Gadget

SpaceX is developing a simplified Starship mission for NASA’s Artemis III Moon landing, targeting a quicker and safer return of astronauts. As NASA reopens the lander contract amid delays, SpaceX says its refined Starship design could take on more mission roles, advancing lunar exploration toward the first crewed landing this decade.

Scientists have detected two unusual black hole mergers showing signs of “second-generation” origins — meaning each large black hole likely formed from an earlier merger. The gravitational-wave signals also matched Einstein’s predictions on spinning black holes, offering fresh proof of general relativity and new insights into how black holes grow in crowded star systems.

Meta has introduced passkey support for encrypted WhatsApp chat backups, letting users restore encrypted chats using fingerprint, face, or screen lock instead of passwords or 64-digit keys. Passkeys are securely stored in a password manager for safer, simpler access. The feature, rolling out globally soon, enhances end-to-end encryption introduced in 2021. Users can enable it via Settings > Chats > End-to-end encrypted backup on Android or iOS. Notably, encrypted WhatsApp backups aren’t included in regular iCloud or iTunes backups on iPhone.

Scientists using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope have detected Alfvén waves in the Sun’s corona, potentially solving the long-standing mystery of its extreme heat and helping refine models of solar and stellar energy transfer.

Raj Tarun returns with Chiranjeeva, a fun fantasy-comedy premiering on Aha on November 7, 2025. The film follows Shiva, a carefree driver whose life turns wild when he gains the power to see people’s lifespans. With humour, emotion and a supernatural twist, this debut directorial from Abhinaya Krishna promises a feel-good OTT entertainer.

Vivo X300 Pro was launched globally on Thursday, alongside the vanilla Vivo X300. Both handsets are powered by the recently unveiled 3nm octa core MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset. While the Vivo X300 features a 200-megapixel primary rear camera, the Pro model gets a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. The standard model sports a smaller AMOLED display and weighs about 190g. Meanwhile, the Vivo X300 Pro is heavier, weighing around 226g. The Pro model also sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen.

NASA’s X-59 experimental jet has completed its first flight, demonstrating quiet supersonic technology that could one day allow faster-than-sound travel over populated areas. The test marks a major step toward lifting U.S. restrictions on supersonic flight and could revolutionize commercial aviation.

Australia’s financial regulator, ASIC, has issued long-awaited guidance clarifying which crypto assets fall under financial products. The move provides legal certainty for firms but raises concerns about the regulator’s capacity to handle new licensing demands. Under the revised framework, stablecoins, wrapped tokens, and tokenised securities will need authorisation, while Bitcoin and NFTs remain exempt.

SpaceX successfully launched 28 Starlink satellites from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base on October 27, 2025. The Falcon 9 booster B1082 returned safely to the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You after its 17th flight, marking SpaceX’s 137th orbital mission this year and advancing its growing Starlink broadband network.

Oppo Find X9 Pro was launched globally during the company’s event in Barcelona, Spain, alongside the standard Find X9. Both handsets were initially only available in China. Both handsets are powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 internal storage. While the two carry Hasselblad-tuned 50-megapixel triple-rear camera setups, the Pro model gets a 200-megapixel telephoto camera instead of the 50-megapixel telephoto lens on the standard model. The Find X9 Pro and Find X9 pack 7,500mAh and 7,025mAh batteries, respectively.