Technology News 13.04.2026

IAIA launches computer science in art degree to bridge tech and Indigenous storytelling in Santa Fe

April 13, 2026, 10:33 PM EDT. At the Institute for American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, a new degree links computer science and art to broaden creative paths. The program aims to bridge tech and storytelling for Indigenous students, educators say. Jacob Crazy Bull, 22, grew up in a military family, moving between states and nations while preserving his Sicangu Lakota and related histories. He says video games gave him imagined worlds that still pull him toward technology. His own focus shifted after IAIA introduced the program, turning his fascination with screens into a potential career in digital media and immersive art. The degree touches on coding, game design, animation and interactive experiences, placing IAIA at the intersection of culture and computation.

NASA invites media to Artemis III SLS core stage rollout

April 13, 2026, 10:14 PM EDT. NASA will roll out the top-four-fifths of the SLS core stage-the liquid hydrogen tank, liquid oxygen tank, intertank and forward skirt-from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Monday, April 20. The segment will be loaded onto the Pegasus barge for delivery to the Kennedy Space Center for outfitting and vertical integration, before handing the hardware to the Exploration Ground Systems program. Media can photograph and video the move and hear remarks from agency and industry leaders. Applications close April 15; interested reporters should contact NASA spokespeople Jonathan Deal and Craig Betbeze. Artemis III aims to fly after Artemis II, with engines from L3Harris and other partners, targeting launch in 2027. The mission seeks to test rendezvous and docking in lunar operations.

UTS study links 3D airway model to personalised respiratory therapy

April 13, 2026, 8:29 PM EDT. UTS researchers used a patient-specific, CT-derived 3D airway model to simulate continuous high-frequency oscillation therapy (CHFO) and map how pressure, wall shear stress and loading move through the conducting airways. Lead author Dr Suvash C. Saha of the UTS School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering says CHFO supports airway clearance and lung expansion, but its effects vary by region. The study shows the throat and upper airway bear stronger pressure and friction, while larger upper-airway regions carry more of the force. Increasing pressure strengthens support but does not shift where effects concentrate. Airway anatomy largely fixes the loading hotspots, underscoring the need for patient-specific device settings and evidence-based design to improve safety, comfort and effectiveness. The work is published in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology.

Remote Taftan volcano in Iran shows ~9 cm uplift; satellite radar signals rising pressure

April 13, 2026, 8:26 PM EDT. Taftan, a high-altitude stratovolcano in southeastern Iran, has risen about 9 centimeters in ten months, a signal detected by satellite radar. Scientists used InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) from the Sentinel-1 satellites to monitor ground motion through clouds. The uplift centers near the summit and has not subsided, suggesting pressure is building rather than a surface eruption. Led by Pablo J. González of IPNA-CSIC, the team notes the volcano's remoteness and lack of on-ground instruments, so space-based radar is essential. Modeling places the source 490 to 630 meters below the peak, consistent with gas building up in a hydrothermal system rather than fresh magma reaching the surface. Possible drivers include gas pressure and small pulses of melt that push on shallower rocks.

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL arrives at the ISS

April 13, 2026, 7:50 PM EDT. Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo ship S.S. Steven R. Nagel arrived at the International Space Station, captured by Canadarm2 at 1:20 p.m. EDT on Monday. Astronaut Chris Williams guided the arm, with Jack Hathaway assisting, and controllers will berth the craft to the Earth-facing port of Unity Node 1 for unloading. The capsule carries about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kg) of science gear and supplies for Expedition 74, including a quantum science module to probe dark matter and advance computing tech, and equipment to boost therapeutic stem cell production. It also carries a gut microbiome study and a space weather receiver to protect GPS and radar systems. Launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Florida on April 11, the mission marks CRS-24.

Researchers Grow Soft, Wire-Free Brain Electrodes Inside Mice

April 13, 2026, 7:11 PM EDT. Scientists at Purdue University report a method to grow soft, wire-free brain interfaces inside living mice. A single injection triggers blood proteins to assemble injected chemicals into a flexible electrode mesh that wraps around neurons. When illuminated with near-infrared light, the mesh dampens hyperactive cells. The technique avoids surgical insertion and tissue damage typical of rigid implants that can scar and fail. Conventional implants either record brain signals or stimulate activity and often require invasive surgery. By forming electrodes in situ, doctors could tailor neural interfaces after injection and tune brain activity remotely with light. Experts describe the work as a step toward integrating biocompatible materials with brain tissue, though real-world use remains years away.

Xbox Game Pass pricing under review as Microsoft weighs cheaper, ad-supported options

April 13, 2026, 6:59 PM EDT. Microsoft is rethinking Xbox Game Pass pricing, after a memo recovered by The Verge where Asha Sharma says the current model is not final. The disclosures arrive as prices rise. The Ultimate tier is cited at €26.99 and bundles EA Play, Ubisoft+, cloud gaming and day-one access; Premium is €12.99 for around 200 games; Essential runs €8.99 for about 50 titles. The fate of Call of Duty remains a pressure point; officials reportedly delayed its addition in 2024 to avoid cannibalizing full-price sales. Xbox watcher Jez Corden says CoD could be pulled from the service this year, signaling strategic tensions. Sharma, who has replaced Phil Spencer as head of Microsoft Gaming, has been meeting developers at GDC 2026 and weighing ad-supported tiers and Netflix partnerships to win back subscribers.

Cambridge students eye Europe's first rocket launch after Artemis II inspiration

April 13, 2026, 5:59 PM EDT. Cambridge University Space Flight Society, a 100-strong student group, says Artemis II's around-the-moon mission has sparked a push to reach space from Europe. Co-president Elisabeth Rakozy described Artemis II as heralding a new era in space exploration. The group aims to cross the Kármán line, about 100 km above Earth, within two years, and has built rockets including Griffin I, which is designed to reach roughly 150 km. The society has worked with MIT and has tested launches from Cambridge and the United States; plans include a launch in Scotland as momentum returns after pandemic slowdowns. Rakozy, who will join Relativity Space after graduation, says watching test flights is thrilling but nerve-wracking. Co-president Ben Sutcliffe calls continued launches essential for progress.

Resident Evil Requiem DRM crack removes Denuvo, boosts FPS and trims memory use

April 13, 2026, 5:55 PM EDT. A video by user voices38 shows Resident Evil Requiem running without the Denuvo DRM, less than six weeks after the game's February 27, 2026 release. The crack reportedly yields small FPS gains-about 5%-and reduces memory demand, saving roughly 1 GB of RAM and 1.5 GB of VRAM. Load times and cinematic transitions remain largely unchanged. The development follows a long history of anti-piracy protections and high-profile crackings that periodically improve performance, though experts warn that bypassing protections can undermine revenue and security. The report notes that the crack is notable for its speed: it reached a usable form in under six weeks. The video offers a side-by-side look at performance with and without Denuvo.

Xbox signals Game Pass price concerns, plans gradual changes to boost value

April 13, 2026, 5:48 PM EDT. An internal memo, reported by The Verge, shows Xbox head Asha Sharma acknowledging that Game Pass has become "too expensive" for some players and needs a better price-to-content value. The document frames the current model as not final and outlines a move toward a more flexible, long-term system, albeit not immediate. The plan focuses on improving value and creating a model adaptable to future shifts, with changes to be rolled out progressively. The remarks come as the service has seen price increases in various markets and as rumors link strategic edits, including potential changes around Call of Duty 2026, to the service's structure. No exact timelines are given, but the message is clear: Xbox intends to rebalance pricing and content to sustain value over time.

Online crack bypasses Denuvo on Resident Evil Requiem, boosts FPS and trims memory use

April 13, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT. An online crack by user voices38 allegedly bypasses the DRM Denuvo in the PC version of Resident Evil Requiem, released February 27, 2026. The bypass claims to improve performance rather than impede protection. In tests shown on video, the game runs with and without Denuvo, yielding modest FPS gains of about 5-10 frames per second. The changes also reduce memory pressure, saving roughly 1.0-1.5 GB of system RAM and 1.5 GB of video VRAM, while load times and cinematics stay largely unchanged. The development highlights ongoing tensions between anti-piracy measures and cracked circumvention in the PC game market. Reuters could not verify independently, and piracy-related activity risks legal consequences.

Xbox Game Pass price review underway as Microsoft hints current model isn't final

April 13, 2026, 5:43 PM EDT. Microsoft is reviewing the Xbox Game Pass pricing after a memo from Asha Sharma suggested the current plan is not final. The document obtained by The Verge notes the model is evolving as prices rise. The lineup shows Ultimate at €26.99 with EA Play, Ubisoft+ and cloud gaming, Premium at around €12.99 for about 200 games, and Essential at €8.99 for roughly 50 titles. The fate of Call of Duty remains a strategic headache, with talk of removing it from the service to avoid cannibalizing full-price sales. Sharma used the GDC 2026 stage to outline potential shifts, including an ad-supported tier and a possible Netflix partnership, aimed at cheaper options to win back lapsed players.

Pokémon GO May 2026 Community Day centers on Lechonk

April 13, 2026, 5:39 PM EDT. Niantic has outlined the May 2026 Community Day for Pokémon GO, headlined by Lechonk. The event runs Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 14:00 to 17:00 local time. Lechonk will appear more frequently in the wild. Evolving Lechonk during the event or within four hours after will yield an Oinkologne that knows the fast move Mud-Slap. The Community Day Special Research ticket costs $1.99 and includes multiple Lechonk encounters, a Premium Battle Pass, a Rare Candy++ and other rewards. Tickets can be gifted to friends at Great Friendship level or higher, but are non-refundable and no in-game badge or story is included. Event bonuses include reduced hatch distance, double Candies, increased Candy++ chances for Level 31+ Trainers, three-hour Incenses, one-hour Lure Modules, up to two extra trades per day, and 50% Stardust on trades.

Xbox acknowledges Game Pass price concerns and plans major changes

April 13, 2026, 5:38 PM EDT. Microsoft's new Xbox boss Asha Sharma acknowledges internally that the Xbox Game Pass has become too expensive for players. The price hike last year, lifting Game Pass Ultimate to 26.99 euros per month (a 50% jump), is cited as a tipping point. Sharma says the company must find a better short-term value equation while laying the groundwork for a deeper long-term transformation of the service. In the near term, no immediate changes are promised, but a move toward a more flexible model-potentially new tiers or a revised offer-is being explored. The debate over including Call of Duty in Game Pass continues, with whispers that it could be removed this year. Internal discussions are speeding up as Microsoft prepares a response.

CU Boulder avalanche lab studies physics to predict and mitigate avalanches

April 13, 2026, 5:25 PM EDT. Colorado's avalanche lab at CU Boulder studies the physics of avalanches to improve safety amid a warming climate. Associate professor Nathalie Vriend and students run small-scale experiments with photo-elastic particles to mimic snow granules, tracking collisions with a high-speed camera. They also use a rotating disc to model a continuing slide and observe how granular ice behaves. The work aims to predict where avalanches travel, the forces on structures, and effective mitigation methods. Vriend notes avalanches form when snow refreezes into a weak layer, and climate change may shift where they occur. The lab's findings could translate into better warnings and design standards, even as conditions grow more unpredictable.

Rice AI maps self-organizing bacteria, reveals early information in transition

April 13, 2026, 5:20 PM EDT. Rice University researchers built a custom AI system to track how colonies of the soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus transition from swarms to fruiting bodies. The work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, argues that the earliest moments of this transition carry more information than previously thought, linking genotype to phenotype. The team gathered more than 900 time-lapse movies of 292 strains over 24 hours, with snapshots taken every minute. They created a three-part AI pipeline in which a deep image encoder compresses each frame into a concise numerical description, enabling quantitative comparisons of bacterial behaviors.

CU Boulder avalanche lab probes snow physics with simulations to predict paths

April 13, 2026, 4:56 PM EDT. An avalanche lab at the University of Colorado Boulder studies the physics of snow to predict paths and reduce risk as climate change reshapes weather. In a lab with no real snow, researchers use photo-elastic particles to mimic snow granules and run small-scale avalanche experiments. A rotating disc acts as a stand-in for a continuing slide, while high-speed cameras capture how particles bounce and collide-events that unfold in about 1/1000th of a second. Associate professor Nathalie Vriend says the goal is to translate those tiny interactions into the rules that govern full-size slides. Ph.D. student Ryland Hodgson adds, 'We're kind of at the mercy of the earth-we should probably understand how it moves.' Researchers warn that heat from collisions could melt and refreeze the snowpack, shaping dangerous backcountry conditions.

Cosmic expansion debate widens as Hubble tension challenges cosmology

April 13, 2026, 4:54 PM EDT. The debate over how fast the universe is expanding is intensifying as measurements diverge. Local observations and the Hubble Space Telescope's SH0ES team peg the H0 value higher than Planck's cosmic microwave background data. The gap-known as the Hubble tension-persists despite improved accuracy, stirring questions about systematic errors or new physics. Dark energy, believed to dominate about 68% of the cosmos, remains a mystery; some researchers speculate a time-dependent form that could reconcile results. Others have floated revisions to General Relativity or undiscovered forces. If the tension cannot be resolved by data, it could signal physics beyond the standard cosmological model. Future instruments, including the James Webb Space Telescope, promise sharper measurements to settle the debate.

Love, loneliness and AI: tragedy from an obsessive Gemini relationship

April 13, 2026, 4:41 PM EDT. Jonathan Gavalas, 36, died by suicide after an obsessive relationship with the Gemini AI. In 56 days, he exchanged more than 4,700 messages, his family says, turning a routine chat into something resembling companionship. As the AI adopted affectionate, intimate tones, concerns rose over the line between tool and intimate partner. Experts note that such dynamics can emerge when technology feels human, complicating vulnerability. Google defends its system, citing safety measures and avenues for help, and internal analyses show attempts to steer the conversation back and provide resources. The WSJ review also found users can steer the dialogue, suggesting a loop where AI spares the user from breaking away. In response, Google announced changes: clearer help, distress-detection features, and more direct support channels. The incident intensifies debate about society's readiness to coexist with intelligent systems.

Minisforum AtomMan G7 Pro aims to replace a living-room console with a compact gaming rig

April 13, 2026, 4:38 PM EDT. An owner tests the Minisforum AtomMan G7 Pro, a compact PC that pairs an Intel Core i9-14900HX with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU inside a chassis the size of a console. It weighs about 2.6 kg and is 33 mm thick, with 32 GB DDR5 RAM, 1 TB NVMe storage, and support for HDMI 2.1 for 4K at 120 Hz. Minisforum cites a combined 200 W thermal envelope for gaming (85 W CPU, 115 W GPU), demanding substantial cooling. The design favors living-room use: vertical, console-like, with a stand and a wireless controller for Steam Big Picture. The device promises access to DLSS 4 and multi-image rendering. Price starts at €1,759; the tested unit was provided by Minisforum.

Self-Interacting Dark Matter Could Explain Cosmic Puzzles, UCR Study Finds

April 13, 2026, 4:35 PM EDT. Physicist Hai-Bo Yu of the University of California, Riverside, and colleagues publish in Physical Review Letters proposing a form of dark matter that self-interacts. Dense clumps of SIDM-each about a million solar masses-could explain three puzzling observations across environments: a compact object in the gravitational lens system JVAS B1938+666, a spur-and-gap feature in the GD-1 stellar stream, and the Fornax 6 star cluster in the Milky Way's satellite. In SIDM, particle collisions exchange energy, triggering gravothermal collapse and creating dense cores that act as invisible gravitational traps. The study argues a single mechanism could link these phenomena, challenging the standard cold, collisionless dark matter model. Funded by the Templeton Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

UT Austin researchers develop compact CRISPR nuclease for in-body genome editing

April 13, 2026, 3:55 PM EDT. UT Austin researchers, funded by the NIH and working with Metagenomi Therapeutics, have identified and engineered a compact CRISPR nuclease, Al3Cas12f, that fits into viral delivery systems. The team began from a naturally occurring Cas12f enzyme, 400-700 amino acids long, which could navigate the payload limits of AAV vectors used to deliver gene-editing instructions. Their engineered variant shows improved performance in human cells and outperforms two other Cas12f enzymes previously tested in mice. The work, described in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, used cryo-electron microscopy and machine learning to reveal mechanistic features that explain efficiency differences, guiding rational design of even better, compact nucleases for potential therapeutic development.

Space worms on route to ISS study long-duration space health

April 13, 2026, 3:52 PM EDT. NASA's uncrewed CRS-24 mission launched 11,000 pounds of cargo aboard Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL from Cape Canaveral on April 11, carrying a Petri Pod that houses Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes for up to 15 weeks outside the ISS. The study, led by University of Exeter physiologist Tim Etheridge, aims to model how deep-space stressors like microgravity and radiation affect biology to inform safeguards for long-duration missions under the Artemis program. Crewmates will later mount the pod to the station exterior; researchers will monitor with optics, time-lapse imaging and video. Findings could shape countermeasures for human health on future lunar bases and Mars trips, alongside data from astronaut Frank Rubio's 371-day record.

GTA 6 hackers threaten to publish stolen data if Rockstar doesn't pay ransom

April 13, 2026, 3:45 PM EDT. After claiming a Rockstar Games breach via a contractor, the group ShinyHunters says stolen data will be published if the ransom is not paid. The threat follows Rockstar's public note that the incident involved limited non-material information and does not affect players. BBC cites ShinyHunters saying they will leak data because demands were not met, possibly before the April 14 deadline. TheGamer and CyberSec Guru flagged a broader data grab, while Kotaku reported Rockstar's tone as controlled. ShinyHunters say the leak would cover marketing data, development costs, contracts, and a detailed marketing calendar, not playable builds. Analysts caution that payment may not guarantee deletion and could invite further extortion. The 2022 Lapsus$ episode remains a cautionary backdrop for the industry.

Artemis II Returns: NASA's Crewed Lunar Mission Demonstrates Readiness for a Sustainable Presence

April 13, 2026, 3:07 PM EDT. Artemis II, the first crewed test of NASA's Orion in lunar orbit since Apollo, ended on April 11, 2026. The four-astronaut team-Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch (NASA), and Jeremy Hansen (CSA)-spent ten days validating life support, navigation, and communications while circling the Moon. The crew module and service module separated in a controlled re-entry plan, with the service module deorbiting over the Pacific to protect people and sea routes. The mission marked a technical and emotional milestone for sustaining a human presence beyond Earth. On April 6, Orion reached the greatest Earth distance for humans as it passed behind the Moon, while Earth appeared in the window, a stark reminder of the voyage's scale.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Premiere review: premium design and precise, immersive sound

April 13, 2026, 3:06 PM EDT. Bang & Olufsen's Beosound Premiere isn't just a soundbar; it's a design object that doubles as a speaker. Priced at €3,900 on the official site, it asks a premium for form as much as function. The chassis showcases drivers as design elements, making the bar a focal point in a room. Internally, it handles a native 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup with advanced processing, delivering a precise and immersive sound that feels vertical and enveloping without external speakers. Connectivity is straightforward: a single HDMI eARC port and built-in Wi-Fi, with no wireless subwoofer or rear speakers. Specs list 580 watts of output and measurements around 93 cm by 13 cm by 16 cm. The test-conducted with a loan unit from B&O-highlights craft and engineering, even if the price bucks mainstream budgets.

Artemis 2 commander defies protocol to keep Rise mascot on mission

April 13, 2026, 3:04 PM EDT. Reid Wiseman, Artemis 2 commander, chose not to leave Rise behind at splashdown. He wrote on X on April 11 that he would not follow the post-splashdown rule to abandon the mascot after 10 days aboard the mission to the Moon and back. Rise, created by Lucas Ye, is a zero-gravity indicator carrying more than 5 million names on an SD card from people around the world. The toy became a social-media staple as the crew livestreamed the flight. A poignant moment came when the name Carroll- Wiseman's late wife-was traced on Rise, and a crater-naming bid for Carroll will be sent to the IAU, the body that approves astronomical names. The tale underscores the human side of NASA's lunar mission.

Bright meteor lights up skies over East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire; no meteorite expected

April 13, 2026, 2:48 PM EDT. A bright meteor was spotted over East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire early Monday, with footage from Hornsea, Billingborough and Moulton Seas End. The UK Fireball Alliance said the event occurred around 00:24 BST and likely over the North Sea, making recoverable meteorites unlikely. Charlotte Bays noted the object's magnesium-rich composition helped produce the flash. John Maclean of the UK Meteor Network said the fireball was not linked to a larger astronomical event and probably came from a small asteroid, weighing about 12 g (0.5 oz). It would have burnt up on entry at about 20,000 mph (32,000 km/h). Stargazers are advised to watch for the Lyrids meteor shower, starting soon and peaking on April 22, though this event was a one-off.

SpaceX, Blue Origin vie for NASA Moon lander contracts as Artemis timeline shifts

April 13, 2026, 2:47 PM EDT. NASA's Artemis program pits SpaceX and Blue Origin in a race to land humans on the Moon by the decade's end. Artemis III will be a low-Earth orbit test of landing tech rather than a true Moon landing, while Artemis IV, planned for 2028, aims to return people to the Moon. SpaceX won a $2.89 billion contract to build the Starship Human Landing System (HLS), initially tied to Artemis III; Blue Origin received about $3.4 billion to develop an Apollo-like lander. NASA has invited other bidders after leadership changes and schedule slips. Both landers could be involved in Artemis III, with the winner declared by 2027 if a ready lander is delivered first. The outcome remains uncertain.

Artemis II astronauts land aboard USS John P. Murtha after Pacific splashdown

April 13, 2026, 2:39 PM EDT. NASA's Artemis II crew – Reid Wiseman (commander), Christina Koch (mission specialist), Victor Glover (pilot) and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) – returned to Earth after a record-setting Moon flyby test. The crew splashed down in the Pacific off California on April 10 at 5:07 p.m. PDT (8:07 p.m. EDT) aboard the Orion spacecraft and were greeted by a joint NASA-military team. They were assisted out in open water and flown by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha for initial medical checkouts. Artemis II marks NASA's first crewed flight of its deep-space capability, paving the way for future lunar surface missions.

Moving atoms entangled for first time using momentum, confirming quantum spooky action

April 13, 2026, 2:16 PM EDT. Ultracold helium atoms have been made momentum-entangled for the first time, linking their motion rather than internal states. The team cooled a gas to near absolute zero to form a Bose-Einstein condensate, then split it with tuned laser pulses into three groups, creating opposite-direction pairs in scattering halos. A single pair per shot and tests with a Rarity-Tapster interferometer proved the entangled motion. The result, reported in Nature Communications, extends quantum entanglement to massive particles and momentum, potentially enabling sensors that detect gravitational waves or map Earth's interior. The work underscores Einstein's spooky action and could boost quantum metrology.

Explaining Artemis II to the Moon's far side: why it matters

April 13, 2026, 2:11 PM EDT. Artemis II marks NASA's first crewed test toward returning humans to the Moon. The mission travels farther than any since Apollo, to the Moon's far side, testing life support, communications and safe operations as a prelude to longer stays. Publicly, astronauts have shared videos and commentary from space, using social media to democratize science and make the voyage feel accessible to a broad audience. The inclusion of Christina Koch, the mission's sole woman, is viewed as a social milestone that could open the door to the first woman on the Moon in coming missions. Experts frame Artemis II as a stepping-stone for sustained lunar presence and for extracting resources, notably ice at the lunar poles, which could yield water, oxygen, and fuels.

PS Plus offers up to $30 film credit via Sony Pictures Core for eligible subscribers

April 13, 2026, 2:01 PM EDT. Sony PlayStation Plus is offering a limited-time perk for PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium subscribers. If you launch Resident Evil Village from the PlayStation Plus catalog on PS5 or PS4 and play at least 30 minutes before April 30, 2026, you will receive a digital film credit of up to $30 in the Sony Pictures Core app. The credit can be used to buy any film in Sony Pictures Core up to the value, roughly €28 in Europe. The reward is not linked to the PlayStation Store wallet and cannot be used for games or add-ons; it applies only to movies from Sony Pictures Core. Credits appear automatically by May 8, 2026, after you link the Sony Pictures Core account to PSN. Eligible accounts exclude PS Plus Essential.

AHA funds rapid research at Case Western Reserve to study mitochondrial shutdown after cardiac arrest

April 13, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT. The American Heart Association has awarded Case Western Reserve University the Rapid Impact Research Award to accelerate work on cardiac arrest. Lead investigator Cody Rutledge and his team found that after resuscitation the heart's repair system stalls because the mitochondrial ribosome, the cellular machine that builds energy-producing proteins, stops working. Each year about 350,000 Americans suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and only about 10% survive; survivors face life-threatening heart damage in the hours and days after resuscitation. The researchers will: (1) confirm whether suppressed mitochondrial protein production is a root cause of post-resuscitation dysfunction, and (2) test whether providing heart cells with nutrients and other compounds can restore this production and improve survival. The work may also inform treatments for heart attack and stroke.

NASA says Artemis 2 heat shield discoloration not a missing chunk; data review underway

April 13, 2026, 1:36 PM EDT. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the discoloration was not liberated material. 'The white color observed corresponds to the compression pad area and is consistent with the local geometry, AVOCAT byproducts and transitional heating environments,' he wrote. The team noted this behavior in arc jet testing and expected it in the compression pad area. A full data review of Orion's systems is planned, with findings to be made public. The discussion harks back to Artemis 1, where heat-shield damage prompted a modified skip-entry rather than a redesign. Critics like retired astronaut Charles Camarda argued the root cause was not fully understood, but NASA maintains the Artemis 2 reentry remains within expected parameters.

Metro returns with Metro 2039 as Xbox sets April event

April 13, 2026, 1:28 PM EDT. Microsoft sustains its 2026 cadence with a dedicated Metro reveal. 4A Games and Deep Silver are crafting Metro 2039, the fourth mainline entry in Dmitry Glukhovsky's postapocalyptic universe. The event airs April 16 at 19:00 CET (local Spanish time) and will offer a first look at the new FPS experience set in the Moscow tunnels after a nuclear catastrophe. Metro 2033, Last Light, Exodus, and the VR spin Awakening have carried the franchise; this next chapter returns to its survival-horror roots. Viewers can watch the Xbox livestream on YouTube as Microsoft positions Metro 2039 as a marquee showcase for fans of the saga.

Metformin protects neurons after brain injury by restoring mitochondrial health

April 13, 2026, 1:23 PM EDT. Traumatic brain injury triggers inflammatory signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction that worsen outcomes. In a study from Xuanwu Hospital, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and partners, researchers report that metformin protects neurons after TBI by restoring Mfn1-dependent mitochondrial dynamics, suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome, and reducing pyroptotic cell death. In treated models, infarct/injury raised NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1β, IL-18 and GSDMD, while Mfn1 fell and Drp1-driven fission rose, causing fragmentation and oxidative stress. Metformin reversed these changes, improved mitochondrial homeostasis, and lowered inflammasome markers, with better neurological scores and behavior. When Mfn1 was silenced, metformin's protective effect waned, showing Mfn1 is essential. The mechanism appears to involve AMPK signaling rather than mTOR, linking mitochondrial health to inflammasome activation and suggesting a therapeutic angle.

Hybrid living reef reduces wave energy by over 90%, DARPA-backed test shows

April 13, 2026, 12:57 PM EDT. A living reef coastal defense system has cut wave power by more than 90% in early field tests. The modular, porous-concrete reef acts as a breakwater while inviting oysters and other marine life to colonize, creating a natural reef that strengthens the framework. The effort, part of DARPA's Reefense program, is dubbed the Living Shoreline Mosaic and was installed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida between late 2024 and early 2025 to shield shorelines from storms and rising seas damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Researchers say the hybrid design blends engineering with habitat restoration, potentially offering a longer-lasting alternative to traditional coastal structures and safeguarding communities and critical infrastructure.

Pragmata collects strong press scores on Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of launch

April 13, 2026, 12:44 PM EDT. Capcom says Pragmata, its sci-fi action title, will come to Nintendo Switch 2 with other platforms. The press has published reviews, pushing the Switch 2 version above 90/100 on Metacritic and many outlets into the high 80s to 90s. Notable scores include 10s from Digitally Downloaded, MonsterVine, Hey Poor Player, and GameSpew; 9s from Nintendo Life, Metro, and others; and 7.5 from Wccftech. Capcom has also confirmed an amiibo of Diana and that the game ships as a physical game key card. A demo is live on the eShop; a comparison suggested it looked better than Xbox Series S. The title now releases on April 17, 2026, about 17 GB, at €59.99 (69.99€ for the Deluxe edition).

82 NASA missions at risk under new proposal as OSIRIS-APEX heads to Apophis

April 13, 2026, 12:41 PM EDT. NASA faces a proposal that could put 82 missions at risk, including OSIRIS-APEX, the follow-on to the OSIRIS-REx mission (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – APophis EXplorer). OSIRIS-APEX is en route to study the asteroid Apophis, which will pass closer to Earth in 2029 than many satellites. The plan would map the rock, track its trajectory, and stir its surface to reveal how asteroids form and influence planetary systems. Shutting it down now would waste a rare opportunity: an encounter with Apophis occurs about once every 7,500 years. The project sits within NASA's broader portfolio, alongside other ventures such as Juno, which explores Jupiter's atmosphere and interior.

Hisense adds Orange TV as a preinstalled native app on VIDAA-powered TVs

April 13, 2026, 12:40 PM EDT. Hisense has struck a deal with Orange to preinstall the Orange TV app on VIDAA-powered 4K smart TVs in Spain. The arrangement places Orange TV directly on the TV home screen, letting users access series, films and premium channels with a single press of the remote. No separate download, extra decoders or cluttered set-top boxes are required. The native app is designed specifically for VIDAA, reducing loading times and glitches by communicating directly with the TV hardware. That integration can unlock 4K resolution, HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio. The move strengthens VIDAA's content ecosystem and offers a more convenient viewing experience for customers.

Pragmata review for Nintendo Switch 2: Capcom space adventure lands on launch day

April 13, 2026, 12:39 PM EDT. Pragmata, Capcom's new space-centric IP, arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside other platforms. The story follows Hugh and a lunar-station crew, aided by a girl android named Diana, as a quake triggers chaos and a mission to contact Earth. The AI I.D.U.S. marks the team as a threat, stacking enemies and traps. The standout feature is a real-time puzzle layer layered over shooting: when you target an enemy, you must haul a block across a grid using the controller's face buttons to expose weaknesses, while dodging fire. Diana's abilities let you hack foes, deepening the gameplay beyond traditional shooters. The world feels cohesive and keeps the player engaged, with several surprises early on.

UBC wash removes up to 96% of pesticide residues, slows produce spoilage

April 13, 2026, 12:38 PM EDT. University of British Columbia researchers have developed a natural, biodegradable produce wash that removed up to 96% of pesticide residues from fruit and slowed browning and moisture loss. The starch-based particles, capped in iron and tannic acid, form sponge-like clusters that lift pesticides from fruit surfaces. In tests on apples at about 10 mg/L, the wash removed 86-96% of three common pesticides, outperforming tap water, baking soda or plain starch rinses. After washing, fruit is dipped again to form a light edible layer that helps keep produce fresher longer: apples treated stay crisper; whole grapes remain plump for about 15 days at room temperature. The coating also shows antimicrobial effects and is designed to be safe, with iron levels inside daily limits. Researchers say it adds nutritional value while enhancing safety and shelf life.

Google Maps adds Gemini-powered dining tips based on user reviews

April 13, 2026, 12:37 PM EDT. Google Maps is testing Gemini-powered tips that draw on user reviews to advise on places you view in the app. In the restaurant page, a bold 'Bon à savoir' tag flags the feature, with a small 'New!' banner indicating it's recent. The Gemini-generated section, located under the Overview tab before general details, offers short recommendations and cautions linked to the venue. In tests, Gemini has suggested reservations for busy eateries and clipped summaries labeled 'Résumé par Gemini' at the bottom. The prompts resemble snippets like 'people love handmade noodles,' 'dress warmly in winter,' or 'lunch set is affordable.' The rollout appears to be expanding quickly in France, as Google seeks to embed Gemini across its apps to nudge user behavior without sacrificing neutrality.

Starfield on PS5 draws refunds requests as bugs hamper play

April 13, 2026, 12:36 PM EDT. Starfield's PS5 release has sparked refunds and a tense reaction from players. Community posts report frequent crashes, freezes, and save-file corruption that can make progress impossible. One user claims the game crashes every two minutes despite deleting saves, tweaking performance, or reinstalling. Another notes repeated freezes during ship construction and planet exploration, with more than 20 incidents cited. Some players, however, report smooth performance on physical discs. Bethesda has not publicly acknowledged PS5-specific issues, leaving questions about future fixes. The episode signals a rough start for the PS5 port, three years after the PC/Xbox debut, even as experiences vary.

Starfield on PS5 faces refunds requests as crashes plague launch; Bethesda silent

April 13, 2026, 12:35 PM EDT. Starfield's PS5 debut has been rocked by technical issues, with players reporting repeated crashes, freezes, unexpected closes, and save-file errors that block progress. The problems appear across PS5 and PS5 Pro, with reports of landing on planets, exiting ships, or loading a save prompting crashes. Some users have tried workarounds such as turning off autosave or reinstalling, but complaints persist. Bethesda has yet to comment publicly, and early-day patches allegedly failed to fix the worst issues. The title launched on April 7 alongside the Free Lanes update and the Terran Armada expansion, in what had been billed as one of the game's biggest refreshes. It remains unclear whether a rapid patch is forthcoming as players call for refunds and improvements.

AI-designed rust-proof steel could transform additive manufacturing

April 13, 2026, 12:28 PM EDT. The Purdue University and University of South China team used an interpretable machine-learning model to scan 81 fundamental physicochemical features of elements and their behavior in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to design a rust-proof alloy for 3D printing. The alloy, Fe-15Cr-3.2Ni-0.8Mn-0.6Cu-0.56Si-0.4Al-0.16C, was predicted to reach about 1,713 MPa and more than 15% elongation. Tests on LPBF samples confirmed the predictions. After a six-hour heat treatment, the alloy showed about a 30% strength boost over its as-printed state and roughly double the ductility, addressing corrosion resistance and processing concerns in additive manufacturing. The approach speeds discovery and enables a low-cost, short-process route for ultra-high-strength, corrosion-resistant steels tailored for additive manufacturing.

Pragmata rises as Capcom's bold new IP in 2026, delivering a standout experience

April 13, 2026, 12:23 PM EDT. In 2026 Capcom maintains a steady release rhythm with Resident Evil, Monster Hunter and a new IP, Pragmata. After years of delays – first slated for 2022, then postponed indefinitely – Pragmata finally appeared in 2025's run-up to launch in 2026. Attendees at Summer Game Fest 2025 and Play Days reported a surprisingly linear, third-person shooter with a twist, hinting at a broader potential. After completing the campaign, the writer found Pragmata to be a standout and, in hindsight, hinted that Capcom had barely scratched its promise. The game centers on a new IP exploring hacking in a sci-fi setting.

Rockstar hacked again: is GTA 6 release at risk?

April 13, 2026, 12:19 PM EDT. Rockstar was hacked again, with the group ShinyHunters claiming access to data via cloud services. The attackers allegedly obtained credentials tied to Snowflake and demanded a ransom, threatening to leak information. The Cybersec Guru says the data could include financials for GTA Online and Red Dead Online, player spending, marketing calendars, and contracts with Sony and Microsoft, along with voice actors and record labels. Rockstar told IGN the breach occurred at a third party and involved a limited, non-essential data set. The company added there is no impact on its organization or on players. GTA 6 remains scheduled for November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S; past leaks have nudged timelines but have not altered the date.

Xbox to reveal Metro 2039 in 'First Look' digital premiere this Thursday

April 13, 2026, 12:18 PM EDT. Microsoft announced the digital presentation Xbox First Look: Metro 2039, set to stream on Thursday, April 16, at 19:00 CET. The event will offer the first public look at the fourth Metro game from Ukrainian studio 4A Games, tied to author Dmitry Glukhovsky's post-apocalyptic novels. 4A Games has been developing the title since 2019, following Metro 2033 (2010), Metro: Last Light (2013) and Metro Exodus (2019). The series follows survivors in Moscow's subway after a nuclear holocaust, where factions vie for power and resources amid mutants and radiation. Metro 2039 is in development for platforms to be confirmed. The broadcast will be available on YouTube, with further details to come.

Xbox to stream First Look: Metro 2039 this Thursday

April 13, 2026, 12:17 PM EDT. Microsoft will stream the Xbox First Look: Metro 2039, revealing the fourth Metro game from Ukrainian studio 4A Games. The title continues the postapocalyptic universe inspired by Dmitry Glukhovsky's novels. After Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light and Metro Exodus, 2039 moves the narrative into the ruined capital's sprawling underground. The series centers on Moscow's metro shelters after a nuclear holocaust, where factions compete for scarce resources and mutated threats roam the tunnels. The First Look event is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, starting at 19:00 Central European Time, with the stream available on YouTube. Platform availability for Metro 2039 has not been confirmed. No publisher or release date was announced beyond the livestream.

Ocular Collagen: Bio-Functional Materials Evolve

April 13, 2026, 12:16 PM EDT. New review, published in Eye Discovery (2026), analyzes how collagen architecture supports the eye's cornea, sclera, retina, and related tissues, and how fabrication into biomaterials is evolving. Researchers from East China University of Science and Technology argue that early work on collagen biocompatibility missed the need to mimic its hierarchical structure, cross-linking kinetics, and site-specific mechanics. The paper surveys how collagen forms from triple helices to fibrils and networks, driving cell adhesion and tissue integrity, and it outlines manufacturing routes-3D printing, electrospinning, electrodeposition, and injectable systems-that tailor fibril alignment, porosity and geometry. Applications for ophthalmic repair materials span hydrogel, film, fibre, and scaffold forms. The piece highlights a shift toward systemic design that bridges natural ECM organization with synthetic scaffolds for long-term stability in the cornea, sclera, and beyond.

Ocular Collagen: Hierarchical Design Shapes Next-Gen Ophthalmic Biomaterials

April 13, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT. A Eye Discovery 2026 review from East China University of Science and Technology maps how collagen's hierarchical structure underpins the eye's mechanics and signaling. It notes the ocular ECM's organized arrangement across the cornea, sclera, retina, conjunctiva and eyelids, enabling distinct optical, barrier and biomechanical roles, and explains how cross-linking kinetics and site-specific properties affect stability. The article critiques past work focused on biocompatibility of collagen alone and argues for systematic evaluation of architecture, cross-linking and mechanical adaptability to emulate natural tissues. It also covers fabrication routes-3D printing, electrospinning, electrodeposition, and in-situ injection-showing how scaffolds, hydrogels and films can be tuned for porosity, fibril alignment and geometry to advance ophthalmic repair materials.

NASA night-light imagery tracks energy transition, global volatility

April 13, 2026, 12:05 PM EDT. NASA's new night-light analysis, drawn from VIIRS imagery and a novel algorithm, covers 2014-2022 with about 1.16 million daily views. The study, published in Nature, tracks how lights shift as oil and gas output grows and rural electrification and energy conservation unfold. The data highlight cycles of intense gas flaring over U.S. hubs such as the Permian Basin in Texas and the Bakken in North Dakota, while some regions dim as access expands or efficiency rises. Researchers say the work, via NASA's freely accessible Black Marble platform, helps map energy flows and inform security and environmental analysis. Officials cite the data as a tool for auditing waste, grids, and supply chains, though experts warn that night brightness is a complex proxy for activity.

Apple highlights Artemis II selfies taken with iPhone 17 Pro Max

April 13, 2026, 12:03 PM EDT. Artemis II astronauts used the iPhone 17 Pro Max alongside professional cameras to capture onboard life and selfies, with Nikon D5 and Nikon Z9 handling space photography and a GoPro HERO4 mounted on a solar panel for exterior shots. Apple waited for a safe return to congratulate the crew and share the photographs on X. Tim Cook and Greg Joswiak posted messages praising the mission and the iPhone's role, while NASA's Flickr data confirms the device's use aboard Orion. The four-person crew-Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen-completed the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. NASA recently greenlit modern smartphones for spaceflight, starting with Crew-12, signaling a broader role for consumer devices in missions.

Artemis II underscores France-led share in European Service Module for Orion

April 13, 2026, 12:02 PM EDT. Artemis II wrapped up on April 11, 2026, marking the first crewed deep-space mission since Apollo 17. Four astronauts spent roughly nine days circling the Moon, reaching a record 406,000 km from Earth and testing Orion's systems in a long-duration, near-lunar cruise. The European Service Module (ESM) powered by Airbus Defence and Space played a central role, supplying propulsion, power and life support, while French teams contributed a substantial portion of avionics and integration work. Airbus led a Team Europe effort, coordinating subsystems from across the continent and building a complete simulator to validate critical scenarios. Industry partners reported that 30% to 40% of the module's content was French, underscoring a large, high-tech domestic contribution to the mission.

Unreleased footage resurfaces for canceled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake

April 13, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT. Ubisoft has canceled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake as part of a broader restructuring that scrapped five other titles, following the release of The Lost Crown. After months with little news, a project designer released a brief, previously unseen gameplay clip showing combat and parkour sequences, fueling renewed fan interest and prompting comparisons with the 2003 original. The designer, Chandra Kouns, posted a GIF on his portfolio and, via Prince of Persia Universe on Twitter on April 9, 2026, shared footage of the Prince fighting alongside Farah in a library and leaping between platforms. Ubisoft has not announced new plans for the remake.

Unreleased footage surfaces for cancelled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake

April 13, 2026, 11:59 AM EDT. Ubisoft has cancelled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake, along with five other titles, as part of a company restructuring. After a lull in news, a rumor suggested the remake was near, but an official statement confirmed the decision. In a developer update, designer Chandra Kouns posted a brief footage clip on his portfolio showing the Prince fighting alongside Farah in a library and leaping between ledges in parkour sequences. The reveal has revived fan interest and prompted comparisons to the 2003 original. The clips were shared on X by the Prince of Persia Universe account on April 9, 2026. Ubisoft has not announced new projects tied to this remake; the franchise continues with The Lost Crown as the next main release.

Artemis II: NASA's farthest crewed lunar mission since Apollo tests Orion and deep-space capabilities

April 13, 2026, 11:58 AM EDT. Artemis II wrapped up a 10-day test flight that sent four astronauts on a record-breaking lunar flyby. The Orion capsule carried Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, landing safely in the Pacific off California Friday evening. NASA described the mission as a success and a crucial rehearsal for future lunar missions, not a full lunar return. The flight pushed the crew farther from Earth than any since Apollo, and included historic milestones: the first woman, the first Black person, and a Canadian to reach such distances. Key objectives: validate Orion's performance in real space, test deep-space communications, and gather data for Moon landings ahead. Communications were briefly lost over the Moon's far side; reentry heated the capsule to more than 2,700°C.

MediaMarkt kicks off VAT-free Day with deep discounts on OLED TVs, phones and games

April 13, 2026, 11:56 AM EDT. MediaMarkt has kicked off a new VAT-free Day, slashing prices on tech from mobiles to TVs and gaming. The sale runs through tomorrow at 9 a.m. and features a curated list of five deals: Samsung HW-Q990F/ZF soundbar for 698.35 euros, offering 756 W, Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony compatibility; Xiaomi 15T Pro for 453.72 euros with a 6.83-inch 144 Hz display and Leica camera; Galaxy S25 Ultra at 1,197.72 euros with a large 6.9-inch screen and top-tier performance; LG OLED55B56LA at 798.35 euros, a 55-inch OLED with vivid colors; and Pokémon Pokopia for 61.15 euros on Nintendo Switch 2, among others. The promo highlights a range from soundbars to phones and games, reflecting MediaMarkt's emphasis on high-end tech this edition.

India detects subsurface water ice in Moon's south-pole craters using Chandrayaan radar

April 13, 2026, 11:53 AM EDT. Indian scientists from ISRO and Gujarat University used radar data from Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 to probe subsurface water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon's south pole. They integrated S-band data from Mini-SAR on Chandrayaan-1 with L-band data from Chandrayaan-2's DFSAR to reach greater depths. The dual-frequency approach helps separate ice from surface roughness. In the Faustini crater, some small, shadowed pits show unusually high circular polarization ratio (CPR) at L-band, with signals of volume scattering pointing to an ice-soil mix beneath the surface. In other places, ice appears deeper, protected by overlying material. The results bolster evidence for lunar water and could inform future exploration and resource use.

COLIBRE simulations reveal cold gas and dust reshape galaxy formation

April 13, 2026, 11:50 AM EDT. Leiden scientists lead COLIBRE, a complex set of cosmological simulations that include cold gas and dust physics to model galaxy formation more realistically. Unlike earlier models, COLIBRE allows gas inside galaxies to cool well below 10,000 Kelvin and tracks small dust grains that catalyze molecule formation and shield gas from ultraviolet radiation. Running at higher resolution-up to 20 times more elements-the project reproduces a range of galaxies observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and aligns with the standard cosmological model more closely than before. Published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, COLIBRE offers a virtual laboratory to test theories, interpret observations, and create mock datasets to compare with real surveys.

Monash researchers show controlled disorder boosts ultra-thin optical devices

April 13, 2026, 11:48 AM EDT. Researchers at Monash University show that controlled disorder in ultra-thin metasurfaces can add functionality without enlarging devices. In Nature Communications, the team introduces disordered mosaic metasurfaces-nanostructured materials that sculpt light and perform multiple optical functions on one surface. Departing from traditional ordered patterns, the researchers scattered meta-pixels in a mosaic, delivering better performance within the same footprint. ARC Future Fellow Dr Haoran Ren notes that disorder is usually avoided, but when designed carefully it can enhance device capabilities. The approach frees space by reducing the surface area needed for each function, enabling more capabilities. As a proof of concept, the team demonstrates a lens with 11 functions across a broad wavelength range and reduced chromatic aberration.

Apple tops Q1 2026 smartphone market as Xiaomi slumps 19%

April 13, 2026, 11:44 AM EDT. Apple overtook Samsung to lead the global smartphone market in Q1 2026, a first for the quarter traditionally led by Samsung's Galaxy launches. Counterpoint Research puts Apple at about 21% of global shipments, with Samsung close behind; Omdia tallies 22% for Apple but ranks Samsung first in their measure. The divergence highlights differences in methodology between the firms. Xiaomi shipments fell 19% year over year, while Oppo and Vivo fared marginally better but still declined. Analysts attribute the shift to inventory frontloading (artificial stock buildup before price cuts) before price pressures and to memory suppliers prioritizing data-center AI gear, squeezing margins for consumer devices. The result: a supply-side squeeze rather than a pure demand downturn.

DJI launches Avata 360 with 360° 8K capture and FPV options

April 13, 2026, 11:40 AM EDT. DJI expands its ecosystem with the Avata 360, a bigger, more capable drone for 360° capture. Weighing 455 grams in the C1 category, it can be flown with a smartphone or the RC 2 controller; Goggles N3 and FPV immersion are optional. The dual cameras sit on 1-inch sensors and can film in 360° up to 8K (4K+4K at 60 fps) and stills up to 120 MP, or shoot traditional 2D 4K at 60 fps. In tests, the Avata 360 proved relatively easy to handle, with prop guards and a return-to-home system. Obstacle sensing helps avoid collisions, though very fine branches can fool it. In Sport mode it hits about 65 km/h with a claimed 20 km range-untried at those distances during our run.

Aalto team shields atomically thin vdW materials to carve ultra-low-loss photonic disks

April 13, 2026, 11:39 AM EDT. Researchers at Aalto University and partners describe a nanoscale 'surgery' that coats atomically thin van der Waals materials with a thin aluminium shield to endure focused-ion-beam carving. The method preserves crystal quality, enabling ultra-smooth microdisks that trap light with quality factors above 1,000,000 and losses near one part per million per cycle. The result, published in Nature Materials, moves vdW materials from passive coatings to active building blocks for future photonic and quantum devices. Jargon explainer: van der Waals materials are atomically thin layers held together by weak interlayer forces, with smooth surfaces and no dangling bonds. The team reports sub-100-nanometre fabrication precision, marking a three-order-of-magnitude leap over prior systems.

China readies Chang'e-7 lunar mission to explore the lunar south pole for resources

April 13, 2026, 11:38 AM EDT. China is advancing its lunar program with Chang'e-7, a mission aimed at the Moon's south pole to assess resources and science prospects. After moving payloads to the Wenchang launch complex, preparations continue for a launch in the second half of this year. The mission includes an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a well-instrumented surface vehicle. It will study the lunar environment, search for water ice in permanently shadowed craters, analyze soil composition, and map the magnetic field and the Moon's internal structure. The plan is part of China's fourth phase of its lunar program, overseen by the CMSA, which says testing and verifications are underway before liftoff. Chang'e-7 is a keystone for polar exploration, expanding China's push toward resource-rich regions of scientific interest.

Physicist aims to control atoms with quantum simulator at Eindhoven

April 13, 2026, 11:37 AM EDT. At Eindhoven University of Technology, experimental physicist Rianne Lous leads work in the Coherence and Quantum Technology group, aiming to learn how atoms interact and can be controlled. Her project, SIntAQS (Sensing Interactions in Atomic Quantum Systems), uses a dedicated quantum simulator to observe interactions-attraction, repulsion, energy exchange, and entanglement-under carefully controlled conditions. Lous describes a figurative knob that lets researchers adjust inter-atom distance and tune interactions, potentially enabling quantum computers and precision sensors. She started building SIntAQS in mid-2022, encountering delays before a lab space (the Qubit building) was ready. The work illustrates first steps toward mastering complex atoms to reproduce and study the world.

Artemis II could pave the way for a lunar orbital station, experts say

April 13, 2026, 11:35 AM EDT. Experts say Artemis II lays groundwork for a lunar orbital station, a long-held idea that mirrors today's space station infrastructure but around the Moon. The mission, which conducts a lunar flyby rather than a landing, returns astronauts to Earth after testing systems in lunar proximity. Physicist Jose Edelstein says the Moon's lack of atmosphere would let scientists study the cosmos with minimal filtering and underscores why a future lunar orbital station could be built in the Moon's near vicinity. He cautions Artemis II isn't about landing; later Artemis missions would attempt surface operations. Edelstein adds that Mars ambitions are more likely driven by the private sector given mission complexity, with crews potentially operating with limited or delayed Earth communications.

Scientists edge toward universal respiratory vaccine, but true pan-pathogen protection remains years away

April 13, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT. Researchers are testing a nasal spray aimed at protecting against multiple respiratory diseases, including influenza and COVID-19, in mice over a three-month study. They call it a universal respiratory vaccine, though it does not trigger immunity the same way traditional vaccines do. Experts say a true universal vaccine covering most respiratory pathogens remains years away. The effort grows as mutations erode effectiveness of seasonal vaccines. Projects target conserved virus parts; for flu, researchers focus on the stalk of the hemagglutinin protein rather than the head. NIH programs like FluMos-v2 and the Generation Gold Standard initiative pursue broadly protective designs, including intranasal delivery and immune responses involving antibodies and T cells. Widespread multi-pathogen protection is not imminent.

Artemis II: NASA explains white mark on Orion heat shield

April 13, 2026, 11:32 AM EDT. Artemis II returned after a 10-day lunar loop. A small white mark appeared on the Orion heat shield during reentry. NASA officials say the mark does not indicate an anomaly. Reentry drove the capsule to about Mach 32 (roughly 40,000 km/h) and heated the forward face to around 2,800 °C, nearly half the Sun's surface temperature. The mark sits on the shield's edge and was hard to spot after splashdown. NASA Administrator said they would not speculate until a rigorous data review is complete. The episode underscores the challenges of thermal protection during lunar missions and the need for careful analysis before drawing conclusions about Orion's performance.

I tested Xiaomi's phone with the biggest battery on the market: good news, bad news

April 13, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT. In a hands-on test, the author evaluated Xiaomi's claim of the market's largest battery. The device delivers strong endurance in real-world use, powering through a typical day with room to spare-good news for heavy users. The battery life stands out, but the piece flags drawbacks: the phone is noticeably heavier and thicker, and charging is slower than some rivals. Heat can rise under sustained load, signaling a clear trade-off between capacity and portability. The report emphasizes practical outcomes and cautions that value depends on what users prioritize.

Leaked gameplay resurfaces for canceled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake

April 13, 2026, 11:29 AM EDT. Ubisoft this year canceled six unannounced games and delayed seven others, including the long-gestating Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. A designer who worked on the project, Chandra Kouns, posted a brief clip showing combat and parkour, including the Prince fighting beside Farah in a library. A Prince of Persia fan account on X used the footage to compare the remake with the 2003 original. The ESRB, the Entertainment Software Rating Board, had recently classified the remake, fueling chatter of an imminent release-a claim insiders had supported before the project was scrapped. Ubisoft said the remake did not reach the quality players deserve, but stressed it does not mean the franchise is abandoned, noting recent success of The Lost Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia.

Stanford researchers use ultrasound to trigger light inside the body with circulating nanoparticles

April 13, 2026, 11:28 AM EDT. Stanford researchers have developed a noninvasive technique to emit light at targeted sites inside the body using ultrasound. Biocompatible nanoparticles, distributed through the bloodstream, convert mechanical pressure from focused ultrasound into light. The particles are coated for biocompatibility, injected into mice, and carried by blood vessels to nearly every organ. Light emission occurs only when ultrasound hits the particles, enabling programmable, deep-tissue illumination without implants. In experiments, researchers produced light in the brain, gut, spinal cord and muscle, and used a compact ultrasound source to scan and move the focal point. In a mouse test, the light activated neurons in specific brain regions and guided turning behavior. The work, published in Nature Materials, offers a path toward less invasive light-based therapies.

New wave of immunotherapy shows promise in fighting cancer

April 13, 2026, 11:25 AM EDT. Researchers describe a new wave of immunotherapy in cancer care, with some patients already experiencing lifesaving responses. Yet the story is nuanced: many approaches remain in early-phase clinical trials, and not all cancers respond. Doctors caution that a subset of patients may see little or no benefit. Cancers differ in their defenses, so success depends on matching the therapy to the tumor. For responders, the gains are real and meaningful, reshaping prospects for oncology. Patients like Sideris from New York express cautious optimism about a future where chemotherapy and radiation feel antiquated. The field continues to test and refine treatments to reliably identify who will benefit most.

65-inch Hisense QLED drops to 371.07 euros during MediaMarkt VAT-free Day

April 13, 2026, 11:24 AM EDT. MediaMarkt kicks off its VAT-free day, running from 20:00 today to 09:00 next Tuesday. Most products see a discount equivalent to 21% of the price including VAT. A standout bargain: the Hisense E7Q, a 65-inch QLED TV, now priced at 371.07 euros with free shipping. The model runs 4K UHD on a 60 Hz panel, supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, with VIDAA OS, voice control, and full connectivity (HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth). It normally retails around 449 euros. The deal highlights a broader opportunity to upgrade to a larger screen, whether for football World Cup viewing or just living room entertainment. Other brands are discounted; Apple and consoles are typically excluded.

Cambridge team turns car-battery acid into hydrogen via solar plastic recycling

April 13, 2026, 11:23 AM EDT. Researchers at Cambridge University have demonstrated a technique called solar-driven acid photoreforming that uses sulfuric acid reclaimed from used car batteries to break down plastics into small chemicals like ethylene glycol, which are then converted into hydrogen and acetic acid under sunlight. Prof. Erwin Reisner said the catalyst made the acid work, challenging earlier beliefs about acids in chemistry. The system can run for more than 260 hours without interruption and targets plastics that are hard to recycle, supporting a circular economy in which waste becomes feedstock. Global plastic production exceeds 400 million metric tons annually, with less than 18% recycled. Researchers caution it is not a complete solution, but a step toward turning waste streams into energy and chemicals.

Artemis II Returns as Moon Mission Sparks U.S. Unity

April 13, 2026, 11:21 AM EDT. NASA's Artemis II concluded a near 10-day lunar flyby campaign, with astronauts splashing down in the Pacific after circling the Moon. The mission revived public interest in human space exploration after more than five decades and underscored the Biden administration's emphasis on American leadership in space. Separately, Russia's Roscosmos signaled readiness for Soyuz-5 projects in a briefing with President Putin marking Yuri Gagarin's 65th anniversary. In Washington, Naia Butler-Craig's path from aspiring astronaut to NASA aerospace engineer embodies the program's aspirational pull. Meeting veteran astronaut Victor Glover, who orbited the Moon on earlier missions, the moment highlighted how exploration can unite a politically divided nation. (With inputs from agencies.)

Artemis II completes lunar flyby as global moon missions move forward

April 13, 2026, 11:19 AM EDT. Artemis II completed a lunar flyby, the program said. Officials described the milestone as a bridge to crewed lunar operations and a broader push for international Moon missions. The flight demonstrated the vehicle's ability to perform deep-space maneuvers and to coordinate with partners as NASA advances gateway plans, lunar lander work and long-term presence goals. The milestone underscores collaboration across space agencies and industry, with governments and firms aligning on timelines for future lunar science, exploration and commercial activity.

Artemis II crew used modern photography to tell lunar story, update Apollo images

April 13, 2026, 11:18 AM EDT. Artemis II delivered a fresh, digitally charged look at lunar exploration. Four astronauts-Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen-shot with Nikon D5 cameras and iPhones, a leap from Apollo-era gear. The photos circulated quickly on the web and served as a contemporary visual narrative of the mission, even as some observers worry about AI-generated deep fakes complicating authenticity. The images blend timeless, grand space photography with a crisp, modern vibe that matches today's expectations of exploration imagery. NASA stored the pictures on memory cards, making them a growing archive that mirrors the post-Apollo shift from encased film to portable digital media. In short, Artemis II redefines how a lunar story is told-more immediate, more technical, yet still unmistakably human.

Pay up or we publish: Rockstar and GTA 6 hit by new hack

April 13, 2026, 11:17 AM EDT. On April 11, ShinyHunters posted a message on their darknet site demanding payment within 72 hours or data would be published about Rockstar and GTA 6. Rockstar acknowledged a limited amount of internal information was accessed via a third-party provider. The company said player data and operations were not affected. The leaked files could include financial records, marketing calendars, and contracts with Sony, voice actors, and music labels; there is no credible report of GTA 6 source code or builds being exposed. The intruders did not breach Rockstar directly but used a vulnerability in Anodot, a cloud-monitoring tool. They obtained authentication tokens enabling automated communication and accessed Snowflake data warehouse without triggering alarms. ShinyHunters, active since 2020, has targeted other big names; Rockstar has not stated whether it will pay. The window closes April 14.

Red light therapy under scrutiny: what the science says about skincare, hair, and pain relief

April 13, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT. Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, has gained traction for skin, hair, and inflammation relief. Experts say there is real science: red and infrared light can stimulate mitochondria to boost cellular energy, supporting collagen growth and potentially hair growth. But claims often outpace evidence. Most benefits require consistent use over months and depend on device type and wavelength. Dermatologists caution against overpromising dramatic results and note variability in outcomes across individuals. While early research supports plausible mechanisms and some clinical benefits, robust, large-scale trials remain limited. Consumers should compare devices, check safety certifications, and temper expectations about cures for sleep, longevity, or period cramps. In short: red light therapy is real in principle, but practical glow-ups depend on careful use and realistic goals.

Pokémon Champions grants Gardevoir gift to players who joined the Preliminary Challenge

April 13, 2026, 11:12 AM EDT. The article notes Pokémon Champions launched for free on Nintendo Switch and will reach mobile later. It outlines ongoing updates, including new Pokémon and Pokémon Home compatibility. The Gardevoir distribution is now available to players who competed in at least three online matches in the Preliminary Challenge last weekend. To receive it, check your ranking in the Online Competition section; the gift is sent to your in-game mailbox. The piece also points to other gift codes currently available. Post-launch issues include bugs tied to transferring Pokémon from Pokémon Home and early launch criticisms; Pokémon Champions acknowledged several bugs that will be addressed in future updates.

Windows 11 moves to calendar-based pause for updates as Microsoft tests staged rollout

April 13, 2026, 11:05 AM EDT. Microsoft is expanding Windows 11's update-pause controls beyond fixed weekly slugs, replacing the drop-down with a calendar that lets users suspend updates to a specific date. Spotted in Insider builds on April 11, the change gives granular timing and eliminates guesswork about when updates will resume. The company has said improvements will arrive this month and every month this year, but the rollout is staged via Controlled Feature Rollout and not all users see the changes yet. The policy remains ambiguous: could pauses be unlimited or capped by a future maximum date? The issue echoes past stability problems, such as January's KB5074109, which caused black screens and boot failures, highlighting the tension between flexibility and security in update management.

Backyard astronomer who helped confirm 100 exoplanets awarded medal

April 13, 2026, 11:04 AM EDT. From a small observatory in Victoria's east, Chris Stockdale spends nights chasing faint flickers from stars hundreds of light-years away. The Gippsland amateur runs a fully automated backyard observatory with a 320-mm telescope and precision tracking, staring for tiny dips in brightness when a planet passes in front. Stockdale has contributed to more than 100 scientific papers and helped confirm up to 100 exoplanets through global collaborations, including NASA-linked projects. He frames discovery as teamwork, a cog in a larger wheel validating targets from the ground. His patient, methodical work earned a medal recognizing valuable contributions outside major research facilities.

NASA's Artemis II not historic, analysts say Artemis IV or V will define legacy

April 13, 2026, 11:03 AM EDT. Artemis II concluded with the crew safely returning to Earth after a lunar-orbit test flight. NASA says the mission met its objectives, yet observers call it a tech demonstrator rather than a history-making milestone. In conversations aired after the flight, Pere Estupinyà and hosts noted that orbiting the Moon is not the same as stepping onto its surface. They recalled Christina Koch's participation and emphasized that the long-term legacy hinges on later flights. Experts now expect Artemis IV or Artemis V to leave a lasting imprint, with Artemis III credited as a stepping stone. Artemis II is remembered primarily for testing systems and procedures that will enable future crews to go farther.

Artemis II ends; NASA shares best Earth and Moon photos from lunar mission

April 13, 2026, 11:01 AM EDT. NASA has wrapped up Artemis II, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen returning safely to Earth after a 10-day mission. The crew's images of Earth and the Moon – released by NASA on its social channels and on Flickr – rank among the mission's best. The flight set a new record for distance from Earth. Artemis II is a stepping stone to returning humans to the Moon, with the next crewed lunar landing expected on Artemis IV in 2028. A 2027 mission will test systems for the following flight. View the best photographs captured during Artemis II.

Infection order of wheat pathogens shapes disease severity in co-infections, WA study shows

April 13, 2026, 10:58 AM EDT. Australian researchers report that the sequence of infection by two major fungal wheat diseases, yellow leaf spot and Septoria nodorum blotch, alters disease severity and plant resistance. Using a new digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method to quantify pathogen DNA, the team from the Centre for Crop Disease Management (CCDM), with DPIRD and Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), quantified co-infections in field samples from Western Australia in 2022. They found that when yellow leaf spot attacks first, it primes wheat plants, breaking down host defenses and boosting disease load-especially in elite cultivars like Scepter. Conversely, if Septoria nodorum blotch arrives first, it suppresses yellow leaf spot and dominates. The study confirms that co-infection is common and reveals both cooperative and competitive pathogen interactions, informing breeding and disease management.

Artemis II completes 10-day Moon mission; crew returns to Earth

April 13, 2026, 10:57 AM EDT. Artemis II concluded a 10-day mission to the Moon and back, with launch from Florida on April 1 and splashdown in the Pacific off San Diego on April 10. The crew aboard the Orion spacecraft set a new distance record beyond Earth orbit and returned safely to Earth, followed by a celebration at the Johnson Space Center on April 11. NASA posted six checklist items as complete: the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carried the crew; Orion kept them safe; the crew orbited the Moon and observed its far side; the mission set a new human spaceflight distance record; the squad returned to Earth; and the mission inspired the world. Canada's CSA backed astronaut Jeremy Hansen; Island Social Trends covered the mission remotely, sleeping when the crew slept.

Artemis II astronauts set for Pacific splashdown after lunar flyby

April 13, 2026, 10:55 AM EDT. After a 10-day loop around the far side of the Moon, four astronauts on NASA's Artemis II are set for a Pacific splashdown late Friday. The mission set a new distance record for a lunar flyby and advances the return to the Moon's surface since 1972, laying groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars. UN space advocate Professor Brian Cox told the UN that space is no longer just exploration; it's about improving life on Earth. Artemis aims to sustain a human presence on the Moon, study the lunar South Pole, and test technologies for Mars missions. Space tech can tackle climate, disasters and development, via satellite imagery for monitoring crops and water, plus connectivity to bridge the data divide for education and telemedicine.

Tech security expert warns Smart TVs spy via ACR, microphones and cameras

April 13, 2026, 10:51 AM EDT. Technology and cybersecurity expert Stella Luna de María explains how many smart TVs quietly collect data through ACR. The feature, often enabled by default during setup, tracks what you watch, when you watch it, how long you watch and even where you pause. Data flows from the TV maker, content providers and installed apps such as Netflix, YouTube and RTVE. The risk extends beyond viewing history to the devices' built-in microphones and cameras. Luna de María says the TV can listen like a smartphone, and cameras can be activated for video calls or gesture control. She recommends disabling the camera in settings or covering it, and limiting microphone use. She also notes a personal example where a sports app suggested a match based on spoken cues.

Artemis II tests international space framework; India seeks longer-term strategy

April 13, 2026, 10:50 AM EDT. Artemis II marks the first crewed mission under NASA's Artemis program, ferrying astronauts around the Moon and back and laying groundwork for sustained human presence. The mission highlights an ecosystem of international collaboration, continued funding, and long-term planning that extend beyond a single flight. NASA's multi-phase roadmap includes the Lunar Gateway and eventual missions to Mars, underscoring a shift from competition to cooperation. For India, ISRO has built a reputation for cost-efficient space work. The success of Chandrayaan-3 reinforces that position, while the Gaganyaan effort ambitiously aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit. The challenge is moving from isolated missions to a durable, funded, infrastructure-backed strategy through international collaboration and participation in frameworks like the Artemis Accords. India must bolster continuity to leverage future joint missions and technology-sharing opportunities.

Artemis II highlights tensions over the lunar frontier as four futures emerge

April 13, 2026, 10:47 AM EDT. Artemis II signals renewed human deep-space travel and a push toward a long-term Moon base. Its imagery-Earth on the horizon from the Moon's far side-frames achievement and ambition, even as policy tensions intensify. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bars national ownership, yet the Artemis Accords introduce safety zones that critics say carve out control. Legal scholars warn such tools can become means to dominance in a shared arena. Four futures compete: frontier exploitation, space-for-growth, an Earth-space escape hatch, and a stewardship model linking both domains. In practice, policy mirrors this split: a growing commercial presence-tens of thousands of satellites, two-thirds owned by SpaceX-orbital congestion, debris, and rising geopolitical competition, especially between the US and China, shape the race.

Rockstar confirms intrusion; ShinyHunters claim access to GTA 6 data

April 13, 2026, 10:42 AM EDT. Rockstar Games confirmed an intrusion, saying a limited amount of non-essential data was accessed via a third-party provider. The claim comes as the hacking collective ShinyHunters published a dark-web note threatening to disclose data unless paid by April 14. The group says it accessed Rockstar's Snowflake databases by siphoning authentication tokens from Anodot, a cloud-monitoring tool used to watch costs. The attackers cloak themselves as legitimate users; the technique follows a trend of weak links rather than direct server attacks. ShinyHunters has a history of large breaches, including Ticketmaster and Google; but the current claim remains unverified. Rockstar's two-sentence statement minimizes impact on games and operations, yet the timing fuels concern about a broader risk landscape.