A British startup called Magdrive claims to have developed a satellite that uses solid metal as a source of fuel. Its founder says it could even one day be used to clean up space junk by gobbling up dead satellites and using them for propulsion.As CNN reports, the company came up with a propulsion system, dubbed Warlock, that ionizes solid metal, instead of current electric systems that generate power by ionizing pressurized gas.The goal is to balance efficiency with power output."Chemical propulsion has very high thrust, but its efficiency or its miles per gallon, if you like is very poor," Magdrive founder Mark Stokes told CNN. "On the other hand, electric propulsion systems these days have the complete opposite characteristics. They have very low thrust, but excellent efficiency, excellent miles per gallon.""Were building the first system of its kind that has the best of both worlds," he added. "It is electric propulsion, but it has a magnitude improvement in thrust, with a magnitude reduction in volume and mass."While their system, which can use cheap and widely available copper as an energy source, isn't refuelable just yet, the company is hoping to eventually use the metal of retired satellites and other space junk as fuel.In other words, it'd be a clever solution to our growing space junk problem.The added benefit is that the amount of weight that needs to be launched into space could be reduced significantly as the system wouldn't need to lug its own propellant from Earth.It's an exciting plan but it's still entirely hypothetical."The benefit of this is that well be able to close the loop on the new space age economy by using resources which are already there," Stokes told CNN.Besides, as the broadcaster points out, you'd presumably need to gain the permission of the owner of the space junk to use it as a free resource."Decommissioned satellites are uncontrollable and often tumbling, making retrieval extremely difficult," University of Southampton associate professor in astronautics MinKwan Kim, who has worked with the firm, told CNN. "Capturing and securing them requires complex maneuvering, a technology still in its infancy."Magdrive is hoping to launch its first prototype of its Warlock system in June. Instead of feasting on old space junk, it'll attempt to ionize solid metal as a proof of concept."Were building a standardized piece of hardware which can fit on board any satellite so pretty much anyone in the entire space industry," Stokes said. "This includes a variety of different applications, from Earth observation to satellite servicing to communications."However, even that isn't a perfect solution. Due to the possibility of surface contamination, the system's overall performance could degrade quickly. The metal itself could also have its atomic crystal structure altered, which could also affect how well it performs.Nonetheless, hypothetical or not, it's a fascinating concept that could one day address a very real problem.Share This Article

The wearables could hit the market in the next two years, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's PS5 release date will reportedly be announced tomorrow, 24th March. Read more

Video: Interstellar Docking Scene Recreated in LEGO By Bart on March 23, 2025 Video Doctor Orcinus re-created the iconic docking scene from Interstellar in Blender. The visual quality is stunning - relecting the almost 2 years it took them to create this video.This is my recreation of the iconic docking scene from Interstellarin LEGO.I started working on this project in mid-2023, and it has been an incredible challenge, from modeling and animation to rendering and post-production. Every detail, from the explosive detachment of the Ranger to the rotation of the Endurance, the space suits of the minifigures, the insides of the Lander, and even the planet in the background, was carefully recreated in 3D.Interstellar is one of the films that has moved me the most. Its story, visuals, and soundtrack left a lasting impact on me, and this video is my personal love letter to the movieand to cinema in general. I wanted to capture the intensity and emotion of this scene in LEGO form, as a tribute to the power of storytelling through film.For the spacecraft models, I relied on some amazing LEGO designs from the community:Endurance, Ranger, Lander Originally designed by paranoider (Lego Ideas) and assembled on Mecabricks by moguusgus. I made some small tweaks to fit the animation.TARS/CASE Designed by Minibrick Productions (Lego Ideas).

The 22% off first-time discount on Apple's AirPods 4 is back, just days before Amazon's Spring Sale kicks off.

I love the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) for its basic features and fair price, and it's 32% off at several major retailers now.

Murena Pixel TabletEwan SpenceMurena offers smartphones and software that are "private, sustainable and fully open-source." Using e/OS/ the company has built a portfolio of hardware and software used by enthusiasts around the world, as well as making forays into the consumer space through partnerships with the likes of Fairphone. Now it has decided to show what e/OS/ can do on a larger device with the release of the Murena Pixel Tablet..Murena Pixel Tablet SpecsThere's no hiding where the tablet originated from, the clue is in the name. The Murena Pixel Tablet is the original Pixel Tablet. It comes with 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB or 256 GB of storage, the 1600x2560 10.95 inch IPS display and a basic 8-megapixel single lens camera. It is a Pixel Tablet. It is not an approximation nor a careful clone; it is a Pixel Tablet, right down to the four connectors to connect to the speaker base and the debossed "G" on the rear of the tablet.The one difference is the operating system. While it is Android, it is not Google's flavour of Android. The Murena Pixel Tablet runs e/OS/.Murena Pixel TabletEwan SpenceMurena Pixel Tablet And e/OS/e/OS/ is a privacy-focused Android variant, building off the Android Open Source Project. The pitch goes, "we have removed many pieces of code that send your personal data to remote servers without your consent."That makes for a significant difference compared to other Android-based tablets because removing that capture of personal data means eliminating many of Google's Android tools from the tablet. You won't find first-party apps such as Gmail, Google Maps, Gemini AI, Google Calendar or YouTube.There is no Google Play Services, which means you'll need to find apps in other corners of the internet. And when you find those apps they may not run if they are looking for any hooks provided by Google Play Services. Financial apps will be your biggest hurdle because of this.Murena Pixel Tablet AppsSwitching away from Google's flavor of Android will always result in an app gap, and there's no simple way around it. Most consumers expect certain apps, but they're not going to see them on Murena's tablet.Out of the box, you have a relatively standard suite of apps; a PIM suite with Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and Tasks; connectivity with Email and Web Browsers; multimedia with Music player, Sound recorder, Camera, and Gallery; and tools such as Clock, Calculator, File Browser, Settings, and the App Lounge.Confident consumers should be able to get to grips with the Mail client and know that it can access Gmail, Outlook, and similar services, but working through the implications of CalDAV or EteSync for the Calendar app would be beyond my parents.The Murena Pixel Tablet does offer the core PDA and internet apps you would expect, but it's not a simple login once so it all works; you're going to need to tinker. There ares a lot of people who are both happy to tinker and want to be able to control their data.If there's an audience Murena is targeting, this is it.Murena Pixel TabletEwan SpenceMurena Pixel Tablet And Third-Party AppsThe ecosystem for Android tablets is weaker than that of Android smartphones. There is a shared codebase there is not the volume that will universally push developers into tablet releases in the way that Apple's iPad can. Now add in the lack of Google Play services, and the third-party app ecosystem for the Murena tablet is limited.One advantage Android has is the ability to install from any source, as long as you give permission. This opens up using alternative app stores, including the predominant open-source store of F-Droid.Most users will turn to Murena's App Lounge. This searches through multiple app stores online to create a central space to discover and update apps.Curiously, it connects to the Google Play Store, allowing you to download apps from the Google Store without signing in to the store. If you have previously purchased apps on your Google account, you can sign in, although there may be compatibility issues.Compatibility remains an issue, especially when an app fails. You receive little information when an app can't be installed or does not run. The free and open-source media player VLC is a staple of all my smartphones; it offers local music and video playback, can connect to network drives, and handles internet streaming radio into the mix as well. Yet it "isn't compatible with your tablet", and I'm left none the wiser. Yes, e/OS/ comes with a music player, but it's far less flexible.How The Murena Pixel Tablet LeaksThe Murena Tablet may leave the factory with a noticeable level of security and privacy, but that is easily traded away if the user is not careful. To take a broad example, installing a capricious social media app that records your clicks, interactions, and outbound visits is not something that e/OS/ can protect you from.Privacy does not end just because you have a privacy-focused operating system. It's constantly being aware of where you are installing apps from, what apps and services you use, and the impact those decisions will have on your mobile experience. To that end, the App Lounge offers a Privacy Score on many apps to give a subjective indication to help your decision on installing.Murena Pixel TabletEwan SpenceWho Is The Murena Pixel Tablet For?You must remember that this is a computer you will need to tinker with. While Murena and e/OS/ have done their best to create a seamless 'out of the box' solution, it has less software functionality than a Google Play certified tablet. That will appeal to a solid slice of the communityYet the most significant issue here is a simple one... the price. You see, there are detailed discussions and guides on installing e/OS/ onto a standard Pixel Tablet, and the aforementioned tinkers of this world will be happy to unlock bootloaders, install ADB, use USB debugging tools, and so on.The Murena Pixel Tablet is priced at $549; the Google Store sells the Pixel Tablet at $399. There will be more overheads in the background, but for consumers, this represents a $150 fee to install a new operating system. It's an even bigger premium when you consider Pixel Tablet deals from other retailers, such as Amazon's $299 price point, nearly half that of Murena's.I wonder what sort of sales Murena is expecting? As a full-blown consumer offering, the Murena Tablet sits in an awkward position in terms of price, capability, and consumer comfort that does not feel commercially viable.This combination makes far more sense as a demonstration of what is possible with e/OS/, showcasing what an alternative operating system with a focus on privacy can deliver in tablet form. Looking at the tablet through this lens, Murena can call this interesting exercise a success.Disclaimer: Murena provided a Murena Pixel Tablet for evaluation purposes.

Today's NYT Strands hints and answers.New York TimesLooking for Sundays Strands hints, spangram and answers? You can find them here:Hey, folks! Todays NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers for Monday, March 24 are coming right up.How To Play StrandsThe New York Times Strands puzzle is a play on the classic word search. Its available on the NYT Games app alongside the likes of Wordle and Connections (which we also cover in daily guides at Forbes Gaming).Theres a new game of Strands to play every day. The game will present you with a six by eight grid of letters. The aim is to find a group of words that have something in common, and youll get a clue as to what that theme is. When you find a theme word, it will remain highlighted in blue.Youll also need to find a special word called a spangram. This tells you what the words have in common. The spangram links at least two sides of the board, but it may not start or end there. While the theme words will not be a proper name, the spangram can be a proper name. When you find the spangram, it will remain highlighted in yellow.Play Puzzles & Games on ForbesEvery letter is used once in one of the theme words and spangram. You can connect letters vertically, horizontally and diagonally, and its possible to switch directions in the middle of a word. If youre playing on a touchscreen, double tap the last letter to submit your guess.If you find three valid words of at least four letters that are not part of the theme, youll unlock the Hint button. Clicking this will highlight the letters that make up one of the theme words.Be warned: Youll need to be on your toes. Sometimes youll need to fill the missing word(s) in a phrase. On other days, the game may revolve around synonyms or homophones. The difficulty will vary from day to day, and the puzzle creators will try to surprise you sometimes.What Is Todays Strands Hint?Scroll slowly! Just after the hint for todays Strands puzzle, Ill reveal what the answer words are.The official theme hint for todays Strand puzzle is...Yes, QueenNeed some extra help? Heres another hint...You mind find these rolling some of the timeThere are eight theme words to find today, including the spangram.What Are Todays NYT Strands Hints?Spoiler alert! Dont scroll any further down the page until youre ready to find out todays Strands hints.Here are the first two letters of every theme word in todays puzzle. Theyre ordered from left to right, then top to bottom by any letter of the word appearing for the first time:BLHEGEKIJOROEARUWhat Are Todays NYT Strands Answers?Before I reveal the other the full word list, Ill first tell you the spangram and show you where that is on the grid.This is your final spoiler warning!Todays Strands spangram is...ROCK BANDHeres where youll find it on the grid...New York Times Strands screenshot, showing the highlighted term ROCK BANDNew York TimesTodays Strands theme words are...BLONDIEHEARTGENESISKISSJOURNEYROCK BANDEAGLESRUSHHeres what the completed grid looks like...Completed NYT Strands grid for March 24, including the words BLONDIE, HEART, GENESIS, KISS, JOURNEY, ... More ROCK BAND, EAGLES and RUSH.New York TimesWell, this was embarrassing. I wasn't really sure where to go here and "noble" on the left wasn't a theme word. A hint gave me KISS, which didn't really help much. Nor did hints for HEART or RUSH. I figured this must be some cultural reference I wasn't aware of.Hints for EAGLES didn't shed any more light. And then, finally, BLONDIE made things click and I got the spangram after that. GENESIS and JOURNEY wrapped things up.Im a big fan of Queen, so Im mad that the original theme hint didn't click.I used an astonishing five hints and the spangram was the sixth theme word I found.See you tomorrow for more Strands fun!Please follow my blog for more coverage of Strands, Connections and other word games as well as video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! If you want to chat about Strands, Connections and other stuff with like-minded folks, join my Discord server! Also, follow me on Bluesky! Its fun there.

In brief: AMD's Threadripper Pro 9000 series, the next generation of its high-performance workstation CPUs, has made an appearance on shipping manifests, hinting at an imminent launch. These logs have revealed key details about two of the upcoming models: the Threadripper Pro 9975WX and 9965WX. The processors are based on AMD's new Zen 5 architecture and expected to introduce significant upgrades while maintaining compatibility with existing platforms. The leaks, first spotted in shipping manifests by user @Olrak29_ (since deleted), confirm the existence of the 32-core Threadripper Pro 9975WX and the 24-core Threadripper Pro 9965WX. Both CPUs will feature hyperthreading, with 64 and 48 threads, respectively. This aligns with their predecessors in the Threadripper Pro 7000 series, which also offered the same core and thread configurations. However, the new models will benefit from the Zen 5 architecture, promising improved performance and efficiency.One notable constant is the thermal design power (TDP), which remains at 350W for both models. This matches the wattage of the current-gen Threadripper Pro 7000 series, ensuring drop-in compatibility for existing systems.Beyond these two models, the Threadripper Pro 9000 series is expected to feature five models in all, ranging from 16 to 96 cores. Chips including a flagship 96-core/192-thread Threadripper Pro 9995WX, a 64-core/128-thread 9985WX, and a 16-core/32-thread 9955WX have previously been spotted. Interestingly, AMD may skip the 12-core variant this time.Under the hood, the Zen 5 architecture brings a smaller 4nm process node, offering better power efficiency compared to the 5nm node used in the Threadripper 7000 series. Each Zen 5 core complex die (CCD) packs eight cores and 32MB of L3 cache, meaning the 32-core 9975WX will utilize four CCDs, while the 96-core 9995WX will house a whopping 12 CCDs and 384MB of L3 cache. This cache structure mirrors the current generation, suggesting no major changes in this area.That said, while the leaks provide a glimpse into AMD's plans, it's important to note that shipping manifests are not official sources. AMD has yet to confirm the lineup or announce a release date. But the mere appearance of these logs hints that an official launch could be just around the corner. // Related StoriesImage credit: Tom's Hardware

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsInnies and outies finally meetWhat is Cold Harbor?How does season 2 end?What happens next?Apple TV+s Severance has delivered another gripping finale with season 2, episode 10. After Marks innie reunites with Devon and Ms. Cobel, the trio enacts their plan to rescue Gemma from her prison at Lumon Industries. At the same time, Marks innie struggles with his desire to be with Helly as their plan risks the lives of every innie working at Lumon.Directed by Ben Stiller and written by Dan Erickson, this episode features several shocking revelations about Lumons mysterious and important work, presenting several twists that have left the series on a high note and viewers jaws down on the floor. As everyones minds are still reeling from this finale, heres a breakdown of the ending of Severance season 2 and its meaning.Recommended VideosApple TV+ / Apple TV+At the birthing cabin, Mark records video messages for himself as he switches between his innie and his outie, giving them their first conversation. During their chat, innie Mark expresses his concern that if he helps shut down Lumon, all the other innies, including himself, will no longer exist. Though outie Mark tells his innie about reintegration, he is worried that it is a lie and if it will truly preserve his existence. On top of that, he has fallen in love with Helly and does not want to risk losing her, knowing her outie is an Eagan who likely wont reintegrate.RelatedHowever, Harmony Cobel tells Marks innie that his work with MDR was really altering Gemmas brain, having created a new personality for her with each file. Each room she enters on the testing floor awakens one of the 23 other personalities programmed into her, with Cold Harbor being the final one. It is also revealed that Lumon intends to entomb Gemma with a baby goat as part of a ritual sacrifice to Lumons founder and messiah, Kier Eagan. Though innie Mark fears he is being used, he finds himself back on the severed floor the moment he leaves the cabin.Apple TV+ / Apple TV+Though innie Mark completes his Cold Harbor file with Helly present, she distracts Milchick during a marching band celebration while he goes to the testing floor to rescue Gemma. There, Marks outie finds Gemma dismantling a babys crib in the Cold Harbor room. Since Gemma was struggling to have a child years before with Mark, Dr. Bauer was testing her to see if she would complete the task without emotion or memory of her traumatic past.All in all, Cold Harbor was an experiment to see if Lumon could completely sever a persons mind with zero links between them. Its still unknown what Lumons larger goal is, but since they were altering Gemmas mind, it is likely they were trying to perfect the severance chip as a mind control device.Since Jame Eagan said that everyone would soon be Kiers children in season 1, it seemed that Lumon intended to brainwash the entire human race into emotionless, obedient workers However, Mr. Drummond claimed that Kier was engaged in an eternal war against pain, implying that Lumon justified brainwashing humanity by severing their minds from their pain like they did to Gemma with Cold Harbor.Apple TV+ / Apple TV+After Mark and Gemmas outie have a loving reunion on the testing floor, Marks innie helps Gemma escape Lumon when they return to the severed floor, shifting her into her Ms. Casey personality. They make it to the stairwell, with Gemmas outie awakening on the other side of the door. However, Marks innie decides not to leave, choosing to stay inside Lumon with Helly.In an ironic twist of fate, Mark switches places with Gemma as the spouse stuck inside Lumon. Only this time, his innie has chosen of his own free will to stay with the woman he loves inside. If Lumon was Hell on Earth, then Mark was Orpheus trying to bring his wife Eurydice back from the dead, only to lose her again when he turned around and looked at Helly. The episode thus ends with an unforgettable freeze frame of Mark and Helly holding hands, running through the infernal red halls of the severed floor, remaining in Lumons Hell together.Apple TV+ / Apple TV+This ending marks a huge change for innie Mark and Severance as a whole. The latter has basically taken his outies life away and kept Gemma from her husband again by staying in Lumon. However, Mark made it clear that he doesnt want any of his fellow innies to die either. Since Dylan has chosen to stay at work and Helly has galvanized the other innies into a rebellion, it is implied that they will all take over the severed floor with Milchick as their prisoner.Its unknown how long this innie uprising will last. Lumon could shut down everyones severance chip remotely, but it is unclear if they can do that from outside of the severed floor, which seems to have been taken over by the innies. Also, Gemma may work with Devon and Ms. Cobel to expose Lumon and reunite with Marks outie.While season 1 showed the innies connecting with their outies, season 2 ended with them severing from each other completely as the innies have chosen to fight for their lives and the people they love inside Lumon. This should make the newly greenlit third season of Severancean especially thrilling follow-up.Editors Recommendations