RSA

Developer Daniel Gultsch has announced that Conversations, the popular open-source XMPP chat app for Android, is no longer distributed through Google Play and is now available free of charge. In his announcement he explains the reasons for leaving Google's store, and the move is drawing wide discussion among open-source and privacy-minded users.

SpaceX has carried out a full launch rehearsal at its Starbase facility in Texas as it prepares for the fourteenth test flight of its Starship rocket. The rehearsal, reported by spaceflight outlet NASASpaceflight, marks a key step in final preparations, and attention is now turning to when the next Starship launch attempt will take place.

Universal's movie slate is generating exceptionally strong box office revenue in 2026, according to a Gizmodo report making the rounds among film and entertainment watchers. The studio's releases this year have performed remarkably well commercially, prompting discussion about its dominance at the multiplex and what it means for the broader studio landscape.

Researchers report that the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere has declined, a reversal of the long-term trend. The shift is described as mysterious, with the causes not yet fully understood. Dust affects climate, weather patterns and air quality, so scientists are paying close attention to what is driving the change and what it could mean for warming.

A new examination of chronic traumatic encephalopathy lays out what researchers actually know about the brain disease linked to repeated head impacts, and where the science remains unsettled. The piece reviews current evidence on diagnosis, causes and prevalence, while acknowledging open questions that persist despite widespread public concern about CTE in contact sports.

Ambassador Mike Waltz says the United States held conversations with China regarding dealings connected to the Iran war. The remarks point to diplomatic contact between Washington and Beijing over Iran-related matters during the conflict. Further details about the content or outcome of those discussions were not provided.

A new cryptography paper describes a method for forging 1024-bit RSA signatures in time close to that of the Special Number Field Sieve, the best known algorithm for factoring such keys. The result suggests 1024-bit RSA, still found in older systems, offers less security margin than assumed, renewing calls to migrate to 2048-bit keys or elliptic-curve alternatives.

The United Nations has officially declared September 29 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The designation recognises the public's right to seek and receive information held by public bodies, a right seen as central to transparency, accountability and informed civic participation. Observers note it underscores growing international commitment to open government and press freedom.