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Space Center Houston Calls on Student Innovators for the 2024-2025 Conrad Challenge

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Registration open through November 1, 2024

HOUSTON, Sept. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Registration has opened for the Conrad Challenge, the world’s most highly regarded global STEM innovation and entrepreneurship competition.

Embarking on its 19th year, the Conrad Challenge, presented by Space Center Houston, celebrates and convenes youth teams aged 13-18, where they present innovative solutions across four categories: Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, and Health & Nutrition. A special category for 2024-2025 is Currents of Change: The Water Challenge, daring students to help communities worldwide with water equity, purity, and efficiency.

“As a premier destination for science exploration and learning, we are excited to present the Conrad Challenge and host this dynamic competition,” said Daniel Newmyer, vice president of Education Research and Collections at Space Center Houston. “We look forward to engaging with students from around the world who will push the limits of innovation, using STEM principles and skills to shape the future.”

Teams competing in the year-long Challenge are teamed with subject matter experts and resources supporting the creation of a commercially viable innovation as they advance through four rounds of the competition. The Challenge begins with the Activation & Lean Canvas Stages, where students transcend geographical boundaries to collaborate, devise solutions, and tackle global challenges. Students progress to the Innovation Stage where they learn entrepreneurial skills, create marketing materials, and present their innovations to a panel of expert judges.

Successful participants earn the title of Conrad Challenge Finalists and are invited to advance to the Power Pitch Stage held during the prestigious Conrad Challenge Innovation Summit & Expo at Space Center Houston. Finalist teams compete to earn scholarships, entrepreneurial support, and the Challenge’s top honor, the title of Pete Conrad Scholar. At the Summit, teams, judges, alumni, and other members of the Conrad community assemble for a four-day event featuring dynamic workshops, tours, community sessions, and the EXPO, all leading up to the much-anticipated awards dinner.

Created by Nancy Conrad, the wife of Pete Conrad (Apollo 12 astronaut and third man to walk on the moon), the Challenge aims to carry on his legacy after his untimely death in 1999. The Challenge provides opportunities for real-world, relevant learning that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, allowing students to create impactful solutions and a sustainable society for generations to come.

“We are thrilled to welcome a new cohort of bright minds as they embark on this journey of discovery,” said William T. Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston. “The Conrad Challenge empowers young visionaries to transform bold ideas into reality, fueling a new generation of leaders ready to extend the limits of what’s possible.”

Since its inception, the Conrad Challenge has engaged over 1,000 schools worldwide, spanning all 50 U.S. states and 72 countries, reinforcing the Challenge’s commitment to diversity and global representation. The 2023-2024 competition marked record-breaking success with over 3,400 students participating.

Registration is open until Friday, November 1, 2024, at 11:59 P.M. EDT, by which time all registered teams must submit the necessary requirements for the Activation Stage. To register and for more information, visit www.conradchallenge.org.

About the Conrad Foundation

The Conrad Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting collaborative, student-centered, real-world, relevant learning that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Through its programs, the Foundation unleashes students’ potential to create impactful solutions and a sustainable society for generations to come. For more information about the Conrad Foundation, its Challenge, or the 2024-2025 competition, visit www.conradchallenge.org.

About Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston’s shared purpose is to bring people and space closer together. Over 1.3 million visitors and more than 250,000 students and educators visit each year to connect with the significance of space exploration to pursue a path in STEM or follow along as incredible feats of human spaceflight continue to make new discoveries. Space Center Houston is owned by the Manned Space Flight Education 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and generates an annual $118M economic impact to the Greater Houston area. Space Center Houston is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, and a Certified Autism Center. Learn more at spacecenter.org.

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SOURCE Space Center Houston

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MoonPay Invests in Korean Fintech Pioneer Finger, Laying Groundwork for a Korean Won Stablecoin Ecosystem

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The landmark ~$76M deal alongside Sungho Electronics and Pantos Holdings aims to connect MoonPay’s global crypto payments infrastructure with Finger’s domestic financial software network.

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MoonPay, the leading crypto payments network, KOSDAQ-listed Sungho Electronics, and its controlling shareholder Seoryong Electronics have signed an agreement to jointly invest in Finger, one of Korea’s first-generation fintech companies, in a deal that lays the foundation for a Korean won stablecoin ecosystem, from issuance to real-world usage.

Founded in 2000, Finger is a pioneering Korean fintech company whose technology powers the mobile banking apps used by tens of millions of Koreans daily. Its clients include Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, KakaoBank, NongHyup Bank, and IBK Industrial Bank, among others. Its flagship service, “Full Banking,” is a financial platform solution covering account inquiry, transfers, payments, asset management, integrated account aggregation, and simple payment services. Its client base also includes public institutions such as the National Pension Service and the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation. Last year, the company recorded annual revenue of KRW 91.6 billion and operating profit of KRW 1.4 billion.

The approximately KRW 110 billion (~$76M) deal, also includes Pantos Holdings, a strategic investor wholly owned by Koo Bon-ho, a member of the LG founding family and former major shareholder of LX Pantos, the logistics arm of LX Group. The deal will combine MoonPay’s stablecoin issuance and orchestration infrastructure with Finger’s domestic financial software network, while linking Finger’s cloud ERP solution, “Pharos,” with MoonPay’s payments rails to commercialize stablecoin-based settlement for corporate trade payments.

Following the transaction, Seoryong Electronics will become Finger’s largest shareholder. Park Min-soo, the current vice chairman and controlling shareholder, will remain a key shareholder and serve in an advisory role to management.

Seoryong Electronics is the controlling shareholder of Sungho Electronics, with CEO Park Sung-jae holding a 100% stake in Seoryong Electronics. As Sungho Electronics has been focusing on business diversification through M&A, Seoryong Electronics has now also stepped forward directly to secure new growth engines through acquisitions.

Lee Bugeon, Founding Executive and Head of Asia at MoonPay, commented, “This investment opens the way to combine MoonPay’s stablecoin issuance and orchestration infrastructure with Finger’s domestic financial software network. It marks an important foothold for building the full infrastructure needed to support a Korean won stablecoin ecosystem, from issuance to real-world usage.”

Park Sung-jae, CEO of Sungho Electronics, said, “We will support the development of next-generation digital financial services for corporations by connecting ERP-based financial accounting data with payment infrastructure.”

About MoonPay
Founded in 2019, MoonPay is a global financial technology company that helps businesses and consumers move value across fiat and digital assets. MoonPay has more than 30 million customers across 180 countries and supports more than 500 enterprise customers spanning crypto and fintech.

MoonPay powers ramps, trading, commerce, and stablecoin infrastructure, connecting traditional payment rails with blockchains. MoonPay maintains a broad regulatory footprint, including a New York BitLicense, a New York Limited Purpose Trust Charter, and money transmitter licenses across the United States, as well as MiCA authorization in the EU.

MoonPay is how the world moves value.

For media enquiries, contact:
press@moonpay.com

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SOURCE MoonPay

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Strong results achieved in world-first Graphene enhanced cement roof tile trial

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Production trial of graphene enhanced roof tiles with FP McCann achieves CO2 reduction of up to 14%Project conducted in the United Kingdom also showed 26% reduction in CEM I-to-concrete ratio required to produce concrete roof tilesGraphene enhanced roof tiles to be used in new buildings at FP McCann’s Cadeby siteSuccessful results pave the way to enter US$7.6 billion[1] global cement roof tile market

SYDNEY, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — First Graphene Limited (ASX: FGR; “First Graphene” or “the Company”) (FRA:M11) (OTCQB:FGPHF) is pleased to announce results from a world-first production trial of graphene enhanced roof tiles with the UK’s largest precast concrete manufacturer and supplier FP McCann.

The five-month project used 40 tonnes of PureGRAPH® enhanced cement, developed by First Graphene’s partner Breedon Group, to produce more than 10,000 tiles at FP McCann’s Cadeby manufacturing facility in the UK.

The final graphene enhanced cement roof tiles were tested for quality, efficiency and carbon emission reduction potential, as well as performance consistency.

The production process achieved a cradle-to-gate reduction in carbon emissions of up to 14%, reinforcing the lower-carbon benefits of graphene for cement. The required amount of cement for the tiles was also reduced by up to 8%.

Importantly, the trial confirmed graphene enhanced cement, classified as CEM-II, could produce the same roof tiles at the same strength with fewer materials and lower costs compared to CEM-I.  

The tiles will be distributed for use in a variety of projects, including installation on a new building at FP McCann’s Cadeby site.

Conversations have commenced with industry partners following receipt of the results to determine interest in the graphene enhanced roof tiles for projects across the United Kingdom.

The UK Government has also committed to deliver more than one million affordable and sustainable new homes in the next three years and has been funding innovative construction solutions to achieve this goal.

This project was supported via ‘Contracts for Innovation’ with the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the ‘Resource Efficient Construction Impacts’ program by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA).

The trial solidifies First Graphene’s entrance into the global cement roof tile market which is anticipated to grow to US$11.8 billion by 2034[1].

First Graphene Managing Director and CEO, Michael Bell, said:

“The results of this inaugural trial of graphene-enhanced cement roof tiles with FP McCann has reaffirmed the viability and performance benefits of a lower-emission cement product for the construction industry.

Reducing the amount of cement required by up to 20% has a significant impact on the carbon footprint of these roof tiles, paving the way for more sustainable houses and buildings.

As industry and governments look for innovative solutions to develop lower-carbon infrastructure, First Graphene and FP McCann, in partnership with Breedon Group, have a tested production blueprint to achieve emission reduction goals while maintaining or exceeding material performance capability.”

References

[1]Industry Research

 

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SOURCE First Graphene Limited

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AKEEYO to Showcase 710 & 730 Series Cycling Cameras at Cycle Mode Tokyo 2026

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Full Lineup of Next-Generation Bike Cameras Available for Live Demo at East Hall 7, Booth 7-514

SHENZHEN, China, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AKEEYO will exhibit at Cycle Mode Tokyo 2026 (April 25–26, Tokyo Big Sight, Booth 7-514 / East Hall 7), showcasing four cycling cameras with live demonstrations.

Exhibition Details

Event

Cycle Mode Tokyo 2026

Dates & Hours

Saturday, April 25, 2026: 10:00 – 18:00

Sunday, April 26, 2026: 10:00 – 17:00

Venue

Tokyo Big Sight, East Hall 7

Booth Number

7-514

Products on Display

AKY-730Pro  |  Flagship Bike Camera  |  US$200
Powered by an 8MP Sony IMX678 sensor (1/1.8″ Full @ 60FPS) with F/1.7 ultra-large aperture, 4K resolution, built-in GPS, 1.14″ touchscreen, EIS stabilization, IP66 waterproofing, and a 3300mAh battery delivering up to 6 hours of recording.

AKY-710Pro  |  Pro-Grade 8MP Bike Camera  |  US$139.99
Equipped with an 8MP GC8613 sensor (1/2.7″ Full @ 60FPS), F/1.6 aperture, 4K video, EIS gyro stabilization, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4G/5G), and IP66 waterproofing. Built for demanding cyclists.

AKY-710S  |  Value Champion  |  US$99.99
5MP Sony STARVIS 2 IMX335 sensor with F/1.55 aperture, 142° ultra-wide angle lens, 4K (interpolated) video, HDR/WDR support, IP66 waterproofing, and 1800mAh battery for up to 4.5 hours of recording.

AKY-710Lite  |  Lightweight Entry Model  |  US$79.99
Weighing just 101g, the 710Lite delivers 2K recording at 28fps, F/2.0 aperture, 120° wide angle, IP66 waterproofing, and an impressive 7.5-hour battery life. Ideal for budget-conscious cyclists.

Why AKEEYO

Premium Sony & GC8613 sensors for exceptional image quality in all lighting conditionsIP66–IP67 waterproof and dustproof ratings for reliable performance in any weatherEIS electronic image stabilization for smooth, shake-free footage on the road

“Cycle Mode Tokyo 2026 is a landmark opportunity for AKEEYO to connect directly with Japan’s passionate riding community. We invite every cyclist and motorcyclist to visit our booth, test our cameras in person.”
— AKEEYO Marketing Team

Distributor & Dealer Opportunities

AKEEYO is actively seeking distributors and dealers worldwide. Visit our booth or reach out via the contact details below.

Website

www.akeeyo.com

Dealer Application

Application Form

About AKEEYO

AKEEYO specializes in smart recording solutions for motorcycles, bicycles, and vehicles — from pro-grade action cameras to intelligent dash cam systems. The brand serves markets across Asia, Europe, and the Americas through its global distributor network and e-commerce channels.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/akeeyo-to-showcase-710–730-series-cycling-cameras-at-cycle-mode-tokyo-2026-302750360.html

SOURCE AKEEYO

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