A notable characteristic of reptiles is ectothermy, meaning dependence on ambient temperature for body regulation. However, over evolution, various lineages of ancient reptiles developed endothermy, the scientific term for the concept of 'warm-blooded'.
Tyrannosaurus rex is an example of this phenomenon. Although scientists suspected this dinosaur's warm metabolism for decades, the evidence was indirect. In 2022, for instance, a fossil footprint found in Alaska suggested that these predators thrived in areas where most cold-blooded reptiles could not survive.
Until recently, there were no direct indicators of T. rex's body temperature. However, a study published in the journal Science Advances presented the first estimate of this temperature. Unlike modern reptiles, which generally maintain temperatures between 28°C and 30°C, T. rex bodies reached about 36°C, similar to human temperature.
This finding is not entirely surprising, given that modern birds, which are descendants of dinosaurs and survived the extinction, are endotherms. This led scientists to anticipate that other groups of dinosaurs might exhibit this characteristic.
With the confirmation that T. rex were endotherms, researchers are reevaluating the existence of these dinosaurs, which lived between 69 and 66 million years ago. A warm-bodied T. rex strengthens the theory that they were predators with accelerated metabolism, capable of maintaining activity even in cold climates.
To determine the dinosaur's body temperature, researchers used its fossilized teeth as a kind of 'prehistoric thermometer'. The process involves analyzing the carbon and oxygen isotopes present in the outer layer of the tooth, called enamel. These isotopes form chemical bonds, and the quantity of these bonds is directly related to temperature: lower temperatures generate more bonds, while higher temperatures result in fewer bonds.
By drilling into the enamel and measuring these bonds, the authors were able to calculate the temperature at which the tooth formed, thus revealing the body temperature of T. rex. This method represents a new approach to investigating the issue. Aradhna Tripati, the study's author, commented to Scientific American: 'The chemistry of the enamel indeed records the temperature at which it formed, and 66 million years later, we can read this using these measurements.' She added that this is the best substitute to try to insert a thermometer into the animal.
Scientists dedicated more than a decade to refining this methodology, making the measurement viable. To date, the technique has been applied to some ancient species, including other dinosaurs, woolly mammoths, and megalodons. Future plans include expanding the analysis to cover all dinosaurs, including those currently classified as cold-blooded.
Automakers are increasingly moving away from numerous individual electronic control units in favor of centralized electrical architectures. Most modern smart cars use separate chips for the dashboard, camera, and a gateway that integrates all systems.
The Chinese startup SemiDrive aims to create a powerful system-on-chip solution capable of performing multiple functions simultaneously. To this end, SemiDrive has raised $150 million to support the full portfolio of this new architecture.
The company announced a Series C extension round of $150 million, increasing the total funding from seven rounds to over $500 million. This round followed a previous $100 million Series C funding, against a backdrop of automotive chip shipments exceeding 14 million units.
Initially, the company started with three chips for the smart cockpit, autonomous driving, and central gateway, later expanding its lineup to four main series that now cover almost all major categories of chips for next-generation electric architectures.
The company's product line is built around four families. Together, these four series form a comprehensive solution for next-generation electrical architectures, which many Chinese automakers prefer over sourcing chips from five different foreign suppliers.
From January to May 2026, the market for passenger vehicle cabin controllers in China continued to grow. Qualcomm maintains leadership with a share of about 71.8% and 2.7 million units, followed by Huawei with 7.3%, while SemiDrive joins the growing group alongside AMD and MediaTek.
Exceeding 14 million cumulative shipments puts SemiDrive ahead of most domestic competitors. The company reported serving over 260 clients and having nearly 200 projects slated for mass production, covering over 90% of Chinese automakers and several international major automakers. Previously, less than 10% of its chips were used in exported vehicles, but this share is expected to grow.
This figure also demonstrates scale. Automotive chips differ from phone chips in that each chip must undergo rigorous safety certification and vehicle-level testing, which can take two years. Reaching the 14 million shipment mark means the chips have passed this long cycle and are already installed in real vehicles on the road.
The $150 million raised will be directed towards three priority tasks. Firstly, strengthening research and development of more advanced automotive chips using cutting-edge process nodes. This could accelerate the commercial application of autonomous vehicles, including the next-generation AI cockpit chip X10 and the V9S central computing platform.
Secondly, bolstering large-scale mass production and service capabilities. Automotive supply requires a guarantee of production capacity for a decade, necessitating deep partnerships with semiconductor fabrication plants and Tier 1 suppliers.
Thirdly, accelerating global expansion. With over 8 million chips deployed by 2025 and now 14 million in total, the company's partner network already comprises over 200 companies, encompassing operating system developers, algorithm providers, and Tier 1 suppliers.
In the city of Jahjedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran, clusters of luminous objects were spotted in the sky at night. Videos circulating on social media show these lights slowly rotating without any signs of missiles or loud noise.
These footage is being compared with unconfirmed videos received from Tehran. Some people suggest that these could be flares released by military transport aircraft. According to individuals familiar with flights and aircraft types, the slow movement and lack of smoke trails correspond to the characteristics of flares.
Some users hypothesize about drones or other phenomena, but official Iranian representatives have not commented on the matter.
The observed clusters of light appear together, slowly expanding or spreading across the sky. There is no sharp trail or sound characteristic of a typical missile launch. Flares are used during military exercises or security operations, often serving as illumination devices that slowly fall, glow, and leave smoke after being released from an aircraft.
Since Jahjedan is a border region, security measures are regularly conducted there, so such incidents are not considered unusual. In social media, some users refer to these objects as drones or unknown items, linking them to past events. Nevertheless, it is difficult to determine the size, altitude, or exact distance of these objects from the available videos.
The lack of official confirmation fuels speculation. The silence of Iranian officials increases both curiosity and confusion among the population. As aviation activity has already been discussed in the region, these videos attract heightened attention.
Experts believe that most such viral clips are related to routine military or civilian activities. Flares are used in night operations for illuminating terrain or disorientation. Their brightness and speed might seem strange, especially if the video is shot in low quality or from an incorrect angle. Although the possibility of drones cannot be entirely ruled out, the presence of smoke trails and slow speed point towards flares. It is inappropriate to draw final conclusions without official information.
The UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Omar Sultan Al Olama, noted that the country aims to provide businesses and individuals with early access to advanced technologies while ensuring control over confidential data is maintained. This is part of the UAE's efforts to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across all economic sectors.
Speaking at the ForsaTEK event in Dubai on Monday, Omar emphasized that the UAE's approach is not focused on any single technology company or major partnership. Instead, the country is working to create an ecosystem that provides organizations with access to new technologies and helps them implement them safely.
He added that several technology-related announcements are expected in the coming months as the UAE strengthens its position as an attractive destination for individuals and organizations interested in accessing cutting-edge technologies. These comments came amid global discussions among governments and enterprises on how to regulate AI without slowing down innovation due to regulatory uncertainty.
Omar believes that the discussion about AI should go beyond regulation and shift the focus to demonstrating the real benefit of this technology for people. He also warned that too strong an emphasis on regulation can sometimes obscure the practical advantages of AI. Furthermore, people who fear artificial intelligence may be using algorithmic technologies daily without realizing the depth of AI integration into their lives.
According to him, the task is to educate people to become 'owners of the technology,' rather than those it displaces or suppresses. The discussion also highlighted the importance of technology in sectors such as aviation, where international connectivity requires airlines and airports to rely on systems, infrastructure, and regulations that operate across borders.
For established organizations like Emirates, Omar stated that innovation must be combined with the responsibility associated with managing large brands and services. He advised: 'Do not stop innovating. Take calculated risks. Do not just take risks.'
Omar noted that recognized organizations face a particular challenge because they have built a reputation that cannot be subjected to unnecessary risk. Instead of evaluating technologies solely based on traditional business metrics, such as revenue per employee, organizations should consider how the technology can improve the experience of the people they serve. In aviation, this means examining how technology can help airlines, airports, customs, border control, and other ecosystem elements serve a growing number of travelers without needing to expand infrastructure and staff at the same pace.
Omar stressed that technology will be crucial for scaling the passenger experience in the UAE, especially given the country's geography and the capabilities of its airport infrastructure. Moreover, he specifically pointed out that broader use of AI does not imply the complete exclusion of humans from service. While AI can efficiently handle routine tasks, travelers and customers still value human interaction in certain situations.
He cited education as an example, noting that the early expectation of complete transformation of education by large language models highlighted the importance of human interaction, including social and emotional intelligence. This same principle applies to airports and other customer-facing environments, where technology should complement human service, not replace it. Omar stated: 'You do not want to replace the entire airport with robots and AI.' Instead, technology should define where human interaction adds value and ensure human involvement where necessary.
In conclusion, Omar reported that the UAE is collaborating with numerous technology partners, and the country's strategy extends beyond a single partnership with a major global technology company. The broader goal is to give the UAE an advantage in attracting people and organizations that can choose to work anywhere in the world. This advantage will include quality of life, as well as early access to new technologies in a way that does not require organizations to give up control over confidential data.
