Tech

Samsung is said to be testing the next iteration dubbed One UI 8.5, following the wider rollout of Android 16-based One UI 8 in recent weeks,. According to a recent report, the South Korean tech conglomerate is developing a new feature to help prioritise certain notifications on Galaxy smartphones. The feature’s description further reveals that the notification content will be processed on the smartphone, which indicates that it may not make use of the cloud for data processing or storage.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be announced next year. The official launch date is still under wraps, but ahead of it, case and accessory maker Thinborne has listed its Galaxy S26 Ultra case online, hinting at the phone's design. The listing hints at Qi2 wireless charging support. The case is said to be made of 600D Aramid Fibre material.

A new “mechanochemical” process allows the recycling of Teflon by grinding it with sodium metal at room temperature. This solvent-free reaction breaks down Teflon’s carbon-fluorine bonds, producing harmless carbon and sodium fluoride instead of toxic PFAS. The sodium fluoride can be reused in fluorine-based products, making this approach a breakthrough for sustainable plastic recycling and circular fluorine chemistry.

A team of scientists has created a microscopic engine made from a 5-micrometre glass bead suspended in an electric field. By applying oscillating voltages, the bead moves as if it’s in an environment of 13 million°C, even though it remains cool. The study reveals bizarre thermodynamic effects at tiny scales, offering clues to how natural molecular “machines” work inside living cells.