Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the research division of Honda, successfully launched and vertically landed a prototype reusable rocket at its testing site in Taiki, Hokkaido, Japan.

The test vehicle stood 6.3 meters tall, weighed about 1.3 metric tons, and reached a height of 271 meters (890 feet). Most impressively, it achieved a precision landing within 37 centimeters of the designated pad after hovering for over 56 seconds.

This test was part of Honda’s long-term vision to develop low-cost, small-scale reusable launch systems that can support satellite deployment and suborbital missions.

By 2029, Honda aims to develop a rocket capable of reaching suborbital space (~100 km altitude), marking a serious entry into the private aerospace sector.

While Honda has not announced any immediate commercial plans, the test marks a significant milestone. It positions the company alongside global players like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ISRO, showcasing the potential of traditional automakers to expand into space technology.

The successful test also underscores Honda’s ability to integrate its automotive expertise—particularly in control systems and fuel efficiency—into space applications.

Every year, around June 20th or 21st, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest day of the year—the Summer Solstice. On this special day, the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, and we enjoy the most daylight of the entire year.

But here’s where it gets fascinating:

Ancient Celebrations Across the Globe
Long before smartphones and calendars, ancient civilizations paid close attention to the Sun’s movements. The Summer Solstice was seen as a spiritual event, often associated with fertility, harvests, and rebirth.

At Stonehenge in England, the rising Sun aligns perfectly with the Heel Stone—a mysterious monument built over 4,000 years ago.

In Scandinavia, people celebrate Midsummer by lighting bonfires and dancing around maypoles, celebrating light, love, and life.

In Japan, the solstice is tied to ancient Shinto traditions that honor the Sun goddess Amaterasu.

What Really Happens in the Sky?
The Summer Solstice occurs when the Earth’s axial tilt (about 23.5 degrees) leans most directly toward the Sun, giving the Northern Hemisphere maximum exposure. That’s why in places like Iceland, the Sun barely sets at all—locals experience the magical “Midnight Sun.”

Fun Fact
Even though it’s the longest day of the year, it’s not usually the hottest. Why? Because the oceans and land take time to absorb the Sun’s energy, meaning the real summer heat lags behind—often peaking in July or August!

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has set a new benchmark in wireless power transmission through its Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program.

In its latest demonstration, DARPA managed to transmit 800 watts of power over a distance of 1.6 kilometers (approximately 1 mile) using a laser-based system.

This significantly exceeds previous wireless power efforts, both in scale and practical efficiency. The experiment was conducted at the U.S. Army's Blossom Point test facility in Maryland.

-- How the Technology Works --

The POWER program uses high-energy infrared lasers to beam power across distances to remote receivers.

The core technology demonstrated was the Power Transmitting Optical System (PTOS) and Power Receiver Array Demonstrator (PRAD). The PRAD is a compact spherical receiver that focuses the laser through a small aperture using a parabolic mirror.

The laser light then strikes an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells, converting it back into usable electricity. This setup enables efficient, targeted wireless energy delivery using line-of-sight laser transmission.

-- Efficiency and Current Limitations --

During the test, the system achieved 20% end-to-end efficiency—meaning that 20% of the laser’s original energy was converted back into electricity at the receiving end.

While this may seem low, it is a notable accomplishment given the challenges of long-distance, high-power laser transmission. Improving efficiency remains a major goal in future phases.

The team believes that as this technology matures, it could support higher power levels and longer distances with better conversion rates.

An international team of physicists led by Professor Enrique Gaztañaga of the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth has questioned the idea that the Universe began with the Big Bang.

This new theory challenges the traditional Big Bang model by proposing that our universe was born inside a black hole from a previous universe.

Published in Physical Review D, the model uses Einstein–Cartan theory, which includes quantum "torsion" to prevent singularities. Instead of a singular beginning, the universe undergoes a "bounce" inside the black hole, expanding outward to become a new cosmos.

This bounce naturally explains both the early rapid expansion (inflation) and the current accelerated expansion (dark energy), without needing exotic new particles or fields.

The model also predicts a slightly curved, closed universe—something future space missions like ESA’s ARRAKIHS or NASA’s SPHEREx may be able to detect.

One of the most compelling predictions is that our universe could carry the spin of the parent black hole, potentially explaining why two-thirds of galaxies seem to rotate in the same direction.

If confirmed by future observations, this cosmic spin could be a key signature supporting the theory.

In essence, this bold idea reimagines our universe not as the beginning of everything, but as part of a cosmic cycle, where each black hole could spawn a new universe—each with its own evolution.

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