TECH

Why power banks in hold luggage pose such a risk on holiday flights

Airline passengers are being warned not to pack power banks in their hold luggage ahead of the summer holiday travel period. 

Devices with rechargeable batteries, like mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches can be plugged into power banks on the go, where charging sockets may not be available. However, power banks are not danger-free or environmentally friendly.

The warning has come from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which believes that many travellers still aren’t aware of the rules – or the fire risk.

Passengers on UK flights must take power banks – and other items containing lithium batteries – with them into the cabin. They must never be used to charge another electronic device while on the plane. Additionally, only two power banks per person are allowed on a flight.

Consider a scenario where you are about to take off on a flight. You have settled into your seat, started using your mobile phone, and put it in airplane mode. All of a sudden, an unusual hissing sound comes from your bag; smoke starts rising, and within seconds, there is a fire inside your luggage.

This actually happened on a flight between South Korea and Hong Kong in January 2026, when a power bank caught fire in mid-air. The accident on this flight is not a rare occurrence; hundreds of fires, explosions and other safety incidents involving lithium batteries and power banks have been recorded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

The main reason for accidents involving power banks is the lithium-ion battery, the most common battery type used in them. The lithium-ion battery has a tendency to overheat, which can trigger a thermal runaway in which the temperature rises rapidly, leading to the battery’s explosion.

Such an explosion can occur for many reasons, including poor design, manufacturing issues, and improper use. In 2017, a family in the UK woke to smoke filling their home. The cause of the fire was a power bank charger, plugged into an electrical outlet. It overheated and set itself ablaze. Their rooms were burned down.

From a scientific point of view, the answer is obvious: heat is the sworn enemy of lithium-ion batteries. Each time you recharge or discharge a power bank, chemical reactions produce heat in the battery. And if that heat is not properly controlled – whether due to inadequate design or excessive environmental temperature – a thermal runaway occurs (an uncontrolled, self-heating chain reaction). 

In 2026, an Australian man left a power bank in his vehicle on a hot day in Mount Nathan in Queensland. The extreme heat caused the battery to explode, starting a fire. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident.

Electric shocks...Fire and explosions are not the only hazards associated with these gadgets. They can also cause a dangerous electrical shock to users. This is despite the fact that they are operating at lower direct current voltage. 

If the power bank becomes faulty due to being dropped, getting wet or because of manufacturing defects, the circuitry inside may fail. This would cause the device to shoot a surge of electricity into the user’s body. 

In May 2026, a 75-year-old woman in the US died when her power bank explodedwhile charging it. 

China, which manufactures many of the world’s power banks, has seen manufacturers recall hundreds of thousands of devices due to defects. Some of these faults have been blamed on downstream suppliers.

Another alarming trend has been the rise of counterfeit power banks.

I have spent a great part of my career and life caring about the environment and developing eco-friendly technologies, and the widespread use of power banks is a serious concern due to their negative environmental impact. The manufacturing and disposal of power banks may generate large amounts of electronic waste that can pollute soil, water and air. 

Moreover, the extraction of lithium and other materials for power-bank production poses environmental and societal risks. For example, lithium mining in Chile’s Atacama desert has resulted in pollution and friction with indigenous communities. 

As a scientist and professor of engineering, I urge people to be aware of the potential dangers posed by power banks and how these risks can be mitigated. By adhering to precautions, such as charging devices on hard, non-flammable surfaces, we can ensure the safe usage of these devices.

In addition, it is vital to understand the significance of responsible innovation and sustainability to ensure that technologies can be safely developed and deployed.

Your power bank is a powerful tool, but it demands respect. Treat it with the caution it deserves.

Written by Dr Amor Abdelkader

DIGITAL LIFE

Artificial intelligence may start to "unlearn," and researchers explain why

For years, artificial intelligence has evolved thanks to the vast volume of text, images, and information produced by billions of people around the world. But this landscape is changing rapidly. Today, a growing share of the content available on the internet is no longer created by humans, but by other artificial intelligences. This transformation might seem natural, but a new study reveals a hidden challenge that could directly affect the future of AI itself.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence have spawned tools capable of writing articles, creating images, developing code, and answering questions with impressive quality. Consequently, the amount of synthetic content available online is growing at an unprecedented rate.

The problem is that this very content ends up being used to train future generations of models. Instead of learning solely from books, scientific research, newspapers, and human-written texts, AI is beginning to consume material produced by other machines.

It was precisely this phenomenon that caught the attention of researchers in a study published in the scientific journal *npj Artificial Intelligence*. According to the authors, this cycle can trigger a process known as "model collapse"—a gradual degradation of the systems' learning capabilities.

Unlike a sudden failure, this problem unfolds slowly. Each new generation learns from a larger volume of artificial data and, little by little, begins to reproduce increasingly repetitive patterns, losing some of the diversity found in the original information.

The researchers explain that the risk does not lie in the occasional use of AI-generated content. On the contrary, such material can be extremely useful in various applications. The challenge arises when it begins to replace a significant portion of human-produced content, reducing the variety of examples available during training.

A simple comparison helps illustrate the phenomenon: imagine making a copy of a photograph and then repeatedly copying that new image. Each reproduction looks virtually identical to the last, yet small losses of detail accumulate until the final result no longer preserves the full richness of the original photograph. To address this challenge, researchers developed a new training strategy called Confidence-Aware Loss, designed to make learning more balanced.

The method stems from an interesting observation: when a model encounters highly predictable examples, it quickly learns those patterns and begins assigning a high degree of confidence to its responses. However, continuing to reinforce these same examples adds little value to the learning process.

The solution involves reducing the weight given to these overly predictable cases and focusing more attention on less common examples that contain more varied information. To achieve this, scientists created a technique called Truncated Cross-Entropy, which redistributes the weight assigned to different types of data during training.

In practice, this helps the system maintain a richer representation of language and knowledge, preventing highly frequent responses from completely dominating the learning process.

Tests yielded very promising results. According to the researchers, the models were able to handle more than 2.3 times the amount of synthetic content before showing significant signs of so-called "model collapse."

Although the technique does not entirely eliminate the problem, it significantly expands the systems' ability to combine human-produced data with AI-generated content without compromising response quality.

The study also launched an open platform allowing other researchers to test new solutions and compare different training methods.

The main conclusion goes beyond the creation of a new algorithm. The rapid growth of AI-generated content makes preserving original sources of information increasingly important. In the future, the evolution of artificial intelligence will depend not only on the quantity of available data but also on the diversity and quality of that information. Preventing machines from learning solely from other machines may well be one of the greatest technological challenges of the coming decade.

mundophone

 

TECH

Memory crisis drags affordable smartphone segment to steepest decline in years

The global smartphone market is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the sharp rise in DRAM and NAND prices; these costs have climbed steadily over recent quarters and are expected to keep rising in the months ahead. This surge is significantly altering device costs, primarily impacting the mid-range and low-end segments, where memory has come to represent a disproportionate share of the total cost.

According to Omdia, smartphones priced under US$ 400 saw a year-over-year decline of more than 22%, a drop directly linked to the growing weight of memory costs in production.

The shift is evident when comparing costs between the third quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. In the sub-$400 segment, memory's share of the total cost nearly doubled, while for models above that price point, it increased by more than 100%.

By the first quarter of 2026, memory accounted for nearly 60% of manufacturing costs for smartphones under US$ 400, and exceeded 64% for entry-level models priced under US$ 99.

Omdia reports that this cost pressure is so intense that manufacturers are attempting to offset it by cutting costs on other components—such as displays, sensors, and RF modules—where supply remains plentiful. However, low-cost devices already operate on extremely tight margins, making it nearly impossible to absorb the impact solely through further cuts, the firm adds.

The research firm warns that the situation is set to worsen, with memory prices expected to rise further in the coming quarters. To maintain minimal margins, brands such as Transsion, Oppo, vivo, Honor, and Xiaomi have been forced to raise retail prices, despite knowing that consumers of entry-level devices are highly price-sensitive. Consequently, demand has fallen rapidly, rendering many low-cost models barely profitable and prompting manufacturers to gradually reduce inventory in this segment throughout the year. Amidst this contraction, Omdia forecasts a 12% decline in the global smartphone market in 2026, driven primarily by a sharp drop in models priced below $400, which are expected to fall by more than 22% this year. In contrast, smartphones priced above $400 are projected to grow by 5.7%, supported by less price-sensitive consumers and greater flexibility among manufacturers to reduce costs on premium components.

This market shift reflects three key trends. The first is the strategic move by manufacturers toward higher price tiers, followed by steadily rising retail prices that push more models into the above-$400 segment. Finally, there is greater demand stability among high-end consumers.

For premium models, memory accounts for a smaller share of the total cost, allowing manufacturers to adjust other components to alleviate pressure. Strategies identified by Omdia include reverting to LTPS OLED panels for some high-end models that had previously switched to LTPO, thereby cutting costs by $3 to $5 per unit, and adopting more flexible camera configurations—such as smaller sensors or fewer modules. Another approach involves using previous-generation SoC platforms, which can reduce costs by 30% to 40% for models priced above $600.

As memory costs continue to reshape smartphone economics, manufacturers face an increasingly delicate balancing act between affordability, profitability, and competitiveness. Omdia concludes that this pressure will accelerate market polarization, characterized by a continued contraction in entry-level segments and a growing focus on mid-range and high-end models, where there is more room to absorb costs and adjust specifications without dampening demand.

mundophone

TECH

Rooftop solar adoption may hinge on a household champion, studies suggest

Two sets of roles emerge when couples consider installing solar panels on their house, a new study shows: in sync, when partners with shared goals and defined tasks end up adopting solar, and oppositional, marked by discord and not making the solar investment.

A second study showed that greater support from all members of a household—parents, kids, siblings, unrelated roommates—predicted eventual adoption of solar, but greater disagreement was also linked to a higher likelihood of installing rooftop panels.

Overall, the research suggests a champion for solar adoption in the house gets the family over the finish line. The champion is most positive about the technology, does the most work to plan the project and prompts ongoing discussion.

"This introduces an opportunity for policy and interventions because if we're targeting incentives or communication campaigns to a household or one member of a household, that's probably not enough. We need to figure out how to support these champions," said senior author Nicole Sintov, associate professor of behavior, decision-making and sustainability at The Ohio State University.

"They're already shouldering the burden of trying to convince other people in their household to come along, and maybe it's generating conflict. What can we equip them with to help them with the process?"

Household conflict shapes solar decisions...Understanding these dynamics could help the planet by improving the adoption rate of residential solar by U.S. households, which currently stands at about 8%, Sintov said.

"There are all of these decarbonization technologies available, including rooftop solar and heat pumps, but if people don't adopt them, then what good are they?" she said. "So we focus on what motivates households to adopt these technologies and how we can design communications and programming to support that."

Sintov completed the work with first author Naseem Dillman-Hasso, a doctoral candidate in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State, and former Ohio State postdoctoral research associate Kristin Hurst, now an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University.

It's not necessarily surprising that a disruptive, expensive home project requires lots of conversation. There's plenty to consider, with primary barriers identified in the study including high upfront costs versus long-term payments, fear of structural damage, uncertainty about the effects on home value and resale opportunities, and distrust of solar companies.

What is surprising is that little thought has been given to the family dynamics underpinning these household discussions, Sintov said.

"Research to date tends to characterize these decisions as this monolithic household choice, but three-quarters of U.S. households have more than one person living in them. In this study, the lens was a large investment like solar panels—and they're not one-time decisions made by a single person in a multi-occupant household," she said.

Two studies traced the pattern...The first study involved qualitative interviews with 39 couples. Seven had adopted solar, seven had considered solar but opted out, and 25 were still in the deliberation stage at the time of the interview.

While couples who were in sync were strongly associated with installing solar panels, that alone wasn't always enough. Interview results revealed that a time-sensitive catalyst event increased their sense of urgency to adopt. Catalysts ranged from skyrocketing energy bills and fears of frequent power loss to the looming reduction of a federal tax incentive.

The second study was an online survey of 394 household representatives: 268 who had begun lining up solar but ultimately didn't see it through, and 126 who had adopted rooftop solar.

In both adopter and lost-customer households, the survey respondents described themselves as the most positive and active participants in the process—in other words, the champion. In adopter households, romantic partners and parents played larger roles in the conversations than in lost-customer households.

The champion role was consistently linked with adoption, suggesting that coordination, active participation and deliberation by all household members can improve chances of installing solar. And even greater disagreement predicted adoption—indicating that any form of communication, even if it's negative, could be at play when a household moves toward the decision to adopt solar.

"That was surprising," Sintov said. "We don't know for sure why, but one hypothesis is that among adopters, there may be more to disagree about once you proceed with the adoption process—there's a lot going on, it's stressful, it's conflictual. Or it could just be that engaging in these conversations and being more engaged led to more disagreements."

Support for the household champion...Sintov is already applying some of the findings to her work with nonprofit organizations, building in-sync coordination skills in couples interested in adopting solar and developing worksheets that define goals and divvy the workload for families making changes after an energy efficiency audit.

Other options are workshops with household members to see if in-sync dynamics can be cultivated, and structured discussion guides that introduce unanticipated stumbling blocks and coax people toward an in-sync approach to addressing concerns.

"Targeting marketing messages and engagement and outreach to one member of a household or just a general household is liable to result in failure," Sintov said. "This is a relational process. At minimum, policy and other interventions can help facilitate the coordination process."

And though it wasn't a research goal, there is a decent chance that these dynamics influence lots of household decisions.

"I think what we've uncovered might be just a core dynamic of how households make decisions—this in-sync versus oppositional dynamic and the fact that sometimes there's a champion for a cause and the other person has to be dragged along," she said.

"There's very real potential that this applies to a whole bunch of different household decision-making, from installing a heat pump to getting a new couch to adopting a dog."

Provided by The Ohio State University

TECH

CEOs say AI saves a workday a week; employees disagree, surveys show

Artificial intelligence was touted as a technology capable of completely transforming the workplace. However, at least for now, that promise seems far from being realized for many companies.

Two recent surveys reveal a significant gap between how executives and employees perceive the benefits of AI. While CEOs see substantial productivity gains, many workers say the technology saves little time and, in some cases, actually creates new tasks—such as reviewing errors or correcting inaccurate responses.

A survey by the consultancy Section polled approximately 5,000 employees and executives at U.S. companies to answer a simple question: how many hours of work does artificial intelligence save per week?

The responses show a significant contrast.

Among CEOs, roughly one-third claim to save between four and eight hours a week thanks to AI. Another third say they gain more than eight hours a week, while the remainder report saving up to four hours.

In practice, many executives believe artificial intelligence already equates to saving a full workday each week.

Employees report a different reality...The perception among the workforce is far less optimistic.

According to the survey, two out of three workers state that AI saves no time at all or reduces their workload by less than two hours per week.

The most striking figure comes from those who see no benefit whatsoever: 40% of employees say artificial intelligence simply does not save time. Among CEOs, only 2% share this view.

This discrepancy highlights how the adoption of the technology is still perceived in vastly different ways within organizations.

AI errors still require extra work...Part of this frustration stems from the need to review content generated by AI models.

Interface designer Steve McGarvey noted that many executives automatically assume AI will be the solution to all of a company's problems. In practice, however, his experience was different.

According to him, on several occasions, large language models provided incorrect answers to questions regarding digital accessibility, necessitating a complete review of the suggestions offered.

On the other hand, McGarvey acknowledges using tools like Perplexity for research and quick inquiries, which does indeed reduce the time spent on certain activities. Even so, he maintains that these tools are far from replacing the technical expertise required for more complex tasks.

Another point raised by the research is that a large proportion of professionals use artificial intelligence solely for quick searches, much like how search engines were used in the past.

More advanced applications—such as code generation, data analysis, or process automation—appear far less frequently.

Experts point out that this limited usage may prevent users from harnessing the technology's full potential.

Another study, conducted by the software company Workday, identified a phenomenon known as the "AI tax."

Although 85% of the 1,600 employees surveyed claim to save between one and seven hours a week by using artificial intelligence, a significant portion of that time ends up being consumed by correcting incorrect answers, tweaking automatically generated text, and verifying information produced by the systems.

In practice, some of the productivity gains vanish during the review stage.

Another survey, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) among 4,500 CEOs, also shows modest results.

Only 30% of executives believe that AI is already contributing to increased company revenue. When it comes to tangible financial returns, the figures are even lower: just 12% report significant benefits regarding costs or revenue, while 56% say they have seen no significant return on their investments.

These results align with findings from recent studies indicating that many generative AI pilot projects have yet to deliver the expected gains.

Nevertheless, experts believe the landscape could change in the coming years. As companies and employees learn to make better use of these tools and expand their integration into work processes, productivity is likely to increase more consistently, especially in areas such as software development, data analysis, and the automation of repetitive tasks.

mundophone

SONY

Sony RX10 V

Sony has finally decided to end a nearly decade-long wait by unveiling the new RX10 V to the world. This superzoom compact camera arrives to refresh a lineup many thought the Japanese manufacturer had abandoned, bringing long-awaited improvements.

With a completely revamped design and eye-popping video specifications, the camera promises to be a true "all-rounder" for travel photographers and content creators. The heavy emphasis on artificial intelligence is clear, bringing this compact camera's capabilities closer to those of the brand's professional mirrorless models.

However, this array of innovations comes at a cost that is, to say the least, concerning for most consumers. Priced around $2,300, Sony's new star offering positions itself as one of the most expensive 1-inch compact cameras ever to hit the market.

The RX10 V ditches the somewhat dated look of its predecessor in favor of straighter, modern lines, drawing heavy inspiration from the aesthetic of the acclaimed A7 V. The grip has been significantly enlarged to ensure superior ergonomics—essential when a lens of such generous proportions is attached to the body. Another notable detail is the removal of the built-in flash, favoring a more "pro" look.

Both the electronic viewfinder (now boasting 3.69 million dots) and the rear screen have received welcome resolution upgrades, ensuring a fantastic viewing experience. Yet, in a move that seems almost inexplicable by today's standards, the rear screen only tilts and is not fully articulated. For anyone planning to use this camera for vlogging, this comes as a real letdown.

Internally, the 20.1-megapixel stacked sensor remains unchanged from the RX10 IV, which may disappoint some fans given the price hike. The real magic happens thanks to the new processor, which enables continuous shooting at up to 30 fps with zero viewfinder blackout when using the electronic shutter—a significant leap over the previous model's 24 fps.

The autofocus system has undergone a complete overhaul, now integrating a dedicated AI chip. Whether you are a sports photographer capturing fast-paced action or a wildlife enthusiast, the camera can now detect and track the heads, eyes, and bodies of humans, animals, birds, vehicles, and even insects with surgical precision.

Where the RX10 V truly shines compared to the previous generation is in its video capabilities. The camera allows for 4K recording at 60 fps using the full sensor width without pixel binning, or ramping up to 120 fps for super slow-motion footage, albeit with a slight image crop.

24-600mm f/2.4-4.0 optical zoom lens

20.1 MP 1-inch stacked sensor

Video recording up to 4K 120p and 1080p at 240p

AI-powered autofocus with 575 points (70% coverage)

Long-lasting NP-FZ100 battery (up to 630 shots)

Native support for S-Log3 profiles and direct LUT import

Merging a 20.1MP 1" stacked sensor, expansive zoom range, intelligent autofocus, and professional video and photo tools in a single versatile body, the Sony RX10 V Digital Camera is an all-in-one powerhouse. Designed for creators who need to work quickly without switching lenses, the camera pairs a 24-600mm (35mm equivalent) Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with the AI-powered BIONZ XR processing engine. Whether capturing fast-paced action, sweeping landscapes, distant wildlife, or close-up macro shots, RX10 V delivers consistent, cinematic image quality with uncropped 4K60 video and blackout-free continuous shooting up to 30 fps. Its deep-learning AI processing unit provides advanced subject recognition and active stabilization for reliable automatic focus and framing, making it an exceptional asset for solo creators.

Its 20.1MP 1" backside-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor has an advanced BIONZ XR processor and a dedicated AI chip to provide the ideal mix of low noise, sharp detail, and exceptional speed. The stacked sensor architecture maximizes readout speed, enabling advanced exposure and color algorithms to render natural skin tones, foliage, and skies with smooth gradations. Delivering accurate exposure in a wide range of challenging environments, Sony's latest AE algorithm detects and exposes for faces hidden in deep shadow or illuminated by bright sunlight. The RX10 V offers a standard sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 12800, which you can expand down to ISO 64 for stills.

While it is undeniably a formidable and versatile tool, it is hard to ignore the price tag. The RX10 V offers incredible reach and robust video features, but you will need to carefully consider whether this package is worth the small fortune the brand is asking for it.

mundophone

 

TECH

"VARgentina": AI-generated memes alleging Infantino favored Messi go viral after Argentina's comeback win against Egypt

Argentina's comeback victory over Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16 last Tuesday (7) sparked a wave of memes and accusations against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, driven by internet users' suspicions that the South American team was receiving preferential treatment.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Egypt threatened Argentina's goal for the second time. However, a goal by midfielder Zico was disallowed after French referee François Letexier called a foul on Argentine defender Lisandro Martínez at the start of the play. In the 22nd minute, Zico struck again, officially scoring the Egyptian team's second goal.

In the 34th minute, Argentina narrowed the deficit with a goal from defender Cristian Romero; in the 38th, they equalized through Messi—who had missed a penalty in the first half—and in the 48th, they took the lead with a header from Enzo Fernández.

The elimination fueled the "VARgentina" hashtag on social media, along with AI-generated images featuring Messi and Infantino, stemming from suspicions that FIFA was steering the tournament to benefit the player and his national team.

The FIFA chief has faced a series of controversies during his tenure... This incident adds to a list of controversies already surrounding Infantino's leadership at FIFA. Prior to the match between Argentina and Egypt, the organization's decision to lift the suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun for the Round of 16 clash against Belgium had also caused unease.

According to the BBC, UEFA described the decision as a "red line" crossed by FIFA, and former manager Jürgen Klopp stated that if Trump and Infantino had indeed resolved the matter between themselves, it "calls everything into question." Infantino himself denied any political interference, stating that the organization's disciplinary committee is independent.

Other episodes fueling mistrust regarding Infantino's leadership include:

The creation of the FIFA Peace Award, presented to Trump during the World Cup draw—an initiative criticized by the human rights NGO FairSquare for allegedly violating the organization's political neutrality rules;

The case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the United States by immigration authorities;

The selection of Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup—a decision the Norwegian federation described as a threat to confidence in FIFA's good governance reforms;

And the creation of the Club World Cup, described by FIFPRO president Sergio Marchi as a tournament imposed "without dialogue, sensitivity, or respect."

Despite the damage to his image, Infantino's position at the helm of FIFA remains secure. The current president has already secured the support of the South American, African, and Asian confederations for his 2027 re-election bid, garnering at least 111 of the 106 votes needed to win. These figures effectively rule out any rival candidacy, even if UEFA decides to make a definitive break with the executive.

mundophone