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June 18
- Marco Stucki wins Berlin University Alliance ideas competition
➀ Marco Stucki won the Berlin University Alliance's open knowledge lab competition with an innovative method for manufacturing diamond-based quantum light sources, crucial for future quantum computing and secure communication networks;
➁ The competition, themed "Art meets Science," highlighted cutting-edge research in quantum technologies, exemplified by Stucki's "Sawfish Cavity"—a photonic crystal resonator that efficiently traps and amplifies light using wave-like structures;
➂ The project will be showcased through an artistic poster campaign under the Berlin University Alliance's Open Knowledge Lab initiative, bridging technical innovation and public engagement.
- AMD reveals benchmarks of Ryzen Threadripper 9000 — claims it's up to 145% faster than rival Xeon in some tests
➀ AMD reveals performance data for Ryzen Threadripper 9000 CPUs, showcasing 16-25% gains over predecessors via Zen 5 architecture;
➁ Flagship 96-core Threadripper Pro 9995WX outperforms Intel's 60-core Xeon W9-3595X by 28-145% in workstation benchmarks;
➂ Pricing remains undisclosed, raising concerns about accessibility despite performance dominance.
- Marco Stucki Wins Berlin University Alliance Ideas Competition
➀ Marco Stucki won the Berlin University Alliance's ideas competition with a novel method for creating diamond nanostructures for quantum technologies, enabling future quantum computing and secure communication networks;
➁ The competition showcased Berlin's diverse research fields, attracting over 80 submissions spanning global health, climate, and quantum technologies;
➂ Stucki's "Sawfish Cavity" uses diamond-based optical resonators to trap and amplify light, with artistic visualizations displayed publicly in Berlin as part of the campaign.
- Misguided copper thieves plunge LA into internet blackout — perps cut lines only to find fiber-optic cables
➀ Los Angeles experienced a Father's Day internet outage due to thieves mistakenly cutting fiber-optic cables while searching for copper.
➁ Spectrum required extensive repairs, including thousands of fiber splices, to restore service after a 24-hour disruption.
➂ Rising precious metal prices are driving increased vandalism, leading to higher repair costs and prolonged outages nationwide.
- Miniaturized quantum magnetometer offers new measurement possibilities for a wide range of applications
➀ Fraunhofer IAF showcases a compact diamond-based quantum magnetometer with high sensitivity and robustness at World of Quantum 2025;
➁ The sensor enables precise measurements for applications in biomedicine, navigation, and geology, including GNSS-free positioning and underground resource detection;
➂ Future goals include further miniaturization, sub-picotesla sensitivity, and scaling diamond wafers to 4 inches for industrial production.
- Miniaturized Quantum Magnetometer Offers New Measurement Possibilities for a Wide Range of Applications
➀ Fraunhofer IAF developed a miniaturized diamond-based quantum magnetometer using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, achieving high sensitivity (picotesla range) and robustness for applications in biomedicine, materials testing, and navigation;
➁ The sensor enables vector magnetic field measurements with reduced calibration, supports autonomous GNSS-free navigation in challenging environments, and aids in geological mineral exploration;
➂ Ongoing advancements aim to further reduce sensor size by 5x and enhance sensitivity for sub-picotesla measurements, while expanding diamond wafer production to industrial 4-inch scales.
- Outstanding Achievements in Research and Transfer: Prof. Karl Leo Awarded the Order of Merit of the Free State of Saxony
➀ Prof. Karl Leo, a leading scientist in solid-state physics and optoelectronics at TU Dresden, received Saxony's highest state honor for his transformative contributions to the region's research landscape;
➁ His pioneering work on organic semiconductors led to breakthrough OLED technologies now used globally in displays, alongside advancements in solar cells and biodegradable electronics;
➂ A serial entrepreneur, Leo founded 11 startups like Novaled and Heliatek, strengthening Silicon Saxony's tech ecosystem and earning prior accolades including the Leibniz Prize and European Inventor Award.
June 17
- Speedy MSI 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD hits 5 cents per gigabyte – lowest price since Cyber Monday
➀ Newegg is selling the 2TB MSI Spatium M482 PCIe 4.0 SSD for $104.99, its lowest price since Cyber Monday;
➁ The DRAM-less drive leverages Phison E27T controller and Kioxia TLC NAND, achieving 7300MB/s reads and 6400MB/s writes;
➂ Despite lacking DRAM, its price-to-performance ratio (5 cents/GB) makes it a compelling option for expansive game storage.
- Scattered Spider Hackers Target Insurance Firms In A Vicious Ransomware Web
➀ A group of cybercriminals known as Scattered Spider has launched sophisticated cyber attacks on retail companies in the UK.
➁ The group has now targeted insurance companies in the US.
➂ Scattered Spider is known for using social engineering tactics and mimicking key personnel to bypass security measures.
- Cyclist with 'devastating injuries' one of the first patients to receive 3D-printed face repair — new features made with PEEK printer
➀ British cyclist Dave Richards became the UK's first recipient of a 3D-printed orbital prosthesis after suffering life-altering injuries in a drunk driving accident;
➁ Bristol 3D Medical Centre pioneers integrated 3D imaging/printing medical solutions, using Mini Factory's industrial-grade PEEK printers capable of 250°C high-temperature molding;
➂ The technology has expanded to surgical planning, allowing doctors to visualize organ damage through 3D models pre-operation.
- OnePlus Buds 4 With Game Mode And A Smaller Watch 3 Are Headed To US Market
➀ OnePlus is launching the Buds 4 in the US and Canada, featuring dual drivers, dual DACs, and LHDC 5.0 support.
➁ The Buds 4 offers 47ms ultra-low latency in Game Mode, active noise cancellation, and an IP55 rating.
➂ Battery life is up to 44 hours with ANC off, and 22 hours with ANC on.
➃ The smaller Watch 3 in 43mm size offers similar features to the 46.6mm model, with up to five days of battery life in smart mode.
- Intel Foundry layoffs could impact 'more than 10,000' factory workers — one fifth of employees affected by 'enormous cutback'
➀ Intel plans to cut 15-20% of its Foundry division workforce (8,170-10,890 employees) globally due to financial pressures;
➁ Layoffs target non-essential roles but retain critical engineers for EUV/High-NA tech, risking operational agility;
➂ Uncertain U.S. federal CHIPS Act subsidies and Oregon state funding adds complexity to Intel's restructuring efforts.
- The Alienware 16 Area-51 has a secret code — AI failed to help me solve it, but maybe you can
➀ A hidden code discovered inside the Alienware 16 Area-51 chassis remains unsolved despite attempts using AI tools.
➁ Google Gemini and ChatGPT generated erroneous references to unrelated ciphers (Zodiac Killer, Final Fantasy) and fictional sources.
➂ The article concludes with a call for crowd-sourced human decryption, highlighting AI's current limitations in pattern recognition and contextual analysis.
- New Lossless Scaling update can reduce GPU load by 2x — Version 3.1 could be the most potent FSR/DLSS alternative yet
➀ Lossless Scaling 3.1 introduces Performance Mode, reducing GPU load by up to 2x with potential image quality trade-offs;
➁ Image quality improvements include reduced ghosting, flickering, and enhanced border handling, especially in Adaptive Mode;
➂ The $6.99 GPU-agnostic tool supports both AMD FSR and Nvidia Image Scaling, offering a budget-friendly option for gamers with older hardware.
- Sustainable Manganese-Based Phosphors
➀ A joint research project by Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and Universität Innsbruck explores manganese as a sustainable alternative to rare-earth elements in LED phosphors;
➁ Mn2+ in alkali lithosilicates demonstrates stable white-light emission under high temperatures, potentially replacing dual rare-earth phosphors in LEDs;
➂ The innovation addresses geopolitical and cost challenges of rare-earth mining while improving material accessibility and thermal performance for lighting applications.
- 'There is no way a Borderlands game is that demanding' — Borderlands 4 users furious as PC requirements reveal RTX 3070 minimum GPU, 3080 recommended
➀ Borderlands 4's PC system requirements, including an RTX 3080 GPU and octa-core CPU, spark outrage among fans;
➣ Expensive Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions controversially lock gameplay content like new characters and missions behind paywalls;
➂ Potential performance concerns arise due to Unreal Engine 5 and Denuvo DRM integration, despite the game's cartoonish cel-shaded visuals.
- Anthropic fires back at Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, says it has never claimed only Anthropic can build safe and powerful AI
➀ Anthropic publicly refutes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's claims that the company seeks to monopolize AI development by citing safety and cost concerns;
➁ Huang criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's warnings about AI displacing 50% of entry-level jobs and rising unemployment, framing it as an attempt to stifle competition;
➂ The clash highlights a growing divide in the AI industry between unfettered innovation and cautious, regulated development.
- Future AI processors said to consume up to 15,360W — massive power draw will demand exotic immersion and embedded cooling tech
➀ AI GPU power consumption is projected to reach up to 15,360W by 2035, driven by higher compute and HBM integration;
➁ Advanced cooling methods like immersion cooling (for 4,400W-9,000W GPUs) and embedded cooling structures (for 15,360W) will be critical;
➂ Innovations include thermal transmission lines, fluidic TSVs, and double-sided interposers to manage extreme thermal loads.
- Nvidia calms fears and hypes Europe's impending AI future
➀ NVIDIA announced extensive AI infrastructure partnerships across Europe, including telecom collaborations and AI Factories development;
➁ Unveiled Isaac Gr00T robotics platform and Halos safety system to address AI ethical concerns;
➂ Demonstrated autonomous driving breakthroughs with GTRS algorithm and virtual training ecosystems.
- New standards for durable electronics: The EU energy label for mobile devices
➀ The EU will enforce a new energy label for smartphones and tablets (Android/iPadOS) from June 20, 2025, evaluating energy efficiency, durability, repairability, and reliability, with Fraunhofer IZM contributing key technical standards;
➁ The label aims to extend device lifespans (3.0 to 4.1 years for midrange phones), reduce e-waste, and save consumers €20 billion by 2030 through requirements like 800+ battery cycles, 7-year spare parts availability, and software/firmware access;
➂ Fraunhofer IZM developed robustness tests (e.g., drop tests) and advocated for reparability metrics, with similar laptop labels planned for 2028.
- New Standards for Durable Electronics: The EU Energy Label for Mobile Devices
➀ The EU will enforce a new energy label for smartphones and tablets starting June 2025, evaluating energy efficiency, durability, repairability, and requiring seven-year spare parts availability and software updates;
➁ Developed with Fraunhofer IZM, the label aims to extend device lifespans (e.g., smartphones from 3.0 to 4.1 years), cut e-waste, and save 14 TWh of energy annually by 2030;
➂ Future plans include expanding the initiative to laptops by 2028, reinforcing the EU’s focus on sustainable consumption and circular economy principles.
June 16
- Forget The Switch 2 And Score A Switch OLED For $100 Off With This Killer Deal
➀ Nintendo's Switch 2 is selling incredibly fast, but if you can't find one, the original Switch OLED is a great alternative;
➁ The Switch OLED is on sale for $249.95 at Woot, 29% off MSRP;
➂ The Switch OLED has an OLED display, double the storage, and improved features over the original Switch.
- Research Training Group in Organic Electronics receives further funding
➀ The German Research Foundation (DFG) awards €7.3 million over 4.5 years to the TIDE Research Training Group, a joint initiative by the Universities of Cologne and Bonn, focusing on molecular order's impact on organic electronics;
➁ The second funding phase emphasizes device implementation, building on foundational research linking experimental and theoretical approaches in flexible electronics like OLEDs and solar cells;
➂ Doctoral students receive multidisciplinary training, including international research opportunities and a Bench-to-Business program to bridge academic research with industry applications.
- Graduate School in Organic Electronics Receives Additional Funding
➀ The TIDE Graduate School in Organic Electronics secures €7.3 million in renewed DFG funding for a 4.5-year second phase, starting in October 2025;
➀ The Cologne-Bonn university collaboration focuses on molecular order‘s impact on device performance, training multidisciplinary experts for industry demands;
➂ The next phase emphasizes device implementation, international research opportunities, and business education to bridge academia and industry.
- Innovative Robotics Software »Botfellows Dynamic Safety« Makes Protective Fences Obsolete
➀ Botfellows GmbH, a spin-off from Fraunhofer IWU, introduces »Botfellows Dynamic Safety«, a software enabling industrial robots to operate without physical safety fences by dynamically adjusting speed based on human proximity;
➁ The solution integrates directly into robot controllers (e.g., Estun), ensuring safety while maintaining productivity through real-time sensor-camera monitoring and customizable human-robot collaboration modes;
➂ Key benefits include reduced costs, layout flexibility, and increased efficiency, showcased through live demos at automatica 2025.
- Innovative Robotics Software 'Botfellows Dynamic Safety' Eliminates the Need for Safety Fences
➀ Botfellows GmbH introduces 'Botfellows Dynamic Safety,' a robotics software integrated into control systems, replacing physical safety fences with dynamic zones that adjust robot movements based on human proximity;
➁ The solution enables human-robot collaboration (HRC) in shared workspaces, enhancing productivity and flexibility in tasks like palletizing through coexistence, cooperation, and collaboration scenarios;
➂ Developed in partnership with Estun Automation, the software eliminates complex interfaces, reduces costs, and supports seamless industrial automation.
June 15
- Unreleased Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti 20GB Founders Edition engineering sample sells for $1,999 on eBay
➀ An unreleased 20GB VRAM RTX 3080 Ti engineering sample sold for $1,999 on eBay, featuring a rare memory-boosted variant;
➁ The card requires third-party drivers due to lack of official support, potentially causing performance issues;
➂ Historical data shows canceled 20GB models may have been a strategic response to AMD's VRAM advantage.
- Beginner's 3D-printed winged VTOL drone can fly for 130 miles — enthusiast with little 3D printing and CAD experience builds long-range drone from scratch
➀ Engineer Tsung Xu designed a 3D-printed VTOL drone from scratch as a beginner, achieving 130 miles (3 hours) of flight using a Bambu Lab A1 printer;
➁ Over 90 days, Xu overcame challenges in aerodynamics, CAD modeling, and component sourcing without prior experience;
➂ The project highlights the rise of accessible drone and 3D printing tech, aligning with the U.S. Army's recent push for tactical 3D-printed drones.
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D Bundles Rock With X870 Mobo, 32GB DDR5 And 1TB SSD, Just $699
➀ The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is currently unmatched in gaming performance;
➁ Newegg offers a bundle with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, X870 AORUS Elite Wi-Fi 7 motherboard, 32GB DDR5 memory, and 1TB SSD for $699;
➂ The CPU alone is worth about $500, making this an excellent deal.
June 14
- Get An M4 MacBook Air 13 Or MacBook Pro 14 Up To $320 Off While Deals Last
➀ This summer, you can take advantage of back-to-school shopping deals with up to $320 off on M4 MacBook Air 13 and MacBook Pro 14.
➁ The 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max chip is on sale for $2,879 at Amazon, a $320 discount from the MSRP.
➂ The 2025 MacBook Air (13-inch) is available for $849 at Amazon, a $150 discount and close to its all-time low price.