Researchers introduce FLASH, a pulsed-light attack that exploits temporal HDR fusion in modern cameras by creating cross-exposure inconsistencies, causing darkening and visibility loss across eight camera platforms including smartphones and automotive systems. The attack requires no physical access or knowledge of fusion algorithms and successfully triggers low-visibility responses and severe image degradation in real-world scenarios like autonomous driving systems.
Japanese startup Helical Fusion plans to begin power-on tests of its demonstration fusion reactor HARUKA in 2027, using helical fusion technology developed by Japan's National Institute for Fusion Science. The company aims to build a commercially viable fusion power plant by the 2040s, with support from the Japanese government's 3.1 trillion yen strategic investment in fusion energy.
Fusion startup Xcimer Energy activated its Phoenix laser system, claimed to be the world's largest privately owned laser. The system uses excimer laser technology modeled after the National Ignition Facility's successful fusion approach, generating over 1 kilojoule of energy with a 38-meter core. Xcimer plans to develop a commercial fusion power plant by the mid-2030s that produces at least as much power as it consumes.
Amit Sahai argues that as AI systems produce novel mathematical ideas faster than humans can follow, the research mathematics community must expand significantly to ensure humans can understand and validate these discoveries. This understanding is critical for responsible deployment of AI-generated innovations in domains like fusion energy, requiring sustained research groups and a global increase in mathematically sophisticated researchers.