Merz’s CDU collapses as AfD surges in German state votes In state elections on 20 September, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) won Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 38.2% of the vote, more than doubling its 2021 share, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) scored 4.9% and fell below the 5% threshold for the first time … Read more
Quantum Jumps of Sound Observed in Real Time Stanford researchers have recorded the first real-time quantum jumps of individual phonons—quanta of sound—in a mechanical resonator. A microscopic device coupled to a superconducting qubit showed a vibration abruptly dropping from one energy quantum to zero, rather than fading continuously. The result, published in Science and highlighted … Read more
Middle East oil shocks deepen amid Iran war Saudi Arabia has delayed or canceled multiple crude shipments to Europe after an attack damaged its East-West pipeline, with full restoration possibly taking weeks. Houthis have seized positions near the Bab al-Mandeb, adding pressure on Red Sea shipping, while partial Hormuz flows remain fragile. Brent crude has … Read more
Bitcoin Surges Past $86,000 on Short Squeeze Bitcoin climbed to multi-month highs near $86,000–$87,000, its strongest level since January, after clearing key resistance around $82,000. The move liquidated roughly $650–750 million in short positions over 24 hours, with forced covering adding buying pressure; total crypto liquidations exceeded $1 billion in some estimates. Spot Bitcoin ETFs … Read more
AfD surge and CDU collapse in German state votes In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state elections on 20 September, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place with around 38% of the vote, more than doubling its 2021 share. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) crashed to 4.9%, falling below the 5% threshold and losing all … Read more
Roman Telescope’s 300-Megapixel Camera Comes Online NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully powered up its Wide Field Instrument, a 300-megapixel infrared camera, while en route to the Sun-Earth L2 point. The activation, following cooling of its 18 detectors to operating temperatures near –143 °C, and early checks of the Coronagraph Instrument mark a … Read more
Bitcoin Surges Above $85,000 on Oil Decline and Short Squeeze Bitcoin climbed past $85,000 on September 21, reaching its highest level since late January and gaining roughly 5% over 24 hours. The move coincided with falling crude prices, rising equity futures, and heavy short liquidations exceeding $300 million in one hour (mostly shorts, per CoinGlass), … Read more
AfD breakthrough shatters Merz’s authority Two German state elections on 20 September delivered a severe blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his CDU. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the AfD became the largest party with roughly 38%, more than doubling its previous share, while the CDU collapsed below 5% and exited the state parliament for the first … Read more
NIST Measurement Deepens Gravity Constant Puzzle A decade-long NIST experiment measuring the gravitational constant G has yielded a value 0.0235% lower than a leading 2007 French BIPM result, after researchers unsealed a blinding envelope containing a secret offset. The team used a torsion balance with copper and sapphire masses, combining free-deflection and electrostatic-servo methods, reporting … Read more
Iran War Stalemate Deepens as Houthis Disrupt Shipping The US-Iran conflict, now in its seventh month, shows no path to resolution as Houthi forces in Yemen seize key Red Sea positions and attack Saudi shipping and infrastructure. This has driven global tanker rates above $1 million per day and Panama Canal auction slots to records … Read more