分类： technology

China has achieved a significant breakthrough in its lunar exploration ambitions by successfully testing experimental ‘lunar bricks’ in the harsh conditions of space for nearly a year. These bricks, designed to mimic the composition of lunar soil, were recently returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou XXI spacecraft, marking a pivotal step toward the construction of a permanent lunar base by 2035. The 34 sample bricks, weighing approximately 100 grams in total, were exposed to extreme space conditions, including vacuum, cosmic radiation, and temperature fluctuations ranging from -190°C to 180°C. Despite these challenges, the bricks remained largely intact, demonstrating their durability and potential for lunar construction. Scientists at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, who developed the bricks, noted that they are over three times stronger than standard bricks and showed no signs of cracks or pits caused by space debris. However, a slight color change was observed, prompting further investigation. The project, led by Ding Lieyun of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, aims to address the high costs of transporting building materials from Earth by utilizing lunar resources. The bricks were created using volcanic ash from China’s Changbai Mountains, which closely resembles lunar soil, through a process called hot-press sintering. The experiment is part of a broader plan to establish the International Lunar Research Station, with China aiming to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 and expand the station by 2045, potentially serving as a launchpad for missions to Mars.

In a decisive move to protect its citizens from escalating online scams, Singapore has issued a directive to tech giants Apple and Google, demanding they take immediate action to prevent the impersonation of government agencies on their messaging platforms. The city-state’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Tuesday that both companies must block or filter accounts and group chats that mimic Singapore government agency identities on Apple’s iMessage and Google Messages by the end of November. The ministry emphasized the urgency of implementing measures to deter the abuse of these platforms by scammers. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to one million Singapore dollars ($768,000). Both Apple and Google have reportedly indicated their willingness to comply with the order, which also includes changes to how profile names of unknown senders are displayed. Government agencies have been using the ‘gov.sg’ message ID to verify legitimate communication, but scammers have exploited the lack of safeguards on messaging platforms to deceive the public. Google stated that it is collaborating with the Singapore government to implement pre-emptive measures to prevent the spoofing of government agencies’ names on its messaging platform, reaffirming its commitment to keeping Singaporeans safe online. Apple, however, could not be immediately reached for comment. This directive follows a similar order issued to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to curb scammers impersonating government officials on the social media platform.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly in advanced discussions with Alphabet’s Google to secure a multi-billion dollar agreement for the use of Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs) in its data centers. According to a report by The Information, this collaboration could see Meta renting TPUs from Google Cloud as early as next year, with full integration into its data centers slated for 2027. Google has positioned its TPUs as a cost-effective and secure alternative to Nvidia’s chips, which have faced supply constraints. The report also suggests that Google aims to capture 10% of Nvidia’s revenue through its TPU business. Neither Meta, Google, nor Nvidia have commented on the matter, and Reuters has yet to independently verify the report. Meta has been a significant customer of Nvidia since 2022, utilizing its graphics processing units (GPUs) to train AI models and support its vast user base of over 3 billion daily app users. Earlier this year, Meta announced a $600 billion investment in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over the next three years, including the development of AI data centers.

SUDO, a leading cloud transformation firm and AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, made significant strides at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 by signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with prominent organizations, including INDEX Holding, EatEasy, Dkhoon Emirates, and Ram Clinics. These agreements, formalized at the AWS Booth, highlight SUDO’s growing network of innovation partners and its commitment to advancing Generative AI adoption, cloud modernization, and data-driven transformation across industries. Hameedullah Khan, CEO of SUDO, emphasized the importance of these partnerships, stating, ‘GITEX 2025 marks a defining moment in our journey. These collaborations reflect our dedication to leveraging AWS technologies to empower SMBs, drive operational intelligence, and scale innovation responsibly.’ The partnerships focus on diverse sectors, from food-tech to healthcare, aiming to enhance operational efficiency, customer experiences, and decision-making through advanced AWS solutions. SUDO’s expertise in Generative AI, cloud architecture, and data engineering continues to position it as a key enabler of secure and rapid business innovation. As a premier AWS Partner, SUDO offers specialized programs and proof-of-concept engagements to accelerate solution validation, ensuring alignment with global best practices.

Alibaba Group, the Chinese tech giant, reported a 34% surge in revenue from its cloud computing division in the July-September quarter, driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Despite this impressive growth, the company’s overall revenue for the quarter rose by a modest 5% year-on-year to 247.8 billion yuan ($35 billion), while net profit plummeted by 52%. The decline in profitability was attributed to intense price competition in China’s e-commerce and food delivery sectors, which impacted short-term earnings. Competitor JD.com also faced a similar challenge, reporting a 55% drop in net profit during the same period. Alibaba, which began as an e-commerce platform, has increasingly shifted its focus to cloud computing and AI. Earlier this year, the company committed to investing at least 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) over three years to bolster its AI and cloud infrastructure. CEO Eddie Wu highlighted that the group’s substantial investments in AI have been instrumental in driving revenue growth. The 34% increase in cloud revenue outpaced the 26% growth recorded in the previous quarter. Alibaba emphasized that demand for AI is accelerating, and it may exceed its planned investment of 380 billion yuan to meet surging market needs. The company also announced that its upgraded AI chatbot, Qwen, which competes with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, garnered 10 million downloads within a week of its public launch. Alibaba’s Hong Kong shares rose by 2% on Tuesday, and its New York Stock Exchange shares climbed 2.4% before the opening bell. Year-to-date, the company’s shares have surged over 90%, reflecting investor optimism about its AI advancements. Meanwhile, other Chinese tech giants have reported mixed results. Tencent, a rival in AI, posted a 15% year-on-year revenue increase, while Baidu saw a 7% decline. Despite growing concerns among investors about a potential AI bubble, strong earnings from Nvidia last week have somewhat alleviated these worries.

Malaysia has announced plans to prohibit individuals under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms starting in 2026, aligning itself with global efforts to impose stricter digital age restrictions for minors. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil revealed that the Cabinet has approved this initiative as part of a comprehensive strategy to protect young people from online risks such as cyberbullying, scams, and sexual exploitation. The government is currently examining age verification methods, including the potential use of electronic checks linked to identity cards or passports, though the exact enforcement timeline remains unspecified. Fadzil emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, regulatory bodies, and parents to ensure a safe digital environment for children and families. This move follows Malaysia’s recent mandate requiring major social media platforms with over 8 million users to obtain licenses and implement age verification and content-safety measures. Australia, which recently enacted the world’s first social media ban for children under 16, has set a precedent for such measures, with other countries like Denmark and Norway also exploring similar restrictions. The global trend reflects growing concerns about the adverse effects of social media on young users.

The southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou is poised to launch its first regular low-altitude drone logistics route this year, marking a significant advancement in regional transportation. This initiative follows a successful trial flight of a domestically developed electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which transported emergency medicines and agricultural products across 118 kilometers in just 40 minutes. The journey, which typically takes over two hours by traditional ground transport through Guizhou’s challenging karst landscape, demonstrates the potential of drone technology to revolutionize logistics in mountainous areas. The V2000CG CarryAll, developed by Shanghai-based AutoFlight, is the only eVTOL globally with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 1 tonne to have obtained all three required Chinese aviation certificates. With a payload capacity of up to 400 kg and a maximum cruising speed of 200 km per hour, this aircraft is set to enhance Guizhou’s low-altitude economy, support rural revitalization, and modernize logistics. The province plans to expand the route’s applications to include passenger tourism and commuter transport in the future. China’s low-altitude economy is experiencing rapid growth, with its market value projected to soar from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035.