Scientists have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment. The device is inspired by the octopus’s nervous system to grab items by sensing them.

Developed by researchers from the University of Bristol, the soft robot can use suction flow not just to stick to things, but also to sense its environment and control its own actions—just like an octopus.

Interestingly, a single suction system enables the robot to grab delicate items, sense whether it’s touching air, water, or a rough surface, and even predict how hard something is pulling on it—all at once, without needing a central computer. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🐙 Octopus-inspired robot can decide how to grip objects with accuracy

The study focused on octopuses that exploit an efficient neuromuscular hierarchy to achieve complex dexterous body manipulation, integrating sensor-rich suckers, in-arm embodied computation, and centralized higher-level reasoning.

Researchers took inspiration from the hierarchical intelligence of the octopus and demonstrated how, by exploiting the fluidic energy and information capacity of simple suction cups, soft computational elements, and soft actuators.

“We can mimic key aspects of the neuromuscular structure of the octopus in soft robotic systems,” said researchers in the study.

𓇲 New DirectDrive plasma etching tech to help build ultra-precise chips

Imagine trying to carve a tiny, complex sculpture into a block the size of your fingernail again and again, billions of times, with nearly no room for error.

That’s what chipmakers do when they etch complex patterns on silicon to make the semiconductors that power most of the gadgets and technology around us.

A​ team of researchers recently unveiled a breakthrough technology called DirectDrive—which brings an unprecedented level of precision to the plasma etching process used in building computer chips.

🧭 China's new fibre-optic gyroscope can withstand temperature changes

Chinese scientists have reportedly developed a new fibre-optic gyroscope that is stable across a wide range of temperatures.

The development could prove crucial for military, deep-sea, or space navigation, where satellite signals can be blocked or are unreliable.

Gyroscopes are critical pieces of equipment used in the navigation of planes, ships, submarines, and oil rigs. A gyroscope measures orientation and rotation. Simply put, it tells you which way you’re pointing, moving, or how you’re turning without the need for GPS or satellites.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> A new study analyzed the skeleton of a man who lived with a disability during the Middle Ages to determine what his treatment strategy was. (More)

> Researchers have reanalyzed the long-perplexing “Star Manual of Master Shi” and discovered that it could rightfully be considered the oldest, structured celestial map in the world. (More)

> Scientists have obtained a 150,000-year record of Earth's magnetic field from the analysis of a "tree-ringed African lake.” (More)

ENERGY

> The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has reportedly pushed the boundaries of fusion energy and achieved significant increases in power output in its latest experiments. (More)

> US scientists have used inexpensive store-bought tape to craft a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which is capable of harvesting electrical energy from various sources, including human movement and environmental conditions, to power small devices like wearable biosensors. (More)

> Indian solar manufacturer Premier Energies Limited has partnered with Taiwan's Sino-American Silicon Products Inc. (SAS) to establish a 2 GW solar wafer production facility. (More)

INNOVATION

> Defense scientists have discovered a way to make high-altitude drones more efficient using plasma excitation technology. (More)

> Canada-based aerospace engineering company, Horizon Aircraft, has hit a milestone by becoming the first eVTOL developer to achieve stable wing-borne flight transition with its large-scale prototype aircraft, Cavorite X7, using a fan-in-wing design. (More)

> A government-owned company in China has introduced what it claims to be the world’s first commercial cryptography system resistant to even quantum computer attacks. (More)

VIDEO

> The SVD Dragunov, designed in the 1960s, reflects Soviet military philosophy: not a precision sniper rifle, but a rugged, semi-automatic weapon built for accurate fire alongside advancing infantry. (More)

> Training for tennis takes skill, determination, and lots of ball throwing. Players used to rely on ball launchers to train their stamina and reaction time. But what if the ball launcher could adapt its throwing based on your performance? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Glaciers will take centuries to recover even if global warming is reversed, scientists warn

> UK’s Royal Navy set for overhaul with 24 new vessels - to support nuclear submarines

> China showcases latest anti-stealth technologies at radar expo

> Jiu Tian drone carrier set to extend China’s UAV combat range

> No more sticky patches: 3D-printed wearable monitors health through skin gases

> USC, UCLA complete first-in-human bladder transplant

We’re Live: Plug in and go: the future of seamless EV charging with Lin Su Fa

In this episode of Lexicon, we speak with Lin Sun Fa, CEO of Emobi, about the invisible infrastructure revolutionizing EV charging. From AI-driven reliability scores to secure digital identities and cloud-based authentication, learn how Emobi is building a seamless and secure EV charging experience—no apps or cards required.

🎧️ Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website!

Engineers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign created a new protective material. Seashells by the seashore, if you remember the tongue-twister, inspired the reactive material that doesn’t just take a hit but adapts to it.

 Each layer is designed to react differently, and all the layers work together to soften the blow. They reverse-engineered nature and even developed a method to program individual layers to work together under stress.

Out of all the materials, mother of pearl stood out as the one to work with. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🐚 World’s smartest shell? New armor material reacts in real time to crashes and impacts

Scientists have long admired how well mother-of-pearl absorbs force without cracking. Nacre is made of microscopic layers that make it hard and surprisingly tough. Engineers designed synthetic layers that respond in a coordinated, adaptive way.

They made multilayered materials, each layer capable of exhibiting different properties and behaviors. This approach marks a shift from earlier approaches that treated layers as isolated or static.

In the new design, the layers actively collaborate, changing how force travels through the material.

⚡ Germany’s underwater energy vaults could be the world’s next power storage giant

Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute are planning to submerge massive concrete spheres in the ocean to explore how deep-sea pressure can be harnessed to store energy in the short to medium term.  

Since 2011, the team has been deploying giant empty concrete spheres sunk hundreds of feet beneath the ocean surface to test the waters on this new frontier. The spheres function as fully charged storage units.

When the valve opens, seawater flows inside, driving a turbine connected to a generator that feeds electricity into the grid. And they’re working.

🚨 FBI warns AI hackers are impersonating US officials to infiltrate government

Unidentified subjects are using AI to target senior US officials with fake messages, and the cyber campaign is growing. It uses AI-generated voice and text messages to impersonate senior U.S. government officials.  

The brand new scheme, active since April 2025, tries to deceive federal and station officials into giving up sensitive personal information and account access. The FBI warned the government not to trust any message from “an official senior US official.”

Signs of AI-generated content include distorted facial features, lagging audio, and unusual phrasing.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> World’s first: Quantum simulation reveals real-time atom dance in light-driven processes. (More)

> 14,300 years ago 500 times powerful solar storm struck Earth, Ice Age study shows. (More)

> From kneecaps to spaceships: Explainable AI can help create superalloys faster than ever. (More)

ENERGY

> Germany’s underwater energy vaults could be the world’s next power storage giant. (More)

> Emobi: why your next EV might never need an app to charge. (More)

> High energy, fast charging silicon battery from US firm exceeds 1,000 cycles at 80 percent. (More)

INNOVATION

> Plastic gets a memory in first-ever attempt to store, retrieve data electrically. (More)

> Centipede-inspired robots promise cheaper weed control for vineyards, blueberry farms. (More)

> Next-gen zinc batteries achieve 99.8% efficiency and 4,300-hour runtime using AI. (More)

VIDEO

> AH-64 Apache vs Ka-52 Alligator: The Clash of The Gunships.(More)

> The Tennis Robot of The Future. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog contends that curiosity-driven research helps us understand the world and could lead to unexpected benefits.

> A forensic technology developed in India sifts brain recordings for clues to a suspect’s guilt or innocence. Many neuroscientists are skeptical, but it is catching on in other countries.

> Teen finds cheaper way to make drugs against killer viruses.

> US baby receives first-ever customized CRISPR treatment for genetic disease.

> Oral norovirus vaccine candidate successfully tested in human challenge trial.

> DeepMind unveils ‘spectacular’ general-purpose science AI.

We’re Live: Plug in and go: the future of seamless EV charging with Lin Su Fa

In this episode of Lexicon, we speak with Lin Sun Fa, CEO of Emobi, about the invisible infrastructure revolutionizing EV charging. From AI-driven reliability scores to secure digital identities and cloud-based authentication, learn how Emobi is building a seamless and secure EV charging experience—no apps or cards required.

🎧️ Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website!

The U.S. is heavily dependent on Chinese-made parts for its solar power systems. But that reliance may come with a serious risk.

A new investigation by Reuters has revealed that hidden communication devices have been found in some of these parts—potentially creating a national security threat.

Experts have discovered secret cellular radios and other communications gear inside solar inverters and solar batteries made by Chinese companies. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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⚡ Hidden Chinese tech in solar inverters alarms US officials: Report

Energy officials and cybersecurity experts warn that these hidden tools could be used to remotely disable inverters and disrupt the power supply. In a worst-case scenario, it could even lead to blackouts.

Alarmingly, the news agency reported that in November, some solar inverters in the U.S. were disabled remotely from China. Although the full impact of that event remains unclear, it raised red flags among officials.

It’s not unusual for solar equipment to have built-in communication systems. These features allow companies to push software updates and monitor performance remotely.

🚢 World's first: Denmark tests captainless remote control for ships

In a global first, Denmark has approved testing a remote pilotage system that allows maritime pilots to guide vessels from shore using real-time data instead of boarding ships at sea.

The program, developed by DanPilot and maritime tech company Danelec, has received formal approval from the Danish Emergency Management Agency and signals a potential shift in global maritime operations.

Remote pilotage is a method of navigating large ships through challenging coastal or congested waters without requiring a pilot to board the vessel physically.

🌎 UK firm beams space solar breakthrough: 13x more power sent to Earth

UK-based startup Space Solar has successfully completed crucial tests of its power-beaming technology, with an aim to deliver wireless power from space.

The company said that space-based solar power could provide reliable, uninterrupted clean energy around the clock and in any weather, addressing the intermittency issues faced by traditional wind and solar sources.

“A solar panel in space delivers 13x the amount of energy that the same panel on Earth generates, because there is no night, no weather, and no atmosphere in space.”

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Physicians and researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine have successfully treated a baby diagnosed with a rare and often fatal metabolic disease using a tailored CRISPR-based gene editing therapy. (More)

> A new study has pinpointed the elusive mutation responsible for the orange coat in domestic cats. (More)

> In a breakthrough, researchers at the University of Sydney have, for the first time, used a quantum computer to simulate the real-time chemical dynamics of actual molecules. (More)

ENERGY

> Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are emerging as a compelling alternative in the global race for better energy storage. (More)

> The world’s first carbon filter gigafactory is here. (More)

> Researchers have identified the specific geological conditions necessary for natural hydrogen to build up within the Earth’s crust. (More)

INNOVATION

> Canadian engineers have designed a new structural system that could enhance the ability of high-rise buildings to withstand powerful earthquakes, ensuring not only the survival of the structure itself but also the safety of its occupants. (More)

> The world’s largest car carrier was delivered to Shanghai on May 15. Built in 2025, the 748-foot-long ship has a summer deadweight capacity of 21,000 tons. (More)

> China is preparing to build the world’s first supercomputer in orbit, according to reports. (More)

VIDEO

> Training for tennis takes skill, determination, and lots of ball throwing. Players used to rely on ball launchers to train their stamina and reaction time. But what if the ball launcher could adapt its throwing based on your performance? (More)

> Sweden favors stealth over brute force—and nowhere is that more apparent than in its two naval marvels: the Visby-class corvette and the Gotland-class submarine. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> UK needs more nuclear to power AI, says Amazon Web Services boss

> Particles carrying multiple vaccine doses could reduce the need for follow-up shots

> AI systems start to create their own societies when they are left alone

> Advanced drone weaponization tech soars with Army innovation funding

> Another First: NASA Webb Identifies Frozen Water in Young Star System

> Dinosaur age tsunami revealed from tiny chunks of Japanese amber, study finds

In the search for sustainable materials, scientists often face a difficult trade-off. Natural substances like cellulose, lignin, and chitin are biodegradable in their pure form, but lack the performance needed for many applications.

Enhancing them through chemical processing can improve their strength or flexibility, but often at the cost of their environmental benefits. Researchers at Empa’s Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory have developed a breakthrough material derived from the mycelium of the split-gill mushroom..

The new material is fully biodegradable, tear-resistant, and functionally versatile, achieved without any chemical processing. In fact, it’s so safe, you could even eat it. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🍄 Living mushroom material could fuel batteries, replace plastic waste

Mycelium—the root-like network of fungal filaments—is already a subject of interest in sustainable material research. Typically, it undergoes chemical treatment before use, which undermines its biodegradability.

The Empa team, however, uses the living mycelium as is, leveraging its naturally produced extracellular matrix—a network of proteins, polysaccharides, and other biological molecules that give the fungus structure and resilience.

“We combine the proven methods for processing fiber-based materials with the emerging field of living materials,” explained Gustav Nyström, head of the Cellulose and Wood Materials lab.

🛰️ China’s bullet-like satellites could spy on citizens from low orbit

China has completed key early tests for an experimental satellite in very low Earth orbit (VLEO). The country aims to launch a 300-satellite constellation to VLEO capable of high-resolution imaging and remote sensing.

The Chutian-001 satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center a year ago. During tests, it demonstrated core capabilities, a report from the South China Morning Post reveals.

Now, China is looking toward mass deployment as soon as next year. According to its designers, the constellation could eventually provide real-time data on public populations.

☀️ Tough bendable solar cell hits 25% electricity conversion efficiency

A team of scientists in the U.S. has developed a new material that significantly boosts the durability and performance of perovskite solar cells by achieving more than 25 percent sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency.

To design the two-dimensional (2D), rugged, weather-resistant shield, researchers at New York’s Cornell University combined two types of perovskite materials, each engineered to support the other at the molecular level.

The hybrid structure acts as a coating that protects the fragile three-dimensional (3D) perovskite beneath it.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Researchers have developed what’s said to be the “world’s largest-ever simulations of magnetized turbulence.” (More)

> A new Archaeopteryx fossil has the best-preserved soft tissues and skeletal details ever seen in this species. (More)

> A rogue protein just yanked the plug on cancer’s energy grid. And researchers at the Duke University School of Medicine just figured out how. (More)

ENERGY

> Prodigy Clean Energy and Serco have announced progress on a prototypical test program demonstrating the robustness of Prodigy’s Transportable Nuclear Power Plants (TNPPs) to resist accidental and threat scenarios. (More)

> Realta Fusion, a spin-off from the University of Wisconsin, is hopeful that it will crack the fusion energy puzzle with its innovative bottle-like reactor design. (More)

> US. automotive giant General Motors (GM) and Korean battery leader LG Energy Solution have made a massive breakthrough in electric vehicle (EV) performance by introducing a lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery. (More)

INNOVATION

> As the US Air Force is expanding its air power capabilities, the service has revealed some interesting details about its sixth-generation fighter F-47. (More)

> A well-known European firm has unveiled a new system that can reportedly help detect underwater enemy vessels, including submarines, at sea. (More)

> In a groundbreaking fusion of biology and robotics, researchers at Osaka University have developed a novel method to control insect cyborgs using light, eliminating the need for invasive procedures or electrical stimulation. (More)

VIDEO

> Sidelined by flashier rivals like the F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon, France’s Dassault Rafale spent years under the radar. But through real-world combat, cutting-edge upgrades, and a string of high-profile export wins, it has steadily proven itself as one of the most capable multirole fighters in service today. (More)

> Quantum computing promises revolutionary advances in fields like climate change, healthcare, and finance. But what is a quantum computer, how does it differ from classical computers, and when will it become practical? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Swarms aren’t just for the sky: how undersea vehicles will help in battle

> World's first ever hydrogen-electric air cargo service is going to launch

> China uses bionic robotic fish in Yangtze River protection

> New form of dark matter could solve decades-old Milky Way mystery

> Digital reconstruction reveals 80 steps of prehistoric life

> Hotter Climate Could Fuel Spread of Dangerous Fungi, Scientists Warn

A US-based biotech startup is aiming to reshape the construction industry with the launch of a new material that mimics the look and feel of natural wood. What’s more interesting, the new material outperforms high-grade steel in strength and durability.

InventWood, based in Maryland, has given the name “Superwood” to its engineered wood product. It is a result of molecular-level transformation that turns natural wood into a material up to a dozen times stronger and 10 times tougher than its original form.

According to the company, the material boasts a strength-to-weight ratio nearly 10 times greater the steel. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🪵 US creates wood 10 times tougher than steel, can resist water, fire

To design the innovative material, the researchers selectively removed specific components of the wood’s cellular structure and compressed it under precise conditions.

The approach resulted in a biogenic composite that maintains all the desirable features of wood, including warmth, texture, workability, and natural aesthetic, while enhancing its performance far beyond traditional limits.

“Superwood demonstrates what’s possible when we combine nature’s most highly evolved structure with revolutionary science,” said Alex Lau, InventWood CEO, adding that the funding will enable the company to scale the material’s production.

🖥️ World’s biggest supercomputer: Musk’s Colossus aims for 1 mil GPUs

Elon Musk’s intelligence company xAI has achieved a significant milestone with its Colossus supercomputer operating 200,000 Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs).

The company says that Colossus has been built in just 122 days (around four months), as compared to the estimates of 24 months or two years. xAI then took 92 more days to bring the number of GPUs to 200,000.

It is now planning to increase the number of GPUs in the world’s biggest supercomputer to 1 million GPUs. xAI has a goal to compete with its rivals like the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, which has approximately 1,31,072 GPUs.

🐪 NASA plans camel-feet inspired tires for next-gen Moon, Mars rovers

The Artemis astronauts will spend longer on the lunar surface than their Apollo forebears. They will also travel longer distances and explore treacherous terrain at the lunar south pole. As such, they will require much stronger tires than the ones used for Apollo.

Several companies are looking to deliver the perfect tire for lunar exploration. This month, they will present their findings to NASA at the John Glenn Center in a bid to win contracts to further develop their technologies for future lunar rovers.

Tire company Bridgestone has turned to biomimicry for its Moon wheels. The company took inspiration from the soft foot pads of camels.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Scientists observed a radiant and intriguing physical phenomenon in mice and leaves that might suggest that all living things emit light until they die. (More)

> Real human brain tissue reveals how toxic amyloid beta disrupts brain connections long before symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear. (More)

> Over 500 million years ago, a sea creature straight out of a futuristic sci-fi movie swam around British Columbia as the ancestor to arthropods. (More)

ENERGY

> The U.S. is sitting on a rare earths goldmine — not buried underground, but suspended in toxic wastewater. (More)

> Lyten, a San Jose-based company developing lithium-sulfur battery technology, has launched a new initiative to transform drone propulsion for the defense and aerospace sectors. (More)

> China’s battery and tech giant CATL has shaken up the global EV industry with the unveiling of its new sodium-ion battery, in a move that could spell serious trouble for U.S. allies scrambling to maintain their footing in the fiercely competitive battery race. (More)

INNOVATION

> Meet “Zippy,” a palm-sized, two-legged robot that’s breaking records in both size and speed, all while offering potential applications far beyond its toy-like appearance. (More)

> The Old Continent is getting ready for a major breakthrough in the fight against climate change with the launch of its first-ever offshore CO₂ carrier, built to transport hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide each year. (More)

> A student-designed robot solved a 4×4 Rubik’s Cube in a record-breaking 45.305 seconds, surpassing the previous record by 33 seconds. (More)

VIDEO

> Chinese company LimX Dynamics shows off the dynamic flexibility of their CL series humanoid robot. What’s fascinating is the VideoGenMotion, their innovative algorithm for training their robots. (More)

> The Volonaut Airbike is a real-life vehicle inspired by the Star Wars speeder, powered by jet engines and capable of reaching speeds up to 124 mph. Would you want to ride one? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Watch the sun unleash 600,000-mile-long eruption in fiery outburst

> Humanoid Robots Freak You Out? Why A Well-Timed Frown Can Make Androids Less Creepy

> First study of its kind sheds light on pregnancy in the Viking Age

> New nuclear generation eyed for shuttered Kewaunee County plant site

> AI company Helsing unveils swarming underwater surveillance drones

> Onion-like nanoparticles found in aircraft exhaust

Portuguese researchers have developed a powerful technology that uses only water and heat to generate motion in soft robots, offering a safer, more efficient, and easily scalable alternative to traditional systems.

This phase-change actuator is designed by scientists from the University of Coimbra. It reportedly revives a long-overlooked approach using the liquid-to-gas transition of water as a driving force for untethered, electrically powered soft robots.

Running on just 24 volts, the actuator generates more than 50 newtons (N) of force and builds pressure at rates of up to 100 kilopascals (kPa) per second, the research team stated. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🤖 Boiling water-powered robot grips fruit, climbs trees with ease

The researchers highlighted that, unlike traditional soft robotics systems, the true strength of this approach lies in its simplicity, as it leverages a straightforward process to achieve powerful mechanical performance.

“The heating element is in direct contact with the fluid to reduce the thermal resistance between the two,” they said. “Additionally, electric power is directly wired to the heating element using internal conductors, which simplifies the overall actuation system and avoids the losses associated with wireless power transmission.”

To develop the tech, the team departed from earlier attempts at phase transition actuation, many of which struggled with sluggish strain rates and mechanical degradation.

✈️ Powerful US hypersonic jet gets brain upgrade to fly without GPS

In an important milestone to develop next-generation precision navigation, Northrop Grumman has successfully demonstrated an advanced inertial measurement unit (IMU) aboard Stratolaunch’s Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle during two recent flights.

Conducted in December 2024 and March 2025, the tests mark a significant advancement in GPS-independent navigation for high-speed air systems operating at Mach 5 and above.

The IMU functioned nominally throughout both flight events, which represented the first successful reusable hypersonic vehicle missions since the US Air Force’s X-15 program concluded in 1968.

🌊 Seafloor scars from world’s first deep-sea dig still haunt the ocean

The Blake Plateau, an astonishing deep-sea mountain range, features striking pillars of marine life alongside humanity’s propensity for industrial-level oceanic mining.

This area in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina, a hauntingly beautiful expanse marked by glowing sea creatures and strange life forms, also bears the scars of an experiment carried out over 50 years ago—the world’s first pilot test of deep-sea mining.

Microbiologist Samantha Joye, a veteran of many deep-ocean missions, describes the Blake Plateau as one of the most astonishingly diverse environments she has ever studied.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Scientists have found that the universe’s decay rate is much faster than previously thought. (More)

> AT2024tvd is the first offset tidal disruption event captured by optical sky surveys, bringing a space phenomenon to spectacular light. (More)

> A new study found that chimpanzees drum to communicate with one another across great distances, suggesting this innate human ability to make music is deeply embedded in our genes. (More)

ENERGY

> The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will be fast-tracking environmental permitting for Anfield Energy’s proposed Velvet-Wood uranium mine project, slashing the review timeline to just 14 days. (More)

> Engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have demonstrated a radical alternative: a twisty, 3D-printed metal heat exchanger that performs significantly better, offering a 27% increase in power density over standard models. (More)

> Barocal, a zero-carbon refrigeration spin-out of the University of Cambridge, is working on the development of “soft, waxy solid refrigerant. (More)

INNOVATION

> Vertical Aerospace is betting on hybrid power to break into defence manufacturing, unveiling a VX4 variant built for longer ranges and tougher missions. (More)

> A Danish design studio, SAGA Space Architects, has turned a shipping container into a compact space habitat with a lunar mission in mind. (More)

> Chinese scientists claim to have developed the world’s most advanced ocean simulation system, achieving a resolution of 0.6 miles (1 kilometer). (More)

VIDEO

> Rheinmetall’s Skyranger is a compact, high-speed air defense system that autonomously detects and neutralizes aerial threats with up to 1,250 rounds per minute. (More)

> This is the Ultra Mobile Vehicle, a two-wheeled robot developed by the RAI Institute, which can teach itself some sick tricks! (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Chinese battery maker CATL’s new 'salt battery' puts Korean manufacturers on alert

> Europe cuts methane emissions from coal mines for the first time

> De-extinction of the dire wolf is a publicity stunt

> See the reconstructed home of 'polar dinosaurs' that thrived in the Antarctic 120 million years ago

> Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if they fall

> Taiwan test-fires new US-supplied HIMARS rocket system

What if the future of clean energy and even the next leap in quantum computing relies on a gas that’s nearly absent on Earth but relatively abundant on the moon?

That gas is helium-3, and for the first time in history, a private company, Interlune, has not only figured out how to extract it from lunar soil but has also sold it twice. This Seattle-based startup, founded by former Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson, is opening a new chapter in space resource utilization.

Interlune has developed a prototype machine for extracting helium-3 from lunar soil and has already signed two sales agreements: one with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and another with quantum technology company Maybell Quantum. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🌝 US firm's moon robot to suck up helium-3 and ship it back to Earth

The company claims it will begin supplying helium-3 to its clients by 2029, and each kilogram (~2.2 lbs) will cost a whopping US$20 million. One kilogram of helium-3 occupies a volume of roughly 7,400 liters of the gas when measured at standard temperature and pressure.

Helium-3 (He-3) is a non-radioactive isotope of helium that’s extremely rare on Earth, with only tiny amounts produced as a byproduct in nuclear reactors.

However, over billions of years, the moon’s surface has been slowly enriched with helium-3, thanks to solar winds continuously bombarding the lunar soil. Since the moon lacks a magnetic field to shield it from these winds, helium-3 keeps on accumulating in surface dust.

🏰 Hidden fort, moat unearthed at 2,000-year-old Egyptian military fortress

A tree-lined road leading to Tell Abu Saifi has illuminated the significant activity once present at this formidable military fortress, a key stronghold for ancient Egypt on its eastern border.

For decades, Egyptologists have known of Tell Abu Saifi’s existence; however, recent excavations continue to unearth the secrets buried beneath the sands of time in the Sinai Desert.

Spearheaded by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the latest investigation at the site has concentrated on two primary fortresses dating back to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

🧩 Chinese mathematicians crack 65-year-old Kervaire invariant mystery

Ending a six-decade-old mathematical mystery with the help of computational methods, a trio of Chinese scientists has proven that manifolds of Kervaire invariant one do exist in dimension 126.

The study—authored by Wang Guozhen and Lin Weinan of Fudan University’s Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, and Xu Zhouli of University of California, Los Angeles—is yet to be peer reviewed.

The Kervaire invariant is a mathematical tool for determining whether certain curved shapes, called smooth framed manifolds, can be transformed into spheres using a method known as ‘surgery’.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Scientists have made a surprising discovery about a mysterious fossil from the Cambrian period. (More)

> An accidental find in a limestone quarry in Romania unearthed extraordinary stonemasons’ tools from the pre-Roman Iron Age, helping to address unanswered questions about Dacian monumental architecture. (More)

> Some of the noisiest storms in the North Atlantic are doing more than just causing chaos in the ocean. They’re actually sending shockwaves through the very center of our planet. (More)

ENERGY

> Three European firms have unveiled the design of the next-generation sustainable nuclear reactor for maritime applications. (More)

> Scientists at the US’ Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have unveiled a new phenomenon, “backflow saturation,” that significantly impacts the flow of electrons in plasma. (More)

> An Indian coal giant is set to ink what's being called "one of the world's largest renewable energy contracts," having entered an agreement for 4.5GW of wind and solar power to fuel its future green ammonia plants. (More)

INNOVATION

> A team of scientists from Japan’s RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics has revealed how carbon nanotubes emit more energetic light than the light they absorb. (More)

> Beijing-headquartered EV manufacturer Li Auto has unveiled the updated EREV crossovers of its L-series model of cars for the year 2025. (More)

> Chinese researchers have allegedly developed a new algorithm that lets first-person-view (FPV) drones perform autonomous aerobatic manoeuvres better than those by veteran human operators during flight missions. (More)

VIDEO

> Quantum computing promises revolutionary advances in fields like climate change, healthcare, and finance. But what is a quantum computer, how does it differ from classical computers, and when will it become practical? (More)

> Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared dangerously after the downing of multiple Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor—an airstrike launched in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Wasp mothers use remarkable memory when feeding offspring, according to study

> China, US reduce majority of tariffs after first round of trade talks

> PLA Navy deploys AI in warship degaussing drill for first time: report

> 'Incredibly special': Cricket-ball sized meteor lights up sky over parts of Western Australia

> The forest byproduct lignin can play a key role in new sustainable materials

> $101m longevity research prize aims to ‘shatter the limits’ on ageing

From Carnegie Mellon, researchers designed new wearable structures with a robust new algorithm that enables materials to move complexly, granting unprecedented control over how joints function in advanced mechanical systems.

They customized several for specific movement types and body locations. Innovations in design and programming could influence robotics, prosthetics, aerospace, and wearable technology.

Mechanical systems with tunable kinematics and stiffness are vital for applications in virtual haptics, productivity, and medical rehabilitation. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🤖 Wearables with tunable stiffness mimic touch, adapt motion, and remember shape

Researchers built three devices to show how their new and improved wearables work:  

A wrist device can change its stiffness, helping control how freely the wrist moves. Another is a fingertip “thimble” that can switch between soft and firm settings, simulating the feel of different materials like gel or metal. The third is a wearable of several joints designed for the arm and hand, which can enhance touch feedback or assist with muscle training.

Their refined design framework determines optimal flexural rod placements for multiple motion modes. It integrates analytical modeling with finite element (FE) simulations to evaluate and refine performance, resulting in adaptable devices tailored to specific kinematic and structural requirements.

🧻 Scientists make green hydrogen from urine, cut energy use by 27% in wild breakthrough

We might have a limitless supply of green hydrogen in, brace yourselves, human urine.

Hydrogen is seen as one of the most promising clean energy sources of the future, and researchers have developed several ways to produce it from urea in human urine and wastewater.

They used a novel membrane-free system powered by a copper-based catalyst and pure urea. However, producing pure urea turned out to be energy-intensive and carbon-emitting, so they developed a second system that ran on actual urine, which was sustainable.

💻 US pushes world’s first location-tracked AI chip law to counter China threat

The U.S. has intensified its tech crackdown on China with a new legislative push to tighten control over where advanced AI chips end up.

The move adds a new front in the long-simmering U.S.-China tech war, which has seen sweeping export bans, corporate compliance overhauls, and retaliatory restrictions as both nations vie for supremacy in artificial intelligence and chipmaking.

“My Chips Security Act will prevent American chips from falling into the hands of adversaries like Communist China.” So, now what?

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> US firm advances next-gen nuclear with molten salt reactor construction milestone. (More)

> Breakthrough cement battery turns buildings into rechargeable power banks. (More)

> Superhumans exist: Rare genetic mutation gives some people a phenomenal advantage. (More)

ENERGY

> Solid-state battery breakthrough sets record as lithium ions move 30% faster.(More)

> Canada’s modular nuclear reactor to light up 1.2 million homes; first in G7 countries. (More)

> Endless nuclear power: US tests world’s most powerful laser to enrich uranium. (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers build next-gen swarm robots that move and cooperate without code or sensors. (More)

> Rise of the robots: Matt Casella on the future of robots in hospitality. (More)

> NVIDIA underclocks H20 chip to bypass US export rules, retain $18B in orders. (More)

VIDEO

> U.S. Military’s Death Dealers: Barrett M107 and MK 22_. (More)

> Someone’s Made a Real Star Wars Speeder! (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Companies have plans to build robotic horses.

> Chimp chatter is a lot more like human language than previously thought.

> Mosquito-borne viral disease sweeping Indian Ocean islands.

> Fat-rich fluid found to fuel immune failure in ovarian cancer.

> Microbe that infests hospitals can digest medical-grade plastic.

> Moon dust 'rarer than gold' arrives in UK from China.

A new study reveals that all 28 of the most populous U.S. cities are experiencing land subsidence, with many areas sinking at different speeds. This surprising finding doesn’t just apply to coastal cities but includes many urban centers far inland.

The main culprit? Intensive groundwater extraction, although other human and natural activities impact it.

This study, conducted by Columbia University, used ultra-high-resolution satellite data to track the vertical movement of the land for as little as 1 mm, which is undetectable for conventional satellites. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🇺🇸 Houston to New York: 28 major US cities are sinking fast, says study

It was found that in 25 out of 28 cities, at least two-thirds of the land area is subsiding. Altogether, roughly 34 million people live in areas where the ground is dropping.

“As cities continue to grow, we will see more cities expand into subsiding regions,” said lead author Leonard Ohenhen. “Over time, this subsidence can produce stresses on infrastructure that will go past their safety limit. A lot of small changes will build up over time, magnifying weak spots within urban systems and heightening flood risks.”

With a staggering two-fifth of its area dropping over 5 mm per year, Houston became the fastest subsiding city.

🤖 France to field battle robots by 2027, aims full robotic army by 2040

France is increasing its combat reliance on robots, as countries worldwide consider the future of warfare.

While many nations have discussed deploying robots in combat, France has developed a concrete roadmap to achieve this goal.

According to an AFP report quoting senior military officials and defense sector stakeholders involved in the nation’s ongoing autonomous systems trials, France’s Ministry of Armed Forces remains on track to deliver battlefield-ready robotic systems by 2040.

✨ Eureka moment for alchemy: CERN breakthrough turns lead into gold

Physicists at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have revealed, for the first time, the direct measurement of lead being transformed into gold during high-energy particle collisions.

“Thanks to the unique capabilities of the ALICE ZDCs, the present analysis is the first to systematically detect and analyse the signature of gold production at the LHC experimentally,” said Uliana Dmitrieva of the ALICE collaboration.

This landmark research marks a modern-day fulfillment of the ancient alchemists’ quest for chrysopoeia, albeit on a fleeting, subatomic scale.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Researchers at the Heriot-Watt University have traced the formation event of the Atlantic Ocean using 117-million-year-old “underwater mud waves.” (More)

> The new findings suggest that the lunar south pole’s water ice is buried deep beneath the surface, meaning extraction will pose a serious challenge. (More)

> A new fossil discovery from Texas sheds light on the repeated evolution of predator jaws in fish and how nature often arrives at the same solution for catching fast prey. (More)

ENERGY

> A green hydrogen-powered steel production mill is shaping up and is on track to begin production by 2026, after 740 megawatt (MW) electrolyzers were dispatched to the site at Boden, Northern Sweden. (More)

> At a time when fusion experiments are taking place in several countries across the world, scientists in Switzerland have figured out a way to remove unwanted heat from a tokamak. (More)

> A new industry report is challenging prevailing narratives around electric vehicle (EV) battery longevity and EOL (End Of Life) processes. (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers from Australia and China have designed a smart spongy device capable of capturing water from thin air and releasing it in a cup using the sun’s energy, with impressive performance even in dry climates where most other systems fail. (More)

> In a recent development in electronic warfare, Chinese researchers have unveiled a new deception system that could significantly change naval combat dynamics. (More)

> MIT engineers have built a fast, lightweight robotic arm that can play table tennis like a pro. (More)

VIDEO

> The Volonaut Airbike is a real-life vehicle inspired by the Star Wars speeder, powered by jet engines and capable of reaching speeds up to 124 mph. Would you want to ride one? (More)

> This is the Ultra Mobile Vehicle, a two-wheeled robot developed by the RAI Institute, which can teach itself some sick tricks! (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Tool predicts impact of wildfire smoke on solar power generation

> BASF becomes first producer of renewable ammonia in Central Europe

> New funding to preserve RAF and Royal Marines' WW2 contributions for the future

> A Battery Breakthrough Inspired by a Can of Compressed Air

> 2023 EVs maintain 10% higher battery health on average than same-mileage 2016/17 models 

> China’s Unitree fixes flaw that gives hackers remote control of robots

Bradford G. Smith, living with ALS and unable to speak or move, is now communicating by thinking thanks to a Neuralink brain implant.

Interestingly, Smith is the first non-verbal individual and only the third person globally to receive a Neuralink Brain-Chip Interface (BCI) implant.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare nervous system disease that impacts the ability to control muscles.

He recently shared an update on his Neuralink brain implant via a video on X, highlighting how this technology helps him in day-to-day life. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🧠 Neuralink chip enables nonverbal patient to create YouTube video

Smith received a Neuralink brain implant that allows him to control a computer cursor with his thoughts.

He mentioned that the video he shared was edited using the BCI chip. AI and old recordings created a synthetic voice that he used to narrate the video.

He’s also receiving assistance from Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot. Reportedly, Grok speeds up his communication by helping him write responses and offering conversational input.

💥 Ukraine debuts 1,000-mile drone that can carry 265-pound of explosives

On May 6, 2025, Ukraine officially unveiled its latest long-range strike drone, the FP-1, during a demonstration at Infantry Day commemorations.

The platform, exhibited publicly for the first time, is designed to engage high-value targets at strategic depth.

According to technical data presented at the event and corroborated by open-source defense analysts, the FP-1 can fly up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) while delivering a warhead payload of up to 120 kilograms.

🚢 Sea change: First ship-based carbon capture tech cuts emission by 70%

Finnish marine and energy systems giant Wärtsilä has unveiled a groundbreaking carbon capture system (CCS) for the global shipping industry, promising to slash vessel CO₂ emissions by up to 70 percent.

The announcement comes after the Helsinki-based marine and energy tech leader completed the world’s first full-scale carbon capture installation on a commercial vessel.

According to Håkan Agnevall, Wärtsilä president and CEO, cutting CO₂ output by up to 70 percent sends a clear message about the technology’s outstanding potential for maritime decarbonization.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Tyrannosaurus rex was long thought to be a North American dinosaur. However, new research suggests its ancestors came from Asia. (More)

> Researchers have developed BabyBot, a groundbreaking soft robotic infant designed to mimic early feeding behaviors and oral motor development. (More)

> A recent finding is changing what scientists thought they understood about the history of controlling genes. (More)

ENERGY

> China has made history with Unit 1 of the Qinshan Phase III nuclear plant. On May 1, the unit was taken offline after running continuously for an impressive 738 days. (More)

> US-based fusion energy start-up Alpha Ring has unveiled its innovative Fusion AI Data Centre, which aims to connect fusion research laboratories worldwide through a cloud-based infrastructure. (More)

> Google has signed a major agreement with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear projects in the United States. (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers have unveiled the world’s smallest and lightest wireless shape-shifting robot, capable of moving across land and taking flight. (More)

> To advance nuclear weapons, the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is changing the focus of its world’s most powerful krypton-fluoride NIKE laser facility. (More)

> An innovator has built a self-balancing one-wheeled robot. Developed using 3D-printed components, the latest innovation can stand still. (More)

VIDEO

> The Mi-28 Havoc is Russia’s fierce reply to the American AH-64 Apache, a heavily armed attack helicopter built for tank-hunting, close air support, and battlefield dominance. (More)

> The Ability Hand by Psyonic brings touch to bionic limbs, offering faster, stronger, and more responsive control than previous prosthetics. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Listen to the ‘world’s first’ song made by a quantum computer and AI

> Just 0.001 Percent Of The Deep Ocean Has Been Directly Observed

> Chinese scientists develop engineered bacteria capable of degrading 5 organic pollutants

> A militarized conspiracy theorist group believes radars are ‘weather weapons’ and is trying to destroy them

> French army hopes for combat-ready robots by 2040

> World's Richest 10% Caused Two-Thirds of Global Heating, Study Finds

From the mesmerizing formations of birds in flight to the synchronized movements of fish schools, nature often relies on collective motion to maximize efficiency and energy conservation.

Manta rays are among the most proficient swimmers; their unique body shapes and wide flippers enable them to glide through the water with effortless grace.

Scientists from Northwestern Polytechnical University and its Ningbo Institute in China are drawing inspiration from manta rays to enhance underwater vehicle performance.

The research focuses on how various group formations of these rays affect swimming efficiency; insights they believe could guide the development of advanced, coordinated aquatic robots. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🕹️China builds smarter naval drone swarms with manta ray-inspired propulsion

Utilizing photographs of real-life manta ray groupings, the researchers designed simulations for three manta rays in the following formations: linear tandem, one with a single ray leading two in a V-like triangle, and an inverted triangle with one trailing behind the pair.

They found the tandem configuration was distinctively advantageous, but only for the manta ray in the middle position. This swimmer received a propulsion boost from the flow created by the front ray, considerably enhancing its maneuverability.

On the other hand, the two arrangements limit efficiency if set against the metric of an individual swimming solo.

🪨 German researchers turn urine into green concrete similar to sandstone

Scientists in Germany have successfully turned urine into bio-concrete, as part of a project aiming to revolutionize sustainable construction by creating building materials from waste.

The research team, led by Lucio Blandini, head of the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart, utilized microbial biomineralization, a biotechnological process where bacteria convert urea found in urine into calcium carbonate crystals.

These large circular crystals with radial striations with smooth surfaces bind sand particles together, resulting in a robust and environmentally friendly bio-concrete chemically similar to natural sandstone.

🌴200 million-year-old 'dinosaur tree' from Jurassic breeds successfully

In a new effort to save critically endangered plant life, conservationists diffused the first set of bred “dinosaur trees” worldwide.

Wollemi pines (Wollemia nobilis) shared the same Earth as the dinosaurs that roamed millions of years ago. Alongside their ferocious neighbors, they, too, went extinct about 70 to 90 million years ago. But that turned out not to be true.

After its surprising and groundbreaking rediscovery in Australia, they quickly found themselves on the IUCN’s Red List as a critically endangered species in the 1990s.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Hiding in plain sight in Japan, researchers identified a new, “extremely rare” butterfly species with a remarkable wingspan of 3.5 inches—the first in its subfamily. (More)

> Aalto University scientists have proposed a fresh perspective on gravity designed to integrate gravitational theory with the Standard Model. (More)

> Nearly 2,000 years after it was buried in Mount Vesuvius ash, a charred Roman scroll has revealed its author and title without even being unrolled. (More)

ENERGY

> A research team from the U.S. has developed an artificial intelligence-based framework that can potentially speed up the development of next-generation batteries by identifying molecules with ideal electrolyte properties. (More)

> Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Type One Energy Group in the US have finally solved a problem that has troubled fusion energy research for 70 long years. (More)

> A Canadian decarbonization startup has launched a groundbreaking project to build the world’s largest facility for processing asbestos mine tailings into materials used in electric vehicle batteries and for permanently storing carbon dioxide. (More)

INNOVATION

> The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has officially added the “Vislyuk” unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to its military service. (More)

> Germany-based motion plastics specialist Igus has launched the Iggy Rob, an affordable humanoid robot designed for versatile automation tasks. (More)

> Scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the University of Rochester have successfully established an experimental quantum communications network connecting their campuses using two optical fibers. (More)

VIDEO

> This is the Ultra Mobile Vehicle, a two-wheeled robot developed by the RAI Institute, which can teach itself some sick tricks! (More)

> Geothermal energy has the potential to rival the power of nuclear energy. But what is geothermal energy? How does it work, and what about it makes it so powerful in the first place? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Hybrid AI model crafts smooth, high-quality videos in seconds

> MBARI researchers develop new method for tracking ocean carbon from space

> Meet Posha, a countertop robot that cooks your meals for you

> China launches fourth-generation self-developed quantum control system

> Ultra-fast charging: convenience comes at the cost of EV battery life

> Archaeologists unearth tree-lined walkway that led to ancient Egyptian fortress in Sinai Desert

The Gulfstream G800 has officially become the world’s longest-range private jet after earning certification from both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

With a maximum range of 9,000 miles, the jet is designed to fly nearly anywhere in the world without a single stop—except Sydney, if taking off from London.

The G800 can cruise at Mach 0.85 and travel 8,200 nautical miles (15,186 kilometers), which is 200 nm more than earlier projections. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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✈️ World's longest-range business jet can fly 9,000 miles nonstop

If operated at Mach 0.87, it still covers 8,000 nm (14,816 km), and at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, it can manage 7,000 nm (12,964 km). The jet’s maximum speed has also increased to Mach 0.935 (717 mph) from the earlier Mach 0.925.

“This level of performance is game-changing for private aviation,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “With the certification of the G800, Gulfstream has again exceeded expectations thanks to the expertise and rigor of our flight test, certification, and manufacturing teams.”

The aircraft has also achieved improved takeoff and landing performance. It now needs only 5,812 feet (1,771 meters) for takeoff and 3,105 feet (946 meters) for landing under standard sea-level conditions, giving it access to a wider range of airports.

🦅 USAF deploys bird-inspired robots that glide like raptors at 109 mph

The US Air Force has inducted multiple aerial cargo glider systems to improve its autonomous resupply operations.

In a recent press release, California-based defense company DZYNE Technologies announced that it has delivered multiple “Grasshopper” expendable aerial cargo glider systems to the service.

This delivery is part of a broader effort to transform contested logistics operations by integrating precision-guided, unmanned aerial delivery platforms.

👁️ US surgeons attempt world-first spinal tumor removal via eye socket

Neurosurgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center in the U.S. have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully removing a spinal tumor through a patient’s eye socket. The pioneering procedure could open new frontiers for treating deep-seated tumors.

Mohamed A. M. Labib, MD, a neurosurgeon and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who led the high-stakes operation, revealed that the patient, 19-year-old Karla Flores, had already undergone two grueling surgeries to remove the rare brain tumor called a chordoma.

However, during her recovery, doctors discovered another chordoma, this time near the base of her skull, requiring an even more innovative approach, as traditional ones, through the neck, mouth, or nose, posed major risks, including infection or limited visibility.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S. have made a groundbreaking achievement after they captured the first images of individual atoms freely interacting in space. (More)

> Scientists have finished a first‑of‑its‑kind seismic survey inside Yellowstone National Park, using a 53,000‑pound vibroseis truck to shake the ground and “listen” for echoes from the vast magma chamber that feeds America’s most famous supervolcano. (More)

> French and Dutch scientists ran genetic tests on the world’s most beloved flower, the rose, to find its first ancestor. (More)

ENERGY

> The Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) nuclear fusion reactor being built in Heifei, China, is in the final phase of its assembly and on track for completion by 2027. (More)

> Fusion scientists just solved a decades-old reactor flaw, speeding up stellarator development by 10x and boosting hopes for clean, limitless energy. (More)

> Fraunhofer ISE scientists developed a contactless method to measure the performance of back-contacted solar cells during production. (More)

INNOVATION

> China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned its second Type 054B frigate, the Qinzhou (hull number 555), to add a punch to its sea power. (More)

> Japan plans to reborn its old World War II “Reppu” jet as a sixth-generation fighter. (More)

> In a step that could bolster the U.S.’s hypersonic weapons push, the Pentagon on Monday confirmed the second successful test of a reusable hypersonic vehicle in March, just three months after the first trial. (More)

VIDEO

> Often overshadowed by its NATO counterparts, the French Leclerc is a cutting-edge main battle tank that combines speed, firepower, and advanced electronics in a compact, highly mobile platform. (More)

> Unitree’s G1 greets guests as Unitree opens its new factory in Hangzhou, China. Measuring at over 10,000 square meters, what does this mean for the future of robotics? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Scientists Reveal Hidden Interface in Superconducting Qubit Material

> Yale-developed method offers view into earliest stages of RNA production

> Ukraine launches first-of-its-kind BRAVE1 Market defence tech marketplace

> A robot bartender is mixing up drinks in San Francisco

> Microsoft inks agreement with Nexamp for 300 MW of new community solar

> Cuttlefish Seem to 'Wave' at Each Other, but What They're Saying Is a Mystery

US researchers have revealed that heat does not flow as expected between different materials when they are in a super-hot, ultra-dense state known as high-energy-density plasma.

The experiment was conducted using the powerful Omega-60 laser at the University of Rochester. It showcased that even at a staggering 180,000 degrees Fahrenheit, heat struggles to move between different materials in a high-energy-density plasma state.

The findings challenge previous assumptions about how heat behaves in environments similar to those found inside stars and planetary cores, or created in experiments aiming for laser-driven fusion ignition. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🔥 US shakes up fusion research with 180,000°F super-hot plasma test

This research marks the first time scientists have directly observed the limited heat flow between materials under such extreme conditions.

Led by physicist Thomas White from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his former doctoral student Cameron Allen, the study focused on the interface between metal (tungsten) and plastic subjected to intense heat and pressure generated by X-rays from laser-heated copper foils.

“Understanding how energy flows across a boundary is a fundamental question, and this work provides us with new insights into how this happens in the exceptionally energy-dense environments that one finds inside of stars and planetary cores,” noted Jeremiah Williams, a program director for the US National Science Foundation (NSF) Plasma Physics program.

🌧️ China tests drones to make it rain over drought-prone Xinjiang

Chinese government scientists have released results from a weather modification experiment in Xinjiang, where a fleet of cloud-seeding drones boosted rainfall by over 4% across more than 3,089 square miles in a single day.

The operation produced more than 18.5 million gallons of additional precipitation—enough to fill 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools, each 6.5 feet deep—using just 2.2 pounds of silver iodide, a common cloud-seeding compound.

This amount of powder, six times denser than water, is small enough to fit in a travel mug, the South China Morning Post reported.

💰$340,000 hidden treasure, 598 gold coins discovered in Czech by hikers

In a remarkable discovery, museum experts have confirmed that two hikers in the Czech Republic recently stumbled upon a significant cache of gold coins weighing 15 pounds and estimated to be worth $340,000.

The Museum of East Bohemia announced via its Facebook page the acquisition of an extraordinary collection of wealth unearthed from a concealed location on the edge of an overgrown forest in the Czech Republic.

During a leisurely tourist walk along the southern side of Zvičina Hill, the two hikers noticed an aluminum jar partially exposed in a shaft.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> The US Food and Drug Administration has given the green light to gene-edited pigs for human consumption. (More)

> Chinese students brought the ancient past to delightful light by combining Han-era techniques and modern technology to cook a 2,000-year-old rice recipe outlined in ancient texts. (More)

> Scientists used a hemispherical mirror to cut quantum noise, and it worked! (More)

ENERGY

> China’s battery manufacturing giant, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), has hit a major milestone by becoming the first company to meet the country’s new ‘No Fire, No Explosion’ national safety standard. (More)

> Two firms from the United States have joined hands to test a production-scale, first-of-its-kind pulser module — a system designed to store electrical energy and deliver it in powerful, precisely controlled bursts. (More)

> The UK's new legislation is expected to mandate solar panels on almost all new homes, a major step towards its clean energy goal. (More)

INNOVATION

> A team of researchers from Canada-based Laurentian University has developed an AI model that enables knitting robots to recreate fabric patterns just by analyzing an image. (More)

> A new restaurant concept in Los Gatos, California, is using robots to precisely and quickly assemble meals. (More)

> The University of Miami, in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, has developed a new kind of molecule that could revolutionize the chip-making industry by replacing silicon or metal. (More)

VIDEO

> Sweden’s CV90 infantry fighting vehicle blends speed, stealth, and cutting-edge tech into one of the most versatile platforms in modern warfare. (More)

> Two wrecked F-35As combined to create one fully operable jet—how was it possible? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Reshaping our return to the moon: Trump's 2026 budget gives Artemis a major facelift

> New era of magnetization: Research sheds light on future applications in spintronics and valleytronics

> Novel AI model inspired by neural dynamics from the brain

> Iran unveils new solid-fueled ballistic missile, state TV reports

> China powers up NEV travel infrastructure for May Day holiday surge

> AI is just as overconfident and biased as humans can be, study shows

Researchers finally did it: they concocted an antidote that neutralizes the poisonous effect of the world's most lethal snakes, including black mamba, king cobra, and tiger snakes.

Traditional antivenoms typically come from animals like horses or sheep immunized with a single snake species’ venom. The antibodies are then extracted and purified. Though effective, this method often triggers adverse reactions because the antibodies have non-human origins.

The new antidote took on an entirely new approach thanks to a unique human donor who had survived hundreds of snake bites from 16 snakes and self-immunizations over the course of 18 years. So, this real superhero gave scientists not only the ingredients to make an antidote but one that would work across the board, regardless of the snake. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🐍 Human-derived antivenom neutralizes 13 of world’s deadliest snakes’ toxins

After extracting antibodies from the snake superhero’s blood, the scientists matched the major neurotoxic substances on the panel. Following this, they attempted to use each antibody on mice and devised a cocktail.

The final formulation included three components, successfully protecting the body in 13 out of 19 species they tested. Next, scientists will treat dogs in Australia that have been bitten by venomous snakes.

In the end, scientists don’t know if they’ve developed a single pan-antivenom cocktail or two designed for elapids and viperids.  

🦠 Shocking twist: Electricity-making bacteria may power clean energy breakthroughs

Scientists have found that some bacteria breathe by generating electricity. As older life forms, they evolved to respire in oxygen-deprived environments, including deep-sea vents and the human gut.

They perform “extracellular respiration,” mimicking how batteries discharge electric current, enabling bacteria to thrive without oxygen. Tests even showed that bacteria placed on conductive materials kept growing and generating electricity, so they breathed through the surface.

The new work has laid the foundation for harnessing carbon dioxide through renewable electricity, where bacteria function similarly to plants with sunlight in photosynthesis. It opens the door to building smarter, more sustainable technologies with biology at the core.

🚢 World’s largest electric ship with 275-ton battery power launches in Tasmania 

The world’s largest electric ship with a 275-ton battery power launched in Tasmania. It is set to operate between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Uruguay across the Rio de la Plata. The vehicle makes a historic shift toward clean energy in maritime transport.

Hull 096 boasts the largest battery installation ever on a ship. The ESS is four times larger than any maritime battery system built to date. Power from the batteries drives eight electric water jets, allowing the boat to travel across the river in 90 minutes.

Furthermore, the ship's interior will feature the largest shopping area on any ferry.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Race to tap Earth’s deep heat: How super-hot geothermal could power the post-carbon world. (More)

> 94 million years ago sea monsters got wiped out by boiling oceans, high CO2: Study. (More)

> 300-year-old butt mystery cracked: Mummy preserved through rare rectal method. (More)

ENERGY

> US-Ukraine pact: What Kyiv gives, what Washington gets in Trump’s resource-for-aid.(More)

> End of EV range anxiety? China’s battery swapping stations rise despite jump in fast charging tech. (More)

> China’s bacteria-powered battery offers 99% efficiency, self-charging and more. (More)

INNOVATION

> Beyond the hype: how AI is transforming work and business. (More)

> Rare earth element extraction breakthrough could boost US’ position in critical tech. (More)

> Smarter 3D maps help robots navigate with lightning precision, think faster. (More)

VIDEO

> Sweden’s Stealth Navy: Visby Corvettes and Gotland Submarines. (More)

> AI Drone Defeats World Champion Drone Pilots. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Rates of bowel cancer are rising among young people.

> 'Dramatic revision of a basic chapter in algebra': Mathematicians devise new way to solve devilishly difficult equations.

> Weight loss pills could help tackle obesity in poorer countries, experts say.

> Alzheimer's could be linked to a common virus you already have.

> Bitter argument breaks out over controversial theory of consciousness.

> Meet the New England team working to rescue the seals.

A new study has revealed a potential game-changer in the fight against sanitary waste.

Researchers found sanitary pads made with cornstarch are 17 times more environmentally friendly than plastic-based ones. Traditional sanitary pads contain about 90% plastic, equal to the plastic found in four grocery bags per pad.

The environmental cost is staggering, with around 220,000 tons of sanitary products thrown away yearly. Much of this waste ends up in oceans, contributing to global plastic pollution. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🌽 Corn-based sanitary pads could cut 220,000 tons of plastic waste

The study highlights using a biodegradable material called polylactic acid (PLA)—a product made from cornstarch. PLA pads dramatically reduce environmental harm.

Even though their production takes up more land, the overall impact is far lower because of their renewable sourcing and less toxic manufacturing processes.

“Research into sustainable sanitary materials has consistently shown that while many alternatives to traditional products exist, the key to widespread adoption lies in ease of production, price and scalability,” said Alice Medeiros de Lima, corresponding author of the study.

🦠 China’s bacteria-powered battery offers 99% efficiency, self-charging

Scientists in China have developed a bio-battery using electroactive microorganisms. The miniaturized, portable battery enables precise control over bioelectrical stimulation and physiological blood pressure signals.

The Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences claimed the bio-battery generated electricity from the metabolic activity of bacteria, enabling it with self-charging capabilities up to 10 cycles.

They also stressed that it could serve as a pseudo-battery for charge/discharge cycles with the coulombic efficiency of over 99.5% across 50 cycles, indicating lower energy losses.

🛰️ Superhero polymer saves satellites from space debris, can heal itself

Space debris is becoming an overwhelming problem. In LEO, objects fly at speeds of roughly 8 kilometers per second – faster than a bullet.

As collision avoidance becomes more challenging, scientists are increasingly looking at alternative methods for combating the space debris problem.

One team of material scientists at Texas A&M University has developed a polymer with a unique self-healing property. When struck by space debris, it would stretch enough to allow the object to pass through without causing major structural damage.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> An international research team has successfully produced hydrogen-6 (⁶H), one of the most neutron-rich isotopes known, for the first time using electron scattering. (More)

> A few days back, companies unveiled plans to create luxury fashion accessories using lab-grown “Tyrannosaurus rex leather.” However, researchers have now cautioned that the final product won’t be authentic dinosaur leather. (More)

> In a new demonstration, a U.S. researcher showcased that a quantum computer outperforms supercomputers in approximate optimization tasks. (More)

ENERGY

> Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI-SusMat) have developed a new, carbon-free method to extract nickel using hydrogen plasma. (More)

> Scientists at the NEAL of the University of South China have developed a novel radiation-shielding optimization method to improve the design and efficiency of radiation shielding, particularly for next-generation nuclear reactors. (More)

> China tackles EV range anxiety with growing battery swap infrastructure alongside rapid charging technology. (More)

INNOVATION

> United States-based defense firm Northrop Grumman has showcased a new type of loitering one-way attack drone, named Lumberjack, intended for use by the military. (More)

> Deep Robotics has unveiled the Lynx M20, a rugged, all-terrain wheeled robot built for industrial use in extreme environments. (More)

> China has fired a precision laser across 80,778 miles (130,000 km) of space in broad daylight, bounced it off a satellite circling the Moon, and measured the return, marking the world’s first successful Earth-Moon laser-ranging shot under strong sunlight. (More)

VIDEO

> History was made as TU Delft’s AI-powered drone beat the world’s top human pilots in a landmark race. How did it win—and what does this mean for the future of robotics and drones? (More)

> Unitree’s G1 greets guests as Unitree opens its new factory in Hangzhou, China. Measuring at over 10,000 square meters, what does this mean for the future of robotics? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Mummy mystery solved: ‘air-dried’ priest was embalmed via rectum

> Ursa Major wins $28.5 million Air Force contract to flight-test Draper engine for hypersonic use

> Mark Zuckerberg just declared war on the entire advertising industry

> Starquakes forge planets' worth of gold, physicists reveal

> China nuclear power installed capacity tops 120 million kilowatts

> Scientists once thought only humans could bob to music. Ronan the sea lion helped prove them wrong

Big Tech’s shift toward AI dominance is leaving privacy behind. Just like Amazon’s Echo devices, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are now switching to always-on data collection settings, unless users actively disable them. The company has removed key privacy opt-outs while quietly boosting how much its AI learns from your world.

In an email sent to users on April 29, the company revealed that the glasses will now have Meta AI camera functionality turned on automatically, unless the wake word “Hey Meta” is disabled manually. Alongside this shift, Meta has also removed the option for users to opt out of voice recording storage, bringing its policy closer to Amazon’s.

These updates mean that unless users explicitly turn off voice and camera AI features, Meta will analyze captured photos, videos, and spoken commands to train and improve its AI models. While Meta claims the devices are not always recording, the policy shift raises questions about what data is collected and how it’s used. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🕶️ Ray-Ban Meta glasses quietly become AI data collectors in latest update

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses now come with AI camera use switched on as a default setting. “Meta AI with camera use is always enabled on your glasses unless you turn off ‘Hey Meta,’” the company stated in its April 29 email, as reported by The Verge.

This means users who leave voice activation on will have their visual captures — photos and videos — routinely analyzed by Meta AI. To avoid this, users must disable the “Hey Meta” functionality and operate the glasses manually using physical buttons. The company emphasizes that the glasses are not constantly recording and only activate AI features following the wake word or touchpad activation.

Another significant change is Meta’s removal of the ability to opt out of voice recording storage. According to the company, “The option to disable voice recordings storage is no longer available, but you can delete recordings anytime in settings.”

⚡️ China plans to beat US, lead world fusion research with massive X-shaped reactor facility

China is reportedly making aggressive steps to advance fusion research with powerful facilities.

The Asian giant’s massive X-shaped facility is quickly rising. Currently being constructed in Mianyang, Sichuan, the building is expected to be a massive laser-based fusion facility.

Reports have revealed that details from satellite imagery and procurement records suggest that the facility resembles the U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF), although it’s much larger in comparison.

🚀 US engineers test ‘sweaty’ spacecraft tech to make rockets reusable as air travel

Spacecraft design is on the edge of a major breakthrough — not in speed or size, but in reusability. Unlike cars or aircraft that have lasted decades, most space vehicles burn through their usefulness in a single flight.

This limits how quickly space missions can scale, especially as more commercial and government entities eye frequent orbital access. At Texas A&M University, researchers are working on a bold idea: a spacecraft that “sweats” coolant gas to protect itself from the intense heat of atmospheric reentry.

Backed by a $1.7 million Air Force Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant, the project is a partnership between the university’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Canopy Aerospace, a materials science startup.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Princeton art student designs quantum memory drive dress with origami folds (More)

> Heartbeat-stealing deepfakes challenge experts by mimicking real pulse patterns (More)

> New chip tests cooling solutions for stacked microelectronics (More)

ENERGY

> Weld flaw fix powers nuclear fusion leap to beat metal stress at scorching 1,022°F (More)

> Sodium-powered US cone battery could reshape EV world with 230 mAh/g power (More)

> Wattlab launches solar panel system to reduce CO2 emissions (More)

INNOVATION

> China launches world’s fastest submersible drone with rocket-drilling capabilities (More)

> Faroe Islands Space Program will harvest ‘Moon energy’ without ever going to space (More)

> Figure AI sent cease-and-desist letters to secondary markets brokers (More)

VIDEO

> LMADIS vs. Drones: How the Marines Are Fighting the Drone Threat (More)

> Inside the U-2: World’s Most Mysterious Spy Plane (More)

FROM THE WEB

> French Navy rams explosive drone boat into cargo vessel in live test

> French startup developing space weapon to defend satellites and clean orbital debris

> Thousands of litres of urine to be recycled at London Marathon

> Joby S4 makes historic piloted tilt-rotor eVTOL transition flight

> South Korea officially enters the race for sixth-generation fighter jets to reshape the future of air supremacy

> Will the vegetables of the future be fortified using tiny needles?

Operators at one of the world’s oldest and most inaccessible nuclear storage facilities were stunned to discover a 60-year-old radioactive vacuum cleaner after opening the site’s sealed nuclear vault, untouched since the 1970s.

The unexpected find, a vintage Electrolux once used to clean radioactive dust, was uncovered as teams at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria, England, began routinely retrieving waste from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo.

Built at a time when long-term disposal planning was only starting to take shape, the silo became a repository for decades’ worth of radioactive material, much of it poorly recorded, in a structure never intended to be emptied. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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☢️ Nuclear vault reveals radioactive relic: Vacuum cleaner from 1960s sealed in secrecy

After years of intense engineering effort, retrieval teams finally cracked the code to safely extract the waste stored in the silo’s six cavernous compartments.

According to the UK government, the teams have already removed enough radioactive material to fill 18 stainless-steel storage boxes, with some of the discoveries being complete surprises.

The 1960s household hoover was reportedly used to collect radioactive dust during the site’s operational life in the 1950s and 60s. Once it was no longer necessary, Sellafield’s original workforce had little choice but to consign it to the silo, alongside other contaminated industrial waste.

⚡️ NASA tests world’s first nuclear space power generator that runs on 5x cheaper fuel 

A team of scientists and engineers from the University of Leicester and NASA Glenn Research Center is developing a new nuclear power system for space.

Last year, the university signed an International Space Act Agreement with NASA allowing them to test their electrically-heated simulators of americium heat sources.

By combining these with power converter technologies from NASA Glenn, they aim to develop an innovative power system that could provide electricity to future space missions.

🤖 World’s thinnest robot tram climbs wires, moves like screw to carry tiny payloads

North Carolina State University engineers have unveiled a light-powered soft robot that rolls along aerial cables like a microscopic tram, lugging payloads more than a dozen times its mass and climbing slopes approaching vertical.

The bracelet-shaped machine—made from a single ribbon of twisted liquid-crystal elastomer—travels autonomously when a beam of infrared (IR) light is trained on the line, and has already conquered hair-thin threads, drinking-straw rails, and three-dimensional spirals.

The proof-of-concept, detailed this week in Advanced Science, hints at future inspection bots for power lines, airborne sensor networks, and cargo shuttles across hazardous terrain.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> 20-foot greyhound-like crocodile cousin ruled Caribbean after dinosaur downfall (More)

> Young bats listen to frog sex sounds to differentiate between toxic and tasty prey (More)

> Scientists observe how blobs form crystals and discover a new crystal type (More)

ENERGY

> Wasaline plans largest-ever battery retrofit on world’s greenest ferry to cut emissions (More)

> Organic solar cells record highest-ever efficiency at 8.7%, double the previous record (More)

> UCLA breakthrough extends fuel cell lifespan beyond 200,000 hours, paving the way for clean long-haul trucking (More)

INNOVATION

> Scientists engineer steel-like wood with iron for stronger, greener construction (More)

> Brainy humanoid robot fleet could join US delivery giant for package handling (More)

> Web-controlled sub-$80 robot puts you in the tiny driver's seat (More)

VIDEO

> Video: China’s firefighting robot dogs rain 60-meter jets, scale stairs, stream rescue (More)

> Unitree’s G1 greets guests as Unitree opens its new factory in Hangzhou, China. Measuring at over 10,000 square meters, what does this mean for the future of robotics? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Dark Matter: An 86-lb, 800-hp EV motor by Koenigsegg

> US, UK, and Australia achieve historic first in E-7A Wedgetail refuelling certification

> Global First Test Success for the University of Leicester–NASA Space Power System

> Blackberries with no thorns? A scientist assembles the genome of a blackberry in a major step to breed better fruit

> Amazon launches first 27 operational Kuiper satellites to compete with Starlink

> Researchers discover accelerated reaction between Criegee intermediates and water via the roaming mechanism

Researchers have developed an artificial leaf capable of converting carbon dioxide into liquid fuels and other valuable chemicals using sunlight alone.

The team of experts from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and their international collaborators replicated the incredible productivity of natural photosynthesis, but with the added potential for industrial-scale application.

By harnessing copper’s catalytic power alongside perovskite – a calcium titanium oxide mineral widely used in solar panels – they developed a self-contained system that captures sunlight and converts carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon-carbon (C2) molecules. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🍃 Postage stamp-sized artificial leaf converts CO₂ into fuel using sunlight

The C2 molecules – a green, gaseous inorganic chemical also known as diatomic carbon – are essential building blocks for various industries, including fuel production and plastics.

The team followed the natural processes in the leaf of a plant to build the postage stamp-sized device that mimics the way green plants harvest energy from the sun.

However, instead of chlorophyll – a natural compound found in green plants that gives them their color and plays a key role in the process of photosynthesis – the scientists used lead halide perovskite photoabsorbers to capture sunlight.

🦖World-first dinosaur handbag made from T-Rex leather coming soon

The future of high-end materials might just lie buried in prehistoric dinosaur times.

Creative powerhouse VML, genomic innovators The Organoid Company, and sustainable biotechnology firm Lab-Grown Leather have joined forces to develop the world’s first T-Rex leather made using the extinct creature’s DNA.

Tyrannosaurus Rex, or T-rex, was one of the biggest and most dangerous land predators to have ever existed. Interestingly, reports suggest that the first product could be available by year’s end.

💣 Scientists build world's first black hole bomb inside lab

UK physicists have created the first-ever laboratory version of a black hole bomb. Interestingly, it replicates a decades-old theoretical phenomenon where energy around a spinning black hole builds up and triggers an explosive release.

The research team, led by Hendrik Ulbricht, PhD, a physics professor at the University of Southampton and one of the study’s authors, built the experimental setup using a rotating aluminum cylinder surrounded by magnetic coils.

Even though the experiment did not involve real black holes, the scientists believe it could provide valuable insights into how black holes interact with the fabric of space.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Columbia Engineering researchers have created a new algorithm that enables the reconstruction of the atomic structure of materials from degraded diffraction patterns of fragments of nanocrystals. (More)

> Contraline, a biotech company, has received regulatory approval to move onto Phase 2 of human clinical trials for a male contraceptive that conveniently blocks sperm for up to two years. (More)

> An international collaboration of scientists from China, the UK, and the USA has delved deep into Uturuncu volcano’s inner workings. (More)

ENERGY

> China has approved a series of new nuclear power projects, including Phase III of the Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant in East China’s Zhejiang province. (More)

> Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automakers, has partnered with Factorial Energy, a battery technology startup, to validate the successful development of a new semi-solid-state battery cell. (More)

> Britain’s flagship nuclear power project has encountered an unexpected safety hazard. Hundreds of rats scuttle through work zones, canteens, and waste skips at the Hinkley Point C construction site. (More)

INNOVATION

> Japanese tech giant Fujitsu and leading research institute RIKEN have announced a major breakthrough with the development of a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer, hailed as one of the most powerful systems of its kind in the world. (More)

> China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has deployed Type 22 fast attack missile boats to target US Navy warships in the South China Sea. (More)

> Meet Adam, a cutting-edge humanoid robot with a proprietary reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm. (More)

VIDEO

> Saab’s Gripen: a fast, agile, cost-effective fighter built for rugged ops and high-tech air combat dominance. (More)

> Sunscreen is such an integral aspect to protecting our skin. But do you know how it REALLY works? Is there really a possibility that it could be toxic? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> 'Dinosaur fish' thought extinct reveals itself in Blancpain mission

> New chip tests cooling solutions for stacked microelectronics

> Trump Fast-Tracks Deep-Sea Mining, Endangering a Still-Unexplored Ocean World

> Vacuum found with Sellafield nuclear waste not meant to be opened

> The first giant 15 MW turbine is up at Germany’s largest offshore wind farm

> China’s high-power microwave gun fires 10,000 shots in test, proving vacuum tech

China is reportedly planning to develop a space traffic management system for the sustainable use of low Earth orbit.

According to officials from the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Earth observation and data centre, low Earth orbit could become overcrowded with around 100,000 satellites based on current projections. Therefore, there is an urgency for better space traffic management.

They caution that a lack of such a system could lead to overlapping projects and repetitive competition, ultimately hindering the growth of the space industry. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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🛰️ China plans space traffic system for 100,000 satellites for smooth ops

The Chinese government plans to provide strong backing for the commercial space sector, which is building several large-scale satellite constellations.

Industry data indicates that China has 58 satellite factories either in operation, under construction, or in the planning stages. Based on publicly available capacity estimates, the country’s satellite output is expected to surpass 5,000 units per year by the end of 2025.

Among the major initiatives, Shanghai-based Spacecom Satellite Technology is building the G60 Starlink communications network, which is expected to eventually include around 15,000 satellites.

❄️ Mini ice age possibly led to end of Roman Empire, suggests Iceland rocks

A new study from Queen’s University found geological evidence in Iceland pointing to a climate crisis as a key factor in the Roman Empire’s ultimate demise.

In the sixth century AD, three massive volcanic eruptions triggered a climate crisis known as the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA).

Ash blocked out sunlight for 200-300 years, causing a drop in global temperatures that exacerbated the problems that the faltering Roman Empire already faced.

🌎 Super-Earth exoplanets more common across universe than thought: Study

Scientists have discovered that super-Earth exoplanets are more common across the universe than previously thought.

The team studied light anomalies made by the newly found planet’s host star and combined their results with a larger sample from the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) microlensing survey.

Researchers came to the conclusion that super-Earths can exist as far from their host star as our gas giants are from the sun.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Research into deconfined quantum critical points leads to the revelation of previously unknown organization in the quantum world. (More)

> A remarkable Medieval ship has been unearthed in Barcelona, Spain, at a significant archaeological site, offering insights into the city’s rich maritime past. (More)

> A recent study aims to explain how classical interference patterns emerge from the quantum realm. The research proposes that these patterns originate from particular quantum states of light known as bright and dark states. (More)

ENERGY

> Scientists have demonstrated that a surface reconstruction strategy can enable affordable hydrogen fuel production. (More)

> China’s Deepal S09 SUV is built around the brand’s next-generation Super Range Extension 2.0 technology, combining a 1.5T range extender with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. (More)

> Researchers in South Korea have achieved a fifteen-fold increase in the speed of predicting high-energy particle collisions within fusion reactors. (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force Academy have created a new device called the satellite Speedometer. (More)

> In Wuhan, Central China, doctors successfully implanted a 45-gram, bottle cap-sized magnetically levitated artificial heart into a 7-year-old boy, offering a new option for treating pediatric heart failure. (More)

> At the Shanghai Auto Show, Japanese automobile giant Toyota unveiled its new flagship electric sedan, the bZ7, which marks the company’s entry into the large electric vehicle market in China. (More)

VIDEO

> Geothermal energy has the potential to rival the power of nuclear energy. But what is geothermal energy? How does it work, and what about it makes it so powerful in the first place? (More)

> From F-15 power to F-22 stealth, USAF fighters evolve to rule the skies with tech, speed, and unmatched dominance. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> North Korea Launches New Destroyer Choi Hyon at Ceremony Led by Kim Jong-un

> Japan Reveals New Quantum Monster Shattering Limits With 4X the Power

> China tops global rankings in overall nuclear power scale for first time

> Animal energy usage made visible through video

> Lunar Space Station Module for NASA’s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting

> Ancient Egyptian prince's tomb discovered at Saqqara has a 'false' pink door