Speed

A new cryptographic paper describes a method for forging 1024-bit RSA signatures at speeds approaching the Special Number Field Sieve's theoretical performance. The work, published on the IACR eprint archive, signals that 1024-bit RSA keys, long considered deprecated, are moving closer to practical attacks and that applications should migrate to 2048-bit or larger keys.

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine are cultivating human papillomavirus in the laboratory as a step toward improving vaccine development. HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus and a leading cause of cervical and other cancers, and easier lab cultivation could speed the testing and refinement of preventive vaccines.

A bipartisan group of US senators has reached an agreement on a bill to reform the permitting process for energy projects, with a vote expected after the midterm elections. The deal would speed approvals for infrastructure such as transmission lines and power projects, a priority for both energy developers and clean-energy advocates. Details of the agreement and its chances of passage remain to be seen.

The Federal Communications Commission has moved to relax its environmental review requirements for communications tower construction. The change reduces regulatory hurdles for building and upgrading tower infrastructure across the United States. Supporters see it as speeding up network expansion, while environmental advocates worry about reduced oversight of construction in sensitive habitats and protected areas.

The long-awaited text of US permitting reform legislation has been released, according to The Hill. The proposal, aimed at speeding up approval of infrastructure and energy projects, lands amid ongoing debate in Congress over how to balance faster development with environmental review protections. Lawmakers and industry and environmental groups are expected to weigh in on the details.

A group of US senators has introduced a 400-page bill designed to accelerate permitting for energy projects, cutting approval times for infrastructure such as transmission lines, power plants and pipelines. The legislation aims to address delays that developers and officials say slow down both fossil fuel and renewable energy build-out across the country.

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to exclude space activities from reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. The decision means FCC licensing actions affecting satellites and other space operations will no longer require environmental assessments. Space policy observers are watching how the change could speed up satellite approvals, including for large constellations.

On the second day of the Mission-K conference, defence speakers urged European militaries to deliver tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from space, arguing the war in Ukraine has shown how vital rapid satellite-based situational awareness is for frontline forces. Discussion centred on three defence challenges: speeding up acquisition, building resilient satellite constellations, and tightening cooperation between governments and commercial space firms.

Researchers have introduced GenAI-Net, a generative AI framework that automates the design of biomolecular networks. The framework uses generative models to construct network designs without manual intervention, potentially speeding up work in systems biology and bioengineering. Coverage so far is limited to the announcement, with details on validation and applications not yet widely reported.

Synopsys and OpenAI have struck a revenue-sharing agreement aimed at accelerating the design of semiconductor chips using OpenAI's AI technology. The deal ties Synopsys, a leading provider of electronic design automation software, to OpenAI's models to speed up chip development workflows. The financial terms were not disclosed, and the partnership underscores the growing role of AI in the semiconductor industry.

A roboticist is warning that safety should be the top priority in the development of humanoid robots. As companies race to build human-like machines for homes and workplaces, the researcher argues that protecting people must come before speed, capability or commercial goals. The remarks add to a growing debate about how quickly humanoid robots should be deployed and what standards should govern their behaviour around humans.

A lawsuit filed in connection with the so-called Cornell 7 case reportedly was served on the wrong person, and the mistaken individual is now facing widespread online harassment. Reporting by The Free Press says the man has become the target of an internet mob despite having no apparent connection to the case, raising questions about the lawsuit's handling and the speed of online pile-ons.