Month: October 2025

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NASA’s X-59 ‘quiet’ supersonic jet makes historic 1st flight (photos)

https://www.space.com/technology/aerospace/nasas-x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-makes-historic-1st-flight-photos

NASA’s X-59 has finally taken flight.

The X-59 is NASA’s experimental new jet built to break the sound barrier without generating the thunderous sonic booms typically associated with supersonic flight.

NASA did not announce the flight publicly, nor has the agency issued a statement following its flight (likely due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown).

But videos and photos were posted to social media by aircraft spotters and photographers, showing the radically elongated X-59 taking off before flying north out of Palmdale. Photographer Jarod Hamilton caught the X-59 as it left the ground, making a steep climb into the air above the Mojave Desert.

NASA’s X-59 supersonic jet takes off on its first flight on Oct. 29, 2025 from Palmdale Regional Airport in California. (Image credit: Jarod Hamilton)

Based on the X-59’s track, it appears the X-plane flew oval-shaped "racetrack" patterns over the U.S. Air Force’s Edwards Air Force Base for just over an hour before landing at the facility.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center is located at the base. After this first flight, the X-59 will now reside at Armstrong, where it will undergo a testing campaign that will involve flying the jet over microphones placed throughout the desert and trailing other aircraft equipped with special air sensors through its shockwaves .

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A track of the X-59’s first flight, according to aircraft tracking site Flightradar24. (Image credit: Flightradar24)

The X-59 was designed by NASA and built by Lockheed Martin at the company’s storied Skunk Works facility in Palmdale. The aircraft was designed from the wheels up to be able to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing loud sonic booms, which can be disruptive to people on the ground below. Because of those booms, supersonic flight has been prohibited above land within a certain distance of the U.S. since 1973.

NASA’s X-59 supersonic jet takes off on its first flight on Oct. 29, 2025 from Palmdale Regional Airport in California. (Image credit: Jarod Hamilton)

But NASA hopes to change that. If the X-59 can prove that "quiet" supersonic flight is possible, the restrictions on breaking the sound barrier above the populated U.S. could someday be lifted, allowing commercial supersonic flight. The high speeds of supersonic travel could also be a huge boon for disaster relief, medical transport and other industries.

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via Latest from Space.com https://www.space.com

October 28, 2025 at 02:05PM

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This Is How Long Your Walks Should Be to Keep You Healthiest, Study Finds

https://gizmodo.com/this-is-how-long-your-walks-should-be-to-keep-you-healthiest-study-finds-2000677946

Here’s a new life hack to help keep the grim reaper at bay. Research out today seems to have pinned down the best length for a life-extending walk.

Scientists at the University of Sydney and others examined the walking habits of more than 30,000 people. Sedentary people who got most of their daily steps through 10- to 15-minute-long walks, they found, were the least likely to develop cardiovascular disease or to die early. The findings suggest an easy way for less active people to improve their heart health, the researchers say.

“These results can inform physical activity recommendations for individuals—particularly those who are otherwise sedentary or low-active—to incorporate longer, purposeful walking sessions into their daily routines to optimize health outcomes,” they wrote in their paper, published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

10,000 steps not needed

Contrary to popular belief, walking 10,000 steps a day isn’t the be-all, end-all of optimal health.

For starters, this number was originally coined from a marketing campaign in the 1960s by a Japanese company looking to sell their pedometers. Secondly, actual studies have found that walking as little as 2,300 to 4,000 steps a day can still keep you healthy and lower your risk of dying early (at the same time, there doesn’t seem to be an upper limit to the health benefits of walking even more).

Though any amount of physical exercise and steps taken is better than none, the researchers of this current study were interested in figuring out whether the duration of a walk is important, too. They analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a long-running project following the long-term health of residents. As part of the project, some participants were asked to wear a pedometer to tally their daily steps for a week.

The researchers specifically looked at 33,560 people between the ages of 40 and 79 years (the average age was 62) who were sedentary but had no existing history of heart disease or cancer when they wore the pedometers.

Over an average follow-up period of nearly eight years, 735 people died, while over 3,000 people developed cardiovascular disease. After accounting for various factors, the researchers found that people who took longer walks had the lowest risk of heart disease and early death compared to everyone else, while the greatest risk was seen in people who mostly took short walks lasting five minutes or less.

What should this mean for you?

This study is observational, meaning it can’t definitively prove a causative link between longer walks and better health.

The researchers also note that they tried to account for many variables in their analysis, such as the number of steps taken (people who walk longer tend to take more steps). But it remains possible they missed some important differences between long- and short-walkers that would better explain why the former live longer, outside of their average walking length.

While more research to confirm these findings would be valuable, it’s already clear that taking regular walks (or any form of physical activity) is great for you. And for those looking to make the most of their walks, it certainly seems reasonable that stretching them out a few minutes longer can be even better.

via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com/

October 28, 2025 at 11:32AM

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Microsoft reportedly ordered its Xbox division to boost profits to an unrealistic level

https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-reportedly-ordered-its-xbox-division-to-boost-profits-to-an-unrealistic-level-150210398.html?src=rss

The last 12 months have been pretty depressing for anyone invested in the long-term future of Xbox and the general health of the games industry. Back in May, Microsoft laid off 3 percent of its global workforce, with the company’s gaming division being one of the big casualties, and a number of upcoming titles were subsequently canceled. It painted a picture of a brand in crisis, but according to a new report, Microsoft has been setting its gaming division unrealistic profit targets for several years.

Sources told Bloomberg that in 2023, Microsoft implemented an "across-the-board goal" of 30 percent profit margins, which the report says Microsoft calls "accountability margins" internally. As Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reports, this target, which was set by Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood in fall 2023, is well above the recent industry average of 17-22 percent quoted by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Schreier adds that Xbox’s own average in the last six years is between 10 and 20 percent.

S&P Global analyst Neil Barbour told Bloomberg that Microsoft’s 30 percent target is the kind of margin "usually reserved for a publisher that is really nailing it." This is despite its gaming division only landing at 12 percent in the first nine months of 2022, as quoted in the report.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg that it views individual games and projects differently with regards to what constitutes success, adding that it sometimes has to making tough decisions, including ending development on games, so it can shift its resources toward the projects that are "more aligned with our direction and priorities."

The new profit targets were introduced in the same year that Microsoft finally completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, landing it hugely popular franchises such as Call of Duty and Diablo. Back in 2020 it acquired ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda, which means that long-running series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout also now sit under the umbrella of Xbox’s gaming division.

Since 2018, Microsoft has been putting all of its first-party releases on Game Pass from day one, but this model has contributed to games failing to hit their 30 percent profit margin targets, according to Bloomberg’s sources. Xbox does offer developers a credit it calls "member-weighted value," which takes into consideration factors such as the collective number of hours Game Pass subscribers have spent in a game, although this formula tends to benefit multiplayer titles the most. Going forward, Bloomberg’s sources said Microsoft is likely to favor funding games with cheap development costs and proven revenue-generators over riskier projects.

Xbox has been successful in bringing some of its first-party games to other platforms, including its primary rival in Sony’s PS5, with major titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle making the jump in the last 12 months. In the wake of Microsoft raising the price of Xbox consoles in the US last month, the second time it has done so in 2025, it also slapped Game Pass Ultimate with a 50 percent subscription fee hike at the start of October. This week the company increased the cost of Xbox dev kits by $500.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/aUH9vLP

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

October 23, 2025 at 10:08AM

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Nissan made a nifty solar panel system for its Sakura EV

https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nissan-made-a-nifty-solar-panel-system-for-its-sakura-ev-061235566.html?src=rss

As we’ve seen with Toyota’s Prius Prime, putting a solar panel on a car’s roof is a nifty idea but can only gain you a few free miles a day due to the limited size. With a new prototype of its hyper-popular Sakura "kei" EV, Nissan has the answer: a bigger solar panel roof called the AO-Solar Extender. When fully stretched out on a sunny day, it can add about 1,864 miles of driving distance a year and power multiple accessories.

The panel works whether you’re driving or parked. When extended (in "solar pompadour" mode as my colleague put it), it generates 500 watts on sunny days. At the same time, it helps block sunlight from the windshield, "reducing cabin temperature and lowering the need for air conditioning power consumption," Nissan noted.  

Nissan made a nifty solar panel system for its Sakura EV
NISSAN DESIGN

When retracted in driving mode, it still pumps out 300 watts in the sun (80 watts in the rain), quite a bit more than the 185 watts max generated by the Prius Prime’s solar roof. And if you’re worried about aerodynamics, Nissan said the roof is designed to minimize drag and integrate well with the Sakura’s design. 

It’s not just a fun exercise, as Nissan said it’s planning to launch the AO-Solar Extender commercially, with details to follow at a later date. It could be a useful accessory on the Sakura, which has been Japan’s most popular EV since 2022 thanks to its "sufficient" range, cute kei looks and spacious interior. The automaker will show it off at the Japan Mobility Show starting on October 30, 2025. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/ezME2iZ

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

October 24, 2025 at 01:18AM

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This Tiny German Start-Up Says It’s Built the World’s Most Efficient EV Motor

https://www.autoblog.com/news/this-tiny-german-start-up-says-its-built-the-worlds-most-efficient-ev-motor

A Munich-based start-up called DeepDrive is gaining attention across the auto industry for its next-generation electric motor technology, and it may be on the cusp of a genuine breakthrough. The company’s compact, dual-rotor drive units promise up to 20 percent greater efficiency than today’s standard EV motors, a potential game-changer in an increasingly competitive global market.

DeepDrive’s engineers have already begun testing the design in prototype vehicles from major automakers, including one test program running at Austria’s Salzburgring circuit. The technology’s goal is simple: extract more range and power from the same battery capacity, using less space and fewer materials.

DeepDrive

A Smarter Motor for a Smarter EV

DeepDrive’s most distinctive feature is its dual-rotor topology, which maximizes the magnetic field’s efficiency to create more torque while reducing energy losses. The setup is also more compact, giving carmakers greater flexibility in packaging and weight distribution, advantages that could redefine how future EVs are designed.

If production scaling succeeds, the efficiency gains could ripple throughout the market. Smaller, lighter battery packs could deliver the same range, cutting costs and environmental impact simultaneously. That’s crucial at a time when the world bought 2 million EVs in one month.

The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

Automakers are in a race to keep electric cars affordable after the expiration of federal credits and the ensuing price reshuffle. Many brands are already cutting EV prices by thousands to keep customers interested. A motor that delivers more range for less energy could be the key to maintaining profitability in this new cost-sensitive landscape.

Meanwhile, the technology shift isn’t happening in isolation. Breakthroughs in charging infrastructure are complementing progress on the drivetrain side. Charging is moving toward cable-free, bi-directional systems that will make EV ownership more seamless, especially when paired with more efficient motors.


What’s Next for DeepDrive

DeepDrive’s challenge now lies in scaling its innovation beyond prototypes. Building an efficient, compact motor is one thing; manufacturing it reliably and economically is another. The company’s founders claim the design uses fewer rare-earth materials than conventional motors, which could lower supply risk and improve sustainability, but only if the technology proves viable at mass-production levels.

Industry analysts believe early adoption could happen by 2027 if testing continues to deliver results. For now, major automakers are watching closely, as even incremental improvements in efficiency can make or break the economics of a new EV platform.

Why It Matters

Every stage of the EV race, batteries, charging, and motors, is converging toward the same goal: doing more with less. As global sales accelerate and price competition tightens, DeepDrive’s work could represent the next frontier in EV performance and affordability.

If its claims hold true, the start-up may soon help automakers squeeze more miles, more profit, and more innovation out of every kilowatt.


via Autoblog https://ift.tt/Ww5Pzmy

October 20, 2025 at 02:33PM

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Why the F5 Hack Created an ‘Imminent Threat’ for Thousands of Networks

https://www.wired.com/story/f5-hack-networking-software-big-ip/

Thousands of networks—many of them operated by the US government and Fortune 500 companies—face an “imminent threat” of being breached by a nation-state hacking group following the breach of a major maker of software, the federal government warned Wednesday.

via Wired Top Stories https://www.wired.com

October 16, 2025 at 03:50PM