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Happy Sunday morning and welcome back to our 115th edition of The Sunday Morning Newsletter!
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Let’s dive in.
#1: How to Know If You’re Wrong
Sy Boles - Harvard Gazette
How do we know when we’re wrong? How do we identify our own errors?
Often, we’re most aware of our own issues. Sometimes, however, we aren’t. No one’s opinions, beliefs, and perceived “facts” are always accurate. The trouble is figuring out exactly where we are wrong. What do we do if we can’t recognize our own errors?
One philosopher’s opinion on this process is understanding our own limits. If we find reasonable doubts about whether we’re competent to form good beliefs, that gives us room to admit we might be wrong and to lower our confidence in our views.
One of the best ways to understand your blind spots is to engage with information, people, and perspectives that challenge your current viewpoints. Maybe you formed your opinion on an unrepresentative sample of available evidence and shouldn’t consider your view as properly informed.
How do we cultivate the capacity to acknowledge we’re wrong? Engaging with rival ideas that other people have put forward. We should push to understand the complete context of the ideas and concepts we’re engaging with.
Learning how others think shouldn’t always change our minds, but it’s an important exercise to see an argument from all sides and understand why that perspective is compelling.
#2: Imposing Sanctions to Protect Americans from Intellectual Property Theft
The U.S. Department of State
This week, the Department of State announced sanctions on 5 entities under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act (PAIPA) for stealing trade secrets.
For background, the PAIPA was signed into law in 2023, establishing a statutory authority that mandates sanctions against certain foreign persons and entities who have engaged in, or benefited from, significant theft of trade secrets. From the writer:
The power and integrity of U.S. sanctions programs derive not only from the U.S. government’s ability to designate and add persons to sanctions lists but also from its willingness to remove persons from such lists consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.
In the era of technology and AI, the re-creation of disclosed intellectual property from foreign nations has continued to increase. This has driven the development of intellectual property protection and compliance technologies, along with enforcement actions and other regulatory measures to mitigate and prevent the effects of intellectual property encroachment.
#3: 25 Years of Solar Energy, Here’s What We’ve Learned
Ben Zook - Solar Power World
The residential solar industry has been through many phases over the years. Early on, budgets were tight, the sales team was young and inexperienced, and the market was still nascent.
Over the next 25 years, the industry has weathered significant ups and downs, major technological advancements, and shifting economic landscapes. Despite major technological improvements, developments in consumer education and sales processes have significantly driven adoption.
Installers now match systems more accurately to customer needs while staying fully transparent about potential limitations or expectations. For these installers and sales reps, education shouldn’t stop with a certification or degree. Maintaining a mindset of continuous learning helps professionals stay flexible as supply, technology, and consumer preferences change.
The principles of buy nice or buy twice apply directly to solar panels, with many consumers splurging for long-term guarantees and benefits.
#4: The First Look at Top-Secret Chinese Space Plane
Harry Baker - Live Science
A new U.S. intelligence agency report has released the first clear photograph of China’s mysterious space plane orbiting Earth. This top-secret vehicle appears similar to the American version and provides more detail about China’s space program.
This plane has been in action for an estimated 6 years. During this time, the vehicle has made headlines after deploying various unidentified objects in low Earth orbit. As a result, governments, private companies, and researchers have closely monitored its progress and developments.
So far, no clear pictures of the plane have been disclosed to the public—suggesting the government has had access to additional intelligence for some time. China has also never shared photos of the vehicle or revealed more about its design.
Intelligence suggests China has two active spaceplane designs, and it is unclear which version this plane is.
For the regular folk, the implications are unclear. Some experts argue that the next world war or big global conflict will have space-based weaponry play a critical role.
#5: World to Add Less Clean Energy Capacity this Year
Sudarshan Varadhan - Reuters
In a new analysis, researchers estimate that the world will add less clean energy capacity in 2026 for the first time in 5 years.
Since 2021, solar and wind capacity growth has accelerated each year. Clean power installations, including hydropower, solar, wind, and more, have surged to represent half of the world’s power capacity.
Worldwide, under the Paris Agreement and other climate agreements, governments have pledged to boost clean energy use to ensure a reliable domestic power supply and cut costs.
Recently, however, renewables deployment in China has slowed because the grid often curtails or rejects clean power when it hits its limits. A main cause of the slowdown is the mismatch between generation capacity and the capacity to distribute and transmit electricity. Distribution and transmission infrastructure is often legacy, with decades-old equipment that struggles to keep pace with current supply and demand.
To be clear, clean energy capacity is increasing in other parts of the world, but this slowdown in China, given its historical demand and market size, will overshadow those increases on a global scale.
Despite this, renewable energy additions remain critical in reducing global emissions and counteracting the effects of climate change. Today, urgent cuts to carbon emissions are necessary, alongside the switch to renewable energy.
That’s a wrap on this week’s roundup.
Drew Jackson
Founder & Writer
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