TECH

3D-printed prosthesis mimicking bone and tendon shows promising results in rabbit trials

Utilization of three-dimensional (3D) printing processes in regenerative medicine has advanced our ability to develop therapies to repair bone and cartilage using personalized bioactive scaffolds. This approach has tremendous potential in regenerating highly complex tissues involving the regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone layers that are difficult to regenerate due to the unique biological characteristics of these tissues. 

Work that has involved calcium phosphate bio-ceramic materials has demonstrated that 3D printing allows for the creation of scaffolds that have tailored biodegradation rates integrated into their structure, property that is needed for successful regeneration of bone tissue. Additionally, scaffolds that have been constructed as composites with bioactive ions have increased the bio functionality of the scaffolds to add to the osteogenic and chondrogenic effect of the scaffolds. 

Polysaccharide hydrogels can effectively replicate elements of the extracellular matrix and create a suitably functioning microenvironment for tissue regeneration to significantly improve clinical outcomes in the osteochondral and cartilage repair clinical situations. Personalized scaffolds not only provide scaffolds with the structural components required for good integration, but also allow for the biological process involved in healing. This demonstrates how advances in technology can fill gaps in the area of current surgical treatment options.

Researchers have developed a 3D-printed titanium prosthesis that mimics various body structures to address a key challenge in reconstructions involving significant bone loss: enabling a single implant to integrate with both bone and tendon.

The study was published on September 11 in the scientific journal *Biomaterials Research*. The technology is currently in the preclinical stage, with researchers having conducted laboratory cell experiments and trials on rabbits.

The concept involves creating distinct "environments" within a single prosthesis. In the region designed to contact bone, scientists printed a porous structure inspired by trabecular bone—a mesh-like tissue found inside bones. Meanwhile, in the area intended for tendon attachment, they created ordered microstructures designed to replicate that tissue's organization.

This issue arises primarily with large bone defects and complex joint reconstructions. In such cases, bone loss can also eliminate the natural attachment points for tendons and ligaments. Consequently, a prosthesis must fulfill two biologically distinct functions: integrating with the bone to remain stable while simultaneously providing a suitable surface for soft tissue attachment.

In laboratory experiments, each architecture offered different advantages. The tendon-inspired structure promoted the alignment and differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells. Conversely, the trabecular bone-like structure favored the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells into bone tissue and their mineralization.

The researchers also tested the implants on 36 rabbits, divided into three groups. One group received a structure inspired solely by tendon, another a trabecular structure, and the third a prosthesis combining both architectures in distinct regions. In the animal subjects, the patellar tendon was detached from its attachment point on the tibia and connected to the upper part of the prosthesis, while the lower part of the implant was inserted into the bone.

The results highlighted the differences between the structures. In mechanical tests conducted 12 weeks after implantation, the model combining both architectures required the highest maximum force to separate the tendon from the prosthesis among the three groups. According to the authors, this indicates that dividing the prosthesis into specialized regions improved the mechanical stability of the implant-tendon interface.

The authors note the concept's potential for complex joint reconstructions and large bone defects; however, the results presented so far are experimental and do not demonstrate efficacy or safety in humans.

A novel 3D-printed biocomposite graft designed to mimic the transition between bone and tendon has shown highly promising results in rabbit trials, marking a major leap forward for orthopedic regenerative medicine.

The interface where a pliable tendon meets rigid bone—known as the tendon-to-bone insertion (TBI) or enthesis—is notoriously difficult to heal. Because the two tissues have vastly different mechanical properties, standard surgical repairs frequently fail due to concentrated mechanical stress

Recent advancements in bio-3D printing address this challenge by creating graded, multi-layered scaffolds that smoothly bridge the gap between hard and soft tissues

Why this architecture matters...Historically, engineered implants focused on either bone or tendon individually. This new wave of biomimetic design uses specialized techniques like core-shell and multi-nozzle bioprinting to replicate a seamless structural gradient.

The Bone Region: Printed with mechanically reinforced, porous structures (often utilizing polymers like PCL blended with bioactive ceramics) to allow bone cells to attach and mineralize.

The Transition Zone (TBI): Features a gradient porosity and material blend that mimics natural fibrocartilage, diffusing mechanical load

The Tendon Region: Composed of aligned, flexible hydrogels or synthetic fibers optimized for soft-tissue elongation and cell alignment

Key insights from the rabbit trials...When tested in animal models, such as rabbit rotator cuff tears or ACL reconstructions, these multi-layered biomimetic grafts demonstrated remarkable advantages:

Accelerated Tissue Integration: The gradient transition zone significantly promoted the growth of high-quality fibrocartilage, allowing the bone and tendon sections to fuse naturally

Enhanced Mechanical Performance: The bioprinted constructs withstood physiological loads far better than traditional, non-graded synthetic options, minimizing the risk of re-tearing at the insertion site

Biological Activation: By embedding the scaffolds with specialized stem cells or chemical factors, the implants accelerated blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and new extracellular matrix growth

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TECH

High gas prices reignite risk of energy crisis in Europe

Europe's energy crisis has returned to the spotlight after the UN warned of the risk of a new surge in costs this coming winter, at a time when gas prices remain high and European reserves are below levels seen in recent years.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), told the European Parliament that a new winter energy crisis threatens the region due to its reliance on fossil fuels. In a speech published by the UNFCCC, he described volatile oil and gas imports as an economic vulnerability for Europe.

However, the warning does not mean the European Union is facing an imminent gas shortage. The European Commission believes the energy system is better prepared than in 2021 and 2022, thanks to supplier diversification, increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity, and reduced consumption.

European gas prices hit highest level since 2023...European natural gas prices briefly climbed past €80 per megawatt-hour on Wednesday afternoon, reaching a level not seen since January 2023. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX) closed with a significant loss in Amsterdam due to the prices, with investors concerned about the risk of inflation.

The conflict between the United States and Iran has pushed up prices for natural gas and liquefied natural gas as well as oil. Ongoing fighting has left the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial energy shipping route, almost entirely blocked.

In the meantime, conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen have also escalated, which has led to more difficulties for world trade. The suspicion is that the Houthis want control over Bab al-Mandeb, a maritime strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa that offers access to the Red Sea.

The energy bills are likely going to be higher for many people. Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has said that gas prices under standard energy contracts rose by more than 6 percent in August compared with July. Prices were more than 11 percent higher than they had been a year earlier.

Brent crude climbed past $100 a barrel as tensions between Iran and the United States flared up again.The AEX index dropped by 1.3 percent to 1101,89 points. The MidKap dropped 0.9 percent to 1098,01 points. The stock exchanges in Frankfurt, Paris, and London dropped by 1.9 percent.

Gas prices climbed as well. A megawatt-hour of natural gas briefly traded above €80 on the Dutch gas exchange, which serves as a benchmark for European gas prices. It was the first time prices had reached that level since January 2023.

The rise in oil prices came after the U.S. hit Iranian tankers and retaliatory Iranian attacks on US warships and oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.

Key points:

-The European benchmark gas price reached €75/MWh in early September.

-European reserves stood at around 66% of capacity—the lowest level for this time of year in 15 years.

-The European Commission does not currently identify an immediate risk of gas shortages.

-The main danger may lie in the prices Europe pays to secure supplies for the winter.

-The conflict in the Middle East continues to affect international energy flows. European natural gas benchmark prices hit €75/MWh in the first week of September—more than double the figure recorded a year earlier and the highest level since late 2022.

According to a Reuters analysis of the European gas market, European storage facilities were at nearly 66% capacity—about 12 percentage points below the previous year's level and the lowest figure for this time of year in 15 years.

The same analysis indicates that reserves might reach only 70% to 75% before winter, down from 83% in 2025. Germany, which holds Europe's largest storage capacity, showed levels near 54%, while reserves in the Netherlands hovered around 48%.

Lower reserves force European countries to rely more heavily on imports during the cold months. This need does not necessarily imply a gas shortage, but it increases exposure to international market fluctuations.

The Middle East has once again altered the energy market...The current pressure stems from a different source than the 2022 energy crisis, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine and reduced Russian gas deliveries triggered a historic surge in European prices.

In 2026, the primary source of disruption is the Middle East. Restrictions on energy flows in the region have affected oil and LNG exports and once again exposed Europe's dependence on international markets.

The International Energy Agency is monitoring the current crisis through a mechanism dedicated to government responses, compiling measures such as conservation, fuel switching, and supply reinforcement adopted to address market disruptions. The agency also coordinated the release of emergency oil reserves by member countries.

In the LNG market, the disruption is particularly significant for Europe. The drop in Gulf exports was partially offset by increased production in other markets, including the United States and Canada.

This additional supply helps explain why prices remain well below the peaks seen during the 2022 crisis, when European gas prices briefly exceeded €300/MWh.

Despite lower storage levels and price volatility, the European Commission’s assessment regarding the physical security of supply is less alarmist.

Despite lower storage levels and price volatility, the European Commission’s assessment regarding the physical security of supply is less alarmist.

On September 3, the European Union’s Gas Coordination Group concluded that there is no immediate risk to the security of gas supplies.

Brussels considers the current situation to be substantially different from that of 2021 and 2022. The EU has increased its LNG import capacity, diversified suppliers, and reduced gas demand, allowing the system to operate with lower storage levels.

However, the Commission acknowledges that international instability continues to drive volatility in energy markets.

This distinction is important. The most immediate risk appears to be not the inability to obtain gas, but the cost required to secure that supply.

If prices remain high throughout the winter, households and businesses could face renewed pressure on their energy bills. European industry—particularly energy-intensive sectors—also faces greater exposure to costs that exceed those of competitors in other regions.

Energy prices also pose a risk to inflation and monetary policy. European Central Bank officials have acknowledged that further interest rate hikes might be necessary if inflationary pressures linked to energy—among other factors—persist.

A prolonged period of high gas and electricity prices could further exacerbate the competitiveness issues the European Union is attempting to address through investments in industry, artificial intelligence, defense, and energy infrastructure.

Simon Stiell framed reliance on fossil fuels precisely as both an economic and a security issue. According to the UN official, renewable energy already accounts for roughly half of Europe's electricity generation, and solar power helped avoid over €30 billion in gas imports during the first six months of the current conflict in the Middle East.

Stiell presented this figure during an address to the European Parliament; it should therefore be viewed as an estimate cited by the UN official.

Extreme heat adds to Europe's costs...The United Nations' warning extends beyond the fuel market.

Stiell also cited an estimate suggesting that this summer's extreme heatwaves could result in economic losses of nearly €180 billion for the European Union in 2026—equivalent to approximately 1% of European GDP.

This figure comes from an analysis published by Triodos Bank, which identifies lower labor productivity, agricultural losses, and disruptions in the energy and transport sectors as the primary channels of economic impact.

This is an economic estimate rather than a definitive measurement of losses. The full impact depends on the duration and intensity of the weather events, as well as indirect effects on various sectors of the economy. Europe thus enters the pre-winter period in a different situation than during the 2022 crisis: it has greater import capacity and a more diverse range of suppliers, yet it faces higher gas prices, lower reserves, and an international market vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.

Supply may well be secured. The key question will be the cost of ensuring that supply during the coldest months.

mundophone

TECH

WARDOGS is the new hype shooter – but it’s not smooth sailing yet

WARDOGS launched into Early Access on September 10 and is already generating plenty of discussion. Many players seem quite impressed with the shooter itself – yet its Steam reviews are currently rather mixed.

WARDOGS is a tactical multiplayer shooter that has attracted plenty of attention in recent weeks – not least because the game throws quite a few shooter conventions out the window. Up to 100 players compete across three teams on massive maps, with one main objective in mind: making money.

Pretty much every action in the game earns cash. Whether players choose to work as transport pilots, medics, engineers or frontline soldiers is entirely up to them. The money they earn can then be spent on better equipment or vehicles.

What really matters, however, is what this system does to the gameplay. The constant rewards not only encourage teamwork, but also present players with interesting decisions. Those who invest more money in weapons and armor are significantly more effective on the battlefield – but also have more to lose when they die.

All in all, WARDOGS brings plenty of original ideas to the table, and the community seems to appreciate them. In a recent Reddit thread, players particularly praise the amount of freedom the shooter offers on the battlefield and how effectively the economy ties the different roles together. The three-team concept and the mix of infantry, vehicles and support roles also appear to make battles considerably less predictable than in traditional multiplayer shooters.

Why the Steam reviews are still struggling...So why are the reviews so mixed? After all, only 65% of more than 25,000 reviews are currently positive. There is one main reason: the launch. WARDOGS is not a traditional AAA production, and BULKHEAD apparently underestimated the enormous influx of players at launch. More than 330,000 players were online simultaneously at one point – significantly more than during the beta. The servers simply couldn't handle the demand.

The result was long queues, failed connections and players being kicked from servers in the middle of matches. Many buyers were unable to get into the game at all for periods of time on the first day. A large number of those affected appear to have vented their frustration in the Steam reviews.

In fact, many of the negative reviews don't criticize the actual game at all. Quite the opposite: Several players say that WARDOGS was already a lot of fun during the beta. Their frustration is primarily directed at the fact that they simply couldn't play the game at times during launch.

Overall, WARDOGS is therefore suffering mainly from a technically troubled launch. If BULKHEAD can get the server issues under control quickly, the Steam reviews are likely to recover as well. The response so far certainly suggests that many players are considerably happier with the shooter itself than the current rating might suggest.

Intel Arc Graphics driver 101.8993 optimizes Wardogs...The Intel Arc Graphics driver 32.0.101.8993 (beta) is now available for users of the company's dedicated graphics cards and integrated graphics. The update optimizes Wardogs, which launched in Early Access on Steam yesterday, September 10, and has seen huge success.

Wardogs is a new competitive war-themed FPS developed by Bulkhead and published by Team17. The game is proving very popular during its Early Access phase; at the time of writing, it ranks fourth among the most-played titles on Steam, according to SteamDB data.

The driver update optimizes the game for Arc A-series and Arc B-series dedicated graphics cards, as well as Arc integrated graphics on Intel Core Ultra processors.

Intel clearly wanted to focus on this popular title, opting to release a new driver while it is still in beta. This is because, while the software optimizes the new game, it does not yet fix certain significant bugs affecting the hardware in other titles.

New Intel driver does not fix known game crashes...Among the types of bugs that can occur when running games on graphics hardware, crashes are among the worst. Unfortunately, certain titles are known to suffer from this issue on Intel graphics, and the new driver does not yet resolve it.

 

mundophone

TECH

Strategy CEO Phong Le says Bitcoin made a $12 Chipotle Burrito four times cheaper

Strategy CEO Phong Le has used the rising price of a Chipotle burrito to illustrate the difference between holding U.S. dollars and holding Bitcoin (BTC), arguing that the cryptocurrency has dramatically increased purchasing power when measured against everyday goods.

During a September 8 interview with Wolf Financial, Le used the price of a Chipotle burrito to illustrate how inflation can erode purchasing power. He noted that a burrito now costs around $12 and argued that many workers have not seen their compensation rise at the same rate over the past several years.

Le presented a hypothetical example in which a worker’s income increases by 10% while the price of the burrito doubles. In that scenario, argued, the worker would be significantly worse off in real purchasing-power terms despite receiving a pay increase.

He further linked the decline in purchasing power to monetary inflation and the expansion of the U.S. dollar supply, arguing that a growing money supply can reduce the value of each dollar over time.

Le then compared the same change through a Bitcoin-denominated lens. Using a period in which Bitcoin rose from roughly $10,000 to $80,000, he argued that the burrito had effectively become much cheaper for someone holding Bitcoin rather than U.S. dollars.

In his comparison, the burrito's dollar price had doubled, while its cost measured against Bitcoin had fallen by roughly four times. Le used the example to argue that Bitcoin can preserve purchasing power more effectively than the dollar over longer periods.

The example reflects a central argument behind Strategy's Bitcoin treasury strategy: measuring wealth solely in fiat currency can obscure changes in purchasing power. An asset that appreciates substantially faster than the price of consumer goods can, in theory, require fewer units of that asset to purchase the same product.

Strategy continues to maintain one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries in the world. As of September 7, the company reportedly held 845,050 BTC alongside $6.5 billion in U.S. dollar assets.

The company has also expanded its financial maneuvering room. Strategy increased its authorization for repurchasing its STRC preferred securities from $1 billion to $2 billion after completing $176 million in repurchases.

The program concerns the company's preferred securities rather than directly purchasing Bitcoin, but it gives Strategy additional flexibility in managing its capital structure.

Bitcoin needs to clear $86,000 as weak spot demand threatens its rally...Bitcoin (BTC) briefly recovered toward the $80,000 level before losing momentum, with the cryptocurrency trading around $77,700 after a 1.4% decline over 24 hours. Glassnode analysts now identify the $83,000 to $86,000 region as a major hurdle for Bitcoin, while weak spot-market demand could make the recovery harder to sustain.

Long-term holders have accumulated around 1.07 million BTC in the 'resistance zone', with much of the buying concentrated near $85,000. The amount of Bitcoin held by these investors at those price levels has changed little over the past month.

A move back toward their acquisition prices could therefore create additional selling pressure as some holders regain the opportunity to exit without a loss. The same area also corresponds closely with the estimated breakeven level for US spot Bitcoin ETFs, which Glassnode places near $86,000.

The ETF position has improved considerably from earlier this year. Unrealized losses across US spot Bitcoin ETFs have fallen from roughly $18 billion in February to about $3.9 billion. However, the sector has yet to completely recover its paper losses.

That does not automatically mean long-term holders or ETF investors will sell once Bitcoin reaches the zone. Glassnode(https://x.com/glassnode) data shows that long-term investors have become less aggressive in realizing profits. Their share of total realized profits has dropped from 88% at the August peak to 47%.

There is also a potential source of buying pressure above the current price. Glassnode estimates that forced short liquidations are concentrated between $82,000 and $86,000, with the potential liquidation volume increasing 21% since August 19. If Bitcoin moves into that area, short sellers could be forced to repurchase BTC, potentially adding momentum to the move.

The bigger issue is whether the spot market can provide enough demand to support such a breakout. CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost says sustained buying pressure has not yet appeared in the spot market. The 90-day moving average of cumulative volume delta remains neutral, even as futures activity shows stronger participation.

Stablecoin liquidity also points to a market that is still rebuilding. Binance's stablecoin reserves previously exceeded $50 billion before falling by almost $7 billion. Reserves have since recovered by around $1.6 billion over the past month, but the 90-day change remains negative at 1.6%.

Bitcoin's US spot ETFs have also recorded recent outflows. Investors withdrew $46.6 million on September 8 and another $120.2 million on September 9, producing combined outflows of $166.8 million across the two sessions.

The technical picture is less negative. Darkfost notes that Bitcoin's daily RSI has reached 67, while its seven-day and 21-day exponential moving averages have moved above the 200-day moving average for the first time since November 2025.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at around $76,882.80, down 3.35% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. BTC had moved between a 24-hour low of $76,670.90 and a high of $79,655.08, leaving it below the $80,000 level that analysts are watching for signs of stronger market liquidity.

mundophone

 

TECH

Why won't the next financial crisis originate in the stock markets?

In 2008, a combination of misunderstood risks swept through the banking system and triggered a crisis that affected virtually the entire globe. Nearly two decades later, a completely different threat is beginning to worry some top financial authorities. It does not hinge on subprime mortgages, nor does it necessarily start on Wall Street. It could emerge silently from within the technological infrastructure that keeps banks and markets running every day.

Artificial intelligence promises to make the financial system more efficient. Banks already use algorithms to detect fraud, assess risk, analyze vast amounts of data, and automate various processes.

But this transformation can also create vulnerabilities.

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England and Chair of the Financial Stability Board, sent a letter to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors warning of risks associated with the most advanced artificial intelligence models.

One major concern centers on cybersecurity.

Frontier AI systems could drastically alter the scale and cost of digital attacks. Tools capable of performing complex tasks with greater autonomy could facilitate sophisticated cyber operations and accelerate attacks on critical infrastructure.

In the financial system, a breach doesn't necessarily have to result in the direct theft of billions to cause massive consequences.

Sometimes, simply preventing institutions from functioning is enough.

If customers cannot access their accounts, banks stop processing payments, or markets begin to doubt certain institutions' ability to continue operating, a particularly dangerous element for any financial system emerges: a loss of confidence.

And there is a feature of current banking infrastructure that could rapidly amplify this problem.

Many banks rely on the same companies—and that changes everything. A bank may appear to be an independent institution to its customers, but much of the technology infrastructure used by the financial sector depends on third-party providers.

Cloud services, data processing, and various digital systems may be shared across multiple institutions.

This creates efficiency, but also concentration. A successful attack on a major technology provider could simultaneously affect multiple organizations that rely on its infrastructure.

In other words, a criminal wouldn't need to attack banks one by one.

This is one of the scenarios that worry Bailey. Artificial intelligence could make attacks faster and more sophisticated precisely at a time when key parts of the financial system are concentrated among a relatively small group of providers.

The risk doesn't stop there.

The IMF has also been drawing attention to another phenomenon: as algorithms take over functions related to credit, investments, and risk analysis, different institutions may end up reacting similarly to the same signals.

Imagine dozens of systems detecting a threat and deciding to sell assets at virtually the same time.

A decision that might take human traders minutes or hours to make could happen in a fraction of a second.

The financial market has seen similar episodes even before the current generation of artificial intelligence.

The problem isn't just a hacker using artificial intelligence... In May 2010, US markets experienced the so-called "flash crash." Within minutes, major indices plummeted and then recovered much of their losses.

The episode demonstrated how automated systems can trigger extremely rapid market movements before humans have enough time to fully grasp what is happening.

With more sophisticated AI models, the challenge takes on a new dimension.

Algorithms can interpret information, modify strategies, and react to market changes at ever-increasing speeds. If different systems reach similar conclusions, their decisions can reinforce one another.

This is where the comparison to 2008 begins to make more sense.

The global financial crisis showed how extremely complex products, interdependence, and a lack of transparency can mask vulnerabilities for a long time.

AI introduces a digital version of this problem.

Some models function as true "black boxes": they deliver results, but it isn't always easy to explain in detail how they arrived at them.

Under normal conditions, this might go unnoticed. During a crisis, however, quickly discovering why dozens of systems are making certain decisions can be crucial.

And waiting until that happens does not appear to be the strategy advocated by the authorities.

There is a surprisingly simple solution to such a high-tech problem...Among the measures mentioned by Bailey is something that seems almost contradictory in the age of cloud computing: keeping recovery systems completely isolated from the internet.

These structures—known as "bare metal"—could allow financial institutions to rebuild their operations following a severe attack.

The logic is simple.

If attackers compromise connected systems, backups that are also connected could be affected as well. A truly isolated copy offers a final line of defense.

But technology alone does not solve the problem.

Bailey advocates for more robust international protocols regarding the development and secure deployment of advanced AI models. This is particularly important because the financial system is global, whereas regulations on artificial intelligence vary significantly from country to country.

The IMF also calls for greater transparency, algorithmic auditing, and clear accountability within institutions.

The goal is not to stop banks from using artificial intelligence.

It is to prevent the pursuit of efficiency from creating vulnerabilities that are only discovered when it is already too late.

AI can also avert the very crisis it might otherwise amplify...There is a significant paradox in this entire scenario.

The artificial intelligence that worries regulators could also become one of the most powerful tools for protecting the financial system.

It can detect fraud more quickly, identify abnormal behavior, analyze risks that would go unnoticed by humans, and enable more efficient oversight.

Therefore, there is no inevitable link between AI and a new financial crisis.

The real risk arises when increasingly powerful systems are combined with a lack of transparency, overly concentrated infrastructure, and inadequate recovery mechanisms.

In 2008, much of the world discovered too late that seemingly dispersed risks were deeply interconnected.

The current warning aims to prevent history from repeating itself in a different form.

This time, however, a potential crisis would not necessarily take months to unfold. In a financial system operating at the speed of algorithms, the interval between the initial problem and its consequences can be much shorter than we are accustomed to imagining.

Major financial crises do not typically start when stock market prices fall; they originate where leverage, hidden debt, and liquidity mismatches accumulate

The shift away from public eWhere the Real Risks Liequities:

-Debt over equities: History shows that panics happen when over-leveraged borrowers and institutions cannot service their obligations (such as the 2007–2008 subprime mortgage collapse). Stock market drops are usually a symptom or reflection of underlying economic pain, not the root structural trigger

-Transparency of public markets: Stock prices are visible, highly regulated, and continuously traded. While high valuations or corrections can hurt investor sentiment, public companies and equity portfolios generally lack the cascading, opaque credit chains that freeze the broader financial system

Where the real risks lie:

-Private credit vulnerabilities: The multi-trillion-dollar private credit and direct lending market—increasingly intertwined with financing massive capital expenditures like the AI and data center boom—features opaque valuations, illiquid assets, and deepening links to institutional portfolios

-The interconnection problem: If economic friction, high interest rates, or project underperformance trigger widespread defaults in private debt, the losses propagate quietly through leveraged finance, insurers, and connected counterparties before anyone notices a public stock ticker crashing

mundophone

TECH

AI comes to toothbrushes

Brushing one's teeth seems like a task too simple to require a technological revolution. Yet, a recently unveiled innovation shows that even this habit can change radically. A small device can now monitor the inside of the mouth while in use, interpret images in real-time, and make decisions without interrupting the brushing process. The concept sounds like something out of a futuristic laboratory, but it has already hit the market.

It is the result of six years of research, development, and engineering, challenging every aspect of conventional oral hygiene. While others fail to locate the spaces between teeth, the Dyson CameraJet™ succeeds. While the bristles of conventional sonic toothbrushes can snag on the tooth surface, Dyson’s variable sonic oscillation is designed to keep the bristles in motion. While traditional needle-like jets may simply pierce the plaque, Dyson’s conical jet is designed to remove more plaque while remaining gentler on gums and enamel.

"Flossing is a tedious and time-consuming chore. Few of us do it, even though we know we should. Dyson engineers and scientists spent over a decade studying oral hygiene habits and how debris accumulates in the mouth. Our research showed that people often neglect the very areas where plaque builds up: the spaces between the teeth."

Our goal was to solve three fundamental problems: how to visualize these gaps, how to remove plaque, and how to improve brushing performance.

By combining a camera, machine learning, precision fluid dynamics, advanced brushing technologies, connectivity, and Wi-Fi, the Dyson CameraJet™ introduces a whole new way to keep your mouth healthy,” said James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer.

The company behind this innovation is Dyson, a British firm known for vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, and other household appliances. Its latest venture takes the brand into new territory: oral care.

Dubbed the CameraJet, the device combines three functions that are usually separate. It performs conventional electric brushing, monitors the teeth via a camera, and uses irrigation to reach specific areas between them.

The most intriguing feature lies in the brush head itself. A 100,000-pixel macro camera has been installed there, capable of capturing 28 images per second as the user moves the device around their mouth.

However, the goal isn't simply to produce images of the teeth. A machine learning system called Gap Optical Targeting analyzes the captured footage and attempts to identify interdental spaces.

The technology must accomplish this while everything is in motion. The algorithm tracks the position of these gaps and calculates where they will be moments later, allowing another part of the device to activate at the precise moment.

According to the manufacturer, approximately 470,000 dental images were used to train the machine learning system. The software powering the product comprises roughly 16 million lines of code.

The artificial intelligence doesn't just observe; it also reacts...This is where the CameraJet stops looking like just an electric toothbrush with an attached camera.

When the algorithm identifies a gap between the teeth, the system can automatically trigger a small jet of liquid aimed at that area. The response occurs in approximately 100 milliseconds, without requiring the user to stop brushing to use a separate device. In practice, the idea is to combine brushing and irrigation into a single routine.

The liquid is stored in a 12.5-milliliter reservoir integrated into the device. After use, the base can refill it in about three seconds. An internal mechanism also aims to maintain pressure even when the user changes the position of the brush.

Incorporating the camera even created a curious problem for the engineers: too much foam obscures the system's view.

To address this, the company developed a low-foaming toothpaste, as well as a rinse designed to work with the irrigation mechanism. It is an example of how adding computer vision to an everyday object can necessitate changes to the very products used alongside it.

The camera has another feature that will likely attract as much attention as the artificial intelligence.

The CameraJet connects to a smartphone via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and works with the MyDyson app. This allows the user to view images captured by the device during cleaning and see areas of the mouth that would normally be difficult to view on their own.

The system can also provide information on brushing coverage, helping to identify areas that received less attention.

The presence of a camera inside a personal care product naturally raises privacy concerns. According to information released by the company and reported in the press, images are neither stored on the brush itself nor sent to cloud storage; the camera is used for live viewing or the automatic process of detecting interdental spaces.

The manufacturer also claims to have achieved superior plaque removal results in laboratory tests using simulated plaque. According to Dyson, the device removed nearly 70% more plaque in hard-to-reach areas compared to premium electric toothbrushes. However, this result was released by the company itself.

All this technology comes with a price tag to match...Transforming brushing into an experience driven by cameras, algorithms, and automatic irrigation does not come cheap. The CameraJet launched at $499. The package includes the base unit—which handles both charging and reservoir refilling—two heads, a power cable, and a carrying case. The heads are designed to last approximately three months, and the device itself tracks usage to notify you when it is time for a replacement.

The device is available in Ceramic Ultra Blue and Ceramic Pink versions.

More than simply adding artificial intelligence to another product, the news shows an interesting trend. Computer vision technologies, previously associated with smartphones, cars, robots and industrial systems, are beginning to migrate to extremely common objects.

After cameras learned to recognize faces, obstacles and environments, there is now one capable of looking for spaces between teeth and deciding, in a fraction of a second, exactly where to direct cleaning.

And perhaps this is the most curious part: the next great application of artificial intelligence could be hidden precisely in the objects we use every day.

 

mundophone

TECH

OM Pen launches for $999 with OLED viewfinder and high-res mode

The Olympus Pen opens a new chapter. The OM System Pen is marketed as an exceptionally compact, weather-sealed mirrorless camera with a Micro Four Thirds mount, monochrome mode, a high-resolution OLED viewfinder, and exciting features.

The OM System Pen is official. The camera draws on the design of the Olympus Pen E-P7 but promises several upgrades. At its core, the OM System Pen remains an exceptionally compact mirrorless camera, measuring just 12.6 x 7.5 x 4.3 centimeters and weighing 393 grams.

Quite a lot as it happens. This list highlights key upgrades:

First model with phase-detection autofocus, using 121 all-cross-type points

AI subject detection for people, dogs and cats

TruePic IX processor

5-axis stabilisation rated up to 5.5 stops in the centre of the frame

2.36-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder

A Vari-angle touchscreen

Dedicated Computational Photography controls

Live ND16, Focus Stacking and Handheld High Res Shot among the expanded computational tools

Up to 30fps continuous shooting

Electronic shutter up to 1/32000 sec, increased from 1/16000 sec

C4K recording, alongside 4K/30p

Vertical video and dedicated Still/Video/S&Q control

OM-Log400 and OM-Cinema1/2 video profiles

3.5mm microphone input

USB-C connectivity and UVC/UAC webcam support

IPX1 splash resistance (when paired with a compatible OM System lens)

New BLS-7 battery, rated for around 410 shots

That's a shopping list of new and upgraded features, but of course some haven't changed.

The sensor resolution, art filters, 4K/30p video and mechanical shutter are all similar to the previous version, which we explore in more detail next.

With such a lightweight, pocketable size and so many content modes, it is especially well suited to general purpose everyday content creation. You can bring it just about everywhere and capture stabilised 4K video as well as lots of photography styles.

Stills content includes:

Snapshots with your friends, family and pets.

Travel and city exploration, where a proper interchangeable-lens setup fits in a small bag.

Street photography, using the EVF, discreet size and custom looks to create your own unmistakable style.

Portraits, with human detection, primes lenses and profiles that let you shape exactly how skin tones and moods come out.

Food and details, the kind that stop people mid-scroll, especially with a close-focusing or macro lens, or Focus Stacking when you want everything tack sharp.

Landscapes and night shots, where stabilisation, High Res Shot, Live ND and Live Composite let you get results handheld.

Experimental stuff like intentional camera movement, long exposures, multiple exposures, Art Filters and custom colour or black-and-white looks.

For video there’s:

Reels and vertical content, which are properly vertical, with no cropping or black bars

Everyday scenes and travel with stabilised 4K

Vlogs and talking-to-camera, where the vari-angle screen helps you see yourself, plus a mic input for clean audio

Slow-mo and speed-ramped footage using S&Q modes

Advanced filmmaking with C4K/24p, OM-Log400 and Flat profiles to grade exactly how you want

Footage with a style baked in, straight out of camera, courtesy of OM-Cinema1 and OM-Cinema2 profiles

One thing Gareth particularly liked is how easy the built-in features are to access. Rather than becoming functions you discover once and then forget about, he found himself using them frequently while shooting.

Despite its compact body, OM System has managed to incorporate both a 3.2-inch flip-out touchscreen with 1.04 million pixels and an electronic OLED viewfinder with 2.36 million pixels. The camera uses a 20.4-megapixel Live MOS sensor in the Four Thirds format, which is image-stabilized and is thus designed to allow for up to 5.5 f-stops longer exposure times without a tripod. OM System highlights an improved autofocus system with eye and face detection. The camera is IPX1-certified and therefore weather-sealed, provided a weather-sealed lens is used.

 A dial on the front allows you to switch directly between color and black-and-white, with up to four profiles that can be saved for each mode. These can be customized like Fujifilm’s film simulations and then shared via the smartphone app. The OM System Pen can combine multiple photos to capture, for example, a higher-resolution photo, an HDR image, a multi exposure, or a photo with a simulated ND filter. Focus stacking for macro shots is also possible directly in the camera.

This version of the PEN really does live up to the hype. Although subjective, the design is unashamedly retro, and you can swap lenses even though it's really quite small. It has modern phase-detection autofocus, an EVF and weather resistance for real-world shooting every day.

You get computational tools and controls that place more tools to experiment with at your fingertips.

Three kit options mean you can start your creative journey where you want, with a zoom, everyday prime or portrait prime, with the huge Micro Four Thirds ecosystem ready when you want it.

The real win is better than specs. It's super small and light in use, easy to bring along and unusually good at encouraging you to use the built-in features. It rides the line between a fixed-lens compact and an interchangeable-lens camera very well.

Pricing and availability...The OM System Pen is now available for pre-order, with shipping expected to begin late October. The camera costs $999, a kit with the new M.Zuiko Digital 14–42 mm f/3.5–5.6 III lens is available for $1,099. More information about the camera can be found on the official product page.

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