Kat de Naoum

Writer at Freelance

Commerce Editor-at-Large at Thomas

Mother • Writer • Reader • Hermit • Scwewy Wabbit • English Lit/Philosophy • Author repped by @theagencybooks

Articles

Volkswagen’s Autonomous ID. Buzz AD Is Ready for Commercial Use

2 days ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD, operated by VW’s mobility brand MOIA, has become Europe’s first production-ready autonomous vehicle approved for commercial use in fleets. Designed for ride-hailing and shuttle services, the ID. Buzz AD is a fully driverless version of Volkswagen’s electric ID. Buzz van, operated by MOIA. The vehicle meets SAE Level 4, meaning it can operate without a human driver.
Texas Enacts Consumer Electronics “Right to Repair” Law

3 days ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

Following Washington, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon, Texas has become the eighth—and first Republican-led—state to pass a right to repair law for consumer electronics. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission warned companies about their “harmful” right-to-repair policies that prevent customers from fixing their own equipment without voiding the manufacturer warranty.
Continental’s Automotive Arm to Design Its Own Semiconductors

4 days ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

Continental has announced that it’s launching a new business unit focused on semiconductors, called Advanced Electronics & Semiconductor Solutions (AESS). The major German company—best known for its tires and vehicle electronics—made the announcement about its new department on June 23, 2025. AESS is set to take charge of designing and verifying the automotive-specific chips that power Continental‘s systems.
The 5 Best Wireless Doorbells, Tested by BHG

5 days ago | bhg.com | Kat de Naoum

Credit: Better Homes & Gardens Whether you want to be notified of incoming packages or guests that have arrived, doorbells are a great way to add additional security to your home. Although hardwiring doorbells are an option, wireless doorbells are easy to install and often customizable to your needs. To find the best wireless doorbells, we tested several models at home for over six months.
What Is the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber?

5 days ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

Designed and developed by Northrop Grumman in the 1980s, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is an impressive piece of military engineering with outstanding capabilities. It first flew in 1989 and entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1997. Each aircraft costs around $2.2 billion, making it one of the most expensive aircraft ever built. Northrop Grumman was—and still is—the lead contractor for the B-2 Spirit and continues to maintain and modernize the fleet.
U.S. Electric Vehicle Plants Risk Becoming “Stranded Assets”

6 days ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) initiated a wave of clean energy investment, especially in electric vehicle (EV) battery plants across Southern and Midwestern states referred to as the “Battery Belt.” Companies rushed to take advantage of the generous tax credits and growing EV demand. However, according to the Rhodium Group’s Global Clean Investment Monitor report dated June 18, 2025, the momentum is now sagging.
Honda Achieves Successful Reusable Rocket Landing

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

On June 17, 2025, Honda Motor’s research and development subsidiary, Honda R&D, successfully launched and landed a reusable rocket at its facility in Taiki Town, showing that it is able to test key rocket technologies in-house. The rocket in question measured 6.3 meters (20.7 feet) in length, 85 cm (33.5 inches) in diameter, and weighed 900 kg (1,984 lbs) dry and 1,312 kg (2,893 lbs) wet.
Executive Order Clears the Way for U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel Merger

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

President Donald Trump has officially approved Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion takeover of U.S. Steel, setting strict terms to preserve American control and boost domestic manufacturing. Trump’s executive order, dated June 13, 2025, grants a “golden share” to the U.S. government, allowing the president to appoint one board member and veto two others, and to block major decisions such as plant closures, relocations, mergers, or renaming.
DARPA’s Laser Program Shatters Optical Power Beaming Distance Records

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has made history with its latest power experiment—the agency smashed records by wirelessly transmitting 10 kilowatts of energy through open air over a distance of nearly a mile (1 km) without a single wire. The test, part of DARPA’s Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, marks the highest amount of energy ever sent wirelessly over such a distance on Earth.
Sandia Joins U.S. National Semiconductor Technology Center

1 week ago | thomasnet.com | Kat de Naoum

Sandia National Laboratories has become the first U.S. national lab to join the Nuclear Security Technology Complex (NSTC), created under the CHIPS and Science Act. In the 1990s, the U.S. produced more than 35% of the world’s semiconductors. Today, that share has dropped to about 12%. The U.S. currently does not manufacture any of the most advanced chips used in smartphones, self-driving cars, quantum computers, and AI systems.