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Elon Musk’s Neuralink is a last chance at a normal life for some
Kate Kegans doesn’t own a Tesla or any other products from Elon Musk’s many entities. Still, his Neuralink program could be her last chance at a normal life after experiencing vision impairments nearly nine years ago.
“I started having double vision, especially when I looked down,” Kegans said about her initial symptoms in 2011. “I went to my ophthalmologist. He goofed around with contact lenses for a year with no improvement, so my General Physician recommended a specialist.” An MRI revealed a cavernous malformation on her brain stem, which sent her to a Brain and Spine specialist in Phoenix, Arizona.
After having one resection of the malformation in 2011, the issues didn’t resurface for three years, until the doctor who performed the first surgery performed another one in 2015. However, the 2015 surgery didn’t go all the way to completion after “unfavorable conditions” aborted the effort once the surgery began.
Kate then underwent a third surgery to attempt the resection of the cavernous malformation in July 2018. While doctors called this surgery a success, Kegans has not lived a normal life since. After the surgery, she began experiencing symptoms that came to be recognized as signs of complete hemi-body dysesthesia, which included freezing and burning sensations on the right side of her body, and the inability to feel temperature changes on that side, making her prone to burns and scalds.
“Honestly, at this point, I wish I had not done the procedure, and dealt with the ‘ticking time bomb’ instead,” she said. As a result, Kegans has been forced to look at nearly every option due to relatively no improvement in her condition.
“I have tried extensive surgical procedures to ‘fix’ this,” she told Teslarati. Kegans then outlined the extensive list of treatments that have come to no resolve for her issues. Everything from Deep Brain Stimulation (the process of sending electrical impulses to specific targets in the brain), an Intrathecal Catheter with PRIALT (a pump placed in the body with a direct line that delivers medication into the spinal fluid), multiple cingulotomies (a surgery where tissue in the anterior cingulate region of the brain is altered, creating a lesion), Gamma Knife Radiation (surgery that destroys precisely selected areas of tissue by using radiation and not a blade), and a mesencephalotomy (an ablative procedure which lesions the pain pathways at the midbrain level to treat pain), all have had no effect on her condition.
In fact, one surgery disrupted her vision, an issue that was eventually fixed with another episode that took Kegans under the knife in November 2019. After it was fixed, the mesencephalotomy, which took place in July 2020, disrupted her vision once again. After having another surgery just eight weeks ago to improve her vision, she states that it still has not been fixed.
After trying a non-surgical route through various medications, including ketamine infusions, medicinal marijuana, gabapentin, and naltrexone, Kegans has one more option, as she says she is desperate. “I am willing to try anything to get back to normal.”
Enter: Neuralink
In August 2020, Elon Musk unveiled the “Link v0.9,” Neuralink’s latest and greatest implant device aimed to begin the surge toward curing various neurological diseases. A few sassy pigs with Neuralink chips implanted in their brains were among the first publicly unveiled test subjects. One, in particular, Gertrude, was a great example of how Neuralink could be used to battle various neurological diseases, including the loss of limb function.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink unveils sleek V0.9 device, uses sassy pigs for live brain machine demo
The Neuralink implant was able to predict all the limb movements based on the neural activity that was being read. With all of the improvements and developments in the Neuralink chip, many became believers in Musk’s most recent endeavor. One of them, a friend of Kegans, who sent her information about the pigs from the demonstration.
“My friend, who is a nurse, sent me an article on Neuralink. They said that human trials would eventually start,” Kegans said.
Neuralink has a handful of problems that it plans to solve on the neurological spectrum of injuries. Everything from memory loss, to blindness, to paralysis, to seizures will be a target for the chip. Another one is extreme pain, something that Kegans experiences on a daily basis, and it has affected her ability to live a normal life for years.
“I am 57 years old,” she said. “I used to be very active, and I need help returning to a normal life. I have zero quality of life now, and I am willing to try anything to get back to normal.”
FDA Designation, and what lies ahead for Neuralink’s possible patients
In July, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Neuralink a “breakthrough device” designation, allowing the company to continue working with its Link v0.9. Eventually, the device could be sewn deeper into the brain, allowing for a wider variety of functions beyond the upper cortex. Some of the issues that could be solved would deal with addiction, depression, and motor function.
As of now, human trials are the next step for Neuralink to make some real noise in the medical sector. On February 1st, Musk gave an update regarding Neuralink’s development with the FDA, where he indicated the company was in constant communication with the federal agency to ensure implant safety.
Neuralink is working super hard to ensure implant safety & is in close communication with the FDA. If things go well, we might be able to do initial human trials later this year.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 1, 2021
After stating that human trials could begin as soon as this year, several people, Kegans included, reached out to talk about the possibility of being included in the first Neuralink trials. While no details are known yet, there are plenty of people out there who have been affected by severe brain injuries that have negatively altered their lives. Neuralink could be the key to eventually making neurological disorders a thing of the past, especially as the company plans to create a chip that will be affordable for virtually everyone.
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Tesla Model Y outsells everything in three states, but Ford dominates
The Model Y’s success here highlights accelerating mainstream adoption of electric SUVs, which offer spacious interiors, impressive range, rapid acceleration, and low operating costs.
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in three different states in the U.S. last year, according to new data that shows the all-electric crossover outsold every other car in a few places. However, Ford widely dominated the sales figures with its popular F-Series of pickups.
According to new vehicle registration data compiled by Edmunds and visualized by Visual Capitalist, the Ford F-Series, encompassing models like the F-150, F-250, F-350, and F-450, claimed the title of best-selling vehicle in 29 states.
This dominance underscores the pickup truck’s unbreakable appeal across much of the country, particularly in rural, Midwestern, Southern, and Western states, where towing capacity, durability, and utility for work or recreation remain top priorities.
The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling vehicle in California, Washington, and Nevada
How many states will it dominate next year? https://t.co/ERyoyce42D
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) March 9, 2026
The F-Series has held the crown as America’s overall best-selling vehicle for decades, a streak that continued strong into 2025 despite broader market shifts.
Yet, amid this truck-heavy reality, Tesla made a notable breakthrough. The Model Y emerged as the top-selling vehicle, not just the leading EV, but the outright best-seller in three key states: California, Nevada, and Washington.
These West Coast strongholds reflect regions with robust EV infrastructure, high environmental awareness, generous incentives, and tech-savvy populations. In California alone, nearly 50 percent of new vehicle registrations were electrified, far outpacing the national average of around 25 percent.
The Model Y’s success here highlights accelerating mainstream adoption of electric SUVs, which offer spacious interiors, impressive range, rapid acceleration, and low operating costs.
Elon Musk: Tesla Model Y is world’s best-selling car for 3rd year in a row
Elsewhere, Japanese crossovers filled many gaps: Toyota’s RAV4 and Honda’s CR-V topped charts in several urban and densely populated Northeastern and Midwestern states, where fuel efficiency, reliability, and family-friendly features win out over larger trucks.
While Ford’s broad reach shows traditional preferences persist, at least for now, Tesla’s Model Y victories in high-population, influential states signal a gradual but undeniable transition toward electrification. As charging networks expand and battery technology improves, more states could follow the West Coast’s lead in the coming years.
This 2025 map captures a pivotal moment: pickup trucks still rule the majority, but EVs are carving out meaningful territory where consumer priorities align with sustainability and innovation. The road ahead promises continued competition between legacy giants and electric disruptors.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares updated Starship V3 maiden launch target date
The comment was posted on Musk’s official account on social media platform X.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared a brief Starship V3 update in a post on social media platform X, stating the next launch attempt of the spacecraft could take place in about four weeks.
The comment was posted on Musk’s official account on social media platform X.
Musk’s update suggests that Starship Flight 12 could target a launch around early April, though the schedule will depend on several remaining milestones at SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility in Texas.
Among the key steps is testing and certification of the site’s new launch tower, launch mount, and tank farm systems. These upgrades will support the next generation of Starship vehicles.
Booster 19 is expected to roll to the launch site and be placed on the launch mount before returning to the production facility to receive its 33 Raptor engines. The booster would then return for a static fire test, which could mark the first time a Super Heavy booster equipped with Raptor V3 engines is fired on the pad.
Ship 39 is expected to undergo a similar preparation process. The vehicle will likely return to the production site to receive its six engines before heading to Massey’s test site for static fire testing.
Once both stages are prepared, the booster and ship will roll out to the launch site for the first full stack of a V3 Super Heavy and V3 Starship. A full wet dress rehearsal is expected to follow before any launch attempt.
Elon Musk has previously shared how SpaceX plans to eventually recover Starship’s upper stage using the launch tower’s robotic arms. Musk noted that the company will only attempt to catch the Starship spacecraft after two successful soft landings in the ocean. The approach is intended to reduce risk before attempting a recovery over land.
“Should note that SpaceX will only try to catch the ship with the tower after two perfect soft landings in the ocean. The risk of the ship breaking up over land needs to be very low,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Such a milestone would represent a major step toward the full reuse of the Starship system, which remains a central goal for SpaceX’s long-term launch strategy.
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Tesla opens first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla has opened its first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles. The station reportedly offers up to 750 kW charging speeds and is open to Tesla Semi customers.
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla Semi Megachargers
The Los Angeles site seems to be the first public Tesla Semi Megacharger that is not located at a Tesla factory. It is also the third Megacharger site currently visible on Tesla’s map.
The Megacharger system is designed specifically for the Tesla Semi and is capable of delivering extremely high charging speeds to support long-haul trucking operations. Infrastructure such as this will likely play a key role in making the Semi competitive with diesel-powered transport trucks.
Tesla’s progress with the Semi has also drawn attention in recent days after Elon Musk biographer Ashlee Vance shared photos from inside the Tesla Semi factory near Giga Nevada. The images suggested that preparations for higher production volumes may be underway, hinting that a broader ramp of the Tesla Semi’s production indeed be approaching.
New deployment strategies
Tesla has continued expanding its broader charging network through several new strategies aimed at accelerating infrastructure deployment. One of these initiatives is the Supercharger for Business program, which allows third parties to purchase Tesla Supercharger equipment and deploy charging stations while still integrating with Tesla’s network.
The program recently marked a milestone in Alpharetta, Georgia, where the city deployed four 325 kW city-branded Superchargers near the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety on Old Milton Parkway. The chargers support the city’s Tesla Model Y police vehicles while also remaining accessible to the public.
As per a report from EVwire, the project was designed not only to support fleet charging but also to generate economic returns that could offset the city’s investment. Tesla’s Supercharger for Business program has already attracted several participants, including businesses and charging providers such as Suncoast Charging, Pie Safe bakery in Idaho, Francis Energy in Oklahoma, and Wawa convenience stores.
Tesla Model Y outsells everything in three states, but Ford dominates
Elon Musk shares updated Starship V3 maiden launch target date
