GoKawiil
Tech News
Langdao Silex, founded in 2024 by alumni of Tsinghua University's Gas Discharge Plasma Laboratory, showed off a prototype laser-produced plasma EUV light source called FlintNano LPP-OXXO at a Shanghai trade fair. The unit reportedly outputs over 15W with 90% domestically sourced components and can run continuously for more than 100 hours, but TrendForce reports commercialization is still three to five years away.
A hands-on test compared the iPhone 18 Pro's new variable aperture lens at f/1.8 versus its widened f/1.48 setting for Night mode photography. Switching to the wider aperture cut exposure duration in one test shot from 2.1 seconds to 1.7 seconds, with similar modest reductions seen in other shots. The lens can also be manually stopped down to f/4 to deliberately lengthen exposures, such as for smoothing moving water.
Scientists have created a tattoo ink that remains invisible under normal light but becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, and gradually disappears over time. The development was discussed in a Nature briefing chat covering recent scientific advances.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia, working with collaborators in South Africa, showed that specially prepared light beams can spontaneously acquire spinning, chiral patterns as they travel through empty space. This effect normally requires lenses, mirrors or engineered materials, but the team produced it using only the light's own internal geometric structure.
Users on Reddit report that Amazon's latest base-model Kindles, which feature a flush bezel design, show shadows or visible LED strips around the screen edges, especially in dark mode with brightness turned up. The issue reportedly affects both plastic and aluminum models across all color options. Good e-Reader reports Amazon has acknowledged a manufacturing issue may have caused defects in the current batch, though Amazon declined to give The Verge an on-the-record statement.
Nanoscientist Carson Bruns of the University of Colorado Boulder tattooed his own leg with an ink that stays invisible until exposed to ultraviolet light, and can be erased with bright visible light. His team created magenta, yellow and blue versions made of photochromic dye encased in tiny acrylic spheres, tested on pig and silicone skin, with findings published in Matter & Light. Bruns previously commercialized a related UV-reactive ink called Magic Ink through his startup HYPRSKN in 2024.
A new perspective paper synthesizes evidence that a large subgroup of people with ADHD show delayed circadian biology, including evening chronotype, delayed dim-light melatonin onset, blunted cortisol rhythms, and altered clock-gene expression. The authors cite intervention studies showing melatonin and bright light therapy can shift circadian phase in ADHD patients, with some data linking that shift to symptom improvement. They propose a stepped clinical pathway starting with sleep/circadian screening and behavioral measures before considering low-dose melatonin.
Amazon Prime Day offers the Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask at its lowest price yet, reducing the cost by $50 to $299. The mask features multiple light therapies and cooling elements, with automatic treatment modes tailored to specific skincare goals. Users report visible skin improvements after consistent use over several weeks.
A tech guide explains why built-in laptop webcams often produce blurry, grainy or washed-out images, attributing it mainly to the small camera sensors that must fit into thin laptop lids. It also lists several ways users can improve webcam quality, including adjusting software settings and improving room lighting.
Linkind has released the Smart Light Stick, a smart bulb that screws into a standard E26 socket and uses 160 LEDs split across 50 individually controllable color zones to mimic a flickering campfire. The bulb also functions as a standard bright light, reaching up to 850 lumens with a 310-degree beam angle, and is controlled through the AiDot app for flame size, color blend, and flicker speed.
Deep Silver is releasing free updates for Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux that bring 4K textures, DLSS and PSSR upscaling, spatial audio, and controller haptics support on PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The updates arrive October 22 on PC and October 29 on consoles, enabling 4K at 60fps or upscaled 4K at 120fps on compatible displays. The announcement also confirms a new entry, Metro 2039, due February 4, 2027.
Valve's Steam Autumn Sale runs through October 8 at 1PM ET, discounting recent releases like Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light by 30 percent and Metaphor: ReFantazio by 60 percent. Older titles such as Death's Door, The Talos Principle II, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Monster Hunter Rise and Skyrim are also marked down to just a few dollars each.