A welcome surprise Space Force official: Commercial satellites can do a lot more than we thought "They could shave off about a third of the time and over half the cost." Stephen Clark – May 19, 2025 5:12 pm | 5 Astranis, founded in 2015, has designed a satellite bus with electric propulsion that can fly in geosynchronous orbit. Credit: Astranis Astranis, founded in 2015, has designed a satellite bus with electric propulsion that can fly in geosynchronous orbit. Credit: Astranis Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more A generation ago, when former NASA administrator Dan Goldin promoted the mantra of a "faster, better, cheaper" approach to the agency's science missions, critics often joked that NASA could only pick two. That's no longer the case. NASA is finding success in its partnerships with commercial space companies, especially SpaceX, with lower costs, quicker results, and improved performance. The Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, the US government's spy satellite agency, are also capitalizing on new products and services from commercial industry. In many cases, these new capabilities come from venture-backed startups already developing and operating satellites for commercial use. The idea is to focus the Space Force and the NRO on missions that only they can do, according to Chris Scolese, director of the NRO. Military and intelligence agencies are already buying launch services, communications services, and satellite surveillance imagery on a commercial basis. These missions also have commercial applications, so the government is purchasing products and services with rockets and satellites that already exist. Now, the military is starting to use a commercial model for missions that, at least today, lack any meaningful commercial market. In these cases, the Space Force and the NRO must go out and pay a company to build an entire fleet of satellites that will exclusively serve the government. But rather than dictating stringent requirements and micromanaging every phase of the program, as the Space Force and NRO have typically done, they're going with a more hands-off approach. This change in procurement strategy is yielding results, officials said last week in a hearing convened by the House Armed Services Committee. Numerous companies are now manufacturing satellite buses, the basic chassis that hosts instruments, sensors, and payloads tailored for a range of missions. Most of them come from SpaceX, which mass-produces satellites for its Starlink broadband network. But there are others, and the market is richer than many US officials thought. "We're finding that commercial buses are not only available, but they're also capable of doing a lot of what our missions require, and they're available at a much lower cost than going off and developing a brand new bus," Scolese said. A case study in procurement The Space Force and the NRO kicked off several initiatives over the last few years to look at ways to exploit these commercial technologies. Some of these programs are already producing results. The Space Force's Space Development Agency has launched the first 27 prototypes for a future network of hundreds of satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to detect and monitor missile launches, and relay tracking data to the ground. The National Reconnaissance Office, which owns the government's spy satellites, awarded contracts in 2022 worth $4 billion to buy commercial imagery from three companies—newcomers BlackSky, Planet, and incumbent provider Maxar—with their privately owned spacecraft. The NRO also started launching its own fleet of commercially built spy satellites last year to more rapidly gather imagery of places around the world. Nearly 200 of these satellites, based on SpaceX's Starlink design, have launched in the last year. Most recently, the Space Force rejigged how it plans to buy a series of new space surveillance satellites for the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, or GSSAP. These satellites are designed to fly near and inspect other objects near geosynchronous orbit, a ring around the equator more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth. In that orbit, a spacecraft moves in synchronicity with Earth's rotation, giving satellites a constant view of the same region of the planet. This makes geosynchronous orbit a popular location for satellites designed for communications, early-warning, and eavesdropping missions. This image shows what the Space Force's fleet of missile-warning and missile-tracking satellites might look like in 2030, with a mix of platforms in geosynchronous orbit, medium-Earth orbit, and low-Earth orbit. Credit: Space Systems Command The Space Force has launched six GSSAP satellites built by Northrop Grumman, one of America's largest traditional defense contractors. Five of them are still operational, and the military wants to buy more. But this time, the Space Force will procure the satellites through a commercial arrangement. Instead of dictating stringent requirements to contractors and purchasing the satellites outright, the Space Force will levy fewer requirements and select a commercial company to develop the next generation of GSSAP satellites. Last year, the Pentagon canvassed the commercial satellite industry to see what might be available. Military officials soon hit a roadblock. The Space Force—and particularly US Space Command—closely guards details of the GSSAP program. The program's most exquisite capabilities are classified, and the Space Force defined requirements for the next-generation GSSAP satellites that would be subject to similar levels of secrecy. Leaders at Space Command, which actually uses the GSSAP satellites, agreed to relax their requirements, according to Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration.  The decision allowed the Space Force to move forward with a commercial procurement strategy that Purdy said will cut the cost of the system in half and reduce its development timeline by a third. "So, we're off working now with that program office to go start off a more commercial line," Purdy said. "And when I say commercial in this particular aspect, just to clarify, this is accomplishing the same GSSAP mission. Our operators will fly the GSSAP system using the same ground systems and data they do now, but these would be using faster, commercial build times... and cheaper, less expensive parts in order to bring that together in a faster sense." An artist's illustration of two of the Space Force's GSSAP surveillance satellites, built by Northrop Grumman. Credit: US Space Force The next-gen GSSAP spacecraft may not meet the same standards as the Space Force's existing inspector satellites, but the change comes with benefits beyond lower costs and faster timelines. It will be unclassified and will be open to multiple vendors to build and launch space surveillance satellites, injecting some level of competition into the program. It will also be eligible for sales to other countries. More for less with GPS There's another area where Purdy said the Space Force was surprised by what commercial satellite builders were offering. Last year, the Pentagon used a new "Quick Start" procurement model authorized by Congress to establish a program to bolster the GPS navigation network, which is run by the Space Force but relied upon by commercial users and private citizens around the world. The Space Force has more than 30 GPS satellites in medium-Earth orbit (MEO) at an altitude of roughly 12,550 miles (20,200 kilometers). Purdy said the network is "vulnerable" because the constellation has a relatively small number of satellites, at least relative to the Space Force's newest programs. In MEO, the satellites are within range of direct ascent anti-satellite weapons. Many of the GPS satellites are aging, and the newer ones, built by Lockheed Martin, cost about $250 million apiece. With the Resilient GPS program, the Space Force aims to reduce the cost to $50 million to $80 million per satellite. The satellites will be smaller than the GPS satellites flying today and will transmit a core set of signals. "We're looking to add more resiliency and more numbers," Purdy said. "We actually didn't think that we were going to get much, to be honest with you, and it was a surprise to us, and a major learning [opportunity] for us, learning last year that satellite prices had—they were low in LEO already, but they were lowering in MEO," Purdy said. "So, that convinced us that we should proceed with it. The results have actually been more surprising and encouraging than we thought. "The [satellite] buses actually bring a higher power level than our current program of record does, which allows us to punch through jamming in a better sense. We can achieve better results, we think, over time, going after these commercial buses," Purdy said. "So that's caused me to think, for our mainline GPS system, we’re actually looking at that for alternative ways to get after that." Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy oversees the Space Force's acquisition programs at the Pentagon. Credit: Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images In September, the Space Force awarded four agreements to Astranis, Axient, L3Harris, and Sierra Space to produce design concepts for new Resilient GPS satellites. Astranis and Axient are relatively new to satellite manufacturing. Astranis is a pioneer in low-mass Internet satellites in geosynchronous orbit, and a non-traditional defense contractor. Axient, acquired by a company named Astrion last year, has focused on producing small CubeSats. The military will later select one or more of these companies to move forward with producing up to eight Resilient GPS satellites for launch as soon as 2028. Early planning is already underway for a follow-on set of Resilient GPS satellites with additional capabilities, according to the Space Force. The experience with the R-GPS program inspired the Space Force to look at other mission areas that might be well-served with a similar procurement approach. They settled on GSSAP as the next frontier. Scolese, director of the NRO, said his agency is examining how to use commercial satellite constellations for other purposes beyond Earth imaging. This might include a program to employ commercially procured satellites for signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions, he said. "It's not just the commercial imagery," Scolese said. "It's also commercial RF (Radio Frequency, or SIGINT) and newer phenomenologies as where we're working with that industry to go off and help advance those." Stephen Clark Space Reporter Stephen Clark Space Reporter Stephen Clark is a space reporter at Ars Technica, covering private space companies and the world’s space agencies. Stephen writes about the nexus of technology, science, policy, and business on and off the planet. 5 Comments

May 19, 2025Ravie LakshmananBrowser Security / Vulnerability Mozilla has released security updates to address two critical security flaws in its Firefox browser that could be potentially exploited to access sensitive data or achieve code execution. The vulnerabilities, both of which were exploited as a zero-day at Pwn2Own Berlin, are listed below - CVE-2025-4918 - An out-of-bounds access vulnerability when resolving Promise objects that could allow an attacker to perform read or write on a JavaScript Promise object CVE-2025-4919 - An out-of-bounds access vulnerability when optimizing linear sums that could allow an attacker to perform read or write on a JavaScript object by confusing array index sizes In other words, successful exploitation of either of the flaws could permit an adversary to achieve out-of-bounds read or write, which could then be abused to access otherwise sensitive information or result in memory corruption that could pave the way for code execution. The vulnerabilities affect the following versions of the Firefox browser - All versions of Firefox before 138.0.4 (including Firefox for Android) All versions of Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) before 128.10.1 All versions of Firefox ESR before 115.23.1 Edouard Bochin and Tao Yan from Palo Alto Networks have been credited with finding and reporting CVE-2025-4918. The discovery of CVE-2025-4919 has been credited to Manfred Paul. It's worth noting that both shortcomings were demonstrated at the Pwn2Own Berlin hacking contest last week for which they were awarded $50,000 each. With web browsers continuing to be an attractive vector for malware delivery, users are advised to update their instances to the latest version to safeguard against potential threats. "Neither of the attacks managed to break out of our sandbox, which is required to gain control over the user's system," Mozilla said in a statement. "Despite the limited impact of these attacks, all users and administrators are advised to update Firefox as soon as possible." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

CRISPR (short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) — the genetic equivalent of a word processor — has received its most powerful upgrade yet: the ability to insert an entire gene at the most potentially effective spot, according to an article in the journal Science.This marks a key step in cell and gene therapy, all of which aim to treat illnesses by making corrections or additions to the “misspelled” genes that can lead to disease.Before CRISPR, delivering genes inside of neutered viruses was thought to be the answer. It sometimes worked, but often the new genetic word would be flooded into the body, inserted at random. Sometimes it would land in the right spot, other times it would miss its target. And worst of all, that approach can lead to a potentially deadly immune response.The Rise of CRISPRWhen CRISPR debuted in 2012, it was thought to provide both more specificity and control. It is essentially the genetic equivalent of a “search and replace” command in a word processor, with the ability to find, then snip out faulty DNA within one gene, using what many researchers call “molecular scissors.” Its innovators were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.However, despite incredible potential, that approach still has some limitations. The “scissors” can sometimes snip the wrong part of the targeted DNA sequence. This could lead to either incomplete repair or the inadvertent admission of a harmful mutation. It can also only fix one error in a single gene at a time.Despite those “software bugs” and limitations, early versions of CRISPR have shown promise. The approach was used to edit genes in six patients with a rare genetic disorder in 2022. More recently, scientists used the system to deliver for the first time a treatment tailored to a specific patient, a baby boy with a rare metabolic disorder.CRISPR Upgrades The multiple components of the evoCAST gene editor grasping a strand of DNA (red). (Image Cred: George Lampe (Columbia University Irving Medical Center))The new version shows promise to be even more effective. Since it doesn’t cut out any existing DNA, it is less likely to inadvertently add mutations or errors. It is much more specific than either virus-based gene therapy or earlier CRISPR approaches. And delivering an entire correct gene is considered a safer, more effective approach than cutting and replacing portions of an existing one.The update essentially involves the addition of guide molecules called “CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs).” These bacterial systems “lead” CRISPR to specific sites, so the correct gene is more likely to be integrated and activated. The tool's developers named it “evoCAST.”Also, existing gene therapy strategies, as well as the early CRISPR work in humans, were focused on diseases with errors in only one gene. Although there are many such diseases, each one affects relatively few people, compared to more common diseases that are thought to be the result of multiple genetic mutations.“Hundreds to thousands of different mutations in the CFTR gene can cause cystic fibrosis, for example, so an inordinate number of distinct gene editing drugs would be needed to ensure each patient could be treated,” Samuel Sternberg, a researcher at Columbia University and an author of the paper, said in a press release. “Instead, something like evoCAST could enable a single gene therapy that inserts a complete and healthy gene into the patient’s genome."CRISPR's Future The researchers will continue to test the evoCAST system in animals modelled to exhibit certain human diseases. As they do so, they intend to tweak and debug the system so it can be even more accurate and effective. But their biggest challenge is the same one that faced early gene therapy researchers: targeted delivery.“How do we actually get these tools and their payloads into the cells or tissues of interest?” Sternberg said in a press release. “That’s a challenge that many of us in the field are facing.”This article is not offering medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:The Nobel Prize. Genetic scissors: a tool for rewriting the code of lifeBefore joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

Submitted by WA Contents Yasmeen Lari is awarded the 2025 Lisbon Triennale Millennium Achievement Award Pakistan Architecture News - May 19, 2025 - 04:22   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has been awarded the 2025 Achievement Award by the Lisbon Architecture Triennale. Her more than 60-year career is a potent example of how design may be used to uplift people's quality of life, combat inequality, prevent ecological collapse, and create a more equitable future."Architecture has to change if it wants to remain relevant. Our work is not something only for the rich; poor communities all over the world need good design, because it is of even greater value to them," said Yasmeen Lari."That’s why I think my job is to rebuild lives: to create ‘poverty escape-ladders’ by losing control of the process through co-building and co-creation. We do this by sharing knowledge and mobilising villages – one village at a time."Image courtesy of Al Jazeera websiteLari, who was born in Pakistan in 1941, attended Oxford to study architecture. She became the first female architect in Pakistan when she went home after graduation and opened her own practice. Yasmeen Lari retired from her architectural practice in 2000 after a prosperous career in Karachi. She then concentrated on the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, which is committed to conserving and advancing regional, sustainable, and vernacular architecture. Lari once again broadened her profession following a disastrous earthquake in 2005, adopting what she calls a bottom-up, "humanistic humanitarian action" and redefining the function of modern architecture, particularly in regions severely impacted by socioeconomic and climate-related issues. Women's Centre in Darya Khan, Pakistan, in 2011Following her "four zeros" philosophy—zero carbon, zero waste, zero donations, and zero poverty—Yasmeen Lari promised to assist in the construction of over a million homes in response to the devastating floods that hit Pakistan in 2022. Lari's subsequent career is genuinely remarkable because it accomplished this goal without the need for outside financial aid, philanthropy, or patrons. Yasmeen Lari and Nayeem Shah look at the roof of the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre. Image courtesy of Heritage Foundation of PakistanAt the Triennale 2025 opening days on October 02–04, Yasmeen Lari will give a public talk and accept the Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Awards trophy, which was created by Álvaro Siza from leftover marble from Estremoz, Portugal.The jury of the Début and Achievement Awards is comprised by architects Inês Lobo, Lígia Nobre, Samia Henni, Sandi Hilal, and Yuma Shinohara. The three Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Awards – Achievement, Début and Universities – aim to promote groundbreaking world architecture by recognising those who make it. From transdisciplinary research developed in an academic setting, to emerging talent and established practices.The top image in the article © Yasmeen Lari © Heritage Foundation of Pakistan. > via Lisbon Triennale 

Featuring a $31,500 CAD prize fund – the international, multidisciplinary and anonymous competition seeks ideas to promote universal ‘invisible’ accessibility which benefits all users of the building ‘in an indistinguishable manner.’ The call for concepts aims to identify a range of solutions to boost three areas of the building which typically offer a poor level of accessibility and inclusivity – the main entrance, the stadium used by the university’s Carabins sports team and the swimming pool. According to the brief: ‘[The] competition promotes the idea of invisible accessibility, an experience of the built environment that is of high quality to all, where the design of accessibility is integrated in an indistinguishable manner, and where universal accessibility is envisaged as a global state of the project experience, rather than a dedicated path made up of identifiable and visible solutions.Advertisement ‘Participants are invited to propose transformative ideas that offer inclusive and equitable experiences for all users. The competition is structured around three typical sports centre experiences that are not currently universally accessible.’ Montréal is the most populous city in Canada’s French-speaking Quebec province. The latest competition comes a year after an open international contest was launched seeking ideas for the reuse of expired roof materials from the Montréal Olympic Stadium. The latest student ideas contest seeks proposals to upgrade the university’s existing sports complex so it can deliver an ‘integral, seamless, and uplifting’ experience for all building users. Participants will be expected look beyond existing technical solutions generally used for universal accessibility, and to develop one or two universal design principles which ‘promote experiential quality, with a view to well-being, comfort and safety.’ Submissions should also offer a new experience accessible to all users which integrates seamlessly into the built environment and to also provide facilities that appeal to all user groups in an undifferentiated way.Advertisement Judges will include Sonia Gagné, architect and senior associate at Provencher_Roy; Christelle Montreuil, inclusive design consultant and president and founder of Idéaux; and Stéphanie Barker, assistant general manager of Cepsum and Carabins at the University of Montréal. Three prizes will be awarded for each category covering the entrance, stadium and pool. In each category, the overall winner – to be announced on 23 October – will receive a $6,000 CAD prize while a second prize of $3,000 CAD and third prize of $1,500 CAD will also be awarded. Competition details Project title Invisible Accessibility Competition Client University of Montréal Contract value Tbc First round deadline 1 July 2025 Restrictions Any student duly enrolled in an academic program (university or school) during at least one of the following semesters: fall 2024, winter 2025 or summer 2025 is eligible to enter the competition. Students can participate alone or as part of a team. Each student participating in the competition, either alone or as part of a team, will be required to submit proof of enrolment in an academic program. In this document, the term ‘participants’ will be used to designate a person or a group of persons participating in the competition More information https://amenagement.umontreal.ca/recherche/invisibleaccessibilitycompetition/

These annual rankings were last updated on May 16, 2025. Want to see your firm on next year’s list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studio’s ranking. Land of breathtaking terrains and jarring winds, Iceland is known for its magical landscapes filled with lava fields, fjords and verdant hills. Located south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland’s rugged landscape is firmly tied to its built environment, which is fused with a deeply functional architectural language. One of the nation’s earlier building traditions is the turf home. Covered with an exterior turf shell, they simultaneously insulate the home and camouflage into the environment. The nation’s architecture is equally attributed to its Scandinavian neighbors. In the 18th century, Danish architects introduced gable-fronted structures and stone construction to Iceland, which led to a boom in masonry craft and stone creations. Other foreign influences, such as Classical ideas and Swiss designs, were also imported. Notwithstanding, Icelandic design remained practical. In the 30s, functionalism found its way north and found fertile soil in Iceland. Following Iceland’s independence from Denmark, modernism began to inform the nation’s architecture. Today’s Icelandic designers admirably balance past and present. Fusing past traditions with modern innovations, contemporary Icelandic architecture remains beautiful, functional and deeply connected to its unrestrained climatic conditions. With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Iceland based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge. How are these architecture firms ranked? The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority: The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025) The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025) The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2025) The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2025) The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025) Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Iceland architecture firms throughout the year. Without further ado, here are the 10 best architecture firms in Iceland: 10. Studio Granda © Studio Granda Studio Granda was established in Reykjavík by Margret Harðardóttir and Steve Christer in 1987. The practice is based in Reykjavik and works on wide range of commercial and private projects. Some of Studio Granda’s most prominent projects include: B14, Iceland H71a, Hverfisgata, Reykjavík, Iceland The following statistics helped Studio Granda achieve 10th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 2 9. Teiknistofan Tröð © Teiknistofan Tröð Beauty | Permanence | Utility are the main values of the company, which operates in the spirit of sustainable development. Each project is one of a kind where local conditions and activities play a key role in the design process. Emphasis is placed on the architecture and technical aspects, utility and efficiency in implementation and operation. Teiknistofan Tröð provides services and consultation on architecture and planning to public authorities, businesses and individuals. Some of Teiknistofan Tröð’s most prominent projects include: The Salvation Army´s headquarters in Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland Félagsheimilið Bolungarvík, Bolungarvik, Iceland Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridges, Reykjavík, Iceland The following statistics helped Teiknistofan Tröð achieve 9th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 3 8. ARKÍS Arkitektar photo: Mirra Arnardottir - © ARKÍS Arkitektar ARKÍS is an awarded, progressive architecture firm that has been in operation since 1997. ARKÍS’ works and projects span all levels of architecture, planning and design. ARKÍS has extensive experience with projects in planning and architecture, and from the firm’s founding, ARKÍS has executed numerous large and complex projects, both in Iceland and internationally. That experience, in addition to cross-disciplinary specializations, international high level education and experience of the office’s employees make the firm well equipped to address all projects in architecture, planning and design. Some of ARKÍS Arkitektar’s most prominent projects include: Selhæd Water Retention Tank, Egilsstaðir, Iceland Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Gardabaer, Iceland Snæfellsstofa Visitor’s Center Blágil Park Ranger’s Cabins Villa Lóla The following statistics helped ARKÍS Arkitektar achieve 8th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 7 7. Yrki architects © Yrki architects Yrki was founded in 1997 by Ásdís Helga Ágústsdóttir and Sólveig Berg after they had won the 1st prize in an invited competition for Nesstofa, a museum of medical heritage in Seltjarnarnes. Today, a cohesive team of talented designers in the fields of architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture works at Yrki architects. We put our emphasis on meeting our clients’ requests in a professional and viable manner. Yrki architects offer a wide range of services in the fields of architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture. Our wide expertise of architecture and design reflects in a holistic approach to all our projects where the environment, context and scale shape the design. The name Yrki has a specific meaning in Icelandic. Some of Yrki architects’ most prominent projects include: Six ticket houses at the old harbour, Reykjavík, Iceland The following statistics helped Yrki architects achieve 7th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 6. BASALT Architects © Rafn Sigurbjörnsson Basalt Architects is an architectural office established in 2009 in Reykjavik. Led by partners Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir, Hrólfur Karl Cela and Marcos Zotes, Basalt’s dynamic team of architects and designers bring together a rich and extensive architectural design and construction experience in Iceland and abroad. Committed to architecture in concept, design and execution, Basalt provides high quality work and services on projects of different content, expression and scale. Basalt Architects cover a broad spectrum of architectural design services including wellness, office, commercial, residential, leisure, heritage, retail, cultural, exhibition and urban design projects. Extracting what is unique in each project from an environmental, geographic, cultural and historic context is at the core of Basalt’s design approach. Some of BASALT Architects’ most prominent projects include: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, Iceland Hofsós Swimming Pool, Hofsós, Iceland LAVA Centre, Hvolsvöllur, Iceland The following statistics helped BASALT Architects achieve 6th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: A+Awards Winner 1 Total Projects 3 5. Batteriid Archtects © Henning Larsen, Batteriid Archtects Batteríið Architects is a consulting architectural firm, founded in 1988, with a broad range of experience in building design and planning. The company benefits from highly trained and well educated employees that emphasize innovative ideas and creative design solutions. The company’s expertise is a comprehensive knowledge of adjusting buildings to local environment and climate, universal design as well occupational safety and health. Some of Batteriid Archtects’ most prominent projects include: Harpa – Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Center, Reykjavik, Iceland The following statistics helped Batteriid Archtects achieve 5th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 4. Arkibygg Architects © ESJA Architecture, Arkibygg arkitektar, Okkarheima / ANNA Landscape architect, exa nordic . Arkibygg is an architectural firm founded in 2020 by Ástríður Birna Árnadóttir and Stefanía Helga Pálmarsdóttir. The name Arkibygg is a combination of the words architect and construction engineer. When architects and construction engineers work closely together, they use each other’s knowledge to the fullest to achieve practical and creative solutions right from the start of the design process until the design process is completed. Some of Arkibygg arkitektar’s most prominent projects include: Ring of Bjólfur, Seydisfjordur, Iceland The following statistics helped Okkarheima / ANNA Landscape architect achieve 4th place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 3. arkibúllan arkitektar © arkibúllan arkitektar Arkibüllan, which has recently changed its name to A arkitektar, was founded in 1999 by Hólmfríðar Ósmann Jónsdóttir and Hrefna Bjargar Þorsteinsdóttir. The work of A arkitekta / Arkibüllun is often shaped by nature and the surrounding environment. The work on each project begins with a search for clues in as many places as possible: in the landscape, human life and one’s own mind. The clues then become the power generator that leads the work from the first sketch to the fully formed structure. Some of arkibúllan arkitektar’s most prominent projects include: Churchyard Offices and Staff Housing in Gufunes Cemetary, Reykjavik, Iceland Brekkuskógur Cottages, Iceland The following statistics helped arkibúllan arkitektar achieve 3rd place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 2 2. EON architecture / Architect – Designer © EON architecture / Architect - Designer EON architecture is strongly related to the layers of information connected to each project we design and we build. Each project is a manifesto and a tribute to its site, to its role and to its owner/the client. EON emphasizes the important threads between architecture and environmental issues. The goal is to combine contemporary architecture with environmental issues in relation to style and history. Thus being related to the distinctions and the history in general in our projects is of great importance to us. EON architecture represent the creativity and design of fabulous spaces and built structures and intends to contribute high quality architecture worldwide. Some of EON architecture / Architect – Designer’s most prominent projects include: House of Shapes, Kopavogur, Iceland Top image: Mt.Hekla Volcanic Museum, Rangárþing ytra, Iceland East Street – Offices of Parliament, Reykjavík, Iceland Grandagarður 8, downtown Old Harbour, Reykjavik, Iceland The Pool of Vikings, Iceland The following statistics helped EON architecture / Architect - Designer achieve 2nd place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 11 1. PK Arkitektar © PK Arkitektar PK Arkitektar is an Icelandic architecture and design studio. Its founder, architect Palmar Kristmundsson, draws his inspiration from Iceland’s stunning natural landscape and from his encounters with vernacular Japanese architecture. Over the years, they have developed an exceptional team of architects from around the world. PK’s clients and staff are committed to experimentation and the quest for exciting architectural experiences. Each of PK’s projects is designed to inspire a new sense of place through its clarity of design and unexpected details. Some of PK Arkitektar’s most prominent projects include: Árborg, Selfoss, Iceland Frístundahús, Brekkuskógur, Iceland Turninn, Reykjavík, Iceland BHM, Brekkuskógur, South, Iceland B25, Garðabær, Iceland The following statistics helped PK Arkitektar achieve 1st place in the 10 Best Architecture Firms in Iceland: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 5 Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking? With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year. Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York. An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted A Guide to Project Awards The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award. The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status: Project completed within the last 3 years A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value High quality, in focus photographs At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings Inclusion of construction photographs There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.     We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com. The post 10 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Iceland appeared first on Journal.

By Vanessa Taylor Published May 17, 2025 | Comments (0) | Elon Musk waves as he arrives for a state dinner at the Lusail Palace on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. © Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet constellation that is run through SpaceX, has caught legislators’ attention. Democratic Senators this week called for an investigation into whether the Trump administration is using trade negotiations to benefit Musk. In a letter addressed to federal officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics Jamieson Greer, a group of Democratic Senators wrote, “Musk may be using his official role and his proximity to the President as leverage for his own personal and financial benefit — even if it comes at the expensive of American consumers and the nation’s foreign policy interests.” The letter comes shortly after Musk accompanied Trump to Saudi Arabia on the president’s first overseas trip of his second term and announced Starlink’s approval in Saudi Arabia while the White House shared its newest defense and trade agreements. The senators, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), noted that Starlink has an “aggressive goal” of gaining a million new customers each year. However, Starlink has “struggled to secure agreements to operate in certain emerging markets” and its growth seemed slow last year. But then things shifted. “Since President Trump took office, and Musk became a top Trump advisor, Starlink has seen a rush of new countries permitting the company to enter their markets,” the senators wrote. For example, Lesotho awarded Musk its first-ever satellite internet service license shortly after Trump hit the country with high tariffs. Senators also highlighted recent deals with other countries “seeking a reprieve from the threat of the Trump administration’s unpredictable tariffs,” including India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The letter specifically mentions two articles from the Washington Post. First, an op-ed detailing that a Bangladeshi official met with Musk at the White House in February immediately after a trade meeting. There, Musk implied that the country “would not be able to get favorable trade terms” without granting Starlink access into Bangladesh. And then, a report in which the Post detailed how internal documents it obtained show that officials “have pushed nations to clear hurdles for U.S. satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name.” Although nothing shows the Trump administration “explicitly demand[ing] favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs,” the Post reported that the State Department told officials to push for regulatory approvals. “Suggesting that a foreign government adopt Starlink in exchange for relief on tariffs appears to be a textbook case of corruption,” the senators said, while requesting an investigation into whether officials “pursued a quid-pro-quo exchange of Starlink access for tariff favors in violation of federal ethic laws.” In addition, the senators wrote that the State Department’s involvement raises additional concerns, including whether “these officials may be subverting the public’s interest in favor of Mr. Musk’s personal financial interests as they negotiate new tariff agreements — and whether they have been directed by [Musk] or [Trump] to do so.” The Senators requested that the State Department Inspector General investigate that matter. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By AJ Dellinger Published May 17, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 16, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published May 15, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published May 15, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 15, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published May 14, 2025

The Romanian Order of Architects has announced an open international contest to upgrade Mircea cel Bătrân Square in Tulcea (Deadline: 2 June) The single-stage contest – organised on behalf of the Tulcea Municipality – invites proposals to revitalise the town centre public space which occupies a prominent site closely connected to the Saint George Branch of the River Danube. The estimated €7.8 million project focuses on upgrading the historic plaza, which serves an important social and civic role in the centre of Tulcea. Key aims include upgrading pedestrian links, respecting existing heritage and supporting a range of urban functions including housing, administration, commerce, food, leisure, culture and civic life. Competition site: Mircea cel Bătrân Square, Tulcea According to the brief: ‘The competition aims at a high-quality contemporary redevelopment of this space in the context of the urban regeneration of the city centre and the strengthening of pedestrian connections with the Danube waterfront, by transforming Unirii Street into a pedestrian street and restoring the “Trei Fântâni” area. ‘The aim of the competition is to formulate a solution for the development of public space that takes into account the current built heritage and the layers that history has deposited here. ‘Contest participants should take into account all the needs of the studied area — housing; public administration; restaurants, cafes and confectioneries; small-scale commercial spaces; leisure and entertainment; culture and civic life, etc. — to enhance them and situate them in an urban platform for the subsequent coherent development of the entire central area of ​​Tulcea municipality.’ Tulcea is a historic port city located close to the Danube estuary on the eastern fringes of Romania near to the Black Sea and the border with Ukraine. Key local landmarks include the Tulcea Art Museum and the Azizyie Mosque. The competition comes a year after an open international student contest was held for a pop-up community hub next to an abandoned church in Babșa, Romania. Vladostudio and Atelier de Arhitectura Terchila won a contest to upgrade the Cibin Market in Sibiu two years ago. The latest project focuses on upgrading Mircea cel Bătrân Square while also improving its connections to the waterfront and surrounding historic areas. Concepts will be expected to address ‘contemporary needs generated by climate, social and economic changes.’ Competition site: Mircea cel Bătrân Square, Tulcea Judges will include Andreea Catrinel Matache, representing the local chief architect; the architects Ana Maria Zahariade, Laura Cristea, Irina Popescu-Criveanu and Gustavo Figueira Serrano; and the landscape architects Jörg Michel and Barnabás Ede Szakács. Bids will be evaluated 25 per cent on functional response to the brief, 20 per cent on ecology and landscape, 10 per cent on sustainability and economic efficiency, 5 per cent on cost, 15 per cent on development vision and civic purpose, 15 per cent on civic identity and general atmosphere, and 10 per cent on quality and clarity of presentation. The overall winner – to be announced 29 July – will receive an estimated £320,000 (1.9 million LEI) design contract while a second prize of £16,400 (99,500 LEI), third prize of £8,200 (49,000 LEI), fourth prize of £2,000 (12,400 LEI) and fifth prize of £2,000 (12,400 LEI) will also be awarded. How to apply Deadline: 2 June Competition funding source: Not supplied Project funding source: Not supplied Owner of site(s): Not supplied Contact details: achizitii@primariatulcea.roVisit the competition website for more information

Elon Musk isn’t the only tech billionaire with power over the federal agencies that regulate his businesses. Since Donald Trump took office, more than three dozen employees, allies, and investors of Musk, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Palmer Luckey have taken roles at federal agencies, helping direct billions in contracts to their companies.  Companies owned, founded, or invested in by Musk, Thiel, Andreessen, and Luckey have collected more than a dozen federal contracts totaling about $6 billion since Trump’s inauguration in January, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. And they’re actively pursuing billions more.  Those appointments, which are in departments that oversee, regulate, and award business to the four men’s companies, raise a number of red flags. They could violate conflict-of-interest laws or government ethics regulations, both of which prohibit federal employees from using public office for private gain. And while it’s not unusual to install trusted allies in government roles, Musk’s network has moved in at an unprecedented rate and scale. TechCrunch has previously reported on all of the people in Musk’s universe who have joined him at DOGE, where he has shuttered federal agencies and slashed workforces in departments that regulate his businesses. At least 19 others with Silicon Valley connections, be they founders or investors, have also joined DOGE.  “The second Trump administration is actually the first in recent years to not impose any sort of additional ethics safeguards on high-level appointees,” Daniel Weiner, director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program, told TechCrunch. He noted that Trump fired the director of the Office of Government Ethics and 17 inspectors general who served as watchdogs for fraud and abuse, immediately after taking office. “It certainly does potentially increase the risk that you have people working on matters that do impact, at least indirectly, their bottom lines,” Weiner said. “But this is a long-term issue in our government that’s not unique to this administration.” Innovation versus accountability Peter Thiel speaks during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference.Image Credits:Marco Bello / Getty Images Some may argue that it makes sense for employees and associates of Musk, Thiel, Andreessen, and Luckey to join government agencies. Their insiders are talented individuals who are behind the cutting-edge technology the government genuinely needs, and they understand how to innovate quickly and compete globally.  Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW More serious questions arise when favoritism threatens to undermine competition, when policy is created or destroyed to protect market dominance, or when regulations that would serve the public good are waylaid to promote business interests.  For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently retreated from pursuing rules that would restrict data brokers, despite growing privacy concerns — a shift that stands to benefit companies involved in AI, surveillance, and data analytics. Another example is DOGE’s firing of staffers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who investigate autonomous vehicle safety, including several probes into Tesla.  “One of the defining structural challenges the government of the United States has right now is that we have a system in which the very wealthiest interests have so much power to shape our elections and then turn around and shape government policy,” Weiner said.  Another Silicon Valley appointee, Mike Kratsios — a former Thiel employee — is now leading technology policy for the U.S. government. In an April speech, he spoke about throwing away bad regulations that “weigh down our innovators,” particularly those who are innovating in AI.  “Many people in Silicon Valley tend to think that whatever worked in Silicon Valley is also going to work for administering the United States government,” Weiner said. “And as we’re seeing now, the danger is a lot of people are going to get hurt because of the assumptions they make.” “The fact that you had a successful startup after five others failed doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to run the Social Security Administration,” he continued.  A network inside and a payoff outside Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz.Image Credits:David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images All of the businesses between Musk, Thiel, Andreessen, and Luckey are related. Musk’s SpaceX was backed by Thiel’s Founders Fund and Andreessen’s a16z (which also invested in X and xAI). Both of those VCs also backed Anduril, Luckey’s defense startup.  The overlapping network of founders, funders, and insiders extends into several federal agencies. And in many cases, those agencies are steering billions in federal contracts back to those companies.  The Journal found that across Washington, people from Musk’s network, including Tesla, X, and SpaceX, are in more than a dozen agencies, from the executive office of the president and Office of Personnel Management all the way down to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy. SpaceX employees are also in agencies that could provide the company new business. For example, the Journal reports that SpaceX senior engineer Theodore Malaska got an ethics waiver in February that lets him take a temporary job at the Federal Aviation Administration while still working at the rocket company. The FAA hasn’t given any contracts to SpaceX yet, but Malaska said on X the agency has used Starlink to upgrade a weather-observing system in Alaska.  SpaceX is also the main commercial provider that transports crew and cargo for NASA. Despite national security concerns — like the company’s secret backdoor for Chinese investment and Musk’s reported drug use — SpaceX in April won $5.9 billion of a $13.7 billion multi-year contract from the U.S. Space Force to launch Pentagon missions. The DOD, which is currently a Starlink customer, also plans to buy SpaceX’s Starshield satellites, a militarized version of the internet satellites.  Employees at Thiel-backed firms have found themselves in roles in the State Department, the Office of Management and Budget, Health and Human Services, and Social Security, per The Wall Street Journal. Thiel’s Palantir has already been awarded nearly $376 million since 2020 from the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2024, the company was also awarded at least $1.2 billion in Department of Defense contracts in 2024 and is in the running for another $100 million deal. Anduril, Palantir, and SpaceX recently submitted a multibillion-dollar proposal for Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile-defense program, which would also add to Anduril’s existing contracts with the U.S. Army. Recently, Anduril and Microsoft took over a 2021 contract worth up to $22 billion to develop AR headsets, per the Journal.  An Anduril executive, Michael Obadal, has been nominated to a top role at the Department of Defense. In his ethics disclosure, he stated that he would retain his Anduril stock if appointed. TechCrunch has reached out to Anduril, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Palantir, and SpaceX for comment. “This sort of concentration of private wealth and political power is ultimately very risky for our economy,” Weiner said. “Because instead of the government making decisions that are intended to foster competition, foster economic growth, you run the real risk that government decisions are going to instead be structured around protecting particular companies and particular industries from full economic competition.”