After months of investigation, more than 20 independent battery experts have found that the battery technology promoted by Finnish startup Donut Lab is not the breakthrough solid-state sodium-ion battery the company claimed. These findings raise serious questions about a technology that attracted about $25 million from over 1,300 investors and pushed the company’s value up to $1.25 billion.

The report, led by battery researcher Ziroth, looked at electrochemical tests, company records, and interviews with industry experts. All the evidence suggests the widely publicized battery is actually a regular lithium-ion cell rather than the revolutionary chemistry unveiled at CES 2026.

Experts say test results match lithium-ion chemistry

Questions surrounding Donut Lab’s claims began soon after the company announced a battery that could deliver 400 watt-hours per kilogram, last through 100,000 charge cycles, and recharge in just 5 minutes.

These numbers quickly caught the battery industry’s attention. Independent tests followed, but the main performance claims were not verified. Several tests by Finland’s VTT Technical Research Center could not confirm the advertised energy density or the long cycle life.

The latest investigation reviewed data from those tests and spoke with over 20 battery experts. The report says every expert agreed: the tested cell acts like a lithium-ion battery.

A key clue was in the voltage measurements. The battery ran at about 3.7 to 3.8 volts at 50 percent charge, which is typical for high-nickel lithium-ion batteries with nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. Sodium-ion batteries usually operate at lower voltages and rarely exceed 3.5 volts at the same charge.

Expansion patterns reveal the battery’s true identity

Researchers say the most convincing evidence came from measuring how the cell expanded during charging.

When a battery charges, ions move into the anode, causing it to expand. Graphite anodes have a unique expansion pattern because of changes in graphite’s layered structure. The Donut Lab cell showed this exact pattern.

This finding matters because sodium ions are too big to fit into graphite the way lithium ions do. According to investigators, the graphite expansion pattern clearly shows that lithium is the active ion in the battery.

The report described the evidence bluntly: “It’s like we have a slightly noisy fingerprint and a picture of the suspect’s face. And yet again, it’s a match.”

Based on the data, investigators estimated the battery’s energy density at about 298 watt-hours per kilogram. This is good for a modern lithium-ion battery, but far below the company’s claimed 400 watt-hours per kilogram.

German supplier emerges at center of technology chain

The investigation found that the battery technology came from the German company CT Coatings, which supplied it to Nordic Nano and Donut Lab.

In this setup, CT Coatings provided the technology, Nordic Nano was supposed to make the cells, and Donut Lab took care of selling them. Investigators said Nordic Nano has never made a battery cell for the market.

Industry experts who met with CT Coatings representatives doubted their technical skills. Julian Zanau from the Fraunhofer Research Institute recalled concerns following discussions with company officials.

“The first impression I got was that these people have no idea how a battery actually works. They were talking about no rare earth metals in their batteries and therefore no lithium, and to any chemist lithium has nothing to do with rare earth minerals.”

Former Nordic Nano executive Lauri Peltola also criticized the decision to rely solely on internal evaluations rather than independent battery experts to assess the technology.

Investor scrutiny grows as authorities investigate

The report also questions Donut Lab’s public statements about its vehicle-making efforts. The company said the first production motorcycle left the assembly line in early 2026. However, an internal video reportedly said the motorcycles would first stay in Verge’s own fleet to improve manufacturing before being delivered to customers.

Investigators argue that these vehicles should be seen as pre-production units, not products ready for customers.

More doubts came up when CEO Marko Lehtimäki reportedly admitted that the much-publicized 400-watt-hour-per-kilogram cells were not actually in the motorcycles. Leaked messages also suggested Donut Lab was still looking for proof of the battery’s advertised performance from CT Coatings.

The financial impact is significant. Over 900 shareholders reportedly hold 50 shares or fewer, indicating many are small investors. Investor messages reportedly promised big returns and encouraged more investments as excitement about the battery grew.

According to the investigation, Finnish financial regulators and criminal authorities are now looking into the case. This could become one of the most closely watched technology investment cases in the Nordic battery industry.

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China’s shipbuilding industry reached another major milestone on Monday as Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), officially began construction of what it says will be the world’s first and largest 271,000-cubic-meter (9.6 million-cubic-foot) QC-Max liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

This project marks a big step for China’s role in high-end shipbuilding. Experts say building this vessel comes at a time when global energy markets and trade are uncertain, so reliable LNG transport is more important than ever. The ship should boost confidence in the LNG supply chain and help move cleaner energy around the world.

Massive jump in LNG transport capacity

The new carrier can carry much more cargo than today’s standard LNG ships. It is 1,129 feet (344 meters) long and uses the latest NO96 Super+ membrane system to store and transport liquefied natural gas at very low temperatures.

According to the company, the ship can carry 271,000 cubic meters (9.6 million-cubic-foot) of LNG, making it the largest LNG carrier ever built. This is 57 percent more than the common 174,000-cubic-meter (6.15 million-cubic-foot) LNG carriers used today.

With its larger capacity, shipping companies can move more LNG in fewer trips, making long-distance trade more efficient. The ship is also built to work with most major LNG terminals worldwide, so it can travel many international routes.

Designed for lower emissions and efficiency

Besides being bigger, the ship uses new technology to cut fuel use and lower its impact on the environment. It has a dual-fuel engine that can run on multiple fuels, making the ship more energy-efficient.

Engineers improved the ship’s hull design to reduce drag in the water, which helps cut costs and emissions during trips. Hudong-Zhonghua claims that the carrier meets the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III environmental standards, which are some of the strictest rules for commercial ships.

The company said the ship offers high cargo capacity, uses less energy, produces fewer carbon emissions, and is safer and more reliable. These features matter more now as shipping companies try to cut emissions and stay profitable.

China strengthens position in LNG shipbuilding

LNG carriers are considered among the most technically challenging commercial ships to build. Making them needs advanced engineering, special containment systems, and expert manufacturing skills.

LNG container ships are often called the “crown jewel” of shipbuilding. They are hard to research and build, and they need complex supply chains.

Hudong-Zhonghua said it has built its position through independently developed technologies, localized supply chains, and extensive production experience. The company currently holds orders for almost 60 LNG carriers and reports that its production schedule is fully booked through 2030. Based on total cargo capacity, its order book ranks first globally.

China now makes over 30 percent of the world’s LNG ships, ending many years of foreign dominance. Experts see this growth as a key step for China’s energy and industry.

First vessel expected in 2028

This building program should help address the shortage of LNG shipping as global demand for natural gas transport continues to rise. More ships of this size could also strengthen international energy supply networks.

Hudong-Zhonghua said work on the lead ship has started, and it should be delivered in 2028. The company plans to finish and deliver all the ships on time.

China’s efforts to secure a key material for solar panels and semiconductors have taken a big step forward. Researchers have found a promising new source of high-purity quartz in Tibet.

High-purity quartz is a key raw material for advanced manufacturing. It is used to make semiconductors, solar panels, optical parts, and many types of electronics. Even though China is a major manufacturer, it has mostly depended on foreign suppliers, especially the United States, for high-grade quartz.

Tibetan granite emerges as a valuable resource

The study looked at leucogranites from the Dinggye area in Tibet. These pale granites have a lot of quartz, which could be used to make very pure silica materials.

“This study evaluates Tibet leucogranites as a potential raw material for high-purity quartz,” according to the paper published in April.

After studying the minerals and the rocks’ purification potential, the researchers found that these deposits could yield very high-quality quartz.

“Our results demonstrate that these leucogranites hold considerable potential to produce high-purity quartz with [silica] contents above 99.995 percent,” the team from the University of Science and Technology of China and the China Geological Survey wrote.

The researchers found that impurities in the quartz can be removed during processing. Improving purification methods could make the quartz even purer.

Critical ingredient for solar and chip industries

Quartz is the second most common mineral in Earth’s crust, but quartz that meets high-tech standards is much rarer. High-purity quartz has at least 99.9 percent silica and special qualities needed for advanced industries.

Because it resists heat and corrosion, insulates well, and expands very little with temperature changes, high-purity quartz can handle the tough conditions in semiconductor and solar manufacturing.

The material is used to make polysilicon, which helps solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. It is also needed to make quartz crucibles, which are essential for manufacturing semiconductor wafers, electronic components, optical equipment, and solar cells.

As the world needs more clean energy and advanced electronics, finding steady supplies of high-purity quartz is becoming more important.

Supply risks drive domestic exploration

According to the Chinese researchers, there is not much high-purity quartz in the world, and most of it is found in just a few places. “Global high-purity quartz resources are scarce and highly unevenly distributed, leading to significant supply chain risks,” the team noted.

China is currently the world’s largest importer of the material. A significant portion of global supply originates from the famous quartz deposits in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, which have long served as a major source of high-grade quartz for industries around the world.

Depending on imports has become a strategic issue for Chinese leaders, especially as competition grows in the semiconductor and renewable energy fields.

China expands search for strategic minerals

China has recently accelerated its search for domestic sources of high-purity quartz. In 2020, it found its first mineable deposit in Henan province, and another was found in Xinjiang in 2021.

After these discoveries, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources officially listed high-purity quartz as the country’s 174th mineral to be developed in 2025. This move shows how important the material is becoming for China’s industry and technology goals.

The new quartz deposits found in Tibet could play a key role in this plan. Researchers think the area’s many leucogranite formations could support future resource development.

“The widely distributed leucogranites in the Tibet region of China provide an ideal research target for achieving breakthroughs in high-purity quartz resources and ensuring national resource security,” the team wrote.

The study was published in the European Journal of Mineralogy.

A new radio frequency weapon designed to counter drone threats has successfully taken down 80 drones in recent tests in the United Kingdom. Defense technology company Thales announced that its RapidDestroyer system completed a series of trials in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, demonstrating its ability to quickly and reliably defeat unmanned aerial threats.

The tests show that there is more interest in directed energy weapons as militaries look for better ways to stop advanced drone attacks. Unlike traditional missile defenses, radio frequency systems can target several drones at once without using costly interceptors.

Designed to tackle drone swarms

The RapidDestroyer is a radio-frequency directed-energy weapon (RFDEW) manufactured in the UK. Rather than using physical force, it emits powerful radio waves that interfere with the electronics inside enemy drones.

The weapon disrupts critical systems inside the drones, rendering them inoperable and unable to complete their missions. The firm mentioned the effects occur immediately and prevent the drones from recovering or flying again.

The most recent tests examined how the system handles single drones and showed that it can reliably stop threats. The company said these tests let engineers closely study each encounter and assess how well the weapon performs.

“The trials took place in April at Pershore, Gloucestershire, in partnership with Teledyne E2V and marks another milestone in advancing RFDEW technologies,” the firm revealed in a press statement.

Upgraded design boosts effectiveness

One key improvement in the latest version is its upgraded four-panel effector. Thales said this new setup focuses more energy on targets than earlier versions.

The new design focuses energy more effectively and improves targeting accuracy, allowing the weapon to hit threats from farther away. By sending more power to enemy drones, the system can disrupt their electronics more quickly and effectively.

The company also said that the thorough testing showed the system can reliably disable drones almost right away.

“This extensive testing enabled a forensic analysis of each engagement, demonstrating consistent, near-immediate defeat of each drone, removing the chance that the drones could re-engage,” the company stated.

AI-assisted command system

RapidDestroyer integrates the RF weapon with Thales’ command-and-control and weapon-control software. The system also uses artificial intelligence to spot and respond to threats more quickly.

The AI helps with finding, tracking, and deciding how to handle targets, but people still oversee the process. Operators watch what happens and approve actions, so humans stay in control during operations.

According to Thales, this combination of advanced software, AI, and RF technology enables RapidDestroyer to offer a flexible way to defend against new drone threats. As drone swarms become more common in battle, systems like RapidDestroyer could give armed forces another option for stopping many unmanned aircraft without relying solely on traditional weapons.