science and technology

Article subject labels can be suggestions and are not editorial confirmation.

Illustration

Technology

ITU: 74% of the world was online in 2025

The ITU estimated that about 6 billion people used the internet in 2025, equal to 74% of the world population. Its revised 2024 estimate is 5.8 billion.

International Telecommunication UnionOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

NIST study benchmarked a quantum algorithm on three aluminum clusters

NIST researchers’ 2025 BenchQC study examined a variational quantum algorithm on three small aluminum clusters: Al⁻, Al₂ and Al₃⁻.

U.S. National Institute of Standards and TechnologyOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

International patent applications rose 0.7% in 2025

WIPO reported about 275,900 international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 2025, a 0.7% increase from the prior year.

World Intellectual Property OrganizationOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

IMF: Digital financial transactions rose to 251 per adult

The IMF’s 2025 Financial Access Survey reported that digital transactions, including mobile money and mobile and internet banking, rose from 55 per adult in 2017 to 251 in 2024.

International Monetary FundOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

OECD: Business AI adoption differs widely across countries

In OECD’s 2025 analysis, 13.9% of businesses in the OECD area and 13.5% in the EU-27 used AI solutions in 2024.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

WIPO: Global patent filings reached 3.7 million in 2024

WIPO’s 2025 indicators report counted 3.7 million patent applications worldwide in 2024, a 4.9% annual increase.

World Intellectual Property OrganizationOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

World Bank: Internet data use diverges by income group

The World Bank’s 2025 digital progress report says internet penetration in lower-middle-income countries reached 68% in 2024, up from 64% in 2022.

World BankOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

U.S. federal R&D obligations fell 2.1% in FY2023

NCSES reported that U.S. federal agency R&D obligations fell from $190.5 billion in FY2022 to $186.4 billion in FY2023.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, U.S. NSFOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Technology

U.S. R&D reached $937 billion in 2023

NCSES, the U.S. National Science Foundation’s statistics center, reported domestic research and experimental development spending of $937 billion in 2023. It estimated $993 billion for 2024.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, U.S. NSFOct 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Agriculture

Abu Dhabi partnership aims to connect local farmers to Talabat’s digital sales channel

The ADAFSA agreement provides for training, product promotion and demand insights; the announcement gives no purchase volume, farmer-income outcome or timetable.

Emirates News Agency (WAM)Oct 2, 2026, 8:38 PM UTC3 min read

Illustration

Agriculture

Saudi Arabia establishes 39 digital farmer field schools

The ministry’s platform combines field training with digital content and practical workshops.

Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and AgricultureOct 2, 2026, 8:38 PM UTC1 min read

Data included

Illustration

Agriculture

Jordan and UN discuss digital farmer identities and an agriculture data platform

Talks focused on linking farmer identity with production, resource, market and service data.

Jordan News Agency (Petra)Oct 2, 2026, 8:38 PM UTC1 min read