The Nobel Prize in Physics was jointly awarded to three scientists from France, Austria, and the US for their work on quantum mechanics. Alain Aspect, John Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger received the award for conducting “groundbreaking experiments using entangled quantum states,” according to a statement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Their findings have paved the way for new quantum information-based technology, where there “ is now a large field of research that includes quantum computers, quantum networks, and secure quantum encrypted communication,” the statement added.

The physics prize has frequently taken center stage among the world’s most prestigious awards and has been handed to some of the most iconic figures from the world of science like Albert Einstein and Marie Curie. The prize honors scientific breakthroughs that have altered the way we view the world, and is worth SEK 10 mn.

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Could methanol-fueled cars be the new green alternative to traditional fuel? China is ramping up efforts to clamp down on emissions and reach carbon neutrality by exploring options beyond the electric vehicle, the MIT Technology Review reports, citing information from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Energy Administration. Even though China is a global leader in the adoption of electric vehicles, last month it said it would be accelerating the adoption of cars running off methanol cars and actively exploring new avenues to replace fossil fuels with energy sources like green hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia. 60% of the world’s methanol is manufactured and used in China, mostly in plastics manufacturing. The country experimented with a methanol-fueled car model a decade around, tracking data on their economic and environmental impacts for six years and concluding the cars are 21% more energy efficient than gas cars and emit 26% less carbon dioxide.

Kim Kardashian’s latest endeavors in the crypto world? A USD 1.3 mn settlement charge. Reality TV star and serial entrepreneur Kim Kardashian has agreed to pay a USD 1.26 mn fee for failing to disclose that she was paid USD 250k for an Instagram story she posted promoting the cryptocurrency EMAX, the US Securities and Exchange Commission said in a statement. Despite writing “#ad” in the story — indicating it was a paid post — the commission said that she needed to also share the exact amount she was paid for her endorsement. “This case is a reminder that, when celebrities or influencers endorse [potential investments], including crypto asset securities, it doesn’t mean that those investment products are right for all investors,” the SEC chair said.