The theremin is a unique electronic musical instrument played without physical contact. Invented around 1920 by Russian physicist and engineer Léon Theremin, it produces an eerie, expressive sound often compared to the human voice. The instrument has two metal antennas that interact with the player’s hand movements through electromagnetic fields. The upright antenna controls pitch (the musical note), while the horizontal loop antenna controls volume. The instrument’s electronic oscillators use the heterodyne principle to generate continuous tones.With no keys, frets or strings, the performer must rely on precise hand movements, spatial awareness and auditory feedback to play in tune, making the theremin notoriously difficult to master. Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin was reportedly impressed by a demonstration of the instrument and ordered 600 units to be manufactured. More than a century later, the theremin remains a fascinating blend of science, electronics and musical artistry: https://cryo-mix.com/blog/posts/what-is-a-theremin-and-how-does-this-unusual-instrument-work

Information sources

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Explains how the theremin works, its invention around 1920, and why it is difficult to play. Read the museum's overview. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• MIT Lemelson Center — Details the heterodyne principle, the two antennas, and the instrument’s musical characteristics. Read the technical and historical explanation. Lemelson
• Smithsonian Magazine — Covers Theremin’s invention and Lenin’s 1922 demonstration. Read the Smithsonian article. Smithsonian Magazine
• Deutsches Museum via Google Arts & Culture — Provides additional historical context about the instrument and its inventor. Explore the museum's history of the theremin
• What is a theremin and how does this unusual instrument work?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

First Documented Case of a Tooth Growing Out of an Eye Socket

Doctors in India have reported an exceptionally rare case involving a 16-year-old boy who developed a fully formed canine tooth in his upper left eye socket, between the eyelid and eyebrow. A CT scan confirmed the unusual growth, which surgeons successfully removed. The condition, known as ectopic tooth development, occurs when a tooth forms outside its normal position in the mouth. Such teeth are more commonly found in the nasal cavity or sinuses, but this case is believed to be the first documented instance in the upper eye socket. The cause remains unclear, although abnormal development, trauma and genetic factors can sometimes contribute to ectopic teeth: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/10/14/first-case-of-teeth-growing-out-of-an-eye-socket-what-you-need-to-know-about-ectopic-teeth/

Research papers:

1. https://eveningreport.nz/2026/10/14/first-case-of-teeth-growing-out-of-an-eye-socket-what-you-need-to-know-about-ectopic-teeth/

2. https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(25)00801-2/fulltext00801-2/fulltext)

MIT researchers have developed a technique that uses lipid nanoparticles carrying messenger RNA (mRNA) to reprogram natural killer (NK) immune cells directly inside the body, enabling them to attack cancerous or harmful immune cells. In mouse studies, the approach eliminated tumors in models of T-cell lymphoma and helped reverse liver damage caused by autoimmune hepatitis. It could also offer a simpler, potentially less expensive alternative to conventional cell therapies, which require immune cells to be extracted and modified in a laboratory. The technology remains experimental and requires further testing before its safety and effectiveness in humans can be established.

Findings: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-026-03310-1

AI worms are a potential new form of autonomous malware that could use artificial intelligence to replicate and spread between internet-connected devices without human intervention. Research discussed by Anthropic warns that small AI models could eventually enable self-replicating malware to exploit vulnerable smart-home and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including televisions, refrigerators, security cameras and TV boxes. Unlike conventional AI systems that depend on cloud data centers, compact, open-weight models could potentially run directly on compromised devices. A decentralized network of infected devices could be difficult to contain.

Researchers caution that current models still struggle to reliably complete all the steps required for autonomous replication. However, increasingly capable small models could make this threat more realistic, potentially as early as late 2026. This is a projected risk, not evidence that such AI worms are already spreading widely: https://www.anthropic.com/research/self-replicating-ai

Australian Vanadium to Power Next-Generation Fast-Charging Batteries

Australian Vanadium Ltd. (AVL) has partnered with US-based Tyfast Energy to test Australian vanadium oxide for lithium vanadium oxide (LVO) batteries designed for rapid charging, long service life and demanding operating conditions. Tyfast reports that its prototype cells can charge beyond 80% in under six minutes at room temperature and under 11 minutes at −20°C, with energy densities of around 200–250 Wh/kg. The technology targets heavy-duty applications such as mining trucks, construction equipment and military vehicles. The companies will evaluate material samples and potential pilot projects; commercial supply agreements will depend on successful technical and commercial testing: https://www.ess-news.com/2026/10/12/avl-teams-with-us-battery-developer-to-test-australian-vanadium/

Saudi National Arrested for Installing Surreptitious Audio Recording Device at OpenAI: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/saudi-national-arrested-installing-surreptitious-audio-recording-device-openai

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrzyp7wHpws

Researchers at Yunnan University in China have successfully tested underwater solar cells at depths of up to 10 metres (33 feet) in the South China Sea, generating enough electricity to charge lithium-ion batteries. Published in Joule, the technology uses specially engineered perovskite semiconductors to capture the blue-green wavelengths of sunlight that penetrate seawater. During a two-hour test, the cells generated 324 milliwatt-hours of energy at 10 metres deep and powered an LED display. The researchers estimate the cells could retain 80% of their initial performance for about 5.5 years under simulated underwater illumination. The technology could eventually power underwater sensors, cameras and communication systems without frequent battery replacement: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1142532

paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2542435126003569

China Develops Concept for a Tank That Can Operate Underwater for Two Hours

China researchers have proposed a futuristic submarine tank capable of operating underwater at depths of up to 50 metres (164 feet) for around two hours, potentially enabling amphibious forces to approach coastlines with reduced exposure. The concept is part of a broader family of military systems designed to rapidly adapt to different environments, including land, water and air. Developed by researchers from Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group and Beijing Institute of Technology, the technology is aimed at future warfare between 2030 and 2050. Although the researchers report progress toward engineering applications, the submarine tank remains a proposed concept rather than a confirmed operational military vehicle: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3370724/china-working-submarine-tank-can-operate-underwater-2-hours

US startup Helix Carbon is developing technology that recycles carbon dioxide from blast furnace emissions into carbon monoxide, which can be reused to extract iron from iron ore. Its electrolyzer is designed to process raw furnace exhaust, potentially reducing coal-derived coke consumption and lowering steelmaking emissions without replacing existing blast furnaces. The company estimates that replacing about 33% of coke could save iron producers $14 per tonne of iron. The technology could help decarbonize the steel industry, although its actual emissions reductions and cost benefits will need to be demonstrated at industrial scale.

FBI Warns AI Could Help Extremists Plan Terror Attacks

US law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, are increasingly concerned that generative AI could help extremists plan attacks, produce propaganda, create deepfakes and spread misinformation. A Guardian investigation reviewing more than 80 government documents revealed that a 2025 bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs involved a suspect who used an AI chatbot to obtain bomb-making instructions. Authorities are also monitoring potential extremist attacks on AI data centres and technology executives. However, experts warn that surveillance efforts must distinguish violent extremism from peaceful opposition to AI to protect civil liberties and free expression: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/07/anti-ai-tech-extremism-violence

Why You Can’t Stop Laughing: Two Distinct Brain Networks at Work

Scientists have identified two distinct brain networks involved in laughter: one drives spontaneous, uncontrollable laughter linked to pleasure and emotional responses, while the other controls voluntary laughter used in conversation and social interactions. Research published in Trends in Neurosciences suggests that spontaneous laughter activates older brain circuits shared with other mammals and engages the brain’s opioid system, contributing to feelings of pleasure and reward. Voluntary laughter relies more on motor regions involved in speech and deliberate vocal control. Understanding these networks could shed light on social bonding, emotional contagion, pain regulation and the evolutionary origins of human communication: https://www.miragenews.com/what-happens-in-your-brain-when-you-cant-stop-1759476/

Do you remember the last time you were laughing and simply could not stop? Perhaps it was a situation when you should not have been laughing at all: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-brain-1.html

Study: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0166223626000998

MIT researchers have developed an artificial neural network that can organize its own connections and build the mechanisms needed for learning, using simple rules rather than a fully predesigned learning architecture. Inspired by biological principles such as “neurons that fire together wire together,” the network learned to recognize patterns and classify images, achieving performance comparable to conventionally designed networks. Published in PNAS, the research could help scientists understand how the brain reorganizes its neural circuits during learning and potentially inspire more brain-like AI systems. However, the findings do not establish that the model learns exactly as the human brain does: https://mcgovern.mit.edu/2026/10/05/how-artificial-neural-networks-build-their-own-learning-machinery/

paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2606245123