A physicist has proposed repurposing over-the-horizon radar technology, originally developed for Cold War early-warning systems, to track sea ice conditions across the Arctic. The approach would bounce radar signals off the ionosphere to cover vast distances, potentially monitoring shipping lanes that are becoming more navigable as ice melts.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-29
Rhizomatica, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit founded by Peter Bloom, has open-sourced HERMES, a digital shortwave radio system paired with its Mercury modem, to help connect remote and indigenous communities in places like Bangladesh, Brazil, and Ecuador. The system uses the ionosphere to bounce signals across 400 to 600 kilometers using just 20 watts of power, letting users send files such as photos, emails, and voice memos over high-frequency radio.
spectrum.ieee.org
· 2026-09-21
GoKawiil