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North Korea deploys 250 nuclear-capable missile launchers, PLA reveals bird-like spy drones, China records 'Brightest Of All Time' explosion

Elon Musk reveals Neuralink chip to be working very well in second patient

INTERESTING ENGINEERING SHOP

North Korea has announced the deployment of 250 new ballistic missile launchers along its southern border, raising tensions in an already volatile region.

According to North Korean state media, these aren’t just any launchers but are instead capable of carrying out nuclear strikes on South Korea and US military bases in the area.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un highlighted the deployment in a recent event, emphasizing the nation’s focus on bolstering its military capabilities. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

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MUST READ

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described the launchers as cutting-edge tactical attack weapons, personally designed by Kim Jong Un. The new missile launchers are expected to soon be operational at the border.

KCNA released images showing Kim at the ceremony amid rows of mobile launchers displayed prominently. According to Bloomberg, each launcher can hold up to four missiles, with the Hwasong 11D likely to be the missile of choice.

This short-range ballistic missile can hit targets between 62 miles (100 km) and 186 miles (300 km). However, it remains unclear whether the hermit nation possesses the full complement of 1,000 missiles needed to maximize the launchers' potential.

China's military has unveiled a new generation of bird-like drones, reportedly used by their elite "Sea Dragon" commandos.

These biometric unmanned aerial systems mimic the appearance and flight patterns of real birds, making them near indistinguishable from their living counterparts when observed from a distance.

While the exact technical specifications remain undisclosed, these ornithopters are believed to carry advanced sensors and potentially even micro-warheads. The drones come in various sizes, mimicking different species from small sparrows to larger ravens.

Chinese researchers claim to have captured a ray from the biggest explosion since the Big Bang. This event, dubbed BOAT (the "Brightest Of All Time") gamma-ray burst, occurred in October 2022 and was about 70 times brighter than any previously recorded burst.

The team identified a spectral line with energy levels reaching up to 37 million electron volts (MeV), suggesting a collision between matter and antimatter at nearly light speed.

Using data from China's GECAM-C and NASA's Fermi Space Telescope, Chinese scientists observed that the burst ejecta traveled at 99.98 percent of the speed of light. While other other high-energy particles have been detected before, BOAT's spectral line is unique and represents a substantial accumulation of photos at a specific energy level.

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