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- DTN 116: Rare Earth Magnet Doomsday
DTN 116: Rare Earth Magnet Doomsday
Plus: Neuromorphic computing, driverless semis, electronic tattoos, fungal batteries, human brain cells on a chip for sale, another private lander crashes on the moon, preparing for deaths in space, and more.

“One of the bigger shifts I’ve seen recently is the change in attitude and ability of the government to adopt newer commercial technologies faster … We’re seeing this need for asymmetric advantages play out in all domains - space, maritime, manufacturing, autonomy. Innovation at an affordable price has become a major theme in global national security.”

“The auto industries in both the US and Europe could come to a standstill within weeks thanks to China’s ongoing restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals and magnets. China introduced strict export controls on rare earth minerals and magnets in early April as part of its tit-for-tat responses to Donald Trump’s new tariffs. While most of those tariffs have since been temporarily paused, the rare earth restrictions remain in place worldwide, which is a problem since China is estimated to control more than 90 percent of the rare earth supply chain. It’s a problem for multiple industries, including robotics and defense, with auto manufacturers at particular risk. Rare earth magnets are essential for hybrid and EV motors, but are also found in everything from catalytic converters to car seats. The Times reports that US auto executives are warning that production could be cut back within weeks, while after a first warning last week, several European part suppliers have already begun to stop work.”

China’s rare earth restrictions halt first auto industry production lines
Anthropic launches new Claude service for military and intelligence use
'Spiderweb' drone attack marks a new threat for top militaries
Private lunar lander from Japan falls silent while attempting a moon touchdown
Elon Musk’s SpaceX city Starbase faces opposition from its Texas neighbors
Driverless semi trucks are here, with little regulation and big promises


Stick-on circuitry can measure brain and eye activity to give real-time readouts of a person's cognitive load. Credit: Nanshu Lu / University of Texas at Austin
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a wireless, skin-like electronic tattoo worn on the forehead that monitors brain activity and eye movement to assess a person’s cognitive load in real time. The device, which combines EEG and EOG sensors, could help professionals in high-pressure jobs like pilots or surgeons by detecting mental strain and potentially preventing errors. Though still undergoing testing for real-world use, the patch marks a significant step in wearable neurotechnology by integrating comfort and multi-modal sensing. (via IEEE Spectrum)

Physicists observe a new form of magnetism for the first time
Tiny 'heat bombs' made from biodegradable polymers could precisely target and treat diseased cells
Physicists create 'the world's smallest violin' using nanotechnology
A semi-automated manufacturing process for cost-efficient quantum cascade laser modules
Producing superconductors for quantum circuit elements at high temperatures
Graphene foam supports lab-grown cartilage for future osteoarthritis treatments
Transparent coating can prevent growth of algae on underwater solar cells
Biotech uses fermentation to produce milk proteins without cows
Japanese scientists develop artificial blood compatible with all blood types
Tabletop particle blaster: How tiny nozzles and lasers could replace giant accelerators
New laser smaller than a penny can measure objects at ultrafast rates
Artificial cell-like structures mimic self-reproduction and release polymeric spores
These contact lenses give people infrared vision — even with their eyes shut

Brain-implant startup Neuralink raises $650M in Series E funding
Biotechnology company Allay Therapeutics raises $57.5M in Series D financing and venture debt
Defense technology and space solutions company Voyager Technologies closes $200M credit facility
Biotechnology company Signify Bio raises $15M in initial financing
Defense tech unicorn Anduril powers up with $2.5B at $30.5B valuation
Lendurai raises €5.57M in seed funding for tactical autonomous UAVs for GPS-denied operations
Matterworks raises Series A financing to generate unstructured molecular data for predictive biology
Akadeum Life Sciences raises $20M+ in funding for buoyancy-based cell separation technology
Space mobility company Impulse Space raises $300M in Series C funding
Energy infrastructure company Heron Power raises $38M in Series A funding
Infleqtion raises $100M in funding for its atom-based quantum systems
Ophthalmic biotechnology company SpyGlass Pharma raises $75M Series D funding
Fusion energy company TAE Technologies raises $150M in funding
EV air taxi startup Joby Aviation raised $250M in funding from Toyota

Astronomers Have Detected a Galaxy Millions of Years Older Than Any Previously Observed / Is NASA Ready for Death in Space? / The cursed world of AI kiss and hug apps / DNA captured from the air could track wildlife, invasive species—and humans / Robot is 3D-printed upside-down in one piece, then walks out of the printer / Silicon Valley wants to help me make a superbaby / Price Index Could Clarify Opaque GPU Costs for AI / Long-awaited mystery fungus sought by LSD's inventor discovered / This octopus grew a ninth arm—which soon developed a mind of its own / From cat urine to gunpowder: Exploring the peculiar smells of outer space / The "Barbie Drug" Has a Dark Side / A compact biodegradable battery with fungal paper electrodes