ESA and China recently launched the joint SMILE magnetosphere mission after a decade of cooperation, but despite similar goals, another collaboration appears distant.

The post After cooperation on SMILE mission, ESA and China chart parallel but separate paths appeared first on SpaceNews.

O PRESENTIS, projeto liderado pela GMV, recorre ao sistema de navegação europeu Galileo para garantir segurança e resiliência às infraestruturas críticas europeias para possíveis ataques realizados durante aplicações críticas de sincronização do tempo.

The post PRESENTIS usa rede Galileo e soluções da GMV para proteger infraestruturas críticas appeared first on Tek Notícias.

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough near Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany, a nearly 2.5-meter-long spirally twisted tusk belonging to a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) was unearthed during routine construction work in Taimering. This discovery, made six years ago by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments (BLfD), reverberates profoundly through the scientific community, offering an unparalleled window into the Ice Age fauna of Central Europe. Alongside the tusk, researchers uncovered over seventy additional bones and bone fragments predominantly from the mammoth’s ribcage, as well as hand and foot bones, though the long bones remain conspicuously absent. Experts attribute the exceptional preservation of these remains to millennia of conservation within the wet sedimentary environment, which staved off the deleterious effects typically inflicted by exposure and predation.

Subsequent paleontological analyses meticulously confirmed that all the bones and the tusk belong to a single, remarkably large but juvenile individual. The mammoth is estimated to have stood approximately three meters tall at the shoulder—indicative of the species’ impressive stature even before reaching full maturity. The spatial arrangement and pristine condition of the bones strongly imply that the animal perished in close proximity to the excavation site. Detailed surface examinations revealed the absence of evidence for transport by water or predation-induced disarticulation, suggesting rapid burial in the sediments of an ancient pond or a slow-moving tributary of the Danube River during the Last Glacial Maximum. Radiocarbon dating places this event between 27,000 and 25,000 years ago, embedding the specimen firmly within a critical temporal context.

One of the most striking revelations from the site involved the identification of anthropogenic modifications on the bones. Researchers discerned clear cut marks—most notably on the ribs—attesting to human butchering activities. Intriguingly, one of the broad rib bones appears to have served as a makeshift cutting board, further underscoring the direct interaction between Palaeolithic humans and this megafaunal giant. However, it remains unresolved whether humans hunted the mammoth or scavenged its carcass after natural death. The osteoarchaeological analyses led by Kerstin Pasda from the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg provide compelling evidence of deliberate exploitation but stop short of clarifying the exact nature of the encounter.

Pollen analysis by Dr. Philipp Stojakowits from the University of Augsburg provided vital environmental context, revealing a tundra-like steppe populated by herbaceous plants and scattered dwarf shrubs. This biome, commonly known as the Mammoth Steppe, was a complex and nutrient-rich ecosystem that stretched expansively across Eurasia during the peak of the last glaciation from 30,000 to 20,000 years ago. It represented a vast treeless habitat nestled between the retreating Scandinavian ice sheet and the southern Alpine glaciers, capable of sustaining diverse megafauna including woolly mammoths. The palaeoecological insights gleaned from these studies place the Taimering mammoth within an ecosystem marked by climatic extremes yet surprisingly rich biodiversity.

This discovery is of exceptional significance not only because mammoth remains are exceedingly rare in this part of Europe but also due to the scarce evidence of human presence in the region during this notoriously harsh glacial period. PD Dr. Gertrud Rößner, a leading paleontologist at the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History, highlighted the rarity of such finds in Central Europe, contrasting with more common discoveries in eastern Eurasia. Additionally, archaeologists Andreas Maier of the University of Cologne and Thorsten Uthmeier of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg emphasized that prevailing climatic conditions likely forced Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers to seek refuge in more hospitable southern and eastern zones, rendering direct evidence of their activities exceedingly rare in Bavaria.

The collaborative scientific endeavor involved 14 specialists from a panoply of institutions including the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments, the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, the Curt Engelhorn Center for Archaeometry in Mannheim, and several major universities across Germany. This interdisciplinary approach ensured comprehensive analyses employing advanced archaeological, palaeontological, and geological techniques, culminating in a robust reconstruction of the mammoth’s life and death against the backdrop of Ice Age Europe.

Such integrated research has immense implications. Beyond expanding the paleobiogeographical distribution of woolly mammoths, the site furnishes rare evidence of human predation or scavenging behavior in an environmental context generally considered hostile to sustained human occupation during the Last Glacial Maximum. The cut marks on the bones, coupled with contextual geological data, provide a rare snapshot into hominin subsistence strategies and adaptability under extreme climatic stress, critical for understanding human evolution and migration patterns during this epoch.

Moreover, the preservation of the mammoth’s tusk alongside the skeletal remains offers valuable material for ongoing studies related to the species’ growth patterns, physiology, and ecological niche. The tusk’s spiral curvature—a characteristic feature in Mammuthus primigenius—provides insights into the age and health status of the individual, while microscopic analyses of growth increments may yield data on environmental fluctuations and dietary intake. The care taken in meticulously extracting and preparing these finds at the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History underscores the scientific potential locked within these ancient relics.

Attention to the depositional environment has also yielded critical stratigraphic information. The wet-soil conditions responsible for the near-perfect conservation of the bones also hint at palaeo-hydrological dynamics of the region during the Ice Age. These insights are invaluable for reconstructing the geomorphology of prehistoric landscapes and understanding how megafaunal species interacted with their habitats, maneuvered across glacial terrains, and responded to rapidly changing environmental parameters.

In summary, the Taimering mammoth discovery challenges and enriches prevailing narratives about Ice Age Europeans and their megafauna. It bridges gaps between palaeontology, archaeology, and palaeoecology, providing a multidimensional view of an ancient world teetering on the edge of monumental climatic upheaval. This research not only celebrates a spectacular scientific find but also sets a new standard for interdisciplinary collaboration in Quaternary science, offering promising avenues for further revelations about the complex interplay between humans and their environment tens of millennia ago.

Subject of Research: Animals

Article Title: A cold case from the last Glacial Maximum: A partial mammoth skeleton from southern Germany (Danube Valley, Germany) – Part 1: Traces of human activity and archaeological context

News Publication Date: 3-Jun-2026

Web References:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105839

Image Credits: Credit: BLfD

Keywords: Woolly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius, Ice Age, Last Glacial Maximum, archaeology, palaeontology, human activity, butchering marks, Mammoth Steppe, palaeoecology, radiocarbon dating, Bavaria, Central Europe.

The European Commission (EC) took the wraps off a sweeping new package outlining measures to boost the continent’s ambitions around semiconductors, AI, cloud and open source, as part of a bid to strengthen the bloc’s digital autonomy.

EC stated measures in the four areas will help Europe “become an AI continent”, established as a leader in research, development and adoption of AI.

It hopes the package will fast track ambitions around technology sovereignty and protect European digital independence, as part of a long-standing goal to reduce reliance on the US and Asia.

Starting with chips, the EC said it wants to secure the semiconductor base for Europe’s AI ambitions through the Chips Act 2.0, which is designed to speed up permitting, deepen cooperation with “like-minded partners” and introduce a new excellence label for Europe’s semiconductor regions.

It is an update of the original Chips Act, in force since 2023, which represented Europe’s response to vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain.

Secondly, a new Cloud and AI Development Act is designed to aid the buildout of new data centres, streamline conditions for deploying facilities across the European Union (EU) and introduce a single EU-wide framework to assess cloud and AI sovereignty. The wider aim is to triple the region’s data centre capacity in the next five to seven years.

Through open source, the EC wants to strengthen digital autonomy, scaling up alternatives in priority areas, invest in skills, startups and digital infrastructure while support greater use of open source in public administration.

Finally, the EC put the focus on digitalising Europe’s energy system, pledging to define a roadmap in the sector to ensure data centres are integrated, while building sovereign and secure AI models.

Technological sovereignty
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the commission, said Europe “cannot afford to depend on others for the technologies that keep our hospitals running, our energy grids stable and our services secure”.

“This is about protecting our citizens, defending our interests and making our own choices. Europe has the talent, the research excellence, the industrial base and the Single Market. Together, we must turn these strengths into technological sovereignty.”

Before the package is put into force, the proposal will be negotiated by the European Parliament and Council of the EU. The commission will also launch a consultation process with member states.

Investment will be made through existing grants until 2028, while future funding is to be confirmed in the next EU budget. The EC has previously estimated a combined public-private investment of €120 billion by 2035 to rejuvenate the continent’s chip industry.

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Europe is rapidly rewriting its security architecture. Faced with Russian aggression, mounting doubts about long-term American commitment and growing pressure to shoulder more of its own defense burden, European states […]

The post Europe is rearming together — except in space appeared first on SpaceNews.

Ofcom called for a concerted effort from mobile operators, local authorities and other entities to improve coverage across the UK, as it published a study highlighting widespread mobile signal issues uncovered on the country’s railway network.

Its research assessed coverage on 24 segments of the UK’s key railway lines. A good performance was deemed to be a download speed of at least 5 Mb/s, 1.5 Mb/s upload, and a response time of 50 milliseconds or less.

It found EE met those standards on 42% of the lines, Virgin Media O2 hit 20%, Vodafone scored 17% and 3 UK 21%. The latter two are now the same company.

Ofcom noted the research “highlights the core problem that mobile signal from masts on the ground often isn’t strong enough around train lines and that some carriage types are difficult for signals to pass through”.

It also found on-board Wi-Fi by train companies was little help, performing well 1% of the time. This was blamed on “outdated technology” and speed caps.

Goals
Alongside the train-specific research, the regulator published a report detailing general aims to improve the quality of mobile coverage in the country.

Here, Ofcom called for a “national effort” to improve services, noting the roles of the mobile industry, local authorities, central government, building developers and landowners.

Highlighting a binding £11 billion investment commitment from VodafoneThree related to merger clearance, Ofcom expects “other networks to respond with their own investment, and collectively this will be a key driver of improvements”.

Ofcom also pointed to issues with infrastructure planning applications in some areas and the advantage of having dedicated indoor coverage systems within sites such as shopping centres.

On train-specific problems, it noted “competition between mobile networks alone won’t be enough to improve mobile signal on trains, and government is currently considering options for how it can help”.

“As well as providing technical advice to Government to help inform its approach, we’ll also look at whether more spectrum – the airwaves all wireless technology relies on – is required”.

Challenges
A statement issued by trade association Mobile UK on behalf of the country’s three mobile operators welcomed the Ofcom research, explaining it “highlights the unique structural and capacity challenges of delivering consistent connectivity on moving trains”.

Noting building the advanced infrastructure required needed “the right enabling environment” the organisation urged government action through the country’s Mobile Market Review and “planning reform to establish a supportive policy and regulatory framework”.

“Dedicated public investment is also critical to tackle complex trackside blackspots, as commercial rollout alone cannot bridge the gap on the rail network,” the statement added. “We look forward to working with Government and Ofcom to achieve this, balancing the need for major investment with Ofcom’s vital role in maintaining low costs for consumers.”

The post UK regulator bemoans train mobile signal failures appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Tech giants and nations stepped up measures to protect young users online as Poland moved to ban mobile phones in primary schools and Meta Platforms separately beefed up teen content controls globally.

Poland’s proposed ban, due to take effect on 1 September 2026, will apply to children aged 7 to 15 on school premises, including during breaks. According to Reuters, the proposed bill will also give schools a legal basis to create storage deposits for handsets.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the restriction aims to give parents and teachers more control over pupils’ device use. “We propose a ban on cell phone use in primary schools during lessons and breaks,” he said, adding, “this is not a perfect solution, we have no illusions about that, but we must address this serious problem, which is addiction to phones and the internet”.

Another bill proposed by Poland’s minister for digital affairs also imposes new obligations on pornography websites to restrict access by children.

Poland’s proposals come as social media platforms face mounting scrutiny over child safety across the globe.

Meta moves
Earlier today (2 June), Meta announced it is expanding its 13+ content settings for teen accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger globally. The controls were initially launched in select countries in October last year and are designed to filter out content deemed inappropriate for underage users as the default for teenagers’ accounts.

A more restrictive “limited content” setting will also be made available on Facebook and Messenger later this year. In addition, Meta’s Instagram platform is also testing a feature to prevent teenage users from repeatedly seeing certain types of content to promote a more balanced social media feed.

In December, Australia became the world’s first country to ban social media for under-16s, while countries including the UK, Denmark, Greece, France, Malaysia, Norway and Spain are all weighing or advancing restrictions.

The post Poland plots phone school ban; Meta expands teen controls appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The U.K. government is exploring sending British astronaut John McFall to Vast’s planned Haven-1 space station in a mission it says could make him the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit.

The post UK explores Vast space station mission for astronaut with physical disability appeared first on SpaceNews.

In a small randomized trial in the United Kingdom, adults who added a serving of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie to a healthier diet reported lower depression scores after four weeks.

The post Daily Glass of Fruit Juice May Lift Your Mood: Study appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Liberty Global appointed Stephen van Rooyen (pictured) to take charge of its newly formed telecoms company Ziggo Group, which will combine VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands with Telenet in Belgium.

Liberty Global stated van Rooyen, who is the current CEO of VodafoneZiggo, will take control of the joint entity on 1 September, ahead of planned listing of the company in Amsterdam in 2027.

The executive was credited by Liberty Global for leading “a turnaround at VodafoneZiggo over the past 18 months”, leaning on extensive European telecoms and media leadership experience.

He previously spent more than 17 years at Sky, serving as CEO of Sky UK & Ireland and CCO of Sky Group.

As part of preparations for the new entity, Liberty Global also named Jany Fruytier from its Swiss operator Sunrise as CFO. Fruytier has held the equivalent position at Sunrise since 2020, playing a key role in the growth and listing of listing of the business.

Liberty Global struck a deal to buy the 50% stake in VodafoneZiggo it did not own from Vodafone Group earlier this year.

It then declared it would set up Ziggo Group, which would own 100% of VodafoneZiggo and Telenet. As part of the buyout transaction, Vodafone took a 10% stake in Ziggo Group.

The joint entity will have 13 million customers, generating €6.6 billion in revenue.

Expertise and experience
Alongside his responsibilities at Ziggo Group, van Rooyen will retain his role at VodafoneZiggo.

Mike Fries, Liberty Global chairman and CEO said van Rooyen’s experience and Fruytier’s expertise gives it the right platform to deliver on the planned listing.

“Together, they will lead two highly complementary businesses, and we see significant opportunities in what these two strong brands can achieve together,” he said.

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SoftBank Group committed to an investment of up to €75 billion to bolster AI data centre infrastructure in France, with the first phase of the project set to deliver 3.1GW of capacity.

SoftBank announced the investment at the 2026 Choose France summit, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, marking the Japanese company’s largest AI infrastructure investments in Europe.

It has committed an initial €45 billion investment in the Hauts-de-France region, providing 3.1GW of capacity to data centres in Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain. SoftBank will also develop additional sites, “reinforcing the country’s role as a leading European hub for next-generation digital infrastructure”.

For the Dunkirk deployment, SoftBank partnered with Schneider Electric to accelerate its buildout, while developing a large-scale industrial production cluster.

The cluster at the Port of Dunkirk will be a “key industrial pillar” for the company’s AI infrastructure programme in France, including the build out of two facilities. One will be operated by SoftBank to manufacture enclosures, while the other will be operated by Schneider Electric to integrate data centre power modules.

The duo explained the partnership will combine SoftBank’s robotics and automation capabilities with Schneider’s industrial expertise and local supply chain network to support the deployment of next-generation AI data centres at scale.

The industrial cluster is also designed to support Dunkirk’s ambition to become a leading hub for robotics, advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation.

Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank, said AI is entering a new era and countries that build infrastructure for this transformation “will shape the future of technology, industry and society”.

“SoftBank is proud to make this major commitment to France. With its industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe.”

The company said it will also work with SB Energy and other strategic partners to deliver the projects.

The post SoftBank to splash up to €75B on France AI capacity appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Earth Oddities • Strange Weather Phenomena • Global Dust Transport • Go back to Strange Sounds A massive Saharan dust plume has drifted across parts of Europe, hazing alpine views and coloring sunsets across the continent. But the most surprising part of the story is how the dust gets into the sky in the first […]

The post Saharan Dust Cloud Over Europe: How Desert Thunderstorms Launch Millions of Tons of Dust Into the Atmosphere appeared first on Strange Sounds.

Experts say AI firm’s engagement with Vatican risks creating ‘feelgood’ discourse that lacks critical examination

Why did Anthropic’s founder sit beside the pope during a warning about AI?

In the first major written teaching of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV took artificial intelligence to task. The pontiff delineated the technology’s most concerning threats to humanity: replacing workers, accelerating war and exploiting the environment. At a ceremony honoring the holy teaching the day of its release at the Vatican, the pope was flanked by an unusual guest speaker: Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah, one of the people behind the AI boom so worrying Leo.

Guardian investigation shows how US presidency blurs line between policy and enrichment of American ruling family and those around it

On a graffitied Sarajevo backstreet, a path leads past an overgrown patch of garden to a white door. Beyond is the registered office of a company that is on the brink of winning contracts worth more than $1bn.

AAFS Infrastructure and Energy is close to securing a concession to build and operate a pipeline across the Balkans to allow fossil gas shipped from the US to replace supplies that come from Russia. “This could be the most important infrastructure project ever in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” says one of the country’s top officials, who, like others, asks to remain anonymous to discuss sensitive negotiations.

Mobile World Live brings you our top three picks of the week as the European Commission (EC) earmarked a large proportion of mobile satellite spectrum for homegrown players, Telenor unveiled a restructured operating model and SpaceX secured a $2.3 billion US military deal.

EC proposes local players get bulk of MSS spectrum

What happened: EC EVP Henna Virkkunen set out the regulator’s proposal to allocate the 2GHz mobile satellite services spectrum band across the European Union, with a large slice potentially being allocated to local players.

Why it matters: Under the plan, one third of the band would be reserved for government and critical communications with the rest allocated to commercial D2D and IoT services. Non-EU companies would only be able to apply for half of the allocation for commercial services and none of the public sector portion.

Virkkunen said the watchdog aims to “boost Europe’s competitiveness”, “strengthen Europe’s security” and embrace “new technological possibilities”, adding the plan reflects “the current changing geopolitical context”.

She rejected suggestions the move disproportionately targets US companies, stating the process is “very transparent and fair”. Yet, BNP Paribas Equity Research senior analyst Sam McHugh told Reuters the plan could leave US players including SpaceX in a “structurally inferior” position. He added it is “a small positive for European telecom operators” because it further reduces the odds of SpaceX competing head-to-head with them.

Telenor pursues top-line gains with restructure

What happened: Telenor unveiled a group-wide restructure, replacing its Nordics, Asia, Amp and Infrastructure business units with a model focused on individual countries.

Why it matters: The plan aims to move decision making closer to customers and local markets. The operator stated the shift aligns with its long-term goals of pursuing top-line growth, greater efficiency and operational improvement. Under the new set-up, the chiefs of Telenor’s Nordics businesses will join group management, removing the current regional layer.

Telenor described the restructure as “simplified and sharpened”, adding it would “substantially reduce administrative costs” and accelerate long-term growth by improving cash flow and capital return in the coming years.

SpaceX bags $2.3B US military comms deal

What happened: The US Space Force (USSF) awarded SpaceX a $2.3 billion contract to build the backbone for a Space Data Network (SDN), a satellite communications system designed to connect military platforms and sensors.

Why it matters: USSF stated the SDN backbone will use low Earth orbit satellites to provide global connectivity for armed forces, acting as “an integrated network” delivering “robust, resilient, high-capacity and low-latency data transport”.

USSF acting portfolio acquisition executive for space-based sensing and targeting Colonel Ryan Frazier said the system would use “the best of commercial innovation” and provide “a strong foundation for the SDN mission” by acting as “a core communications layer” for USSF systems, delivering continuous, secure connectivity.

The deal comes at a pivotal moment for Elon Musk’s satellite venture, which recently submitted a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing detailing plans to launch a long-awaited IPO as early as next month.

The post The Friday File: MSS spectrum; Telenor; SpaceX appeared first on Mobile World Live.

WARSAW, Poland — The Italian-Dutch company Revolv Space has announced that French in-orbit services provider Infinite Orbits has selected its Solar Array Drive Assemblies (SADAs), the devices used to manage […]

The post Revolv Space enters in-orbit servicing market with Infinite Orbits deal appeared first on SpaceNews.

AMSTERDAM — A senior German military official said Europe needs a coordinated approach to military space operations and proposed the creation of a European Space Component Command hosted by Germany […]

The post Germany pushes European military space command initiative appeared first on SpaceNews.

Datacentres used 22% of country’s electricity last year, pushing up household bills, study suggests

Energy demand by datacentres in Ireland has added hundreds of euros to household electricity bills in a pattern that could be replicated across Europe, according to a report.

Ireland’s growing number of datacentres last year used 22% of the country’s electricity, more than all urban homes combined, according to the Central Statistics Office. The equivalent figure in the US and UK is 6%.