in areas where water is more scarce it can be hard to grow crops and feed populations, so scientists are investigating ways to boost efficiency.
Building on earlier work, the new study marks a good step in that direction. The soil gets its “smart” moniker thanks to the addition of a specially formulated hydrogel, which works to absorb more water vapor from the air overnight, then releasing it to the plants’ roots during the day. Incorporating calcium chloride into the hydrogel also provides a slow release of this vital nutrient.
A diagram of how the hydrogel works to improve the growth of crops
University of Texas at Austin
The team tested the new smart soil in lab experiments, growing plants in 10 grams of soil, with some including 0.1 g of hydrogel. A day/night cycle was simulated, with 12 hours of darkness at 25 °C (77 °F) and either 60% or 90% relative humidity, followed by 12 hours of simulated sunlight at 35 °C (95 °F) and 30% humidity.
Sure enough, plants growing in the hydrogel soil showed a 138% boost to their stem length, compared to the control group. Importantly, the hydrogel-grown plants achieved this even while requiring 40% less direct watering.
The U.S. Space Force is testing a new ground-based satellite jamming weapon to help keep U.S. military personnel safe from potential “space-enabled” attacks.
The tests were conducted by Space Training and Readiness Command, or STARCOM, which is responsible for educating and training U.S. Space Force personnel. The satellite jammer is known as the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT) and, like other jammers, is designed to deny, degrade, or disrupt communications with satellites overhead, typically through overloading specific portions of the electromagnetic spectrum with interference.
The RMT is “small form-factor system designed to be fielded in large numbers at low-cost and operated remotely” according to Space Force statement. Specifically, the RMT will “unlock the scale to provide counterspace electronic warfare capability to all of the new Space Force components globally,” Lt. Col. Gerrit Dalman said in the statement, meaning it can be used from virtually anywhere to deny adversaries the use of satellites orbiting overhead.
Details about the test are scarce, but Space Force’s statement explains that two RMT units were installed at separate locations and controlled by a third. The jammer was evaluated according to metrics such as “system latency” and “target engagement accuracy,” as well as for how secure its communications were.
Guardians and an Airman during a test of the Space Force’s Remote Modular Terminal (RMT) in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 4, 2024. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Charles Rivezzo)
The need for new space-based and counterspace technologies has been stressed by Space Force leadership in recent months.
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According to a slide deck the Space Rapid Capabilities Office presented to industry in October 2023, these jammers are “small transportable systems that can be emplaced in both garrison and austere environments,” meaning they can be used whether infrastructure is present or not.
Did the EU force Microsoft to let third parties like CrowdStrike run riot in the Windows kernel as a result of a 2009 undertaking? This is the implication being peddled by the Redmond-based cloud and software titan.
As the tech industry deals with the fallout from the CrowdStrike incident, Microsoft is facing questions. Why is software like CrowdStrike permitted to run at such a low level, where a failure could spell disaster for the operating system?
To be clear, Microsoft is not to blame for the now-pulled update that continues to cause chaos. However, the underlying architecture that allows third parties to run deeply integrated software merits closer examination.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, a Microsoft spokesperson pointed to a 2009 undertaking by the company with the European Commission as a reason why the Windows kernel was not as protected as that of the current Apple Mac operating system, for example.
The agreement [DOC] is about interoperability and came as Microsoft was subject to European scrutiny. The undertaking seeks a level playing field and includes the following clause:
Microsoft shall ensure on an ongoing basis and in a Timely Manner that the APIs in the Windows Client PC Operating System and the Windows Server Operating System that are called on by Microsoft Security Software Products are documented and available for use by third-party security software products that run on the Windows Client PC Operating System and/or the Windows Server Operating System.
In other words, third-party security vendors must get the same access as Microsoft’s own products. Which, on the face of it, is fair enough.
However, nothing in that undertaking would have prevented Microsoft from creating an out-of-kernel API for it and other security vendors to use. Instead, CrowdStrike and its ilk run at a low enough level in the kernel to maximize visibility for anti-malware purposes. The flip side is this can cause mayhem should something go wrong.
The Register asked Microsoft if the position reported by the Wall Street Journal was still the company’s stance on why a CrowdStrike update for Windows could cause the chaos it did. The company has yet to respond.
Windows is far from the only operating system that permits software to run at a level low enough to crash a kernel. However, failures of third-party software running at a low level in Windows can be embarrassingly public, even if Microsoft is not directly to blame. ®
And indeed it did happen to Linux as well, where Crowdstrike caused kernel panics at startup. Being open has a good and a bad side, but overall the good side is a whole lot better than the bad sides.
For the first time scientists and engineers have successfully fired a high powered laser energy weapon from a British Army combat vehicle.
This ground-breaking test, conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down, saw the laser weapon neutralise targets at distances in excess of 1km.
The high-energy laser weapon mounted on to a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle, represents a major leap forward in the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator programme, providing increased operational advantage on the battlefield.
The lightweight portable high energy laser system is the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle to be fired in the UK.
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Matt Cork, Dstl Programme Lead, said:
The joint working between Dstl, DE&S and industry has enabled rapid evolution of this laser demonstrator. The successful testing of this high-powered laser weapon marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to enhance the future operational capabilities of the British Army. This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.
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The system operates with a command and control system and can be integrated with wider battle management radar and surveillance systems. The weapon can be mounted on various platforms to meet different operational needs.
