Azerbaijani designers unveiled their first air defense laser system, named Fireforce, at the ADEX-2024 defense exhibition in Baku. This 30-kilowatt system is designed to intercept drones within a range of approximately 1,000 meters and is mounted on a Toyota Hilux armored SUV. Developers are also working on a more powerful 50-kilowatt version, which will enhance target interception capabilities. The potential of laser weapons is illustrated … Continue reading Azerbaijan Presents Fireforce C-UAS Laser System

The USS Preble, a 9,700-ton Arleigh Burke-class destroyer equipped with a powerful laser weapon system, has departed Naval Base San Diego for Japan to bolster U.S. naval presence in the Indo-Pacific amid rising Chinese military activity. The Preble, set to replace the USS Benfold at Yokosuka naval base, is the only destroyer of its class armed with the 60-kilowatt High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler … Continue reading US Sends Laser-Armed Warship to Front-Line Base Near China

Hackers linked to the Chinese government have infiltrated several U.S. internet service providers, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. This operation, named Salt Typhoon, aims to establish a presence in U.S. broadband networks to access sensitive data or launch cyberattacks. Concurrently, U.S. officials recently disrupted a network of over 200,000 devices infected by a Chinese hacking team known as Flax Typhoon. Another operation, Volt … Continue reading Beijing hackers target US internet providers

German armament companies MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall have partnered to bring a High-Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system to market within the next 5 to 10 years. Following successful 15-month trials on the German Navy frigate FGS Sachsen, the HEL system proved capable of high-precision engagement at the speed of light, with low optical detectability and minimal collateral damage. While current systems operate at 50-100kw, Germany … Continue reading German industry confirm delivery of naval laser weapon by 2030

Felix Delarosa, 39, was arrested after a SWAT standoff in Lubbock, Texas, where he fired at police and a bomb squad robot. After refusing negotiators’ orders, Delarosa tried to outsmart the robot by covering it with a towel, but the machine deployed tear gas into his room. Disoriented, he crawled out, only to be rammed and pinned by the robot, allowing SWAT to arrest him, … Continue reading Texas man gets in shootout with a robot, loses and is then arrested in wild video

The Chinese government has launched a new hacking campaign targeting U.S. organizations, raising concerns about its potential ability to disrupt critical infrastructure. FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed at the Aspen Cyber Summit that the FBI and partners had taken control of thousands of devices infected by the China-backed hacking group, Flax Typhoon. This group has compromised routers, firewalls, and IoT devices, with half of the … Continue reading Chinese hacking now threatens U.S. infrastructure

Xpeng AeroHT’s modular flying car, the Land Aircraft Carrier, has already received over 3,000 pre-orders despite the lack of a manufacturing facility, with trial production slated to begin in July 2025 and mass production expected by 2026. The car, priced around 2 million yuan (about $280,000), features a 5.5-meter EREV carrier with a 1,000 km range and onboard aircraft charging. Xpeng plans to produce 10,000 … Continue reading Xpeng modular flying car got over 3,000 orders before presales

CERN’s new laser, Zeus, is the world’s most powerful and could revolutionize science. Built at the University of Michigan, Zeus emits pulses of three petawatts, simulating conditions in distant galaxies and near cosmic phenomena like black holes. It has already revealed unexpected particle interactions, potentially transforming our understanding of the universe and advancing fields like nuclear fusion, materials science, and quantum computing. Zeus’s breakthroughs have … Continue reading Zeus, the most powerful laser ever created, causes a worldwide shock

AI scientists are calling for global oversight to prevent potential catastrophic outcomes from AI, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and governance. A statement from the group, released on September 16, highlighted concerns about losing control over advanced AI systems and the lack of sufficient science to manage these risks. They advocate for national authorities to handle AI incidents and the creation of a global … Continue reading AI could soon be beyond our control, scientists worried

The Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has launched its first operational satellite-ground laser communication system, marking a significant advancement in China’s space technology. The new system, which went into regular operation from the Pamir Plateau, is expected to dramatically increase data transmission speeds from around 6GB per second to several hundred gigabytes per second. This enhancement is crucial for receiving … Continue reading China activates first satellite-ground laser communication system

Chipotle Mexican Grill is piloting two robots in California to assist with avocado prep for guacamole and the assembly of burrito bowls. The Autocado robot can cut, core, and peel avocados in an average of 26 seconds, significantly reducing the time for guacamole preparation. Although employees will still mash the avocados by hand, the automation is expected to ease the workload, particularly as Chipotle anticipates … Continue reading Chipotle Mexican Grill tries out robots 

China’s low-latitude, long-range ionospheric radar (LARID) on Hainan Island has detected equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) above the Midway Islands and Egypt for the first time. These anomalies occur in the ionosphere, where UV light creates ion layers, but sometimes irregularities form, disrupting communication signals. LARID, with a detection range of nearly 6,000 miles, identified these bubbles during a solar storm in November 2023, Popular Mechanics … Continue reading Mysterious Plasma Bubbles Have Appeared Over the Pyramids

Hyperloop technology, involving capsules traveling through depressurized tubes on magnetic fields, has made notable progress in the northern Netherlands. Hardt Hyperloop successfully levitated a test vehicle and operated its guidance and propulsion systems in a 420-meter test tube. The technology aims to achieve speeds of up to 700 kph (435 mph), offering a more efficient alternative to short-haul flights and high-speed rail. The current test … Continue reading A capsule has been propelled through a hyperloop test tube in a step forward for the transit system

Later this year, residents of Rhode Island might witness the first manned flights of the Viceroy seaglider, an electric aircraft by Regent that uses wing-in-ground effect to enhance range. This battery-powered passenger vehicle combines elements of a seaplane, hydrofoil, and ground-effect aircraft. It aims to offer a green and cost-effective transportation solution for coastal and island communities. The Viceroy is expected to travel up to … Continue reading Quirky ground-effect ‘seaglider’ approved for full-scale flight tests

Chinese scientists have used advanced radar to detect plasma bubbles above the Egyptian pyramids and Midway Islands. The Low Latitude Long Range Ionospheric Radar (LARID), developed by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, can monitor these disruptions in the ionosphere, which affect satellite communications and GPS. Announced on August 27, LARID’s recent detection, which spans from North Africa to the central Pacific, is the largest … Continue reading China’s Powerful LARID Radar Detects Plasma Bubble Over Egyptian Pyramids 

The Army is introducing a new autonomous equipment decontamination system to enhance safety for soldiers dealing with chemical and biological weapons. Previously, soldiers had to wear bulky NBC suits and spend up to an hour decontaminating vehicles, a process that was both risky and time-consuming. The new robotic system uses cameras and a mobile platform to identify and clean contaminated areas, allowing soldiers to stay … Continue reading The military robot protecting soldiers from chemical, biological dangers

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon revealed that the company, in collaboration with Samsung and Google, is developing mixed-reality glasses that will pair with smartphones, offering a different approach from Apple’s larger headset. This partnership, which began last year, aims to blend augmented and virtual reality. Amon anticipates that the glasses will enhance user experiences and hopes they become a popular accessory for smartphone users, CNBC has … Continue reading Qualcomm says it’s working on mixed reality smart glasses with Samsung and Google

Agility Robotics will start manufacturing its new humanoid robots, Digit, at its 70,000-square-foot facility in southeast Salem by the end of the year. The company, which moved from a smaller site in Tangent due to space constraints, plans to produce up to 10,000 robots annually and employ 500 people. Digit robots, designed for repetitive tasks in warehouses, are already being tested by Amazon. Agility’s co-founder, … Continue reading Agility Robotics will produce 10,000 humanoid robots per year at its new facility

X, one of the world’s most popular social networks, was blocked in Brazil on Saturday after Elon Musk refused to comply with local laws. The ban, enforced by internet providers and mobile companies, left millions of Brazilian users unable to access the platform. In response, Bluesky gained 500,000 new users in two days, including prominent Brazilian influencer Felipe Neto, The Guardian has reported. The ban … Continue reading X goes offline in Brazil after Elon’s refusal to comply

California lawmakers have approved several bills aimed at regulating the AI industry, combating deepfakes, and protecting workers. The measures include banning deepfakes related to elections, requiring social media platforms to remove deceptive content before and after Election Day, and mandating campaign disclosures of AI-altered ads. Other proposals criminalize the use of AI to create child sexual abuse images and require tech companies to provide AI … Continue reading California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, regulate AI

Chinese tech and automation companies are ramping up R&D in humanoid robots, anticipating significant growth in demand across service, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Wuxi Longsheng Technology is working with local authorities to apply humanoid robots in manufacturing, with ongoing trials and system improvements. Shenzhen’s Jwipc Technology has introduced a high-performance controller for various robots, including humanoid models, using NVIDIA’s Isaac platform, ECNS has reported. Analysts … Continue reading Chinese tech firms accelerate humanoid robot R&D

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli defense technology company, reported a record backlog of orders worth NIS 59 billion at the end of Q2, with notable growth in the Americas and a slight decline in Israeli sales. The company’s Q2 revenue increased by 25% year-over-year to NIS 3.9 billion, with new orders rising to NIS 6.4 billion. Since the start of the year, Rafael has … Continue reading Rafael CEO: Iron Beam laser air-defense operational next year

Retailers are increasingly adopting robotic solutions in response to labor shortages caused by aging populations and declining birth rates in developed countries, particularly in Europe, Japan, and South Korea. GlobalData’s report highlights the growing need for automation as the working-age population continues to shrink, leading to significant talent shortfalls in industries like hospitality. Robotics, offering high efficiency and low maintenance, are seen as a viable … Continue reading Ageing populations spell a robotic future for food and drink retailers

Security robots are increasingly being used across the U.S., from New York to Hawaii, to patrol residential communities and apartment buildings. While they offer the potential to complement human security guards, concerns have arisen about privacy, job losses, and their actual effectiveness in enhancing public safety. Though there’s limited public data to prove their reliability, experts argue that these robots excel in routine tasks, allowing … Continue reading Security robots are starting to join the ranks of human guards

Apple has announced a special event on September 9, where the iPhone 16 is expected to be unveiled. The event, tagged “It’s Glowtime,” will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater and streamed online. The iPhone 16 is anticipated to feature advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, building on AI tools like personalized Genmoji and a smarter Siri, introduced earlier this year. While the AI enhancements … Continue reading Apple is expected to debut the first generative AI iPhone at its September 9 event