Tudomány Hírek: 21 augusztus 2025

October 11, 2025, 9:56 PM EDT. The Android smartwatch landscape in 2025 covers flagship models like the Google Pixel Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8/Classic, plus solid midrange picks such as the OnePlus Watch 3, Amazfit Bip 6, and Garmin Venu 3. Designs range from round to squircle screens and sizes from 40mm to 50mm, with materials including Aluminium, Stainless Steel, and Titanium. Expect vivid AMOLED/LTPO displays, long battery life, and multi-sensor health tracking: SpO2, ECG, accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer. Key features include GPS (dual-band), water resistance up to 50m, sleep tracking, period tracking, and emergency SOS/fall detection. Most models support Google Wallet/Samsung Wallet, interchangeable bands, and voice assistants, making them versatile for fitness, health, and daily wear.

October 11, 2025, 9:55 PM EDT. IBM and Vanguard are partnering to apply quantum computing to one of finance’s toughest problems: portfolio optimization under real-world constraints. Using a sampling-based variational quantum algorithm (VQA), the study shows that quantum-classical hybrid workflows can achieve solutions competitive with traditional methods for complex asset-allocation tasks. The effort highlights how discrete decisions, nonlinear constraints, and multi-objective goals—such as maximizing return while controlling risk—make portfolio construction hard for classical solvers as the candidate set grows. By blending quantum sampling with classical optimization and post-processing, the approach offers a new class of heuristics that may explore intricate solution landscapes more efficiently. The work points toward practical applications in asset management and beyond, paving the way for broader adoption of quantum techniques in finance.

October 11, 2025, 9:54 PM EDT. When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption blasted ash into the atmosphere, Tonga's telecom links and undersea cables began to fail, leaving the island nation offline. The blast was so powerful it was felt thousands of miles away, and for hours the island's residents and their relatives overseas faced a broad internet outage. The narrative follows Sam Vea, a DHL agent and president of Tonga's Chamber of Commerce, as he navigates ash-streaked streets, edge-of-town traffic, and a vanished online line during a family call on Facebook Messenger. Scientists traced the disruption to atmospheric shocks and ash clouds, reminding readers how connectivity hinges on a single volcano event.

October 11, 2025, 9:53 PM EDT. AI is transforming society, spurring bold forecasts of triumph—and warnings of catastrophe. Geoffrey Hinton has warned of a possible extinction risk within decades, but there’s no consensus on how, or how likely it is. We asked five AI experts: does AI pose an existential risk? Three of the five said no. The responses explore alignment, governance, timing, and what counts as a genuine risk, weighing potential breakthroughs against safeguards. The debate reveals sharp differences in interpretation of capabilities, risk, and timeline, even as generative AI advances. This piece presents the varied views of five experts, illustrating why the question remains unsettled despite rapid progress in AI.

October 11, 2025, 9:52 PM EDT. An American startup, 24M Technologies, is reimagining lithium‑ion design with an electrode-to-pack (ETOP) platform that eliminates traditional cells and modules. By sealing the anode and cathode directly into the pack, this approach trims inactive materials like casings and plastics, boosting energy density and potentially range. Traditional batteries allocate 30–60% of volume to inactive components; ETOP could push active materials to about 80% of volume, enabling claims of up to 1,000 miles per charge. The design echoes the broader cell-to-pack and cell-to-body moves, aiming for higher energy efficiency, lower cost, and simpler packaging that could suit multiple chemistries and sizes.