What if time isn’t woven into the fabric of reality at all? A new experiment suggests that the past-to-future march we experience every day could arise from the internal dynamics of a system. Using 24,000 ultracold atoms, scientists built a “mini universe” that allowed them to study how time might emerge without relying on clocks.

The findings, published in Physical Review Research, offer researchers a new way to test ideas that have long remained in the realm of theory. The setup could help scientists explore quantum gravity, the origins of the universe, and the fundamental nature of time inside a laboratory.

Building a mini cosmos

Professor Giovanni Barontini of the University of Birmingham and his team created the miniature universe using a cloud of 24,000 ultracold atoms. The atoms existed just billionths of a degree above absolute zero.

The researchers confined the particles inside an isolated quantum system. They then used two laser beams to form a thin barrier that divided the setup into two regions. One region remained observable, or “bright.” The other stayed hidden from direct observation and became the “dark” sector.

Inside this simplified cosmos, the bright region repeatedly expanded and contracted. The cycle resembled theoretical versions of a Big Bang followed by a Big Crunch, a scenario in which the universe’s expansion eventually reverses.

Because the system remained sealed from its surroundings, scientists reconstructed the sequence of events using only changes occurring within the mini-universe. They did not need an external laboratory clock.

Time through disorder

The experiment points to a concept known as “entropic time.” Rather than treating time as an independent backdrop to reality, the researchers linked its passage to changes in entropy, or the way particles spread through the system. Atoms moved between the bright and dark regions, altering the distribution of matter.

As those distributions evolved, the system moved forward in time. When the arrangement stopped changing, time effectively stood still. The team found that this version of time flowed in a consistent direction. It also correctly ordered events, even during repeated cycles of expansion and contraction. Its pace could speed up or slow down depending on how entropy shifted within the system.

“In some theories of the universe, especially quantum gravity, time doesn’t appear as a built-in feature,” Barontini said. “Yet in everyday life, time flows from past to future. Why is this so, when most basic laws of physics work the same way forwards and backwards?”

Bringing cosmology to the lab

Barontini said the study provides controlled experimental evidence that changes within a system can define time without relying on an external clock. “It offers new insight into the nature of time in quantum gravity,” he said. “It could be used to describe dynamics just as effectively as conventional time.”

The researchers also showed that quantum mechanics remains mathematically consistent under this framework. They rewrote a version of the Schrödinger equation using entropic time, allowing predictions about how a quantum probability distribution evolves.

The work addresses a long-standing puzzle in physics: If the universe has no fundamental clock, how can events be arranged into a meaningful sequence of “before” and “after”? Perhaps more importantly, the experiment transforms abstract debates into testable science.

The platform could eventually allow researchers to investigate conditions linked to the early universe, probe competing theories of quantum gravity, and even simulate black holes under controlled laboratory conditions.

For decades, many of these questions existed mainly on chalkboards and in complex equations. This miniature universe suggests physicists may finally have a way to put some of them to the test.

Ultra Maritime has completed the first in-water deployment trial of its next-generation Multistatic Active Receive Sonobuoy, or MSARS, in Scotland, marking a major step in the United Kingdom’s push to modernize anti-submarine warfare.

The trial comes as NATO nations monitor growing submarine activity across the North Atlantic. Military planners increasingly seek tools that can detect quieter submarines and unmanned underwater systems operating over larger maritime areas.

MSARS aims to strengthen those capabilities. The compact sonobuoy is designed to improve the detection and localization of underwater threats while supporting both crewed and uncrewed operations.

Expanding underwater surveillance

Ultra Maritime developed the system with backing from the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, known as Dstl. The effort supports the Atlantic Bastion program, which focuses on expanding autonomous anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The initiative seeks to bring uncrewed aircraft into submarine hunting missions while improving coordination with existing crewed assets. Those assets include the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 helicopter fleet.

Unlike traditional approaches that rely heavily on crewed aircraft, Atlantic Bastion emphasizes distributed operations. Multiple platforms can share information and work together to track underwater targets across wider areas. The company said rising submarine activity has increased the urgency for improved detection technologies.

“Enhanced detection and localization of threat submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles are critical to maintaining operational advantage,” Ultra Maritime said. MSARS gives operators flexibility before deployment. Crews can configure mission settings through a built-in digital interface before launching the sonobuoy from an aircraft.

Integration with SeaGuardian

Ultra Maritime is also working with General Atomics to integrate MSARS and other G-size sonobuoys onto the MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aircraft. The pairing could significantly expand anti-submarine warfare coverage.

SeaGuardian’s endurance allows it to remain on station far longer than many traditional platforms. Combined with compact sonobuoys, operators could survey larger sections of ocean without increasing crew requirements.

Ultra Maritime says the integration would extend operational reach, increase sonobuoy carrying capacity, and support distributed multistatic operations in contested environments. The company also noted that it remains the only manufacturer producing G-size sonobuoys. Their smaller form factor makes them particularly suited for unmanned aircraft missions.

Broader sonobuoy push

The Scottish trial arrives as Ultra Maritime expands its sonobuoy business through production contracts and international partnerships. Earlier this year, the company secured a U.S. Navy contract covering low-rate initial production of the AN/SSQ-125B sonobuoy. The system aims to improve the detection of increasingly quiet submarines operating in challenging acoustic conditions.

Ultra Maritime has also expanded its presence in Europe. In 2025, France selected the company to provide active and passive sonobuoys under a contract awarded by Thales on behalf of the country’s defense procurement agency.

For defense planners on both sides of the Atlantic, the latest MSARS milestone represents more than a successful trial. It highlights a broader shift toward networked and increasingly autonomous anti-submarine operations designed for a more contested maritime environment.

The newly public company Hadron Energy has announced that it has selected GSE Solutions to develop a full-scope, high-fidelity simulator for its Halo Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR). The simulator will prepare future operators for licensing exams and day-to-day operations. It also marks another step toward commercializing the Halo reactor design.

The agreement expands the relationship between the two companies into a strategic alliance. Hadron plans to use the simulator for its first reactor deployment and future commercial units as production scales.

Training comes first

No commercial nuclear reactor in the United States can operate without NRC-licensed personnel in the control room. Those licenses require extensive training, including simulator-based testing that reflects the actual plant operators will oversee.

GSE will oversee the simulator from development through commissioning. Built specifically for the Halo MMR, it will mimic everything from normal plant operations to emergency situations. The system will prepare the first wave of operators and technical staff responsible for bringing the reactor online.

The simulator goes beyond being a simple teaching tool. It represents a regulatory requirement that operators must satisfy before a reactor produces electricity. Without it, a plant cannot move into commercial operation.

Beyond regulatory boxes

The technology also provides engineering value long before fuel reaches the site. Teams can use it to verify procedures, assess control room interactions, and evaluate how operators respond under pressure.

Developing the simulator alongside the reactor design could help Hadron identify potential issues earlier in the process. Engineers can address operability concerns while modifications remain easier and less costly.

“You cannot commission a nuclear plant without certified operators,” Ross Ridenoure, Hadron Energy’s chief nuclear officer, said in a statement. “You cannot certify operators without a high-fidelity simulator that represents the plant they are going to operate.”

Ridenoure said involving GSE during the design phase allows the company to replicate the plant virtually as engineering work continues. That approach can expose human-factors concerns before construction advances too far.

Leveraging industry experience

GSE brings more than 50 years of simulator expertise to the partnership. The company and its predecessors built one of the first commercial full-scope nuclear simulators in 1971. Its experience now spans a broad range of reactor technologies, including pressurized water reactors, boiling water reactors, CANDU units, VVER designs, and next-generation systems.

Hadron believes that experience can reduce some of the development risks associated with first-of-a-kind nuclear projects. GSE’s background with simulator certification and industry standards could also support a smoother regulatory pathway.

The announcement follows Hadron’s recent partnership with Paragon Energy Solutions, a Mirion Technologies company, to support the Halo MMR’s instrumentation and control architecture. The simulator will ultimately mirror those same control systems during operator training.

“An advanced reactor without trained, licensed operators is not a power plant,” Ridenoure said. “It is an asset sitting idle.”

He added that bringing experienced partners into the program early reflects the disciplined execution shareholders and future customers should expect as Hadron advances toward first power. For Hadron, operator readiness now stands alongside reactor development as a defining milestone on the path to commercialization.

For years, companies have injected carbon dioxide into concrete to trap emissions and improve early performance. The construction industry embraced the approach even though researchers could not fully explain why it worked. Now, scientists at MIT say they have finally watched the chemistry unfold in real time.

Using laser-based imaging, the team captured the rapid reactions that occur when carbon dioxide meets fresh cement paste. The observations revealed a temporary chemical pathway that reshapes how the material hardens. The process produces a more evenly distributed binding structure and boosts early strength.

The findings could help engineers fine-tune low-carbon concrete technologies already entering the market across the United States. The work also offers a clearer picture of how cement, one of the world’s most carbon-intensive materials, can store captured carbon while maintaining performance.

Tracking hidden reactions

Researchers from MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering used Raman confocal microscopy to monitor cement samples continuously during their first 24 hours of curing. The technique identifies materials by analyzing how laser light interacts with chemical bonds. Each compound leaves behind a distinct spectral signature.

Previous studies relied largely on theory and indirect measurements because the reactions happened too quickly for conventional tools to detect. “We’ve used Raman spectroscopy to better understand some of the most interesting materials in history, from the Dead Sea Scrolls to Ancient Roman concrete,” Associate Professor Admir Masic said.

“Cement paste may seem less glamorous in comparison, but pointing a laser at CO2-injected cement paste as it hardens allows us to visualize things that haven’t been seen before.” The team discovered that carbon dioxide initially captures calcium released during cement dissolution. That temporary shift slows normal hydration and changes the environment inside the paste.

The disappearing template

As calcium becomes tied up, dissolved silicates spread through the material and assemble into an interconnected silica gel network. The gel survives only briefly.

Once the injected carbon dioxide fully mineralizes several hours later, standard hydration resumes. Calcium hydroxide forms and immediately reacts with the silica network. That reaction produces calcium silicate hydrate, or C-S-H, the compound responsible for cement’s binding strength.

Unlike conventional cement, however, this new C-S-H develops throughout the material rather than clustering around cement particles. “At first, the fleeting nature of the silica gel looked like a fluke in the Raman data,” graduate student Marcin Hajduczek said.

“But it quickly became clear that its sudden disappearance was a consistent, undeniable feature of every CO2-injected sample.” Stronger concrete, new possibilities

The altered pathway leaves behind a more uniform internal structure. In tests, cement paste containing carbon dioxide equal to 1 percent of cement weight achieved an average of 13 percent higher compressive strength after 24 hours than reference samples.

The findings also challenge previous assumptions. Researchers found calcium carbonate particles acted more like spectators than drivers of strength development. “We’ve been injecting CO2 into cement products for years without fully understanding what it was doing inside,” Masic said.

“Now that we understand the mechanism behind the improved performance, we can start to control it.” The researchers caution that dosage remains critical. Excessive carbon dioxide can lock away too much calcium and disrupt beneficial reactions. Even so, the work offers engineers a roadmap for designing stronger, lower-carbon cement products for future infrastructure projects.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society.

Autonomous aircraft are increasingly drawing attention as the U.S. military looks for new ways to sustain operations in contested and hard-to-reach environments. Pyka’s latest demonstration suggests those efforts may be moving beyond theory and closer to operational reality.

The California-based company has introduced a precision airdrop capability for its DropShip autonomous aircraft, enabling it to deliver critical supplies without a pilot onboard. Pyka says the system could help U.S. and allied forces move mission-essential cargo across long distances when traditional supply routes become disrupted or unavailable.

The demonstration reflects a broader shift in military logistics planning. Defense leaders have warned that future conflicts may challenge access to established transportation networks, creating demand for flexible and autonomous alternatives.

During a recent test flight, DropShip released multiple 200-pound payloads from an altitude of 300 feet. The cargo landed within roughly 50 feet of the intended target area, according to the company.

Built for denied environments

DropShip was designed as a heavy-lift autonomous platform capable of operating where conventional logistics networks cannot. The hybrid-powered aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,600 pounds and can carry up to 650 pounds of usable payload. It requires only 550 feet of runway to launch with a full payload.

Pyka says the aircraft can support same-day delivery missions across a 2,000-mile operational radius. It offers a ferry range of up to 3,500 miles and can travel more than 1,000 miles while transporting 500 pounds of cargo. The aircraft cruises at 75 knots and can sprint at 90 knots. It can also operate at service ceilings of up to 20,000 feet mean sea level.

Rapid development pace

The precision airdrop test represents another milestone in what has been a compressed development schedule. Pyka said DropShip completed its maiden flight just six months after the program launched. The aircraft progressed from first flight to autonomous precision airdrop capability within eight months.

The company credited that pace to the core technology stack already powering its commercial aircraft. Engineers adapted existing autonomous systems to speed development and testing.

Expanding mission options

Pyka believes the aircraft could play a role in a variety of missions beyond cargo transport. “Until now, there hasn’t been a safe, economical, or practical way to autonomously deliver critical supplies directly to a specific location hundreds or even thousands of miles away,” Michael Norcia, Pyka’s CEO and co-founder, said.

Norcia said operators could use the aircraft to transport fuel, water, medical supplies, repair parts, and other mission-essential cargo exactly where it is needed. He added that the capability could change logistics operations in remote regions, disaster zones, and contested environments where access remains limited.

Beyond cargo delivery, DropShip can support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, communications support, and expeditionary power applications. The aircraft also features a reconfigurable mission computer designed to accommodate evolving operational needs.

Pyka plans to continue expanding the aircraft’s flight envelope ahead of customer evaluations and operational exercises with the U.S. government later this year.

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Oklo has moved one step closer to bringing its first advanced reactor online after securing another key federal approval. The milestone advances the company’s efforts to demonstrate that next-generation nuclear plants can move from concept to deployment under existing government oversight.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho Operations Office has approved the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory. The decision pushes the project further through the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to accelerate advanced reactor deployment while maintaining rigorous safety reviews.

For Oklo, the approval represents more than a regulatory checkpoint. It also provides momentum for a technology that supporters believe could strengthen America’s future energy mix and domestic industrial capacity.

Building toward deployment

The approved safety analysis establishes Aurora-INL’s preliminary safety basis. It evaluates potential hazards, accident scenarios, safety controls, and major design commitments that will guide the project through its next stages.

“This approval represents an important milestone for Aurora-INL and helps establish a foundation for future Aurora deployments,” said Jacob DeWitte, Oklo’s co-founder and chief executive officer. He added that the Idaho project is demonstrating how advanced reactors can progress through real-world safety reviews, construction activities, and eventually commercial licensing.

Aurora-INL will be the first of Oklo’s planned fast fission power plants. The project has steadily advanced since 2019, when the company received a site-use permit at Idaho National Laboratory and later secured access to recovered fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II through a competitive DOE process.

Oklo also received approval to begin site characterization work at the Idaho site in November 2024. Those activities helped prepare the groundwork for future construction and deployment efforts.

Reactor with historic roots

Aurora differs from traditional nuclear plants through its fast neutron reactor design and compact architecture. The system uses heat pipes to move heat away from the reactor core and into a supercritical carbon dioxide power conversion system that generates electricity.

The reactor builds on operating experience from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II, which operated in Idaho between 1964 and 1994. Oklo says Aurora uses metallic fuel to provide both electricity and usable heat while offering greater operational flexibility.

The design can operate using either fresh high-assay low-enriched uranium, known as HALEU, or recycled fuel derived from used nuclear material. That capability has attracted attention as the United States seeks reliable, carbon-free energy sources to support growing electricity demand.

Expanding fuel strategy

Aurora’s progress comes as Oklo works to secure multiple fuel pathways for future reactor deployments. The company is developing the Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility in Idaho, where it plans to produce the initial fuel assemblies for Aurora-INL using material recovered from EBR-II.

The Department of Energy approved the facility’s preliminary safety analysis in late 2025. That decision made A3F the first project authorized under the agency’s Fuel Line Pilot Program.

Oklo also entered advanced negotiations last month under the Department of Energy’s Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program. The initiative aims to make designated surplus plutonium available for conversion into reactor fuel under strict security and safeguards requirements.

Europe’s effort to strengthen control over its semiconductor supply chain has reached a significant milestone. GlobalFoundries and Dutch chip designer Qualinx have completed what they describe as the continent’s first fully European end-to-end semiconductor manufacturing flow.

The achievement shows that security-sensitive chips can move from design to fabrication entirely within Europe. The approach targets applications where supply chain control carries strategic importance, including aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure.

Qualinx served as the first customer to validate the manufacturing process using one of its advanced satellite navigation chips designed for secure timing and positioning applications.

Securing the supply chain

The project centers on Qualinx’s QLX3xx Global Navigation Satellite System system-on-chip, developed for Positioning, Navigation and Timing applications. These technologies support systems that require precise synchronization and resilient navigation capabilities.

Potential uses include military platforms, critical communications networks, and ultra-low-power connected devices operating at the edge. The chip was manufactured using GlobalFoundries’ FDX platform at the company’s Dresden facility in Germany.

Under the manufacturing framework, sensitive design files and production materials remain within European borders throughout the process. The initiative also receives support through the European Chips Act, which seeks to strengthen the region’s semiconductor capabilities and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers.

“We are demonstrating that Europe can rely on a secure, end-to-end semiconductor manufacturing flow that meets the highest requirements of aerospace and defense,” said Dr. Manfred Horstmann, senior vice president and general manager at GlobalFoundries.

He added that the Qualinx project proves complex, security-focused chip designs can already enter production through a trusted European manufacturing route.

Sovereign production roadmap

GlobalFoundries plans to expand the capability over the next several years. The Qualinx tape-out represents the first operational step toward a fully automated sovereign manufacturing process.

The company expects to complete that transition in Dresden by the end of 2026. Beginning in 2027, aerospace, defense and critical infrastructure customers could access the manufacturing flow through standard foundry engagements.

GlobalFoundries also plans to incorporate additional European partners into the ecosystem, including intellectual property providers, mask houses, and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test companies.

According to the company, several European system manufacturers and infrastructure operators have already begun evaluating future products for the trusted manufacturing path. The successful Qualinx project could help lower both technical and regulatory barriers for follow-on programs.

Building trusted infrastructure

The effort extends beyond wafer fabrication and chip production. GlobalFoundries is also working with European telecommunications and cloud providers to keep production data within the region.

In a separate initiative with Deutsche Telekom, the company is examining how manufacturing information can travel through European networks and reside in European data centers. The work covers encryption practices, secure data routing, and access controls for highly sensitive workloads.

For Qualinx, the project validates both its technology and the broader concept of sovereign semiconductor production.

“This first secure product demonstrates that a fully European manufacturing path is already a reality today,” said Tom Trill, chief executive officer of Qualinx.

He said the collaboration optimized the company’s Digital RF technology on GlobalFoundries’ FDX platform while preserving control over intellectual property, data, and the supply chain.

As governments around the world seek greater control over strategic technologies, Europe’s latest semiconductor milestone suggests trusted regional manufacturing is evolving beyond policy ambitions. It is increasingly becoming an industrial reality.

America’s first commercial-scale plant producing jet fuel from captured carbon dioxide and renewable electricity has begun operations in Washington state, marking a major milestone for a technology that could reshape how aviation fuel is made.

Twelve, a California-based industrial technology company, opened AirPlant One in Moses Lake, Washington. The facility produces E-Jet fuel, a synthetic sustainable aviation fuel created through a power-to-liquid process that combines captured CO2, water and renewable electricity.

The launch moves power-to-liquid technology beyond pilot programs and laboratory testing. It also establishes a new model for domestic fuel production that does not depend on crude oil extraction. In addition to aviation fuel, the plant manufactures E-Naphtha, a chemical feedstock used to make thousands of everyday products.

Turning air into fuel

At the heart of AirPlant One is an electrolyzer-based system that transforms captured carbon dioxide and water into liquid hydrocarbons. Renewable electricity powers the process, enabling the plant to produce synthetic jet fuel that is chemically identical to its fossil-derived counterpart.

The resulting E-Jet fuel meets ASTM certification standards for commercial aviation use. Airlines can use it as a drop-in fuel without modifying aircraft engines, airport fueling equipment, or existing infrastructure. That compatibility removes one of the biggest barriers facing alternative aviation fuels.

The facility has already begun producing on-specification fuel for commercial use. The achievement moves power-to-liquid technology into real-world operations and demonstrates that synthetic aviation fuel can be manufactured at commercial scale.

“We broke ground on AirPlant One with a simple thesis: that the fuels powering the global economy could be made from renewable electricity and air,” said Nicholas Flanders, co-founder and chief executive officer of Twelve. “Today, that thesis is operational.”

The technology also differs from many sustainable aviation fuel pathways currently under development. Most existing SAF production relies on biological feedstocks such as used cooking oil, agricultural waste, and other organic materials.

Those resources face limitations tied to land availability and supply. Power-to-liquid production instead uses captured carbon dioxide and renewable electricity, inputs that supporters argue offer greater scalability and flexibility.

Beyond aviation fuel

AirPlant One also produces E-Naphtha, a synthetic alternative to petroleum-derived naphtha. The material serves as a building block for thousands of products, including plastics, packaging materials, solvents, and synthetic fibers.

Because E-Naphtha is chemically identical to conventional naphtha, manufacturers can integrate it into existing production systems without redesigning equipment or processes. Twelve has previously demonstrated its use in applications ranging from automotive components to consumer products.

The addition of E-Naphtha production broadens the plant’s role beyond aviation. It highlights how carbon utilization technologies could support both transportation and industrial manufacturing sectors.

Rewriting fuel economics

The launch of AirPlant One introduces a different model for fuel production. Traditional jet fuel prices often fluctuate alongside crude oil markets and geopolitical disruptions.

Electricity-based manufacturing could offer greater cost stability through long-term power agreements. Twelve says its E-Jet fuel can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 90 percent compared with conventional jet fuel.

The company also says the process requires less land than many biofuel pathways while strengthening domestic supply chains. For an aviation industry searching for practical ways to reduce emissions, AirPlant One represents more than just another demonstration project.

The Moses Lake facility shows that commercial-scale production of synthetic jet fuel from air and renewable electricity is no longer theoretical. It is operating today, producing certified fuel designed for use in existing aircraft and infrastructure while offering a new path for domestic fuel manufacturing.

As military helicopters face growing threats from small attack drones, Airbus Helicopters and German defense technology firm Quantum Systems are betting that the answer could come from the aircraft themselves. The companies announced a cooperation agreement at the ILA Berlin Air Show to explore equipping Airbus military helicopters with counter-drone interceptors developed by Quantum Systems.

The effort will begin with the H145M, a light multirole helicopter already used by several armed forces around the world. The partnership does not yet involve a production contract or deployment timeline. Instead, it marks an early step toward determining whether helicopters can carry dedicated systems designed to detect and defeat hostile drones before they reach their targets.

Rising drone threat

The battlefield has changed rapidly in recent years. Small unmanned aircraft have evolved from reconnaissance tools into low-cost weapons capable of threatening troops, vehicles, and aircraft.

For helicopters, the danger is especially acute during takeoff, landing, and low-altitude operations. Those flight phases often leave crews with fewer options to evade incoming threats.

Commercial drones modified to carry explosives and purpose-built attack systems have demonstrated how vulnerable traditional platforms can be in contested environments. Existing helicopter self-protection suites were largely designed to counter missiles and conventional aircraft rather than swarms of small drones.

Airbus and Quantum Systems want to close that capability gap.cStefan Thomé, executive vice president of programs at Airbus Helicopters, said the company continues to seek new operational capabilities that deliver practical value to military customers.

He described the agreement as an important move toward expanding what military helicopters can do in increasingly complex airspaces. “The H145M, with its advanced open system architecture and exceptional growth potential, serves as the ideal launching pad for this joint initiative,” Thomé said.

Why the H145M?

The H145M already performs a wide range of missions. Operators use the twin-engine helicopter for special operations support, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and light attack roles.

Its modular design allows crews to add sensors, weapons, and mission equipment without extensive redesign. Airbus argues that flexibility makes it a natural candidate for testing counter-drone technologies. The helicopter also serves several NATO members and export customers across multiple regions, giving any future capability broader relevance.

Europe’s defense experiment

Quantum Systems built its reputation through reconnaissance drones, particularly its Vector fixed-wing platform. Several European militaries have evaluated the system, and Ukrainian forces have used it operationally. Counter-UAS technology represents a newer area of focus for the Munich-based company.

Martin Karkour, Quantum Systems’ chief revenue officer, said the partnership highlights how European defense companies can combine specialized expertise to address emerging threats. “Current developments show that aerial systems need answers to drone threats,” Karkour said.

Airbus also used ILA Berlin to showcase the U145, an uncrewed version of the H145 family. A mockup on display featured Quantum Systems’ counter-drone capability. Many questions remain unanswered. The companies have not disclosed technical details, testing schedules, or qualification plans.

Still, the initiative reflects a broader shift in military aviation. As inexpensive drones reshape modern warfare, aircraft manufacturers are increasingly searching for ways to ensure crewed platforms can survive in skies crowded with uncrewed threats.

A massive magnet that crossed the Atlantic Ocean has brought one of America’s most ambitious fusion projects a step closer to reality. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory recently received the central magnet bundle for its upgraded spherical tokamak, a compact fusion system designed to test technologies that could shape future power plants.

The delivery marks a critical milestone for the machine’s return to operation. Engineers now enter the final stages of assembly before experiments resume in 2027.

Manufactured by Spain-based Elytt Energy, the component traveled from Bilbao to New Jersey aboard a cargo aircraft before making its final trip by flatbed truck to Princeton. Weighing 23,000 pounds and stretching roughly 20 feet long, the bundle ranks among the most important pieces of the fusion device.

Dave Micheletti, associate laboratory director for engineering and project director, called the arrival “a truly momentous occasion.” He said the team will now focus on completing assembly and preparing the system for scientific use.

Magnetic core

The central bundle combines two critical magnet systems into a single structure. The toroidal field magnets generate the primary magnetic fields that confine the plasma. Meanwhile, the ohmic-heating system drives electrical current through the plasma to raise temperatures and support confinement.

Building the assembly required a complex manufacturing process. Technicians joined 36 copper conductors, each measuring 19 feet long, using fiberglass tape, resin, and vacuum-pressure impregnation techniques.

Engineers then wrapped additional copper coils around the structure to create the ohmic-heating system. They sealed the completed assembly with insulating resin to withstand demanding operating conditions.

Once installed, the magnets will create two magnetic field configurations inside the apple-shaped vacuum vessel. Together, they stabilize and heat the plasma needed for fusion experiments.

Testing future reactors

Researchers believe spherical tokamaks could offer advantages over conventional designs. Their compact shape may improve efficiency while reducing construction and replication costs. The upgraded system will help scientists evaluate whether the approach can support future commercial fusion plants.

The machine also supports broader national goals. Researchers plan to gather operational data that could train artificial intelligence tools capable of improving fusion performance and control strategies.

Jonathan Menard, the laboratory’s deputy director for research, said the facility will provide new opportunities for scientists and engineers entering the field. He encouraged researchers worldwide to use the platform to advance fusion science.

Final assembly begins

Engineers have already positioned the magnet bundle near the fusion device using heavy-duty cranes. Over the coming months, teams will rotate the structure upright and prepare it for installation. Workers will lower protective shielding around the assembly before placing it inside the machine’s interior.

Technicians must still connect dozens of flexbus components, cooling lines, and internal systems. They will also complete bakeout procedures and commissioning tests to verify that all systems operate together safely.

Steven Cowley, the laboratory’s director, said the upgraded machine possesses capabilities unavailable elsewhere. He noted that the project could play an important role in determining the future direction of commercial fusion research.

If the remaining work proceeds as planned, the upgraded facility could begin experiments in 2027, giving American researchers a powerful new platform to explore the promise of fusion energy.

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Metal additive manufacturing continues to expand beyond aerospace prototypes and into production-focused energy systems. That shift gained momentum this week as Velo3D and gas turbine developer Aurelia Technologies unveiled a partnership aimed at bringing 3D printing deeper into next-generation turbine development.

The companies plan to evaluate, qualify, and eventually manufacture turbine components using additive techniques. Their goal extends beyond experimentation. They want to simplify designs, shorten development cycles, and build a more resilient supply chain for future turbine programs.

The collaboration reflects a broader trend across U.S. manufacturing. Engineers increasingly use additive manufacturing to solve practical production challenges rather than showcase technological novelty. Faster iteration, fewer components, and lower inventory exposure now drive many adoption decisions.

Designing out complexity

Aurelia develops small-scale gas turbines designed to operate efficiently while accommodating multiple fuel types. As its turbine platforms evolve, the company sees additive manufacturing as a way to remove unnecessary complexity from critical assemblies.

Instead of assembling numerous individual pieces, engineers can consolidate multiple components into a single printed part. That approach reduces fasteners, minimizes interfaces, and lowers the risk associated with tolerance stack-ups.

The result could improve durability in demanding environments where turbines face extreme temperatures and mechanical stress.

“Additive manufacturing allows us to simplify designs, reduce failure points, and move faster,” said Karol Hricisak, director of technology at Aurelia Technologies. He added that the company remains grounded in established turbomachinery principles and proven materials science.

Reducing part counts also supports maintenance objectives. Fewer connections can translate into fewer potential failure points throughout a turbine’s operating life.

Testing to production

The partnership will unfold through several phases. Early efforts will focus on determining which turbine components benefit most from additive production.

The companies also plan to assess suitable alloys and refine manufacturing processes before advancing toward qualification activities. The long-term objective involves low-rate initial production using Velo3D’s Sapphire XC metal additive manufacturing platform.

Engineers will examine whether additive methods can improve manufacturability while reducing lead times for complex parts.

Unlike conventional production methods, additive manufacturing can accommodate geometry changes without extensive tooling modifications. Design updates that traditionally require months could move into production within weeks.

Strengthening domestic supply chains

The initiative also addresses supply chain concerns that continue to affect advanced manufacturing sectors across the United States.

Traditional turbine production often depends on long-lead forgings, specialized tooling, and significant inventory commitments. Additive manufacturing offers an alternative path that can reduce those dependencies.

By producing components closer to demand, manufacturers can respond more quickly to engineering changes and shifting market requirements.

Velo3D said Aurelia selected the company because of its experience in metal additive manufacturing and its structured approach to qualification and production scaling.

“Advanced energy systems are pushing the limits of traditional manufacturing,” said Michelle Sidwell, Velo3D’s chief revenue officer. She said additive manufacturing delivers the greatest value when engineers incorporate it early in the design process.

As the initial work progresses, both companies will evaluate additional applications and opportunities to expand the collaboration. The effort highlights how additive manufacturing increasingly serves as a practical engineering tool for next-generation energy and propulsion systems.

Otto Aerospace has cleared a major regulatory hurdle as it pushes its unconventional Phantom 3500 business jet closer to certification. The milestone gives the Texas aircraft maker a defined path forward as it develops one of the industry’s most closely watched clean-sheet aircraft programs.

The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized the Phantom 3500’s G-1 Issue Paper, establishing the aircraft’s certification basis under 14 CFR Part 23. The move allows Otto to transition from defining requirements to proving that its ambitious design can meet them. The company continues to target first flight in 2027 and entry into service by 2030.

Defining the path ahead

Otto became an FAA applicant for type certification in September 2025 and chose to pursue approval under Part 23. The company sought to take advantage of efficiencies introduced through Amendment 23-64, which streamlined parts of the certification process.

Closing the G-1 Issue Paper defines the airworthiness standards the Phantom 3500 must satisfy before entering service. Otto is also working with the FAA’s East Certification Branch to complete the G-2 Issue Paper, which outlines how compliance will be demonstrated throughout the certification campaign.

Scott Drennan, president and chief executive officer of Otto Aerospace, called the milestone a significant moment for the program. He said the agreement with regulators provides clarity on what the company must demonstrate and gives the team momentum as it moves toward first flight.

Otto recently completed its Preliminary Design Review and has started advanced material testing to support the next stages of development.

Rethinking jet efficiency

The Phantom 3500 has drawn industry attention because of its unconventional approach to aircraft design. Otto’s strategy centers on transonic laminar flow technology, which aims to keep airflow smooth across the aircraft’s surface and reduce the turbulence that creates drag.

The company recently completed an unmanned flight-test campaign in New Mexico to validate the aerodynamic principles behind the concept. Those same principles also explain the Phantom 3500’s windowless cabin design.

Traditional passenger windows interrupt airflow and make it harder to maintain laminar flow along the fuselage. Otto instead plans to use digital displays connected to external cameras, creating a cleaner exterior profile.

The company says combining laminar-flow aerodynamics with carbon-fiber composites could reduce fuel consumption by 61% compared with today’s super-midsize business jets. Otto also claims the design could deliver 35% less drag and a striking 90% reduction in emissions.

Toward first flight

Otto plans to conduct flight testing from Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, where the company has established its new operational base. Engineers continue advancing certification work while preparing for the first flight of the Phantom 3500’s test vehicle in 2027.

Kerri Hinton, Otto’s director of test and certification, said safety remains central to the program as the company works alongside regulators to move the aircraft through the approval process.

The Phantom 3500 also enters its next phase with substantial commercial backing. Flexjet has committed to purchasing 300 aircraft in a deal worth more than $5 billion, marking one of the largest orders in business aviation history.

For Otto Aerospace, regulatory progress now shifts the focus to execution. The company must prove that its bold engineering ideas can perform in real-world conditions and redefine expectations for business jet travel.

Anthropic has opened the doors to its most advanced AI system yet, but not without placing guardrails around its most sensitive capabilities.

The company on Tuesday unveiled Claude Fable 5, the first publicly accessible version of its Mythos-class AI model. Anthropic says the model outperforms every generally available system it has released to date, delivering major gains in software development, analytical work, visual understanding, and scientific reasoning.

The launch marks a significant shift for the AI firm. Until now, Mythos-level capabilities remained restricted to a small group of trusted organizations because of concerns that the technology could aid cyberattacks and other harmful activities. Fable 5 changes that equation by bringing those capabilities to a broader audience while routing certain high-risk requests through a less permissive model.

Safety before scale

Anthropic said Fable 5 includes a new layer of AI-powered classifiers designed to detect potentially dangerous prompts and jailbreak attempts. The company stress-tested those safeguards before releasing the model to the public.

If users submit requests involving cybersecurity, biology, chemistry, or model distillation, the system automatically redirects those interactions to Claude Opus 4.8 instead of Fable 5. Users receive a notification whenever that fallback occurs, allowing them to understand why the switch happened.

Introducing Claude Fable 5: a Mythos-class model that we’ve made safe for general use.

Its capabilities exceed those of any model we’ve ever made generally available. pic.twitter.com/2AvmEjHIX8

— Claude (@claudeai) June 9, 2026

The company acknowledged that the safeguards may occasionally block harmless requests. However, Anthropic said early testing showed that fewer than 5% of sessions triggered a fallback response. “We’ve deliberately tuned the safeguards to be cautious,” the company said, adding that it plans to refine the system over time to reduce unnecessary interventions.

Built for demanding work

Anthropic argues that Fable 5 delivers its biggest advantages when tackling lengthy and complex assignments. The company says the model can stay focused across extended workflows while maintaining consistency over large amounts of context.

During early evaluations, payments company Stripe reported that the model completed a large-scale migration across a 50-million-line Ruby codebase in roughly one day. According to Anthropic, the same task would have otherwise occupied an engineering team for more than two months.

The company also highlighted gains in financial analysis. On Hebbia’s finance benchmark, Fable 5 posted the strongest results among leading models. Trading firm IMC found that the system performed well across factual analysis, reasoning tasks, root-cause investigations, and expected-value calculations.

Fable 5 also advanced Anthropic’s vision capabilities. The model can extract detailed information from scientific figures and reconstruct web applications from screenshots. In another demonstration, it completed Pokémon FireRed using a minimal vision-only setup after earlier Claude models struggled with the challenge.

Mythos stays restricted

Alongside Fable 5, Anthropic introduced Claude Mythos 5, a version of the same underlying model with fewer restrictions in select areas. Anthropic says the model offers the strongest cybersecurity capabilities it has developed so far.

Access to Mythos 5 remains limited. The company is deploying it through Project Glasswing while expanding availability to approved cyber defenders and organizations responsible for critical infrastructure. Anthropic said it intends to broaden access further through a trusted program in the future.

Fable 5 is available through Anthropic’s Claude API and consumption-based Enterprise offerings. Through June 22, Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise subscribers can access the model at no additional cost. After that date, Anthropic plans to move users to a credit-based system before eventually restoring broader subscription access.

As competition intensifies across the AI industry, Anthropic is betting that powerful models do not have to arrive without safeguards. With Fable 5, the company is testing whether frontier capabilities and tighter controls can coexist in the hands of everyday users.

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The next frontier of AI involves machines that can move, see, and make decisions in the physical world. NVIDIA and South Korea’s LG Group are betting heavily on that future through a broad collaboration aimed at weaving AI into everything from factory floors and household robots to autonomous vehicles and large-scale data centers.

The companies unveiled plans to develop a connected AI ecosystem that links model development, simulation, deployment, and infrastructure under a single framework. By combining NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms with LG’s expertise across manufacturing, consumer electronics, telecommunications and mobility, the partners hope to shorten the path from AI experimentation to commercial deployment.

Reinventing factory operations

Manufacturing sits at the center of the partnership. LG plans to use AI to connect every stage of its industrial operations, creating a system that can respond to changing conditions with greater speed and efficiency. The company aims to establish an autonomous manufacturing ecosystem in which procurement, production, logistics, and customer delivery operate through continuous data analysis and real-time decision-making.

To support that vision, LG will combine production expertise gathered from its global facilities with NVIDIA’s digital twin technologies. Engineers will be able to simulate factory environments, test operational changes, and validate processes virtually before implementing them in the real world. The companies believe the approach could help define a new standard for smart manufacturing.

Robots learn virtually

LG is also deepening its push into robotics. The company continues developing home robots designed to assist users with everyday indoor tasks. Instead of relying solely on physical testing, developers will train and evaluate these machines inside realistic virtual environments before deployment.

LG plans to incorporate NVIDIA Isaac Sim and Isaac Lab into its robotics workflows, allowing teams to simulate scenarios and refine robot behavior more efficiently. The company is also exploring NVIDIA’s Isaac GR00T foundation model to equip robots with stronger reasoning capabilities and the ability to handle more sophisticated tasks.

One of robotics’ biggest challenges remains access to quality training data. To address that problem, LG Electronics is building what it describes as a physical AI data factory. Using NVIDIA Cosmos world models, the initiative will generate synthetic datasets to support the development of robotics and industrial AI. LG CNS plans to integrate NVIDIA’s robotics technologies into its industrial automation platform, while LG Innotek intends to develop sensing solutions optimized for NVIDIA systems.

Building AI infrastructure

Beyond robotics, the partnership extends to the computing backbone that supports increasingly demanding AI applications. LG Electronics plans to work with NVIDIA on liquid-cooling technologies and modular infrastructure aligned with the NVIDIA DSX AI factory platform, enabling faster deployment of high-performance computing facilities.

LG Uplus intends to build large-scale AI data centers capable of supporting the latest NVIDIA GPUs and to explore future GPU cloud services. LG Energy Solution is evaluating advanced 800-volt direct-current power technologies designed for next-generation facilities.

The collaboration also reaches the automotive sector. LG Electronics plans to align its advanced driver-assistance technologies with NVIDIA DRIVE platforms to support future software-defined vehicles, AI-powered cockpits and edge computing applications.

Airbus Helicopters has revealed a new autonomous aircraft based on its popular H145 platform, pushing the company deeper into the growing market for large uncrewed rotorcraft. The aircraft, named the U145, debuted as a full-scale mock-up ahead of the ILA Berlin Air Show and signals Airbus’ latest effort to blend proven helicopter performance with advanced autonomous flight systems.

The company plans to fly the aircraft with a safety pilot on board by the end of 2026. Airbus aims to place the platform into operational service early in the next decade.

Unlike many unmanned helicopters designed from scratch, the U145 builds directly on the H145, one of Airbus’ most widely used rotorcraft families. More than 1,800 H145 helicopters currently operate worldwide across military, civil, and public service missions. Together, they have logged over 8.5 million flight hours.

Heavy-lift drone push

Airbus designed the U145 to carry larger payloads and stay airborne longer than many existing rotary-wing drones. The aircraft features a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 8,400 pounds and targets missions ranging from cargo resupply to disaster response.

The company removed the traditional cockpit entirely. Instead, Airbus integrated autonomous systems, artificial intelligence tools, and a dedicated sensor package to manage flight operations without onboard pilots.

The redesign also reshapes the aircraft for logistics work. Engineers added an integrated nose cargo door, a foldable loading table, and a reinforced cargo floor to improve loading efficiency during field operations.

Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvot said the U145 combines the H145’s established airframe and lifting power with autonomous operating capabilities usually associated with smaller drones. He added that Airbus plans to work with European autonomy specialists to expand the region’s uncrewed aviation ecosystem.

Military missions expanding

Airbus expects the U145 to support both civilian and military operations. The company described the aircraft as “mission agnostic,” meaning operators can adapt it for multiple roles with minimal structural changes.

Potential missions include firefighting, surveillance, armed reconnaissance, and disaster management. Airbus also wants the aircraft to act as a drone mothership capable of launching smaller airborne systems during combat operations.

The company already partners with missile manufacturer MBDA on air-launched effects technology tied to future European defense programs.

Airbus also sees the aircraft supporting crewed-uncrewed teaming missions, where autonomous aircraft operate alongside traditional helicopters and fighter aircraft.

The project reflects broader defense trends in the United States and Europe. Military planners increasingly want autonomous aircraft to handle dangerous logistics and reconnaissance missions while reducing risks to pilots in contested environments.

Existing platform advantage

The U145 marks Airbus’ second attempt to convert a crewed helicopter into an autonomous aircraft. The company previously developed the VSR700 uncrewed system from the Cabri G2 helicopter platform.

Airbus believes using an already certified helicopter gives the U145 a major advantage over clean-sheet drone designs. Existing supply chains, maintenance networks, and operational data could shorten development timelines and reduce certification risks.

In the United States, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense already offers a related autonomous aircraft concept to the U.S. Marine Corps. The MQ-72C, developed with Shield AI, L3Harris and Parry Labs, derives from the UH-72B Lakota helicopter.

The H145 platform itself also brings operational benefits. Powered by twin Safran Arriel 2E engines with FADEC controls, the helicopter maintains one of the lowest acoustic signatures in its class while producing lower carbon emissions than many competitors.

During his final Worldwide Developers Conference keynote before stepping down as Apple CEO in September, Tim Cook unveiled the long-awaited Siri overhaul that has been at the center of Apple’s AI ambitions for years.

At WWDC 2026, Apple formally introduced Siri AI, a rebuilt version of its digital assistant that arrives after delays and growing pressure from rivals in the artificial intelligence race. The keynote also brought a broad expansion of Apple Intelligence features across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making AI the defining theme of Cook’s final developer conference.

Alongside the AI announcements, Apple revealed iOS 27, new family safety tools, refinements to its Liquid Glass design language, and the next version of macOS, called Golden Gate.

Siri’s AI transformation

The headline announcement was Siri AI, a redesigned version of Apple’s voice assistant built to handle more natural conversations and provide more contextual responses. Users can now customize how Siri sounds through new pacing and expressiveness controls, while also interacting with the assistant through voice or text.

Apple has moved Siri into a dedicated app while maintaining integration across its operating systems. The assistant also gains access to Visual Intelligence features, allowing it to identify locations and other details from images stored on a user’s device.

The launch marks a significant milestone for Apple after months of scrutiny surrounding delays to advanced Siri features. The company is positioning the new assistant as a central part of its broader AI strategy moving forward.

Apple Intelligence spreads across iOS

Apple Intelligence is now reaching deeper into many of the company’s most-used applications. Safari can monitor webpages and notify users when information changes, while Messages and Mail gain smarter contextual reply suggestions.

Calendar can create events from conversational prompts, and the Home app can summarize camera activity and make footage easier to search. Apple is also bringing AI-assisted automation to Shortcuts, allowing users to describe a task and have the software build the shortcut automatically.

The updates reflect Apple’s effort to weave AI features directly into everyday workflows rather than confining them to standalone tools.

iOS 27 expands compatibility

Apple also highlighted the scale of its upcoming software rollout. The company said iOS 27 will support every iPhone model dating back to the iPhone 11, making it one of the broadest compatibility expansions in the platform’s history.

Apple claimed the update will reach more users than any previous iOS release. The company also announced several performance improvements, including faster photo loading, quicker AirDrop transfers, and multitasking enhancements.

Alongside iOS 27, Apple introduced new tools for families. Parents will be able to create approved app lists for child accounts and manage access over time. A new Communication Safety feature will help prevent children and teenagers from viewing shared content that contains nudity, graphic imagery, and other sensitive material.

Apple also refined its Liquid Glass interface with new readability improvements and user-controlled transparency settings. The company closed the software showcase with a preview of macOS Golden Gate, which will become the next major release for Mac users.

Taken together, the announcements represented Apple’s most ambitious AI-focused software update yet, giving Cook a fitting final WWDC centered on the Siri upgrade that many users had been waiting to see.

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The Pentagon is searching for new ways to protect military satellite communications from electronic attacks in space. MIT Lincoln Laboratory engineers are now developing a lightweight antenna system designed to keep U.S. forces connected even during heavy jamming attempts.

The prototype was built for proliferated low-Earth orbit, or pLEO, where large constellations of smaller satellites require compact and power-efficient hardware. Researchers say the antenna could deliver advanced beamforming capabilities while using far less power than conventional systems.

Lowering satellite power needs

Modern military satellites increasingly rely on adaptive antenna arrays that can rapidly redirect signals and block interference. Those systems help operators maintain links during hostile jamming attempts.

However, traditional phased-array antennas consume large amounts of power and require complex hardware. MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s answer is a scanning reflectarray antenna called Hosted Nimble Beamforming Anti-Jam Reflectarray, or HoNi BAJR.

Instead of using amplifiers across every antenna element, the design relies on a reflective surface with individually controlled elements. Incoming signals bounce off the surface and shift phase before traveling toward a separate feed antenna.

That process shapes and steers the beam while reducing hardware complexity. Engineers estimate the reflectarray design cuts power consumption by roughly 95% compared with traditional array systems.

The smaller footprint also allows the antenna to fit on compact satellite platforms commonly used in pLEO constellations. Researchers believe that advantage could make the technology attractive for future military satellite constellations.

Michael Craton, a technical staff member in the laboratory’s Tactical Satellite Communications Group, said future military satellite networks need scalable systems with lower size, weight, power, and cost requirements.

“We want to think about ways we can achieve exquisite performance using less expensive hardware,” Craton said. He added that the team also wants to prepare for emerging threats before they become operational problems.

Blocking jamming in orbit

The HoNi BAJR system focuses heavily on anti-jamming performance. Adaptive arrays normally counter interference by creating “nulls,” which suppress signals coming from hostile directions.

During testing at the laboratory’s RF Systems Testing Facility, the prototype demonstrated wide-angle scanning capability. Researchers also confirmed the antenna could split beams between multiple users with minimal signal degradation.

The team pushed further by developing broader interference suppression zones rather than targeting single jamming points. Engineers attempted this by reshaping beam side lobes to reduce interference across wider regions.

That approach produced mixed results during early testing because small signal variations affected side-lobe control. Researchers believe improved calibration methods could solve much of the instability.

Calibration remains challenging

Calibration now stands as one of the project’s biggest technical hurdles. Unlike conventional phased arrays, scanning reflectarrays lack extensive operational history in military satellite systems.

Engineers still need to determine how to precisely measure and compensate for signal distortions across the antenna. Researchers say accurate calibration will improve beam steering, interference suppression, and overall system performance.

The laboratory also continues studying where reflectarrays fit best within future military architectures. Early findings suggest the technology works well in scheduled beam operations, power-limited spacecraft, and environments with persistent but less dynamic interference.

“Designing hardware is always a challenge,” Craton said. “But figuring out how to fit the technology into a complete and functional system that meets mission needs is the hardest part.”

Future work will refine beamforming techniques, improve calibration procedures, and explore operational use cases for the antenna technology.