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Inside the Battery Revolution: How Your Smartphone Will Charge Faster, Last Longer, and Save the Planet

Inside the Battery Revolution: How Your Smartphone Will Charge Faster, Last Longer, and Save the Planet

Most smartphone batteries retain about 80% of their capacity after 500 complete charge cycles (roughly 1.5–2 years). Xiaomi demonstrated 210W HyperCharge that can fill a 4,000 mAh battery in about 8 minutes. Qi2 was announced in 2023 and supports up to 15W wireless charging, with the iPhone 15 (late 2024) first to officially support it. In 2024 Apple switched the iPhone to USB-C, enabling universal high-powered charging and compatibility with GaN chargers. Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging pauses charging near 80% until needed, while Google’s Pixel Adaptive Charging schedules the final 20% to finish by your alarm time. Honor Magic5 Pro
30 July 2025
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Solid-State Batteries: The Game-Changer Powering a New Battery Revolution in 2025

Solid-State Batteries: The Game-Changer Powering a New Battery Revolution in 2025

Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid electrolyte, often a ceramic, glass, or solid polymer, and many designs use lithium metal anodes. Prototype solid-state cells have demonstrated energy densities of about 300–450 Wh/kg, with Mercedes-Benz and Factorial reporting roughly 450 Wh/kg. Toyota claims its solid-state EV batteries will charge from 10% to 80% in roughly 10 minutes. Solid-state batteries use non-flammable solid electrolytes, drastically reducing fire risk and leakage compared with liquid electrolytes. Volkswagen reported a solid-state prototype that retained 95% of its capacity after 1,000 charge cycles (about 500,000 km). In 2025, solid-state production costs are around
30 July 2025
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Blazing Beyond Mach 2: Inside the World’s Fastest Fighter Jets and the Hypersonic Race

Blazing Beyond Mach 2: Inside the World’s Fastest Fighter Jets and the Hypersonic Race

SR-71 Blackbird set the official world speed record for air-breathing crewed aircraft at 2,193 mph (Mach 3.3) in 1976. In 1965, a Lockheed YF-12A interceptor achieved 2,070 mph (Mach 3.17), a world speed record for its time. In 1958, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter set a world speed record above Mach 2, proving fighters could double the speed of sound. The MiG-25 Foxbat achieved Mach 3.2 in a 1973 high-altitude dash, but operational limits were held at about Mach 2.8 to protect the engines. The MiG-31 Foxhound can reach about Mach 2.83 top speed at altitude and is described as the
30 July 2025
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Inside Tajikistan’s Internet: Connectivity Challenges, Costs, and the Satellite Solution

Inside Tajikistan’s Internet: Connectivity Challenges, Costs, and the Satellite Solution

Since 2016, Tajikistan requires all ISPs to route international traffic through the state-controlled Single Communications Gateway via EKTs, enabling surveillance and censorship. Fixed-line broadband penetration is effectively zero, with about 6,000 fixed broadband subscriptions nationwide (roughly 0.07% of the population) as of 2025. Mobile internet dominates, with 10.54 million active mobile connections by early 2024 (about 102.9% of the population) and 4G coverage reaching roughly 72% of people by end-2022. Tajiktelecom monopoly on international bandwidth; in 2018 the government deprived ISPs of the right to buy international bandwidth from abroad, forcing purchases from Tajiktelecom at inflated prices, with bandwidth sold
30 July 2025
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December 2025 Skywatch Alerts: Geminids Meteor Storm, Rare Planetary Sights & Auroras Galore

December 2025 Skywatch Alerts: Geminids Meteor Storm, Rare Planetary Sights & Auroras Galore

The Geminid meteor shower peaks overnight on December 13–14, 2025, with as many as 100–150 meteors per hour under dark skies, originating from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The Ursid meteor shower peaks around December 21–22, 2025, near 11:00 UTC, typically producing 5–10 meteors per hour under dark skies thanks to a new Moon on December 20. Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation on December 7, 2025, about 20° west of the Sun, with magnitude around −0.5 and visible low in the southeastern dawn sky about 30–45 minutes before sunrise. On December 7, 2025, a Moon–Jupiter conjunction occurs with a Moon about
30 July 2025
Don’t Miss November 2025’s Sky Spectacles – Meteor Fireballs, Supermoon & Auroras Galore

Don’t Miss November 2025’s Sky Spectacles – Meteor Fireballs, Supermoon & Auroras Galore

The Taurid meteor showers peak with the Southern Taurids around November 5 and the Northern Taurids around November 9, 2025, in a year noted for a Taurid “swarm” of larger meteoroids. The Leonid meteor shower peaks on the night of November 16–17, 2025, under a ~9% illuminated Moon, offering about 15 meteors per hour and some of the fastest at ~70 km/s. November 5, 2025, hosts the Beaver Moon full Moon, the brightest full Moon of 2025 and about 7–8% larger than average, which can flood the sky with light. There are no solar or lunar eclipses in November 2025;
30 July 2025
Don’t Miss These Skywatch Wonders in October 2025

Don’t Miss These Skywatch Wonders in October 2025

The Draconid meteor shower peaks around October 8, 2025, but a full Moon on October 6–7 will wash out most meteors, making outbursts of hundreds to thousands per hour unlikely, and its parent comet is 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The Orionids peak on the nights of October 21–22, 2025, producing about 20 meteors per hour under dark skies from Halley’s Comet debris, with a near-new Moon (~2% illumination) aiding viewing. The Harvest Moon and first Harvest Supermoon of 2025 occurs on October 6, 2025, when the full Moon reaches peak fullness at 11:47 p.m. EDT near its perigee. Saturn remains a prominent evening
30 July 2025
All Eyes on the Skies: September 2025 Celestial Spectacles (Meteor Showers, Eclipses & More)

All Eyes on the Skies: September 2025 Celestial Spectacles (Meteor Showers, Eclipses & More)

September 7, 2025 features a total lunar eclipse (Blood Moon) with about 83 minutes of totality, visible across Antarctica, Australia, Asia, the western Pacific and Africa, peaking around 18:11 UTC. A deep partial solar eclipse on September 21, 2025 reaches about 85% coverage, with maximum at 19:41 UTC and best views from New Zealand and nearby open-ocean regions between NZ and Antarctica. Saturn at opposition on September 21, 2025 appears near magnitude 0.6 with its rings tilted about 2° toward Earth, though the ring-plane is almost edge-on this year. Venus is occulted by the Moon on September 19, 2025, visible
30 July 2025
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August 2025 Skywatch Alerts: Meteor Showers, Planetary Parades & Celestial Surprises

August 2025 Skywatch Alerts: Meteor Showers, Planetary Parades & Celestial Surprises

Perseid Meteor Shower peaks on the night of August 11–12 (into the pre-dawn of August 13), with up to about 100 shooting stars per hour under dark skies, though the August 9 full Sturgeon Moon at 84–90% illumination will wash out many dim meteors. On the morning of August 10, a rare six-planet parade will place Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn visible to the naked eye, with Uranus and Neptune needing binoculars, and a nearly full Moon passing near Saturn. Aug 12 dawn sees a Venus–Jupiter conjunction with about 0.8 degrees separation; Venus at magnitude −4.0 and Jupiter at −1.9,
30 July 2025
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Spectacular Skywatching Alert: Twin Meteor Showers, Dazzling Planets & More on July 30–31, 2025

Spectacular Skywatching Alert: Twin Meteor Showers, Dazzling Planets & More on July 30–31, 2025

Two meteor showers—Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids—are near peak around July 30, 2025, with the best viewing on the nights of July 29–31 under dark skies. Southern Delta Aquariids originate from debris of comet 96P/Machholz and run roughly July 18–August 12, with ideal conditions producing about 15–20 meteors per hour. Alpha Capricornids peak around July 30 and are known for slow, bright fireballs with long-lasting trails, linked to the parent body 169P/NEAT. The Moon will be about 27% illuminated at the peak, reducing moonlight interference with meteor visibility. Venus (magnitude −4.1) and Jupiter (magnitude −1.9) are visible in the
30 July 2025
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Space Race 2.0 Heats Up: Starlink Mega-Launch, Moon Deals & NASA-Russia Reunion Rock the Space World

Space Race 2.0 Heats Up: Starlink Mega-Launch, Moon Deals & NASA-Russia Reunion Rock the Space World

SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 11:37 p.m. EDT on July 29, 2025, and the Falcon 9 first stage landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions,” marking the booster’s 26th flight and pushing Starlink to over 8,000 active satellites. SpaceX marked its 96th launch of 2025 on July 29, 2025, underscoring a near-daily cadence for the year. NASA’s Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for liftoff on July 31, 2025 at 12:09 p.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center, with four astronauts including Mike Fincke and a multinational crew, and NASA’s
30 July 2025
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From Foldable Phones to Moon Missions: The Biggest Tech News Roundup (July 29–30, 2025)

From Foldable Phones to Moon Missions: The Biggest Tech News Roundup (July 29–30, 2025)

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, with the Fold7 starting at $1,999 and the Flip7 FE at $899, and the Fold7 being 26% thinner and 10% lighter than its predecessor, with a tri-foldable phone teased for year-end. Opera filed an antitrust complaint in Brazil against Microsoft, accusing Edge’s default pre-installation of hindering browser competition. Sony Interactive Entertainment sued Tencent over a “slavish clone” of Horizon Zero Dawn called Light of Motiram, seeking damages and an injunction. Figma raised its IPO price range to target an $18.8 billion valuation, expects about $1.2 billion in proceeds, and reports
30 July 2025
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AI’s 48-Hour Whirlwind: Tech Giants Launch Next-Gen Tools as Regulators Strike Back (July 29–30, 2025)

AI’s 48-Hour Whirlwind: Tech Giants Launch Next-Gen Tools as Regulators Strike Back (July 29–30, 2025)

OpenAI rolled out a new ChatGPT “study mode” on July 29, 2025, turning the chatbot into a personal tutor with step-by-step prompts, interactive quizzes, and tailored hints. Google DeepMind upgraded Google Search AI Mode on July 29, 2025, introducing Canvas to structure study guides from uploaded notes, with Live AI interactions via Google Lens and a forthcoming desktop “what’s on your screen” overview. Skild AI unveiled Skild Brain on July 29, 2025, a general-purpose robotics AI model designed to run on nearly any robot, trained from simulations and human demonstrations with built-in force safety limits. Anthropic launched Claude for Financial
30 July 2025
Austria’s 2025 Drone Laws: Strict Rules, No‑Fly Zones, and Steep Fines

Austria’s 2025 Drone Laws: Strict Rules, No‑Fly Zones, and Steep Fines

Austro Control is Austria’s aviation regulator for unmanned aircraft, enforcing EU drone rules under the Austrian Aviation Act, with policy aligned to the EU framework since 2021. Austria follows the EU Open, Specific, and Certified categories, with the Open category limited to drones under 25 kg flown in visual line of sight at up to 120 meters, and subdivided into A1, A2, and A3. Drone operator registration is mandatory through the Dronespace platform—costing about €31.20 and valid for three years—while drones under 250 g with no camera are exempt. Remote pilots must obtain a competency certificate through Austro Control’s Dronespace,
30 July 2025
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Inside the NSFW AI Revolution: How AI-Generated Porn Is Changing the Game and Courting Controversy

Inside the NSFW AI Revolution: How AI-Generated Porn Is Changing the Game and Courting Controversy

The Take It Down Act was passed in April 2025 and signed into law in May 2025, making it a federal crime to create or share nonconsensual AI-generated intimate imagery and requiring platforms to remove such content within 48 hours. In May 2025, Mr. Deepfakes shut down after a critical service provider withdrew support, effectively dismantling the central hub of the deepfake porn network. A landmark Sensity report found that 95–96% of online deepfakes were nonconsensual sexual imagery, highlighting the scale of this abuse. In May 2024, Google updated its policies to ban advertisements for platforms that create deepfake porn
30 July 2025
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Digital Zen: How VR Meditation Is Becoming the Next Big Stress-Relief Trend

Digital Zen: How VR Meditation Is Becoming the Next Big Stress-Relief Trend

In early 2024, Headspace launched its first VR experience, Headspace XR, on Meta’s Quest headset, developed with funding from Meta. In 2024, TRIPP announced an expansion to Apple’s Vision Pro, blending virtual meditation worldscapes with mixed reality. In its first two years, TRIPP users logged over 5.5 million meditation sessions. TRIPP acquired EvolVR, which had 40,000 participants in its online group meditations in 2020. A 2023 Texas A&M University study found VR-enhanced meditation reduced anxiety and depression more than traditional meditation, using Oculus Quest 2 headsets. A 2024 Mayo Clinic randomized trial with 100 open-heart surgery patients found VR meditation
30 July 2025
Can Tech Cure Insomnia? Exploring the Gadgets That Promise the Best Sleep of Your Life

Can Tech Cure Insomnia? Exploring the Gadgets That Promise the Best Sleep of Your Life

The global sleep tech devices market was valued at over $21 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow rapidly. In 2024, major wearables such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch gained FDA-approved sleep apnea detection capabilities. The latest Oura Ring Generation 4 includes research-grade sensors for blood oxygen and breathing disturbances to flag sleep apnea and related issues. Sleep Number 360 smart beds track heart rate, breathing, and movement, and automatically adjust firmness and can tilt or vibrate to reduce snoring. Eight Sleep’s Pod 3 Cover is a water-cooled or heated mattress topper that maintains temperature on
30 July 2025
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Connecting São Tomé and Príncipe: Internet Access in 2025 – Infrastructure, Challenges, and Opportunities

Connecting São Tomé and Príncipe: Internet Access in 2025 – Infrastructure, Challenges, and Opportunities

As of January 2025, internet penetration stands at 61.5% of the population (about 146,000 online) with around 170,000 active mobile connections. The Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable landed in São Tomé in 2012–2013, with its final southern segment completed in 2021, increasing international bandwidth from about 50 Mbps to over 4,500 Mbps. CST accounts for about 95% of internet subscriptions, and Unitel STP entered the market in 2014 after a unified license granted in 2013 for $1.62 million. Unitel STP launched the first 4G LTE service in May 2023, and by 2025 4G is available in the capital
29 July 2025
Why Your Next TV Might Be a Projector: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Why Your Next TV Might Be a Projector: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

In 2025, a midrange projector plus a screen can deliver a 120-inch image for about $2,000, cheaper than most 98-inch LED TVs. The Epson LS12000 uses a laser light engine with 3LCD imaging to produce a native 4K (3840×2160) picture with deep blacks and 1,500–3,000 lumens brightness. JVC’s DLA-NZ8 and NZ9 are native 4K (D-ILA) projectors famed for deep blacks, with some models offering 8K e-shift upscaling. No consumer projector has a native 8K chip in 2025; 8K is achieved via techniques like e-shift on high-end models, often costing around $25,000. The BenQ X3100i is a 4LED DLP projector that
29 July 2025
The Smart Kitchen Revolution: Top Devices, Brands & Trends in 2024–2025

The Smart Kitchen Revolution: Top Devices, Brands & Trends in 2024–2025

The global market for smart kitchen appliances is projected to reach $14.4 billion by 2030, up from $5.3 billion in 2023. Samsung’s 4-Door Flex Bespoke with AI Family Hub+ features AI Vision Inside cameras that can recognize over 30 food items and track inventory automatically. LG’s Signature InstaView French Door fridge uses a transparent T-OLED display on the door and internal AI cameras to recognize foods and suggest recipes via the ThinQ app. CES 2025 saw Hisense unveil the PureFlat 4-Door Smart Fridge with DishDesigner AI (Microsoft Azure) and a FreshVault vacuum-sealed drawer that keeps meat and seafood fresh up
29 July 2025
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Stock Market Today

Applied Digital stock jumps 25% as AI data-center names rebound — what’s next for APLD

Applied Digital stock jumps 25% as AI data-center names rebound — what’s next for APLD

7 February 2026
Applied Digital Corporation shares jumped 25.52% Friday to $34.95, then slipped to $34.60 after hours. The company reported fiscal Q2 revenue up 250% to $126.6 million and signed leases for 600 MW of data center capacity in North Dakota. Applied Digital broke ground on a new 430‑MW campus in the southern U.S. in January. Financing includes a $100 million promissory note with 8% interest, paid in kind.
Eli Lilly stock pops as FDA targets cheap weight-loss copycats — what to know before Monday

Eli Lilly stock pops as FDA targets cheap weight-loss copycats — what to know before Monday

7 February 2026
Eli Lilly shares rose 3.7% to $1,058.18 Friday after the FDA said it would act against telehealth firm Hims & Hers for marketing a $49 compounded weight-loss pill. The move followed a sharp selloff Thursday when Hims announced plans to sell a version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. Investors remain uncertain how aggressively regulators will police copycat drugs and pricing in the obesity drug market.
Saudi Aramco share price set for Sunday test after Tadawul ends market-making deal

Saudi Aramco share price set for Sunday test after Tadawul ends market-making deal

7 February 2026
Saudi Exchange approved Merrill Lynch KSA’s exit as market maker for Saudi Aramco, effective Feb. 8. Aramco shares closed at 25.60 riyals Thursday, down 0.06, with 22.1 million traded. The Tadawul index fell 1.3% as Brent crude dropped to $67.93. Aramco set March official selling prices at $2.10 above Argus for North America and $0.65 above ICE Brent for Western Europe.
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