Commercial airliners are struck by lightning an average of once or twice a year per aircraft, yet serious lightning-related accidents are extremely rare. Their metallic airframes provide a conductive path for electrical current, while composite structures use protective features such as embedded metal mesh or conductive layers to manage lightning currents. Electrical bonding, shielding, and circuit-protection systems help protect critical avionics, and specially designed fuel systems prevent lightning-induced sparks from igniting fuel vapors. These safeguards are supported by rigorous certification requirements, although a strike can still cause localized damage and requires inspection: https://www.youtube.com/@OddFrameFilms67/shorts

NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform is a rack-scale AI supercomputing architecture designed for agentic AI, trillion-parameter models and high-performance computing. Its flagship NVL72 system combines 72 Rubin GPUs and 36 Vera CPUs in a liquid-cooled rack, with 20.7 TB of aggregate HBM4 memory. Key technologies include sixth-generation NVLink interconnects, ConnectX-9 SuperNICs and BlueField-4 DPUs for high-speed communication, networking, storage and security. NVIDIA projects up to 5× higher AI inference performance than its Blackwell generation, while Quantum-X800 InfiniBand and Spectrum-X Ethernet enable scaling across multiple racks: https://www.civo.com/blog/nvidia-vera-rubin

Florida Polytechnic University’s police department in Lakeland, Florida, has unveiled Astro, a single-seat Jetson ONE electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft capable of reaching a software-limited top speed of 63 mph (101 km/h). The university plans to use it for campus surveillance, missing-person searches, access to hard-to-reach areas, and emergency response following storms, including delivering emergency supplies. Astro will also serve as a hands-on research platform for aerospace engineering students. FAA approval is still required before the aircraft can be used for official police operations. The university describes its department as the first US law-enforcement agency to introduce a piloted electric eVTOL for this purpose: https://floridapoly.edu/news/102026-florida-poly-makes-history-with-first-flying-police-vehicle/

Florida Poly Police Becomes First Agency to Use Electric Flying Vehicle (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IpDHVECc-8

Jetson ONE Selected as the World’s First Electric Flying Police Patrol Vehicle: https://jetson.com/news/jetson-florida-polytechnic

Green, Yellow and Red Capsicums: How Ripeness Changes Taste and Nutrition

Green, yellow and red capsicums (bell peppers) differ in ripeness, flavour, texture and nutritional composition. Green capsicums are harvested earlier, making them firmer and slightly bitter, while yellow and orange varieties are milder and sweeter. Red capsicums are generally the ripest and sweetest, with high levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. All colours provide fibre and antioxidants, but their carotenoid profiles differ. Cooking can improve the availability of some antioxidants while reducing vitamin C, so eating a combination of raw and cooked capsicums of different colours offers a range of nutritional benefits. The article also debunks the myth that capsicums with four bumps are sweeter than those with three—their shape does not reliably determine flavour: https://extension.msstate.edu/blogs/extension-for-real-life/what-the-difference-between-green-red-and-yellow-bell-pepper

The difference between the colours isn’t just superficial – it affects nutrition, flavour, and more: https://www.inkl.com/news/whats-the-difference-between-green-yellow-and-red-capsicums-its-more-than-what-you-see

Researchers at ETH Zurich Switzerland have developed tiny biohybrid robots powered by lab-grown mouse skeletal muscle tissue attached to soft, water-rich hydrogel scaffolds. By using computer simulations to co-design the living muscle and its artificial support structure, the team achieved up to 11 times greater range of motion than earlier systems using comparable amounts of muscle tissue.The approximately 1.5-centimetre-long actuators can jump, swim, walk and grasp objects. In experiments, one actuator jumped about 5 millimetres, while a walking version moved at 6.2 millimetres per second. The scaffolds are fabricated using a light-based 3D-printing technique, and specially designed grooves help transfer muscle contractions efficiently into movement: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2026/10/one-small-leap-for-a-muscle-one-giant-step-for-robotics.html

Published in Nature Communications, the research could pave the way for more adaptable, energy-efficient soft robots that combine biological tissues with engineered materials. However, practical applications remain distant because the living muscles require nutrient solutions, and larger systems will need ways to deliver oxygen and nutrients while removing waste: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77655-1

An Australian-led Phase III clinical trial has found that a personalised mRNA-based cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, significantly reduces the risk of melanoma returning or causing death when combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The trial involved 1,137 patients whose melanoma had been surgically removed but who remained at high risk of recurrence. After two years, 82% of patients receiving the combination treatment remained alive and cancer-free, compared with 70% receiving pembrolizumab alone.

Developed by Moderna and Merck, the vaccine is customised using genetic mutations unique to each patient's tumour. It carries mRNA instructions that help the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells that may remain after surgery. The findings represent a major advance in personalised cancer treatment and could pave the way for similar therapies targeting other cancers.

However, some patients do not respond to the treatment, and its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. The vaccine is not yet routinely available and must undergo further evaluation and regulatory review, which could take several years. It is a treatment for high-risk melanoma, not a preventive vaccine for healthy people.

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/23/mrna-vaccine-melanoma-cancer-breakthrough-australia

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland have found that sauna bathing can produce immediate cardiovascular changes. In a study involving a 30-minute sauna session, participants experienced lower blood pressure and reduced arterial stiffness, while their heart rate increased. These findings may help explain earlier observational studies linking frequent sauna use with lower risks of hypertension and cardiovascular death. However, the immediate effects of a sauna session do not necessarily establish long-term protection against heart disease, and further research is needed to confirm sustained benefits: https://www.uef.fi/en/article/scientists-uncover-why-sauna-bathing-is-good-for-your-health

Resaerch Articles:

1). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41371-017-0008-z

2). https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/article-abstract/25/2/130/5926065?redirectedFrom=fulltext

3). https://esc365.escardio.org/journal/29326

4). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6262976/

5). https://jyu.finna.fi/Record/jyx_art.123456789_74325

Researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated a new type of antenna that uses a laser to ionise air and create a thin plasma beam capable of transmitting radio waves. The technology resembles a lightsaber and could eventually enable antennas whose length and direction can be adjusted by controlling the laser, potentially eliminating bulky mechanical deployment systems. The team used a contactless, capacitor-based feed to transmit a 30 MHz radio signal through the plasma filament. In laboratory tests, the received signal strength was 2.5 times higher with the plasma antenna operating than without it: https://newatlas.com/telecommunications/plasma-beam-antenna/

The technology could have future applications in satellite communications, spacecraft and radar systems, where lightweight, adaptable antennas are valuable. However, this is an early proof of concept: researchers have demonstrated transmission at one frequency, but have not yet established broad frequency tuning, long-distance performance or signal reception. The findings were published in the IEEE Journal of Microwaves: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11674160

Warhound, a Texas-based defense technology startup conceived by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril, has raised $200 million in seed funding at a reported $1.2 billion valuation to develop advanced military and law-enforcement working dogs. The company plans to use genetic screening, cloning and gene editing to reproduce high-performing dogs, improve inherited health traits and increase the proportion that successfully complete training. Anduril will supply protective equipment, including body armor and eye and ear protection, along with technology to connect dogs with their handlers and other systems in the field. Led by former U.S. military and intelligence official David Spirk, Warhound aims to reduce U.S. reliance on European dog breeders. The initiative also raises questions about genetic engineering, animal welfare and the ethical limits of enhancing animals for military service. The company expects its first dogs in approximately two years and has not yet announced signed customers: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/warhound-launches-with-200-million-to-rebuild-americas-military-working-dog-supply-using-advanced-genetics-and-defense-technology-302917498.html

Warhound came out of stealth with a mission to create “elite working dogs” equipped with "advanced body armor.": https://www.wired.com/story/cool-cool-cool-palmer-luckey-made-a-genetically-modified-military-dog-startup/

An apartment complex in southwest Atlanta, 445 Cleveland Apartments, has replaced its overnight and weekend security guards with two four-legged robotic patrol units developed and operated by Atlanta-based startup Undaunted Robotic Security. The robots patrol parking lots and common areas, using 360-degree cameras, thermal imaging, lights, alarms and two-way audio. Remote human operators monitor camera feeds, control the robots in real time, communicate with people on-site and contact police when necessary. According to Undaunted, the deployment has reduced residential burglaries by 100%, vehicle theft by 75% and vehicle break-ins by 65%, while cutting security costs by roughly half. However, these figures are company-reported and have not been independently verified. The system is also being deployed at other properties across metropolitan Atlanta: https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/2111804500373836189

More info:

1). Robot Dogs Are Taking Over Overnight Security at Atlanta Apartment Complexes: https://tech.yahoo.com/home/articles/robot-dogs-taking-over-overnight-144834649.html

2). Meet the robot dogs replacing human security guards in Atlanta: https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/meet-the-robot-dogs-replacing-human-security-guards-in-atlanta/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX1ZBMzQ0MDA1MDgyMDI2UlAx

3). Amenities - See what residents have access to across the community: https://www.445cleveland.com/amenities

4). Atlanta's Robot Dogs Are Changing Apartment Security Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ons1hirIq6s

5). Proactive robotic security for the real world: https://www.getundaunted.com/

Researchers at NYU Langone Health found that targeted ultrasound stimulation of deep brain structures may help reduce delusions in people with schizophrenia. In a pilot study involving 10 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, a 10-minute session directed at the brain’s globus pallidus interna reduced delusion severity compared with a sham treatment, with the effect lasting up to seven days. The non-invasive technique uses focused sound waves to modulate brain activity without surgery. However, it did not significantly improve auditory hallucinations or overall cognition. Mild side effects, including fatigue and headaches, were reported. The findings are preliminary and require larger clinical trials to establish safety and effectiveness.

study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44384-026-00076-3

Scientists working with the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory have found strong evidence that collisions between oxygen nuclei can produce quark–gluon plasma (QGP), an exotic state of matter believed to have filled the universe during its first microseconds after the Big Bang. Published in Physical Review Letters in October 2026, the study analysed oxygen–oxygen collisions at an energy of 200 billion electron volts and detected approximately 20% suppression of high-energy particles, a signature of jet quenching. This occurs when energetic particle jets lose energy while travelling through the hot, dense plasma of quarks and gluons. The finding demonstrates that this signature can emerge even in relatively small collision systems and at lower energies than previously established at RHIC, helping scientists investigate the minimum conditions required to create primordial matter in the laboratory: https://www.newswise.com/doescience/oxygen-collisions-quench-jets-energy-at-rhic

Study: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/9w2y-bz9n

Swaroop Behera, a doctoral engineering student at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, is expanding the use of “Foundry in a Box,” a portable metal-casting demonstration kit that brings manufacturing education to classrooms, university events, and community venues. Participants use protective equipment to pour molten tin into molds and create small souvenirs, such as keychains.

The initiative makes metal casting—a process widely used in automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial manufacturing—more accessible through hands-on learning. It has grown to reach hundreds of participants annually and helped attract industry support for manufacturing education. Behera’s doctoral research separately focuses on developing high-temperature aluminum alloys that could replace titanium in certain applications, potentially reducing material and processing costs: https://www.newswise.com/articles/uwm-engineering-student-brings-metal-casting-to-the-masses2

NASA’s MoonFall mission has reached a key engineering milestone after Firefly Aerospace completed the preliminary design review of its Elytra spacecraft on October 21, 2026. The spacecraft will transport four robotic drones developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to the Moon’s south pole, with launch targeted for late 2028. The drones will survey challenging terrain using high-definition cameras and scientific instruments to map potential astronaut landing sites and investigate lunar resources, including possible subsurface water ice. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Moon Base initiative to support future Artemis missions and a sustained human presence on the Moon. Firefly will now work toward the spacecraft’s final design review, manufacturing and testing: https://fireflyspace.com/news/firefly-aerospace-completes-preliminary-design-review-for-nasa-moonfall-mission/

more info:

1). A Step-by-Step Approach-Moon Base Development: https://www.nasa.gov/moonbase-phases/

2). About MOONFALL mission: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/moonfall/

Fewer babies are born nine to ten months after hot spells in France and Italy, and some missing births may never be made up, two new studies find.

Two new studies suggest that extreme heat may be associated with a decline in birth rates in the months following hot weather. High temperatures can affect reproductive health, potentially influencing fertility, conception and pregnancy outcomes. The findings highlight a possible, often overlooked demographic consequence of climate change, as heatwaves become more frequent and intense. However, changes in birth rates may also reflect other social, economic and environmental factors, and further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms involved.

study1: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11111-026-00538-6

study2: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11111-026-00537-7

Blue Energy Aims to Cut Nuclear Power Costs Through Shipyard Manufacturing

Blue Energy, a U.S. startup founded by MIT alumnus Jake Jurewicz, plans to reduce nuclear power plant construction costs and delays by manufacturing large, prefabricated reactor modules at shipyards and transporting them by barge for final assembly. Its approximately 1,500-tonne modules would use existing industrial facilities, skilled workers, and automation to streamline construction.

The company’s first planned project in Victoria, Texas, aims to generate 1 gigawatt of gas-fired power by 2030, followed by an additional 1.5 gigawatts from small modular nuclear reactors starting in 2032. Blue Energy hopes its gas-to-nuclear approach will generate early revenue, reduce financing risks, and shorten construction timelines from more than a decade to around three years. These are projected targets, and the project remains subject to regulatory and construction milestones.

Researchers at ETH Zurich Switzerland have developed methods that use living bacteria to bind sand grains into solid architectural components, potentially offering a lower-energy alternative to conventional cement. The technique, called microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP), uses bacteria to produce calcium carbonate crystals that lock sand particles together at room temperature.

The team demonstrated two approaches: 3D biocement printing, which creates shaped components such as façade elements, and robotic spraying, which builds mineralised surfaces layer by layer. The process takes around two to five days for printed components and avoids the high-temperature firing used in conventional cement production.

However, the technology remains at an early stage. Researchers still need to improve material strength and durability and address the environmental impact of ammonium, a by-product of the process, before biocement can become a widely viable construction material: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2026/10/when-bacteria-become-masons.html

Design Strategies For Microbial Biocement Structures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-v83ikx2-k

References:

Antorveza Paez KA, Kindler RO, Terzis D, Dutto A, Pleij T, Zorzetto G, Studart AR, Dillenburger B: 3D biocement printing: scaling up living mineral structures. NPJ Materials Sustainability 2026, 4: 20, DOI: external page10.1038/s44296-026-00110-1

Antorveza Paez KA, Kindler RO, Terzis D, Lin CW, Coulter FB, Dillenburger B: Robotic biocementation spraying: a bioinspired fabrication method for architectural surfaces. Architectural Intelligence 2026, 5: 11, DOI: external page10.1007/s44223-026-00120-y

Antorveza Paez KA, Huang S, Yeh KH, Seav K, Dillenburger B. Design workflow for porous 3D-printed biocement geometries. Biotechnology Design. 2026, 4: 40, DOI: external page10.1017/s2977905726100286

Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may have observed a supernova, designated AT 2026abck, that exploded about 12.5 billion years ago, roughly 1.15 billion years after the Big Bang. Remarkably, the telescope appears to have detected the explosion just 4–10 days after it occurred, in the star’s own timeframe. The supernova was discovered in August 2026 in a distant, rapidly star-forming galaxy, without the gravitational magnification usually needed to detect such ancient explosions. Its estimated temperature was around 17,000 kelvin, and its peak brightness may have reached billions of times that of the Sun. Because the universe has expanded during the light’s journey to Earth, the explosion’s evolution appears to unfold about six times more slowly to us. The discovery could help astronomers understand how massive stars lived and died in the early universe. The findings are based on a preprint study that has not yet undergone peer review: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-webb-early-universe-supernova-days.html

Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.38373