Skip to Content

Smarter Charger

Most chargers continue to consume power even when they are not in use, but the Zero Charger eliminates this waste by turning itself off. Intended primarily for use with cell phones, the Zero uses a USB port to deliver electricity and can sense when no device is attached. If that happens, it stops drawing power from the wall socket.

Courtesy of AT&T

Product: Zero Charger

Cost: Around $40

Availability: Summer 2010

Source: www.wireless.att.com

Company: AT&T

Other products in this section:

Drop that Doughnut!

Stay Cool

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.

And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.

The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.

Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.

Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch

Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.

How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets

When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.