The space-based heat maps changing how engineers fix cities

Satellites reveal the hottest city blocks, and engineers use that data to cool streets with reflective pavement, trees, and smarter design.

Cities around the world are finally seeing their urban heat islands from space. Satellite thermal sensors show which blocks stay hottest long after sunset, with asphalt roads, parking lots, and rooftops glowing red on heat maps. Engineers are using this data to reprioritize projects and focus on the worst hotspots first.

In Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia, satellite maps are being combined with street-level sensors to guide reflective pavement, cool roofs, and large-scale tree planting. Some treated streets are already measuring about 10°F cooler than untreated ones. With new NASA instruments and commercial satellites coming online, space-based heat maps are quickly turning into real-world solutions for cooler, safer neighborhoods.

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Scientists have created an early prototype called Pulse-Fi that can estimate a person’s heart rate using Wi-Fi signals, without wearables or physical contact. The system uses AI and low-cost, off-the-shelf hardware to analyze tiny changes in Wi-Fi signals caused by chest movement during breathing and heartbeats.

In tests, Pulse-Fi remained accurate across different distances (up to 3 meters), body positions, and light activities. Average error stayed below half a beat per minute, and in some cases was as low as 0.2 BPM. The setup relies on two simple Wi-Fi devices acting as a sender and receiver, extracting heart rate data from channel state information.

Researchers say this contact-free approach could one day be a cheaper alternative to smartwatches, though experts note the technology is still experimental and likely 5–10 years away from real-world use.

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Gene resurrection

It’s not a dire wolf—yeah, we know. In early 2025, Colossal Biosciences made headlines with a snow-white wolf said to revive a species extinct for 10,000 years. Scientists pushed back: it’s still a gray wolf, just one engineered with about 20 DNA traits taken from ancient dire wolf bones.

But the science behind it is real. Thanks to gene editing, cloning, and ancient DNA research, scientists can study genetic material from extinct species and reintroduce parts of it into living ones. That could help protect endangered animals, create climate-resilient plants, and even lead to new medicines.

This kind of genetic “time travel” relies on growing DNA libraries—from dodos and woolly mammoths to ancient humans. It’s already being used, including efforts to restore lost genes linked to disease and to revive genetic diversity in endangered species like the black-footed ferret.

Extinction may be permanent. DNA doesn’t have to be.

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Sodium-ion batteries

A cheaper, safer, and more abundant alternative to lithium is reaching cars and power grids.

For decades, lithium-ion batteries have powered phones, laptops, and EVs. But lithium’s limited supply and volatile prices have pushed the industry to seek alternatives. Sodium-ion batteries work similarly, moving ions between electrodes, but sodium is cheap and widely available. While not yet much cheaper, costs are expected to drop as production scales.

China is leading adoption. CATL launched its Naxtra sodium-ion line in 2025 and began large-scale manufacturing. BYD is building a major production facility. JMEV offers its EV3 with a sodium-ion battery, and HiNa Battery supplies low-speed EVs.

The biggest impact may be on power grids. Sodium-ion batteries are low-cost, thermally stable, and long-lasting. Energy density is lower than lithium-ion cells but improving, already enough for small cars, logistics vehicles, and two-wheelers.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra first look

🔗 Evleaks

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Sustained Global Brightness Test

Measured after 20 minutes:
iQOO 15 (SDC M14 + Pol-less depolarization) → 1000 nits
OnePlus 15 (BOE X3) → 600 nits
S25 Ultra (SDC M13) → 330 nits

🔗 PhoneBuff

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Kites turn high-altitude wind into predictable power

Tethered kites are emerging as a new way to generate renewable energy by flying hundreds of meters above ground, where winds are stronger and steadier than near the surface. Known as airborne wind energy systems (AWES), they replace towers and concrete with lightweight wings flying in controlled crosswind patterns.

The kite pulls on a tether connected to a ground-based generator, producing electricity with far less material than conventional turbines. Control is key: the system must autonomously handle gusts, tether tension, and flight stability while delivering predictable power.

Pilot projects like Kitepower’s Bangor Erris site in Ireland have logged hundreds of flights, with kites producing up to 100 kW. Across Europe and the US, developers are refining sensors, modular designs, and control systems to make AWES reliable and grid-ready.

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Apple’s Mechanical Aperture Patent: Bringing DSLR-Level Control to iPhone

Apple has patented a true mechanical aperture for ultra-thin smartphones, potentially appearing in a future iPhone, possibly the iPhone 18 Pro. Unlike current fixed-aperture cameras, this system can adjust continuously in real time, even during video, allowing smoother exposure, improved HDR, and real optical depth-of-field.

The design uses aperture blades driven by a compact voice-coil motor with a spring-based current system that reduces size and mechanical complexity. In low light, the aperture opens wider for more light and less noise; in bright conditions, it closes to preserve highlights, sharpen details, and increase depth of field. Multi-camera setups could gain independent aperture control, bringing iPhone photography closer to DSLR-level optical quality.

🔗 Ice Universe

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Google Pixel 10a officially announced

📱 6.3" FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED Display
💾 Tensor G4 SoC
📸 48MP (OIS) + 13MP Rear Cameras
🤳 12MP Front Camera
🔋 5,100mAh Battery
⚡ 20W (Wired) + 7.5W (Wireless) Charging
⚙️ Android 16
🗓️ Pre-order starts on Feb 18

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How one controversial startup hopes to cool the planet

Stardust Solutions, an Israel-based startup, says it can help cool the Earth by flying aircraft into the stratosphere and releasing engineered particles designed to reflect sunlight back into space. The company claims the particles could counter the warming effects of decades of greenhouse-gas emissions.

Stardust raised $60 million, the largest known funding round in solar geoengineering. Founded by prominent scientists, it says it will only move forward if governments request the work and set clear rules and oversight.

Many researchers are alarmed. They argue the science has not been published, the timelines are unrealistic, and a for-profit company should not have incentives tied to managing global temperatures. Others warn the idea could deepen public mistrust and fuel geopolitical tensions.

Stardust says it is preparing an emergency option as climate impacts worsen.

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OPPO and Huawei to adopt square selfie cameras on Android phones

OPPO and Huawei are set to become the first Android brands to use a 1:1 square sensor for the front-facing camera, following an approach popularized by Apple. The new design is expected to debut on OPPO’s upcoming Find X10 series and Huawei’s Nova 16 lineup.

Unlike traditional rectangular sensors, a square selfie camera allows users to take both portrait and landscape selfies without rotating the phone. The camera can simply switch orientation in software, making framing more flexible for photos, video calls, and content creation.

🔗 Digital Chat Station

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Samsung Electronics has partnered with South Korean AI firm Nota to develop a new on-device AI feature called EdgeFusion.

The technology allows users to generate images from text prompts directly on their phones in under one second, without relying on cloud servers. By keeping everything local, EdgeFusion delivers faster results while improving privacy and real-time performance.

Samsung is expected to integrate EdgeFusion into its upcoming Galaxy S26 flagship lineup, set to launch later this month. The feature is designed to enhance creative tools and photography by enabling instant image generation on the device itself.

EdgeFusion is part of Samsung’s ongoing effort to strengthen local AI image processing and expand the Galaxy AI ecosystem, further evolving the AI capabilities of the Galaxy S series.

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First-ever experimental gene therapy aims to restore vision by rejuvenating eye neurons

Life Biosciences is testing ER-100, an experimental gene therapy designed to restore vision by reviving damaged retinal neurons. Unlike existing treatments that slow disease, ER-100 uses epigenetic reprogramming to reset aging retinal cells, targeting optic neuropathies such as glaucoma and NAION, where vision loss is irreversible.

The therapy works by controlled expression of three Yamanaka transcription factors — OCT-4, SOX-2, and KLF-4 (OSK) — to rewind cellular aging signatures. In preclinical studies, ER-100 restored age-related methylation patterns and improved visual function in multiple animal models, including nonhuman primates. With FDA approval for its first human trial, researchers will now evaluate safety, tolerability, and early signs of benefit, opening the door to a disease-modifying approach that could transform treatment for neurodegenerative eye disorders.

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Google confirms AirDrop-style sharing is coming to more Android devices

Google has confirmed that Android’s Quick Share will soon expand AirDrop interoperability beyond the Pixel 10 series. The feature launched unexpectedly last year and remained limited to Pixel phones, raising questions about a wider rollout.

Android VP of Engineering Eric Kay says Google has already proven the feature works with iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks and is now working with partners to bring it to more Android devices, with announcements expected very soon.

So far, Nothing has confirmed support, while Qualcomm has hinted that Snapdragon-powered phones could follow. This expansion is happening in large part thanks to EU 🇪🇺 interoperability rules, which aim to make major platforms work better together, and supports Google’s push to make switching from iPhone to Android easier.

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Russian firm turns pigeons into brain-controlled surveillance drones using GPS

A Moscow startup says pigeons with microscopic brain electrodes completed controlled test flights over the city in late 2025.

The PJN-1 project uses neurosurgery instead of training. Electrodes linked to a small head stimulator let operators steer the birds, while a lightweight backpack carries GPS, a controller, solar panels, and a chest camera for real-time tracking. The company claims the pigeons can fly up to 300 miles a day without batteries and be deployed immediately after surgery.

Neiry says the birds can navigate tight spaces, handle harsh weather, and operate where drones face restrictions, for uses like infrastructure inspections, power line monitoring, and search-and-rescue.

Founder Alexander Panov said: “Any bird can be a carrier… ravens for heavier payloads, seagulls, and for large sea areas — albatrosses.”

The project is already raising ethical and security debates.

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