RSA

SpaceX has carried out a full launch rehearsal at its Starbase facility in Texas as it prepares for the fourteenth test flight of its Starship rocket. The rehearsal, reported by spaceflight outlet NASASpaceflight, marks a key step in final preparations, and attention is now turning to when the next Starship launch attempt will take place.

Scientists report that dust levels in Earth's atmosphere have declined, reversing a long-running trend. The shift is described as mysterious because its cause is not yet understood. Dust in the atmosphere affects climate, air quality and ocean ecosystems, so the change could have far-reaching implications for climate modeling.

The United Nations has officially declared September 29 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The designation recognises the public's right to seek and receive information held by public bodies, a right seen as central to transparency, accountability and informed civic participation. Observers note it underscores growing international commitment to open government and press freedom.

Daniel Gultsch, developer of the Android XMPP chat app Conversations, has announced the app is now free and is breaking up with Google Play. In a blog post he explains the decision to leave Google's store and stop charging for the app, a move drawing attention among open-source and messaging communities who see it as a notable stance against app store fees and platform dependence.

A new cryptography paper describes forging 1024-bit RSA signatures in time close to the special number field sieve, a faster attack method previously thought impractical at this key size. The result, published on the IACR eprint archive, suggests 1024-bit RSA keys offer less security margin than assumed, and readers are debating whether older systems still relying on them need urgent upgrades to 2048-bit or larger keys.