Morgpy Twitch ban: Morgpy temporarily banned from Twitch after controversial “Dark Souls” livestream

controversial

Morgpi has once again found himself in trouble with Twitch, after one of his latest livestreams was temporarily suspended. The streamer, already known for testing Twitch’s content rules, recently streamed himself playing Dark Souls III in a very unusual way. Instead of showing the game on a screen normally, he used a green-screen effect to project the gameplay beneath his bare feet.The stream quickly went viral online and she was jokingly called “Dark Souls”, combining the game’s name with the soles of her feet. Many viewers found the idea ridiculous, while others believed it crossed the line of what should be allowed on Twitch. Shortly after the broadcast, Morgpi revealed on X that his Twitch channel was temporarily suspended. She later told followers that “deep soles” The streams will continue once his account is back.

Morgpi’s “Dark Souls” ft. stream sparks another Twitch controversy

This isn’t the first time Morgpai has stirred debate on Twitch with creative green-screen content. In the past, she became one of the most talked about streamers during Twitch “Nudity Meta,” Where the creators used camera angles and other tricks to create a near-nude appearance without breaking the rules of the stage. Due to such streams, Twitch later updated its guidelines to prevent creators from focusing on certain body parts in a sexual manner.Morgpy also previously streamed gameplay projected onto his buttocks, which reportedly led to Twitch adding new rules banning its use “intimate” Body parts as green screen. However, Twitch’s current policy specifically mentions body parts such as breasts, waist, and buttocks, while legs are not directly included in the rules. Because of that, some viewers are now confused as to why the latest stream was suspended.At the moment, Twitch has not publicly stated the exact reason behind the ban. Nevertheless, many online users believe the platform may have considered the stream as containing suggestive content under its broader sexual content policies. Despite the suspension, Morgpi looks set to continue “deep soles” series once his Twitch channel is restored.

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Donald Trump Health Exam: Is Donald Trump Fit for the Oval Office? US President’s medical examination before his 80th birthday

Is Donald Trump suitable for the Oval Office? US President's medical examination before his 80th birthday

US President Donald Trump underwent his annual medical checkup at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday, with a renewed focus on his health and stamina just days before his 80th birthday.After the check-up, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that the results were positive.Trump wrote, “Just completed my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out perfectly. Thank you to the great doctors and staff! Heading back to the White House. President DJT.”Trump arrived at the military hospital near Washington at about 8:50 a.m. local time for what the White House described as a routine preventive medical and dental checkup. The ordeal comes amid growing scrutiny over his bruises on his hands, swollen feet and occasional appearance of sleeping during meetings.Trump, who will turn 80 on June 14, is the oldest person elected US president. This is his fourth publicly reported medical examination since returning to office for a second term.The White House said details of the medical evaluation would be released later, although the extent of disclosure is at the discretion of the President.

Questions on transparency and health

Trump has repeatedly defended his fitness for office and has often compared his physical and mental health to that of former President Joe Biden.“I feel the same way I did 50 years ago,” Trump said earlier this month. “Maybe junk food is good,” he said, referring to his famous fondness for burgers, steaks and Diet Coke.However, concerns about presidential health transparency have reemerged in recent months.The administration traditionally releases select portions of presidential medical reports, but critics argue that information is filtered through the White House.A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted in April found that less than half of American adults believed Trump had the physical health or mental sharpness necessary to serve effectively as president.White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the president’s position, saying that Trump “is in excellent health” and “is the fastest and most accessible president in American history.”

past health concerns

Last year, the White House had revealed that Trump had noticed swelling in his legs and ankles, after which he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting blood circulation in the veins.The White House attributed the injury to Trump’s hands to his use of aspirin as part of a heart health regimen.Following a medical evaluation last October, Trump’s physician, US Navy Captain Sean Barbella, said the president’s heart health was “excellent”.Barbabella further claimed that Trump’s “heart age” was approximately 14 years younger than his actual age.Some of Trump’s previous tests included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, commonly used to screen for cognitive impairment. His doctors had earlier said that he had got 30 out of 30 in the assessments conducted in 2018 and 2025.

Debate on President’s health disclosure

The latest medical investigation has reignited debate in the US over how much health information presidents should publicly disclose, especially as the number of aging leaders in American politics grows.According to news agency AP, bioethicist Sarah Rosenthal said the public often gets only limited information unless the president is in “perfect health”, while medical expert S.J. Olshansky argued that full disclosure of the president’s medical records was necessary because “nothing should be hidden.”The White House has not indicated whether Tuesday’s test involved any procedures requiring anesthesia.Under the 25th Amendment, if Trump is sedated for a medical procedure, a temporary transfer of presidential authority would be required to Vice President J.D. Vance.

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Syria chemical weapons: Syria finds remains of Assad-era chemical weapons program, 18 suspects captured

Syria finds remains of Assad-era chemical weapons program, 18 suspects captured

Syria’s transitional leadership has discovered the remains of former President Bashar al-Assad’s secret chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions used in deadly gas attacks during the country’s civil war.Authorities also detained 18 suspects allegedly linked to the program, Reuters quoted Mohammed Kattoub, Syria’s permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as saying on Tuesday.Those detained reportedly include senior military, political and technical officials linked to the Assad-era chemical weapons network.The disclosure is one of the clearest indications yet that remnants of Syria’s chemical arsenal may still exist following the fall of the Assad government and the country’s ongoing political transition.

Concern about remaining stock

The issue of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile has remained under international scrutiny since Damascus joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013 over allegations that the Assad government used chemical agents during the civil war.According to the Arms Control Association, international experts and the OPCW had stepped up monitoring efforts since Assad’s overthrow amid concerns that chemical materials could be lost, hidden or damaged during military attacks and political turmoil.OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias previously warned that airstrikes targeting Syrian military facilities after Assad’s fall could pose a “risk of contamination” and potentially destroy evidence linked to chemical weapons investigations.The United States also expressed concern over the fate of Syria’s remaining chemical stockpiles after Assad fled the country.Former US Deputy National Security Adviser John Finer said Washington was prioritizing efforts to locate, secure and destroy remaining chemical weapons material in coordination with the OPCW and regional partners.

Long-running allegations against Assad government

For more than a decade, the OPCW repeatedly accused Syria of failing to fully disclose details of its chemical weapons program.International investigators had cited “gaps, inconsistencies and inconsistencies” in declarations regarding Syria’s stockpiles and chemical activities.The OPCW had previously concluded that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that the Syrian Army used chemical weapons in the 2018 Douma attack.Several other alleged chemical attacks were reported during the 2013–2024 Syrian civil war, although responsibility in some cases remained disputed.Katoub’s comments now reveal that transitional Syrian authorities are attempting to uncover and destroy the remains of the former regime’s chemical weapons infrastructure, as well as taking legal action against officials allegedly involved in the program.

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‘I’m embarrassed’: US economist stands up for Indian scholar Soumitra Shukla against anti-India hate

'I'm embarrassed': US economist stands up for Indian scholar Soumitra Shukla against anti-India hate
Indian-origin scholar Soumitra Shukla became the victim of anti-India racist attacks on social media.

American economist and social scientist Steven Durlauf stood up for Indian-origin scholar Soumita Shukla against anti-India hatred on social media. Soumitra Shukla, a research fellow at Harvard Business School’s Artificial Intelligence Institute, commented on the rising hatred targeting Indians on X, but he himself became a target as his post went viral and social media users asked him to leave the US. Durlauf then said that Shukla’s presence in the US shows why immigrants are important to American science and that he was embarrassed by the un-American behavior Shukla had to witness.Shukla’s first post, which started the controversy, read, “The amount of anti-India hatred on this platform is truly disturbing. People need to stop worrying about jobs being “stolen” and look deeper as to why they have such rotten souls who wish ill on others.” His post was in response to the popular narrative that Indians steal jobs in America.Shukla was told several times, ‘Get out of my country.’ One wrote, “I want to rent a hotel room and buy gas and vape juice from Americans, not from invaders. It’s not that hard to understand. Go home.” “It is ironic that you consider those who want Indians to return to India as “the worst”.You probably need to do some introspection on your part, friend,” wrote another.Another hate comment said, “Letting American citizens voice their concerns that foreign nationals are undermining their economic opportunities is a bold step.”Since almost all of the reactions to her ex’s post were negative, hateful and asking her to get out of the US, Durloff said Shukla is one of the rising stars of inequality prevention in the US. “In this way, he symbolizes the immense contemporary importance of immigrants to American science. I feel ashamed that they have to suffer through the bigoted filth spread against Indians in this country, from anonymous cowards to public officials. Reprehensible and completely un-American,” the economist wrote.

This is not the country I first reached in 2010, says Shukla

Shukla thanked Durloff for his support and said it was difficult for him to “stay away” because of the open anti-India attacks. “Thank you so much for your kind words @sndurlauf and your support. It has become very difficult for me to stay “out of it” when Indians are openly attacked with the blessings of the top. I agree, it’s really un-American and not the country I first visited in 2010,” he wrote.This also did not escape trolling as people mocked the ‘disparity research’ and called for the deportation of both Shukla and Durlauf.Shukla, a green card holder, came to the US in 2010 to pursue a BS in economics and mathematics from the University of Minnesota. He did his MPhil and PhD in Economics from Yale.

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UK heatwave hits rail network: Smoke on tracks near London Waterloo causes delays and cancellations

UK heatwave hits rail network: Smoke on tracks near London Waterloo causes delays and cancellations
London trains disrupted due to heat wave in Britain

Britain’s scorching heat caused major travel disruption on Tuesday after smoke was reported on railway tracks near London Waterloo station, forcing train operators to cancel services and impose speed restrictions on parts of the network.South Western Railways (SWR) said smoke was spotted between London Waterloo and Vauxhall stations, prompting emergency safety inspections and causing serious delays on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors, The Independent reports.Although the operator declined to directly link the incident to rising temperatures, officials warned that extreme heat was already affecting railway operations in southern England.

Services cancelled, trains slowed down

Commuters traveling to and from London Waterloo faced disruption on routes connecting Guildford, Woking, Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, Shepperton and Strawberry Hill. As inspection continued throughout the day, orders were given to run trains at reduced speed on many lines.SWR canceled a number of services in advance to “minimize disruption” caused by the heatwave. Journeys between London Waterloo and Weymouth via Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth, as well as journeys to Aldershot via Woking and Guildford were among those affected.Some services running between Exeter St Davids, Salisbury and London Waterloo were also discontinued, terminating at Basingstoke rather than continuing into central London.Separately, National Rail reported disruption on the Elizabeth line, with some eastbound services from London Liverpool Street towards Gideia Park canceled on Tuesday afternoon.

Hottest night of May recorded in Britain

The rail chaos unfolded as Britain endured a May heat wave that forecasters described as “unprecedented”. The overnight temperature in parts of South London did not drop below 21.3 °C, officially a “tropical night” and setting a new record for the highest daily minimum temperature ever in May.The previous record, set in 1944, was 32.8 degrees Celsius, but temperatures this week have soared far beyond seasonal norms. Meteorologists have warned that temperatures in London could reach 34 degrees Celsius again after the UK recorded its hottest day in May at 34.8 degrees Celsius earlier this week.According to climate experts, the scale of the temperature rise at this time of year was extraordinary, given that climate records are usually broken only at modest intervals rather than at such large intervals.

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Europe scorched by record May heat wave; 7 died in France

Europe scorched by record May heat wave; 7 died in France

Western Europe was hit by unseasonably warm weather on Tuesday, with record-breaking temperatures across the continent.Temperatures soared well above the normal average for May, according to weather agencies, trapped under a high pressure system carrying hot air from North Africa and over Western Europe. At least seven people died directly or indirectly due to the extreme weather in France, Reuters reports, while authorities in several countries issued warnings and restrictions. France’s weather service said Monday was the hottest May day recorded in the country since measurements began, while Britain also recorded its hottest May day. Temperatures are expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius in parts of France on Tuesday, with the heat likely to continue through Wednesday and Thursday.France’s junior energy minister Maud Bregon said the seven people who died in the heat wave included five who drowned in lakes, rivers and beaches as people sought respite from rising temperatures. Officials also directed local administrations to enforce protective measures during sporting events.In Paris, spectators and players had to contend with difficult conditions at Roland Garros as temperatures hovered around 33C. French authorities said one person died during a 10-kilometre race in Paris on Sunday, while 10 others were hospitalized in serious condition after another race near the capital.Much of Brittany remained under an orange level heat warning on Tuesday.“It’s a bit worrying because it’s not really normal at this time of year, but unfortunately I think it’s going to become the norm in France,” student Chloe Voisin told AFP in Bordeaux.In Britain, the Met Office recorded a maximum temperature of 34.8C at Kew Gardens, south-west London, on Monday, two degrees higher than last May’s record. Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst described the temperatures as “a good indicator of climate change” and said such conditions were increasingly likely to become the “new norm”.“This heat would be extraordinary even in the middle of summer in the UK, let alone May,” the Met Office posted on Twitter. In London, temperatures at this time of year are usually around 17C or 18C.Tourists and residents struggled to cope with the conditions. “If you’re not concerned about global warming, you must be completely deaf, blind, right?” Swiss tourist Philippe Bignens told AFP in London.Spain’s meteorological agency Emet warned of “exceptionally high temperatures for this time of year”, predicting “broad tropical nights” this weekend as well as high temperatures between 36C and 38C.In Italy, Lazio authorities banned outdoor work between 12.30pm and 4pm in sectors including farming, construction and logistics.Scientists said human-induced climate change is intensifying heat waves, droughts and floods, making such extreme weather events more frequent and severe across Europe, AFP reports.

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Indian-origin woman murdered in supermarket in Virginia; The shooter, who had no relation to him, was later found dead

Indian-origin woman murdered in supermarket in Virginia; The shooter, who had no relation to him, was later found dead
An Indian-origin woman was shot dead in a convenience store in Virginia, USA.

A 45-year-old Indian woman was shot dead at a Virginia supermarket where she had worked for years. The murder of Meghnaben Patel, originally from Gujarat, India, on the morning of 23 May was captured on CCTV installed inside the store. In the video, the attacker can be seen with his face covered approaching the counter where Meghnaben Patel was working. After a while the man put his hands in his pockets, took out a gun and shot her. After this the shooter scattered some items around the shop and fired several bullets and ran away.Local reports from Virginia reported a fatal shooting at a Fat Philly’s convenience store, where a female clerk was shot and killed, although reports did not identify the victim. He said the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute between a stepfather and stepson and had nothing to do with the convenience store or the clerk who was shot and killed.Police received a call about a domestic dispute around 8:13 a.m. and went to the 3100 block of Blackwood Avenue, off Sewell’s Point Road in the city’s Greenwood section. Reports indicate that a man and his stepfather were arguing. The young man was leaving the house when he turned back and fired a shot into the house. When officers arrived, they found the 45-year-old stepfather suffering from a non-fatal gunshot wound. He went to the hospital for treatment.About 20 minutes later, the gunman arrived at the convenience store, which is about a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive from the initial crime scene. The convenience store was mostly empty, and the clerk was at the counter. After a brief conversation, as appeared from surveillance footage, the gunman opened fire. Police received information about a car running on the road at an unknown location. When officers arrived, they found the suspect himself shot, resulting in his death. Police said they are not looking for any additional suspects, but the investigation is ongoing.

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‘Unjust and baseless’: Mango founder’s son denies killing father, resigns as vice president

'Unjust and baseless': Mango founder's son denies killing father, resigns as vice president

Jonathan Endick, the son of Mango’s late founder Isaac Endick, has denied allegations he was involved in his father’s death, calling the allegations “serious, unjust and baseless” as he resigned as vice chairman of the fashion giant’s board to focus on his legal defense.In an open letter to staff published on Tuesday, Jonathan Endick said a “biased” and “distorted” narrative had been created around the case following his arrest in Spain as part of an investigation into his father’s 2024 death.“A public narrative has been created based on a perspective that is biased, distorted and taken out of context, creating a perception of the crime that has no connection to reality,” Andic, 45, wrote in his first public comments on the case.He said, “I have made this decision with sadness, but am confident that it is what is best for the company and for me… I need to focus all my energy on demonstrating my innocence.”

The mystery behind the death of Mango Tycoon

Isak Andic, founder of global apparel brand Mango, died on December 14, 2024, after falling about 500 feet from a cliff in the Montserrat mountains near Barcelona while hiking with his son.The death was initially considered a tragic accident. However, prosecutors reopened the investigation in October 2025, focusing on Jonathan Andik after investigators reportedly found inconsistencies in his statements and the circumstances surrounding the fall.Jonathan Andic was arrested last week before being released on one million euro ($1.2 million) bail. According to investigators, the area where the fall occurred was part of a relatively easy walking route commonly used by families and schoolchildren.Authorities reportedly questioned whether the nature of the fall matched his father’s description of Jonathan accidentally slipping.According to the BBC, investigators also examined forensic findings, which reportedly suggested that the injuries and position of Isak Endić’s body were inconsistent with an accidental fall.Police reportedly found inconsistencies in Jonathan Endick’s account of the incident. In one version, he stated that he was running ahead of his father, while in another he indicated that they were very close together.He also initially told authorities that his father was taking photographs moments before the fall, although investigators later found the phone inside Isak Andik’s pocket.The outlet reported that authorities investigated three visits Jonathan allegedly made to the site days before the incident, with investigators suggesting the visits may have included “planning and study of the site.”Police are also investigating the wider family and professional context, including alleged tensions related to Isak Endić’s plans to set up a charitable foundation.Investigators alleged that text messages between father and son reflected tension in their relationship and claimed that Jonathan had used “emotional manipulation” on his father for “economic purposes”.However, Jonathan Andik has denied any conflict and told investigators that he has a good relationship with his father.Founded in the 1980s, Mango became one of Europe’s largest fashion retailers, employing more than 16,000 people and having a turnover of €3.3 billion in 2024.

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Joey Danger: Meet Joey Danger: 7-year-old boy sets world record by climbing 7,500-foot rock wall El Capitan in five days | world News

Meet Joey Danger: 7-year-old boy sets world record by climbing 7,500-foot rock wall El Capitan in five days

Most seven year olds celebrate birthdays with balloons, cakes and gifts. Joey Danger Evermore spent his birthday climbing one of the world’s most iconic granite walls. Hanging thousands of feet above the ground inside Yosemite National Park, Joey climbed El Capitan with his family, becoming the youngest known person to complete the climb. This feat stunned climbers around the world not only because of Joey’s age, but also because El Capitan is considered one of the most technically demanding and challenging big wall climbs in the world. However, to Joey, the intimidating granite face looked almost like a giant adventure playground hanging over Yosemite Valley.

How joy danger climbed el capitan

Joey began the climb at the age of six and completed the climb when he was seven, making the feat seem almost unreal even to experienced climbers following the story online.The climb reportedly lasted five days, during which Joey remained attached to ropes and aid-climbing systems while navigating nearly vertical granite wall sections. According to his father, Joe Evermore, the family faced harsh winds, exposure to the elements, exhaustion, and limited food and water supplies while spending nights high above Yosemite Valley.Unlike smaller recreational climbs, big wall climbs on El Capitan require climbers to remain on the mountain for several days straight. Climbers often sleep in hanging tents attached to the rock known as portaledges.Joe Evermore said that most climbs require Joey to manage ropes and movement techniques independently, while remaining safely connected to the system during the climb.

Why is El Capitan one of the greatest challenges to climb?

Although the summit of El Capitan is approximately 7,569 feet above sea level, the famous granite wall towers more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, making it one of the most recognized big wall climbing destinations in the world.Its massive granite face remained open for decades because many early climbers believed the wall was impossible to climb. This changed in 1958 when climber Warren Harding and his team completed the first ascent after 45 days using ropes, pitons, and fixed climbing equipment.Since then, El Capitan has become a proving ground for elite climbers attempting difficult multi-day climbs, speed records, and free climbs using minimal artificial support.The mountain gained further worldwide prominence in 2017 when Alex Honnold completed the first rope-free free solo ascent of El Capitan, later documented in the Oscar-winning film Free Solo.Climbing in Yosemite National Park carries significant risks, with the National Park Service reporting more than 100 climbing accidents and between 15 and 25 climbing rescues annually throughout the park. Several reports over the years also state that more than 30 climbers are believed to have died on El Capitan since the early 1900s due to falls, rockfall accidents, and rock falls.

The Evermore Family’s Unusual Climbing Heritage

Joey’s accomplishment wasn’t the first historic foray inside the Evermore family.Before Joey, the youngest known climber to climb El Capitan was reportedly his older brother Sam Evermore, who completed the climb in 2022 at the age of eight.Before Sam’s climb, climber Sela Schneiter became internationally famous in 2019 after climbing El Capitan at the age of 10.Evermores, based in Colorado Springs, has built a reputation for adventurous outdoor living and involving its children on demanding wilderness expeditions from an early age.Joey completed the climb with his father, his brothers Sam and Sylvan Evermore, and a documentary crew that recorded the climb.

The video that took the internet by storm

Images and video of the climb spread quickly online due to the extraordinary contrast between Joey’s tiny frame and the massive granite wall surrounding him.In footage shared by the family, Joey is seen thousands of feet above Yosemite Valley wearing a bright blue jacket and a colorful climbing helmet decorated with a Mohawk-style crest.Instead of looking scared, the child often looked calm and playful as he gently bounced up the steep cliff attached to ropes.One particularly surreal moment reportedly showed Joey and his brothers playing chess on a narrow ledge during a break above the canyon floor.As Joey approached the summit, supporters gathered in Yosemite Valley below and reportedly sang “Happy Birthday” from the ground while he continued climbing.The combination of childhood innocence and extreme exposure helped turn the climb into a viral Internet story almost instantly.

Praise, Criticism and Parenting Debates

The development sparked fierce debate online about parenting, adventure sports and acceptable levels of risk for children.Many people described Joy’s achievement as inspiring and praised her confidence, discipline and courage.Others questioned whether children should be placed in such dangerous environments without any care for training or supervision.Critics argued that El Capitan is dangerous even for experienced adult climbers and accused parents of instilling too much risk in childhood.Joe Evermore defended climbing by arguing that children are often far more capable than adults when they are carefully trained, appropriately challenged and properly protected.Speaking about the experience he said:“Joey is achieving more than a record. He’s found a new identity. I can see his confidence growing.”The debate reflects broader cultural divides around parenting styles, external exposure and whether challenge or security benefits children more in the long term.

Joey’s last joke after the historic climb

After completing one of the world’s scariest climbs, Joey reportedly responded with humor rather than fear.According to his father, the young climber joked:“I reached the summit at six or seven o’clock.”The line refers to the fact that Joey started climbing at the age of six and completed the climb when he turned seven.For most children, turning seven involves birthday parties and gifts. For Joey Danger Evermore, this meant sleeping on a sheer cliff thousands of feet above the ground while climbing one of the world’s most famous granite walls with his family.

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The ‘secret ingredient’ that could give electric vehicles a range of 1,000 km on a single charge.

The 'secret ingredient' that could give electric vehicles a range of 1,000 km on a single charge

Range anxiety, the fear that your electric vehicle will run out of charge before reaching your destination, remains one of the biggest psychological barriers to EV adoption worldwide. current electric vehicle It can travel about 700 kilometers on a single charge, a number engineers and battery scientists have been trying to push for years. Now, a team of researchers at South Korea’s Pohang University of Science and Technology has identified what they’re calling a breakthrough: a gel-based solution that could allow EVs to drive up to 1,000 kilometers on a single charge, using materials that are cheaper and more practical than anything the industry has tried before.

Why has silicon always been the biggest promise and biggest problem of EV batteries?

Silicon has long been an attractive answer to the EV battery problem. Its storage capacity far exceeds that of the graphite anodes used in most lithium-ion batteries today, making it an obvious candidate for the next generation of battery designs. The problem is what happens when you actually use it. During charging, the silicon expands to more than three times its original size, then shrinks back during discharge. When done repeatedly, this mechanical stress causes the material to fracture, causing the battery to wear out faster and become unstable over time.The industry response has been to use nano-sized silicon particles, which are small enough that expansion causes less structural damage. This works to a certain extent. But nano-silicon production is technically complex and extremely expensive to scale, making it difficult to move from the laboratory to large-scale manufacturing without huge cost implications.

how a gel polymer electrolyte Silicone solves the expansion problem

The POSTECH team, led by Professor Soojin Park, PhD candidate Minjun Jae and Dr. Hye Bin Son, took a different approach. Instead of shrinking the silicon to the nanoscale, they placed it on microscopic particles a hundred times larger than those used in conventional nano-silicon anodes and combined them with a gel polymer electrolyte instead of the liquid electrolyte found in standard batteries.The gel acts as a stable medium. Because it is neither completely liquid nor completely solid, it can accommodate the expansion and contraction of large silicon particles during charging cycles without the structural fracturing that makes standard micro-silicon unstable. The result, published in the journal Advanced Science, was a battery that remained stable even with micro-silicon particles up to five micrometers in size, a scale that was previously thought to be too large to work reliably.

The numbers behind this breakthrough: 40% more energy density

The performance figures associated with the new system are important. The silicone-gel electrolyte combination provides ion conductivity equivalent to conventional batteries using liquid electrolytes, meaning it does not sacrifice the speed at which charge moves through the battery. Additionally, it achieved approximately 40% improvement in energy density compared to current battery designs. This improvement, applied to existing EV battery packs, keeps the 1,000 km range figure within reach.“We used a micro-silicon anode, yet we still have a stable battery,” Professor Park said. “This research brings us closer to a real high-energy-density lithium-ion battery system.”Crucially, the manufacturing process behind the new system does not require exotic or expensive equipment. The team was clear that the process is straightforward and ready for immediate application, a key gap in battery research, where breakthroughs unable to survive the transition to industrial manufacturing rarely reach consumers.

Why does this battery discovery matter beyond the lab?

POSTECH’s success comes at a time when the global EV battery race is rapidly intensifying. China’s CATL recently unveiled its Qilin compressed battery at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show, with a claimed range of up to 1,500 kilometers using semi-solid-state chemistry. Meanwhile, Geely, Toyota and a host of Western startups are pursuing solid-state battery technologies with similar long-range ambitions, though most are not expected to reach mass production before the late 2020s or early 2030s.What distinguishes the POSTECH gel approach is its relative simplicity. Solid-state batteries, despite all their promise, face serious manufacturing and durability challenges that have kept them from production vehicles for years. A gel polymer electrolyte system that works with existing lithium-ion manufacturing infrastructure and provides a 40% energy density gain without the expense of nano-silicon represents a more near-term path to meaningful range improvements.

What’s next for silicone gel EV batteries

The study was supported by the Independent Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the team’s immediate next steps include refining the system for durability over long charging cycles, the real-world test that all battery chemistries must ultimately pass.For EV drivers, the importance is straightforward. A vehicle that can travel 1,000 kilometers on a single charge is no longer a car that requires careful route planning, deliberate charging stops or constant attention to the battery indicator. It’s just a car that runs on electricity. Getting there has always been a chemistry problem. A team in South Korea may have found a practical answer inside a jar of gel.

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