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The combat demo for Free Stars: Children of Infinity is out, and it’s free
Free Stars: Children of Infinity, the officially sanctioned sequel to classic space RPG The Ur-Quan Masters, has released a free public “combat demo” after five years in development, made by the original game’s creators. The demo offers a taste of the full title through its arcade-style “melee” mode, letting players engage in 1v1 head-to-head space…
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JBL soundbar with wireless removable speakers steeply discounted
JBL’s Bar 700 Mark 2 soundbar system, notable for its detachable, battery-powered rear speakers, is currently discounted by over $300 at Amazon. The deal will appeal to shoppers weighing up whether to buy an all-in-one soundbar or a pricier surround-sound setup with separate rear satellites, since this system offers both options in one package. The…
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Poseidon Aerospace lands $60M ahead of first pilotless test flight
Poseidon Aerospace, a Silicon Valley startup building uncrewed cargo aircraft, has raised a $60 million Series A funding round ahead of the first test flight of its pilotless plane, Egret, expected by the end of 2026. The company, founded by former Amazon logistics employee David Zagaynov and ex-Lockheed Martin engineer Parker Tenney, aims to cut…
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How NASA Testing Changed US Food Inspection Forever
The article, adapted from Alex Davies’s book, traces how food-safety testing methods developed for NASA’s astronaut meals became the foundation for modern US food inspection. By the late 20th century, America’s traditional meat-inspection approach—physically examining animal organs for visible disease—could no longer keep pace with industrial-scale slaughterhouses or detect invisible threats like E. coli, a…
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Britain reboots its space strategy with £7.8B already on the launchpad
The UK government has unveiled a new space strategy worth £7.8 billion, combining civilian and military spending across multiple departments to boost economic growth and national security through to 2030. The plan, coordinated by the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade alongside the Ministry of Defence and other bodies, reflects a growing…
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Stoke Space raises another billion to rival SpaceX at re-flying rockets
Stoke Space Technologies has completed the initial closing of a $1 billion Series E funding round, bringing its total capital raised to $2.3 billion, as it works towards building the first fully reusable rocket, with both booster and second stage designed to return to Earth intact. CEO Andy Lapsa said the money will fund production…
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Shetland spaceport project secures £30m of UK government investment
The UK government has announced £30m of investment in SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, part of a new national space strategy aimed at boosting Britain’s launch capabilities and reducing reliance on other countries for satellite launches. The funding, described by the spaceport as a “hugely significant” vote of confidence, is expected to unlock a further £30m…
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Government scraps council reorganisation plans as ARIA chief quits over Anthropic role
Ministers pause local government reorganisation after fresh legal advice, and Matt Clifford quits as ARIA chair amid conflict-of-interest concerns; abroad, migrants land on a packed Mallorca beach and an Egyptian TV presenter is sentenced to death. Elsewhere, Maryam Moshiri reveals a cancer diagnosis, Thick of It st…
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Space Force Uniform Is Inspired By Quasi-Satirical Film ‘Starship Troopers’
Donald Trump has unveiled the new US Space Force service dress uniform, revealing on Truth Social that its design was “inspired by the discipline and functionality of the Starship Trooper uniform” from the 1997 film Starship Troopers. The reference has raised eyebrows, as the Paul Verhoeven film was both a box-office disappointment and a satire…
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Le Creuset x Star Trek Collection: Prices, availability, release date
Le Creuset has launched a limited-edition Star Trek collection to mark the franchise’s 60th anniversary, featuring cast-iron cookware and accessories themed around the Federation, Klingons and Vulcans. The range, developed over several years in collaboration with Paramount, follows the brand’s earlier 2024 Pokémon line, which sold out rapidly and now commands inflated resale prices online.…