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Plutonium compound unlocks rare topological quantum behavior with potential nuclear science applications

Plutonium is one of the most complex elements in the periodic table. First synthesized and isolated in 1940 by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, plutonium has been studied closely for more than eight decades. It’s most often associated with its role in nuclear security, but it’s also vital to nuclear power, where it is produced in reactors and can be recycled as fuel. Despite plutonium’s importance, some of its most fundamental behaviors remain a mystery.

Scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have made an important discovery: A compound called plutonium hexaboride (PuB₆) exhibits a one-of-a-kind quantum property known as a topological Kondo insulating state. Published in Physical Review Research, this finding marks one of only a handful of times such behavior has been observed in a plutonium material—opening a new window for research into how some of nature’s most complex elements actually work.

Apple Patches 30+ iOS, macOS, Safari Flaws, Including AI-Discovered WebKit Bugs

The four vulnerabilities are part of nearly 30 vulnerabilities that have been patched in WebKit, an open-source web browser engine developed by Apple. Others include a use-after-free issue in WebKit Canvas (CVE-2026–43720) and a vulnerability that could be exploited by a malicious website to process restricted web content outside the sandbox (CVE-2026–43725).

Apple has also remediated three bugs that could be exploited by a malicious app to leak sensitive kernel state (CVE-2026–43722), cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory (CVE-2026–43724), or corrupt kernel memory (CVE-2026–39868). Security researcher Hyunwoo Kim, who discovered Dirty Frag, has been credited with discovering and reporting CVE-2026–43724 and CVE-2026–43722.

The updates are available for iOS 26.5.2, iPadOS 26.5.2, macOS Tahoe 26.5.2, and Safari 26.5.2. None of the patched vulnerabilities has been disclosed as actively exploited in the wild.

Microsoft extends Windows Server 2022 hotpatching until October 2027

Microsoft has extended Windows Server 2022 hotpatching until October 2027, one year after the mainstream end date of October 2026.

This comes with the following caveat: extended support is only available for systems running Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition that are enrolled in hotpatch updates. This change is effective immediately, and the existing hotpatch cadence will remain unchanged through October 2027.

On systems where hotpatching is enabled, Windows deploys security updates by patching the in-memory code of running processes without restarting them after each installation or rebooting the device.

Did Physics Just Lose a Brilliant Idea?

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One of the most popular ideas in physics right now is something named “ER = EPR.” This theory has it that entangled particles are actually linked by tiny, tiny wormholes. Recently, a group of physicists tested the idea – let’s take a look at their findings.

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12 Critical Technologies Reshaping the Industrial Era: A Resource/Framework for Understanding Convergence, Risk, and Resilience

Exploring 12 critical technologies reshaping the industrial era: a resource for understanding convergence, risk, and resilience.

This framework outlines 12 critical technologies, their applications, and their impact across 13 essential infrastructure sectors, along with data-driven imperatives for action. It is designed to be a living resource, regularly updated, and is primarily based on my published writings in various outlets, including Forbes, Skytop Media Group, GovCon Wire, Homeland Security Today Magazine, Security Information Watch, and my book “Inside Cyber.”

The findings are that these emerging technologies that will shape our future do not operate in isolation. Convergence acts as the catalyst.

Lockheed Martin unveils hypersonic glide body built for rapid mass production

Lockheed Martin has unveiled a next-generation hypersonic glide body designed to provide a more affordable and rapidly producible long-range strike capability.

The new system, called NXGB, is intended to combine advanced speed, survivability, and scalability to meet evolving national security requirements while supporting faster production and deployment.

According to the company, the hypersonic glide body is aimed at expanding strike options for defense forces by delivering high-performance capabilities in a cost-effective and adaptable platform.

It only takes one fake web page to fool AI shopping bots, study finds

AI shopping assistants are popping up all over the internet, changing how we browse, compare and discover products. However, these helpful tools appear to have a serious security flaw. According to a paper published on the arXiv preprint server, a single manipulated web page can trick an AI assistant into promoting a fake product to unsuspecting customers.

Considering that fake goods and fake reviews are everywhere online, researchers Minghao Luo and Liang Chen decided to test how easily search-augmented AI systems can be tricked into promoting bogus brands.

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