Digit 5 robot unveiled, Slack gets voice AI

SMRTR Tech

9/17/2026

Big space mirrors could bring Earth on-demand light — and upend our night sky

Somewhere above your head, a company called Reflect Orbital is preparing to launch a giant mirror into orbit, designed to bounce sunlight onto the dark side of Earth. The idea sounds almost poetic, until you talk to the scientists.

Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who has tracked every human-made object in space since 1989, calls it "an insane project," adding bluntly, "There's a failure to understand that darkness is a good thing."

The satellite, named Eärendil-1, could illuminate a five-kilometer patch of ground as brightly as a full moon. And Reflect Orbital eventually wants 50,000 of them.

Astronomers warn the consequences could be catastrophic, disrupting observations, damaging equipment, and scattering light across entire regions. Wildlife biologists worry about ecosystems. Pilots worry about distraction.

Meanwhile, regulators seem unprepared. Space law, rooted in Cold War-era treaties, hasn't kept pace. As one legal expert puts it, "The law has not caught up to the reality of what is happening." [Read More]

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Rockets & Fusion

Fusion startups keep promising power plants, the physics still says otherwise (6m read)

Fusion startups are raising record amounts of money and making bold promises, but major scientific and engineering hurdles still stand in the way of commercial power. While milestones like net energy gain have been achieved in labs, those results don't reflect real-world power plant conditions. Experts say continuous operation, materials durability, fuel supply, and cost competitiveness remain unsolved, with true commercial reactors more likely around mid-century.

How SpaceX Streamlined the Raptor Engine (16m read)

SpaceX's Raptor engine has evolved dramatically from version 1 to version 3, shifting from a tangle of external pipes and wires to a sleek, streamlined design while gaining 35% more thrust. The changes include eliminating sensors used during development, replacing bolted connections with welded ones, and using 3D printing to move piping internally, which allowed the removal of a heavy external heat shield. The core engine design remains the same full-flow staged combustion system.

Nuri rocket launch heralds South Korea’s first microsatellite constallation — and shows it might have the technology to launch its own Starlink (4m read)

South Korea's Nuri rocket is set to launch 15 satellites on October 7, 2026, including five NEONSAT disaster-monitoring microsatellites that could eventually form a Starlink-style network. The mission marks Korea's first constellation deployment, though North Korea's potential objections could complicate any future satellite internet ambitions.

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AI & Robots

New York’s new robotoilets make you finish in 10 minutes or the door opens (2m read)

New York City is rolling out 17 high-tech "robotoilets" across all five boroughs as part of a $4 million pilot program, with the first two units already operating. The self-contained bathrooms give users exactly 10 minutes before an automated voice announces the door is opening, potentially exposing anyone still inside. Access requires a text or special tap card, which advocates warn could exclude vulnerable residents.

20 hours of work on 9-minute charge: US-made Digit 5 humanoid robot unveiled (4m read)

Featured Agility Robotics unveiled Digit 5, a humanoid warehouse robot that can work over 20 hours daily thanks to a nine-minute fast charge. It lifts 50 pounds repeatedly, works safely alongside humans without barriers, and has over $300 million in early commitments, with availability planned for 2027.

You'll soon be able to talk to Slack — and if you're lucky, it'll even talk back (3m read)

Featured Slack is rolling out major AI upgrades, including two-way voice conversations with Slackbot that can trigger real actions like updating records or starting automations. New tools also include Surface for building interactive workflow interfaces, plus video and deck generation, all within Slack.

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Retro Tech

Someone finally cracked the PlayStation 2's security chip, 26 years later (3m read)

A reverse-engineering enthusiast called "DiscoStarslayer" has cracked the PlayStation 2's MechaCon security chip after four years of work, achieving something no one had managed in 26 years. The chip handled security, encryption, and copy protection for the console. While this won't improve PS2 emulation much, since over 98% of games already run on PCSX2, it could open new doors for hardware modders and original console enthusiasts.

Xbox’s clever disc-to-digital feature was 15 years in the making (13m read)

Xbox's disc-to-digital feature, which converts physical game discs into digital copies, traces back to a 2011 Microsoft decision to embed unique identifiers on Xbox discs. That early planning now gives Xbox an advantage Sony cannot easily replicate, as PlayStation lacks similar disc metadata ahead of killing physical discs in 2028.

Camp Snap's pocket-sized digital camera brings back 1970s 110 film nostalgia — and promises zero shutter lag (4m read)

Camp Snap's new 110D is a screen-free digital camera styled after slim 1970s pocket cameras, priced at $74.95. It uses an 8MP Sony sensor with retro filters and fits easily in a pocket or on a wrist strap. The biggest improvement is a redesigned shutter button promising near-zero lag, fixing a long-standing complaint about previous Camp Snap models.

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Miscellaneous

DJI's new SDR Transmission II beams 4K 60 fps HDR video up to 2.5 miles (2m read)

DJI launched SDR Transmission II, a system that wirelessly sends 4K 60fps HDR video up to 2.5 miles away with only 35ms of latency. It supports up to four receivers simultaneously, making it useful for film and broadcast productions needing reliable, long-range wireless video feeds.

Scientists name a new cat species for the first time in over a century (2m read)

Scientists have identified a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, a small spotted cat weighing under 4 pounds found in Bolivia's cloud forests. Genetic analysis of 38 cat samples resolved a century-long debate, confirming five distinct tiger cat species. The discovery could push some from "vulnerable" to "endangered" status, boosting conservation efforts.

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Bite-Size Stories

Figure Introduces Helix 2.5, Tested Zero-Shot in 30 Unseen Homes (2 min read)

Pretrained on human behavior data, Figure's Helix 2.5 humanoid robot achieved a 56% zero-shot success rate in untrained real-world homes—up from 9%—making it Figure's most capable neural network to date.

Japanese Airports Get Pocket Tips, a Compression Machine That Turns Airport Clothes Into Palm-Sized Cubes (4 min read)

SJOY's Pocket Tips kiosk compresses clothes into palm-sized cubes in ~1 minute, reducing bulk by 7x. Following successful Japan airport trials, the ATM-like machines will roll out to hotels and clothing stores by 2027.

Pinterest teases a new ‘Restyle’ feature that lets you redesign your room with AI (3 min read)

Pinterest's new AI tool "Restyle" lets users photograph their room and virtually test furniture, decor, and lighting before buying. A broader rollout is planned for October 2026.

How Do You Read Ancient Charred Scrolls? Make Your Own (4 min read)

CT scanning ancient Herculaneum scrolls for lead-based ink could finally reveal their hidden contents, after researchers demonstrated that carbonized papyrus letters "lit up like a Christmas tree" under scanning.

Lucid and Bolt plan to deploy at least 25,000 robotaxis across Europe (2 min read)

Lucid Motors and Bolt plan to deploy 25,000 robotaxis across Europe, but key details like timelines and target cities are still missing, suggesting this is an early-stage announcement rather than a firm plan.

This Is Your Brain on Short-Form Video (8 min read)

Short-form video may harm memory, attention, and impulse control, but research remains limited. Tech companies withhold internal data, and public studies are often flawed, leaving users and regulators without reliable evidence.