Samsung holds desperate final talks with union over 18-day chip factory strike that could cost $20 billion — government-mediated summit seeks to avert industrial action that could hit HBM production

The two sides are meeting through South Korea’s National Labor Relations Commission after earlier rounds of mediation in February and March collapsed.
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AI data center developers target rural territory to bypass city construction bans and regulations — rural locations allow sites to bypass city council approvals, rezoning votes, land-use reviews, and reduce public scrutiny

Data center projects are increasingly being put on unincorporated land to reduce the regulatory friction brought about by municipal level permits. These rural sites also offer larger parcels, giving more spaces to build va…

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Intel, SK hynix shares surge following reports of chip packaging partnership — SK is said to be testing Intel’s 2.5D EMIB for HBM integration

The rally followed a report claiming that SK is conducting R&D with Intel on 2.5D packaging using Intel’s EMIB technology.
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Portable 40mm launcher kills drones by firing 6.5-feet-long steel chains at 80 m/s — German researchers’ low-tech mechanical ‘bola’ outshines textile, drops quadcopters without lasers or EMPs

The concept draws on the same physics as the bola, a weighted throwing weapon used for centuries by South American herders.
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China’s Hanyuan-2 debuts as ‘world’s first’ dual-core quantum computer — 200-qubit claims incredible power efficiency, but lacks critical performance benchmarks

CAS Cold Atom Technology, a Wuhan-based firm affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), unveiled what it calls the world’s first dual-core quantum computer.
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AI data center project secretly sucked 29 million gallons of water over 15 months before detected by residents complaining about low water pressure — officials refuse to fine builders of massive 6.2 million-square-foot facility over unauthorized water use

QTS says the extra 29 million gallons were consumed during temporary construction activities, including concrete work, dust control, and site preparation.
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AI data centers face increasing complaints about inaudible but ‘felt’ infrasound — citizens complain high- and low-frequency sounds do not register on decibel meters but cause adverse health effects

Residents living near data centers are raising concerns about noise pollution, as these massive sites operate 24/7 and generate low-frequency sounds that disturb the neighborhood’s peace.
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NASA pushes Mars helicopter rotors past the speed of sound for the first time ever — next-gen “SkyFall” aircraft’s rotors hit 3,750 RPM, ten times faster than normal helicopters

NASA successfully tested Mars helicopter rotors at Mach 1.08 inside JPL’s Mars simulator chamber, paving the way for larger next-generation aircraft under the proposed SkyFall mission to explore more of the Red Planet.
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Ukraine’s new AI-guided laser destroys Shahed suicide drones in seconds from 3.1 miles away — also useful for demining operations, trailer-mounted Tryzub system is in final stages of testing

Ukraine has developed a mobile AI-powered anti-drone laser that can down lethal Shahed drones up to 3.1 miles away.