Reuters Innovation

You thought the living organism with the largest genome might be the blue whale, an African elephant or perhaps a giant redwood tree? Not even close. A human being? Wrong again. That honor instead goes to a little fern that grows in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Emma Jehle has more.

Humanoid robot Captcha, developed by Hidoba Research, answered questions and teased humans at an artificial intelligence summit in Geneva showcasing the technology's wide-ranging uses.

From Dubai’s hotel kitchens to local farms, UAE-based company Reloop collects food waste and transforms it into compost in a country where growing food on sandy soils is a challenge. Ilan Rubens reports.

In the bustling Yemeni city of Sanaa, a new e-commerce trend is emerging that is providing the qat users with unprecedented convenience. Online businesses are now delivering the mild stimulant directly to homes across Sanaa. Rachel Graham reports.

The UAE's oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is piloting an AI-powered robotic arm designed to refuel cars at gas stations.

Teams of divers in Croatia recently removed more than 440 lbs (200 kilograms) of abandoned fishing nets and gear in the Adriatic Sea. Lost fishing gear - known as "ghost gear" - often turn into death traps for marine life, says fishery and aquaculture consultant Danijel Kanski.

Egypt’s electric taxi service hits the roads in the New Administrative Capital (NAC), providing an eco-friendly ride-hailing solution for people within the city. 'New Capital Cab' moves Egypt 'a step forward as a country seeking to use clean energy', says George Michael, CEO of the Caesar Clean Energy Transportation Solutions Company. Ilan Rubens reports.

A jet suit-flying paramedic has demonstrated the potential of the technology in Romania, zooming to a mock casualty on the summit of a mountain popular with tourists, cutting the journey time from more than 2 hours down to 2 minutes.

A beer called "Reuse Brew," made from sewage water, is a collaboration between the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Xylem Water Solutions and the city of Weissenburg, Germany. Its creators say it tastes good and is good for the planet. Rachel Faber reports.

Aquatic life from coral reefs to fish in the Thailand's eastern gulf coast is suffering as sea surface temperatures hit record highs this month amid a regional heatwave, worrying scientists and local communities. Vanesse Chan has the details.

Australian researchers are turning used coffee grounds into a material that can be added to concrete to make it stronger and more sustainable, potentially lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Rachel Faber reports.

England's Chester Zoo is partnering with Mitsubishi Electric to implement more sustainable heating throughout its zoo, with a key focus on enhancing the habitat of its critically endangered eastern black rhinos. Rachel Judah has more.

Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings will start selling an electrified spoon that researchers claim can promote healthier eating by enhancing salty tastes without extra sodium. Ilan Rubens has more.

Off the shore of Phuket, Thai scientists release nearly a dozen endangered leatherback baby turtles into the vast blue Indian Ocean, each equipped with a tiny satellite tag on its back. The project is part of an international initiative to study geographical areas frequented by baby sea turtles. Ilan Rubens has more.

Chinese automaker BYD unveiled the Shark, a mid-size hybrid-electric pickup truck, in Mexico on Tuesday, as its regional chief brushed off new U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese EVs, saying the company was not eyeing an entry to the U.S. market. Francis Maguire reports.

Huawei is revamping its retail strategy and aggressively opening flagship stores in China, with some just a stone's throw away from Apple shops, as it seeks to retake the premium electronics throne in the world's biggest smartphone market. Francis Maguire reports.

Google parent Alphabet on Tuesday (May 14) showed how it is building on artificial intelligence across its businesses, including a beefed-up Gemini chatbot and improvements to search, as it races to compete with AI rivals. Gabe Singer reports.

Thousands of acres of forest are lost every year in Kosovo due to illegal logging and wildfires. Environmentalists hope to combat that with seed-dropping drones, which they say can help reforest faster than planting by hand and reach difficult terrain. Olivia Zollino has more.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has released a new AI model called GPT-4o, capable of realistic voice conversation and able to interact across text and image, its latest move to stay ahead in a race to dominate the emerging technology. Alice Rizzo has more.

Like humans, elephant greetings appear to be a complex affair. A new study on African savannah elephants provides new insight into the visual, acoustic and tactile gestures the animals employ in greetings. Ilan Rubens has more.

A geomagnetic storm sparked by solar flares led to spectacular displays of the Northern Lights across the U.S., UK and other countries. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) space scientist Robert Steenburgh says it is the biggest geomagnetic storm in about 21 years.

The shipping industry is being steered towards net zero emissions by 2050, but unclear regulatory guidelines, including around what sorts of cleaner fuels large vessels should run, is complicating the course according to executives. Francesca Lynagh reports.

University of Maine's massive 3D printer created a prototype house made entirely from bio-based materials. Researchers say it may one day create entire neighborhoods. Ilan Rubens has more.

AI robots may soon be able to help with taking out the trash and any other mundane chores you can think of. NEURA Robotics CEO David Reger says robot 4NE-1 ”should be able to do things which we don't like to do.”

A new analysis of years of vocalizations by sperm whales in the eastern Caribbean has found that their system of communication is more sophisticated than previously known. Olivia Zollino has more.