TECH
Blue Origin rebuilds launch pad as NASA picks Relativity for Mars mission
Ars Technica reports that Blue Origin has begun rebuilding Launch Complex 36 after a New Glenn explosion, aiming to return the rocket to service by year‑end. The Verge notes that NASA has selected Relativity Space, led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, to launch its Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028, highlighting the company's growing role in planetary missions. Both stories underscore a shift toward private‑sector involvement in key U.S. space initiatives.
Microsoft uncovers Crypto Clipper USB worm stealing cryptocurrency via Tor
Ars Technica reports that Microsoft identified a new self‑propagating malware, dubbed Crypto Clipper, which spreads via .lnk files on USB drives. The worm monitors clipboard data for cryptocurrency wallet addresses and seed phrases, captures screenshots, and exfiltrates the information through a Tor‑routed SOCKS5 proxy, effectively operating as a lightweight backdoor. Microsoft Defender flags the threat as a Trojan and notes its use of suspicious JavaScript and PowerShell processes.
US forces Anthropic to suspend two AI models over security concerns
The US government ordered Anthropic to pull its latest Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, citing national‑security risks after Amazon researchers reportedly bypassed the models’ guardrails. Cybersecurity experts warned the ban could be counterproductive, noting similar jailbreaks exist in other systems, while Anthropic argued the concerns are not unique to its technology. TechCrunch’s Equity podcast hosts discussed how the restriction might unintentionally boost the company’s brand ahead of its IPO.
Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis after missing construction zone signs
The Register reports that Waymo is recalling 3,871 fifth‑generation robotaxis after several incidents in Phoenix and the Bay Area where its automated driving system failed to recognize freeway construction zones, driving past closure signs or between cones. The company's Field Safety Committee has imposed freeway‑driving restrictions for the affected fleet while a software fix is developed. Vehicles not capable of driverless freeway operation are not included in the recall.
OpenAI executive Barret Zoph departs after five‑month return
Barret Zoph, OpenAI’s head of enterprise AI sales, left the company five months after rejoining in January. He had previously exited to co‑found Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab and returned amid the firm’s push toward enterprise and coding ahead of an IPO. The Verge reported his departure, noting no immediate comment from Zoph.
India’s telegram ban triggers VPN surge and alternative app growth
TechCrunch reported that India’s week‑long block of Telegram sparked a 49% jump in VPN downloads, with Proton VPN climbing 113% on the App Store and Turbo VPN up 85%. The restriction also drove sharp increases in rival messaging apps, as Signal’s App Store downloads rose 72% and iMe’s Google Play downloads surged to about 50,900. Despite the ban, Telegram’s daily active users in India rose 17% on the announcement day, and the Delhi High Court upheld the restriction as a temporary measure tied to exam‑related fraud concerns.
Scientists hunt super reefs to safeguard coral against warming seas
Researchers led by Anne Cohen of Woods Hole are identifying heat‑tolerant “super reefs” that can survive record marine heatwaves. Using the Yellowfin unmanned surface vehicle and laboratory heat‑stress tests, they have pinpointed a resilient reef off Laura in Majuro lagoon, which locals are considering protecting through a community‑led marine area. The findings feed into a broader “super reef blue corridor” plan to link resilient sites across the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu, aiming to enable heat‑tolerant corals to repopulate degraded reefs.
NASA partners with Katalyst for swift rescue mission amid lunar module halt
Ars Technica reported that NASA awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to build the Link servicing spacecraft, which will rendezvous with the aging Swift observatory and boost its orbit before the satellite re‑enters. The mission was fast‑tracked in under a year, using a Pegasus XL launch from Wallops to meet a looming altitude deadline. Meanwhile, NASA has also signaled a pause on the lunar HALO module work with Northrop Grumman, highlighting differing strategic priorities within the agency.
Fusion startups raise over $100 million as investors bet on clean energy
TechCrunch reports that dozens of private fusion companies have collectively secured billions of dollars, with Commonwealth Fusion Systems close to $3 billion and Helion raising $1.5 billion, while others like Pacific Fusion, General Fusion, and Inertia Enterprises have each attracted $100 million-plus. Investors such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Google, Microsoft, Bill Gates and sovereign funds are backing a range of approaches, from tokamak and stellarator designs to inertial‑confinement and hybrid fusion‑fission systems, driven by advances in AI, high‑temperature superconductors and powerful lasers. The influx of capital aims to get commercial‑scale reactors operating between 2026 and the early 2030s, potentially reshaping the energy market.
Google to roll out Android developer verification in Brazil and other markets
Google confirmed that its developer verification system will go live on September 30 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, requiring developers to pay $25 and verify their identity to sideload apps on certified Android devices. The company will recognise verification across several third‑party app stores, including Honor, OPPO, Samsung, Transsion, Vivo and Xiaomi, and will introduce new APIs to streamline registration. Ars Technica reported that an “advanced flow” for bypassing verification will launch globally in August, though it involves multiple risk confirmations and a one‑day waiting period.