Making Space

The US Air Force secretary has publicly acknowledged that the United States has weapons in space, a rare and direct admission about American military capabilities in orbit. The statement is drawing attention because the US has historically kept such programs classified, and it could sharpen debate over arms competition and norms in space.

SpaceX is reportedly aiming for a valuation above $2 trillion in its initial public offering, a figure that would make it one of the largest public listings in history. Elon Musk's space company, which operates the Falcon 9, Starship and Starlink businesses, has seen mounting investor speculation about a listing, and the reported target is drawing attention to how markets will price a private giant of this scale.

Businesses offering 'rage retreats' — spaces where paying customers can smash plates, yell and destroy objects to vent frustration — are reporting booming demand. Operators link the trend to widespread stress and political and social anger, selling catharsis as a service. Commentators see the growth as a barometer of a tense, anxious mood in everyday life.

A new email API service called Helo has been launched by former Postmark employees, and was introduced to the Hacker News community where it drew attention. The launch is notable because Postmark built a strong reputation among developers for reliable transactional email delivery, so the team's return to the space is drawing interest from developers evaluating alternatives.

A listing of upcoming military events in the Colorado Springs area beginning October 4 has been published, covering ceremonies, gatherings and community activities connected to the region's military installations. Colorado Springs is home to several major bases, including Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy and Peterson Space Force Base, making such community events a regular fixture of local life.

Physicists have outlined an explanation for how an extremely high-energy photon of around 300 teraelectronvolts, one of the most energetic ever detected, could have travelled across space and arrived at Earth. Such photons normally interact with background light and should not survive long journeys, so researchers have proposed mechanisms that could account for its survival.

A low-profile hedge fund has agreed to pay around $30 million for office space in New York, setting a new record for the city's rental market. The deal stands out as an outlier at a time when many companies are cutting back on office space, and it is being read as a signal of confidence among elite financial firms despite broader uncertainty in Manhattan's commercial property market.

A gardening advice piece warns that many people are making basic planting mistakes and urges them to correct these errors today. Common issues highlighted in such guidance include planting at the wrong depth, spacing plants too closely, ignoring soil conditions, and choosing unsuitable locations for sunlight.

Alexandria, Virginia, is revisiting its parking regulations, with local officials examining how current rules affect residents financially. The review comes as cities across the United States question whether minimum parking requirements drive up housing costs and encourage car dependence. The debate touches on affordability, urban planning, and how street space should be allocated.

A Colorado community is testing a new approach to capturing rainwater to support parks and open space. The project reflects growing interest in the state in using stormwater locally, where rainwater collection has historically faced strict water-rights rules. Details about which community is involved and how the system works were not immediately available.

SpaceX has launched four astronauts to the International Space Station. One of the crew members will miss the birth of his child because of the mission, a detail that has drawn sympathy and discussion about the personal sacrifices astronauts and their families make. The flight continues SpaceX's regular role ferrying crews to the orbiting laboratory for NASA.

ArtPrize visitors in Grand Rapids have their last chance to view this year's artworks before the competition's awards are announced. The event, known for turning venues across the city into exhibition spaces, is closing its viewing period as judging concludes and jury and public-vote winners prepare to be revealed.

The Idaho State Journal has published an opinion piece arguing that the United States Space Academy should be located in Idaho. The article makes the case for Idaho as a home for the academy, though no decision on the academy's location appears to have been announced. The piece reflects local enthusiasm for positioning the state within the country's expanding space sector.