Physics

Big Tech companies are reportedly assessing physical security risks tied to the escalating conflict with Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz identified as the center of the crisis. The situation is having an immediate impact on global markets and raising concerns about energy supplies, adding infrastructure and personnel risks to the industry's war-related worries.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has warned that India's semiconductor ambitions will face cyberattacks, fake news campaigns and even physical attacks as the country expands its chip manufacturing push. Citing past incidents during Apple's rollout in India, including cut power lines and deliberate food poisoning of workers, he said sabotage attempts should be expected and that the government is prepared to counter them.

Researchers have developed the most accurate atomic clock ever built, according to a report published by Phys.org. The new clock advances precision timekeeping, a field that underpins GPS navigation, telecommunications and tests of fundamental physics. Details of the team behind the device and its exact performance figures were not included in the available information.

At least a dozen Chinese banks plan to wind down their retail leveraged precious-metals trading services, according to a widely shared report. The move restricts retail investors' access to leveraged gold and silver products at a time when demand for physical precious metals in China is described as surging.

A new report examines how major technology companies are confronting physical security risks tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The analysis also assesses Iran's broader political, economic, and military resilience, and outlines the limits of US military power in the Middle East as the war continues.

A large global study has examined how screen time affects children's wellbeing, according to reporting carried by Yahoo News New Zealand. The findings address an ongoing debate among parents, educators and health researchers over how digital device use shapes children's mental and physical health. Details of the study's size, methodology and conclusions were not included in the available report.

A new Brookings Institution study examines the enormous physical footprint of the AI boom, from specialized chips and electricity demand to purpose-built data centers, noting that two-thirds of a data center's cost can go into hardware and construction. The report assesses how large the buildout has become and what financial and economic risks it may pose if AI investment slows or falls short of expectations.

Nvidia is reportedly pursuing glass substrate packaging for its AI chips, a manufacturing shift that could improve performance and density as conventional materials hit physical limits. The move could reshape how advanced semiconductors are packaged and give Nvidia an edge in the race to power large AI systems, though details of timing and partners remain unclear.

Brazil face Australia in a football match that is drawing heavy attention from Brazilian fans. Sports outlet ESPN Brasil is providing the score, key moments and information on where to watch the game. Interest is high as supporters follow the Seleção's line-up and performance against a physical Australian side, with coverage spanning TV and streaming options.

The Pentagon is asking for $30.3 million over five years to develop an AI-powered lie detection system that can analyze body language remotely, without physical contact. The program, called Polygraph Next, is included in the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency's 2027 budget request. Commenters are raising concerns about the privacy implications and scientific reliability of automated deception detection, noting that traditional polygraph accuracy is already contested.

Ukraine has announced a large-scale programme to build an 'army of robots', described by officials as a 'Manhattan Project for physical AI'. The initiative aims to develop autonomous ground and aerial systems at scale for battlefield use, drawing comparisons to the World War Two atomic research effort. The announcement has drawn international attention given Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia and the growing role of drones and robotics in modern combat.

A Harvard study reports that students using an AI tutor to learn physics achieved better results than peers in standard active-learning classes. The findings suggest personalized, conversational AI instruction can outperform established classroom methods, sparking debate among educators about how such tools should fit into teaching and whether AI could reshape how universities deliver science education.

SiMa.ai, a chip developer focused on physical AI, has reached a valuation of $1.45 billion. The company builds semiconductor technology designed to bring AI processing to physical systems such as machines and edge devices. The valuation places it among the more prominent independent AI chip startups, in a sector drawing intense investor interest as companies race to supply hardware for artificial intelligence beyond data centers.

Ukraine's cybersecurity leadership, represented by Koretskyy, has described measures the country is taking to protect its internet infrastructure against ongoing Russian cyberattacks. The remarks detail defensive preparations as Ukraine continues to face digital threats alongside the physical war, highlighting how critical networks and services are being shielded from disruption.

Researchers report observing how an aggressive brain cancer physically remodels brain tissue as it grows, offering a live view of tumor progression. The findings shed light on how deadly brain tumors invade and distort surrounding structures, which could inform future treatment approaches. The work is drawing attention for its striking visualization of the disease's effects on the brain.

New research explains how spray from the subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus transforms into chemically diverse ice grains. The study outlines the physical and chemical processes that shape the composition of the plume particles, offering insight into what the ocean's chemistry could mean for the moon's potential habitability.

New research highlights that people living with severe mental illness die more than 10 years earlier than the general population. Researchers point to contributing factors behind the gap, which is widely attributed in the field to physical health conditions going undertreated, higher rates of smoking and cardiovascular disease, medication side effects, and poorer access to healthcare. The finding has renewed calls to close the life-expectancy gap for this group.

New reporting highlights that people who survived cancer in childhood face a significantly elevated risk of serious mental health difficulties in adulthood, including depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. The findings point to long-term psychological effects of early cancer diagnosis and treatment, and renew calls for survivors to receive sustained mental health monitoring and support, not just physical follow-up care, well into their adult lives.

Apple Music is set to open a concert venue inside London's Battersea Power Station, adding a live music space to the landmark's growing retail and entertainment district. The move signals Apple's continued investment in music beyond streaming, following its radio stations and live sessions. Details on capacity, opening date and programming have not yet been confirmed.

Consultancy Bain & Company says artificial intelligence is reshaping retail in ways that will push underperforming stores out of the market. The firm argues retailers that fail to adopt AI-driven operations, pricing and customer insights risk losing ground to more efficient competitors, accelerating store closures across the sector.

A new study reports that people with internet addiction show signs of exhausted physiological stress systems, suggesting chronic online overuse may wear down the body's stress response. The findings add to growing concern about excessive internet use and its physical, not just psychological, health effects.