered over 1.1 million bales, largely reflecting a 1-million-bale reduction in India's 2024/25 crop. As a result, global ending stocks for 2025/26 were lowered by nearly 1.6 million bales, primarily reflecting the reduction in beginning stocks and a decrease in production that exceeds the decrease in consumption. USDA's June supply and demand report also showed the agency forecast 2024/25 China cotton imports at the lowest level in eight years, at 5.5 million bales – roughly one-third of last year's volume. 'Several factors have pressured demand: the highest domestic production in nearly a decade, lower consumption, and less demand for government reserves.' China's 2024/25 cotton production is estimated nearly 4.7 million bales higher, at 32.0 million bales, on record yields in the Xinjiang autonomous region. Meanwhile, consumption is projected to fall nearly 2.0 million bales, to 37.0 million. At the start of the marketing year, the volume of foreign cotton in bonded warehouses was at the second-highest level for data going back to 2015. Therefore, plentiful supplies coupled with lower operating rates have driven down imports. Chinese companies are shifting production to their Vietnamese mills, spurring greater cotton consumption and imports in Vietnam. USDA's 2025/26 global outlook sees world cotton production forecast down 800,000 bales, to 117.0 million, as smaller crops in India, Pakistan, and the United States more than offset a larger crop in China. Global consumption is forecast down 300,000 bales, to 117.8 million, on lower supplies but remains the highest level in five years. USDA lowered global cotton ending stocks by 1.6 million bales, to 76.8 million, on lower production and beginning stocks in the United States. There's an old trading adage: 'Never short a dull market.' The past five weeks have seen choppy and sideways price action in July cotton futures. The price-bullish basing price action I mentioned above has arisen from the dull market conditions. Still, the cotton market needs a jolt of bullish fundamental news to generate a solid price uptrend. The U.S. stock indexes have been trending up and recently hit multi-month highs. That's bullish for cotton. The down-trending U.S. Dollar Index and up-trending crude oil prices are bullish 'outside-market' factors for the natural fiber. However, what the cotton market bulls really needs is a continued thawing in U.S.-China trade relations (China is a major cotton importer) and some drier and hotter weather in U.S. cotton regions — namely Texas. Both elements are entirely possible in the coming weeks. My bias is that the cotton futures market has put in a major price bottom, but prices will continue to chop sideways until some fresh, bullish fundamental news arises to start a new price uptrend. I think that news will come sooner rather than later. On the date of publication, Jim Wyckoff did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data