Nature abhors a vacuum, so the saying goes, but nobody told the universe. Space is filled with cosmic voids—vast regions mostly free of matter that have opened between dense threads of material that make up a cosmic web.

Far from being vacant backwaters with little to study, these voids may hold solutions to some of the most persistent cosmic mysteries, such as the behavior of gravity, the nature of dark energy, and the so-called Hubble tension, an observational mismatch in the expansion rate of the universe that has caused astronomers’ headaches for years.

“With voids, we have the power to tackle most of the interesting cosmological riddles,” says Alice Pisani, a research professor in cosmology working at the Centre for Particle Physics in Marseille (CPPM) of the French National Centre for Scientific Research. She adds that because there’s less interference from matter, there’s a “high signal-to-noise” ratio in terms of what researchers can observe.

The advent of new telescopes and advanced simulations has supercharged this field, inspiring a growing community of scientists worldwide to specialize in voids as unique cosmological laboratories. Some experts argue we may even live inside a colossal void, a position that may alter our view of the universe in consequential ways.

For places defined by sparseness, voids are becoming cosmological heavyweights, where the laws of physics can be observed with unusual clarity.

“From a cosmology perspective, it is a very exciting time,” Pisani says.

What Are Cosmic Voids?

Following the Big Bang, the universe was a uniform soup of subatomic particles. But over millions of years, as matter cooled and stabilized into atoms, the faint outlines of the cosmic web began to emerge.

Over billions of years, the web gravitationally pulled gas clouds, galaxy clusters, and other cosmic objects toward its scaffolding. As more matter is drawn into the web, gaps have widened between its filaments, forming voids.

Small “subvoids” can open between galaxy clusters, where they might be only 10 or 20 million light years across. But voids can get bigger. Much bigger. The Boötes Void, also known as the “Great Nothing,” stretches across more than 300 million light years.

Calling them cosmic voids can be “misleading,” Pisani says, “because we end up thinking that a void means empty. But as a matter of fact, the voids that we look at are never empty. There are very tiny low-mass galaxies inside those under-dense regions.” The Boötes Void, for example, contains a few dozen galaxies— though that’s still far less than the thousands that would be expected in a similarly sized area.

Because they are comparatively bereft of material, cosmic voids remained out of observational view until the late 1970s. Until that point, the positions of galaxies had been mapped as 2D points on the sky, but the development of 3D maps of galaxy distribution revealed the contours of the cosmic web for the first time, exposing the presence of voids.

In recent years, a host of new telescope surveys have kicked off an explosion of new void discoveries, such as the Dark Energy Survey Instrument (DESI) in Arizona, and the European Euclid space telescope. These instruments are expected to map more than 100,000 voids in space, offering an unprecedented glimpse of these structures. Yet these surveys will still only capture a fraction of the many millions of voids that are estimated to exist in the observable universe.

“Just in the last 10 years, the field really evolved significantly with new technologies,” says Nico Schuster, a cosmologist and cosmic void expert at CPPM. “All of that really enables us to observe plenty more galaxies than we could before, and that really allows us to probe, finally, the cosmic web at a much deeper depth, and find more voids and resolve them better.”

Google recently opened its labs to show off an experimental AI agent that appears full-size on the Beam telepresence device. Reporters who stepped in for a close look described the figure as strikingly realistic, smiling and moving in ways that made the conversation feel natural.

Beam started as a way to make remote participants appear to be sitting right there with you, accurate to scale and depth. The Dimension, a collaboration with HP, combines six cameras and a powerful server configuration to create a believable 3D presence. Instead of flat video, you get a person on the other end who appears to have just sat down in the same room with you, owing to spatial audio, which places speech exactly where the speakers are onscreen.

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The latest trial expands on that by including an AI agent. For the time being, she goes by the name Sophie, and she is a basic yet effective presence. She wears a dark turtleneck top, speaks clearly, and is fluent in several languages. She can even notice her surroundings through the cameras and read writing, look up the weather or a map, and answer basic questions. She even utilizes motions, albeit they can be a little out of rhythm because the system binds them to the music.

Group meetings are now possible with Beam, since remote colleagues coming in from computers or phones via Google Meet appear in full size on the large screen. The system does its best to keep everyone on the same scale and employs positional sound to indicate who is speaking from where. Google has also been looking into possible partnerships with Zoom to provide users with more options. The goal is to make these hybrid meetings feel more balanced and connected, especially when some participants are present in a room while others are dialing in from afar.

The engineers built the agent on cloud servers rather than on a local workstation. So the Beam unit simply catches the environment and sends information back up to the cloud, while the AI responds in real-time. In the current samples, the agent only appears in 2D on the screen, but this still creates a far greater sensation of shared presence than normal video calls. Specifically because of accurate eye contact, natural head tracking, and awareness of physical space.

Some companies have already had early access to the hardware in their workplaces. For the time being, the life-size AI trial is only taking place at Google Labs, with the Mountain View location serving as the primary testing area. That’s where the developers are putting it through its paces, doing extended durability testing and fine-tuning the accuracy of the head tracking. It’s a bit of a guessing game, but the same agent may end up being utilized for a variety of other things, including information desks, guest greeting systems, and any case where consistent availability is required. It may also be used at hotels or theme parks to answer inquiries and guide visitors around without the need for a human service member to be there at all times.
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Planting a garden or laying down sod for your yard is the easy part. Keeping that foliage appropriately hydrated, that’s the real challenge—and it’s one that just keeps going and going, only getting more complicated as the seasons change.

In recent years, interior smart home technology has spilled outside, and you’ll now find dozens of wireless watering systems on the market that can take some of the confusion and complexity out of irrigating your plants. Whether you have a sophisticated in-ground sprinkler or drip irrigation system or you rely on an old-fashioned hose, multiple smart watering solutions are readily available. The good news: We’ve got you covered no matter what type of outdoor environment you have.

Be sure to check out our other guides to backyard tech, including the Best Smart Bird Feeders, Best Grills and Smart Grills, Best Flat-Top Grills and Griddles, Best Coolers, and Best Pool Cleaning Robots.

What Can Smart Irrigation Systems Do?

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Across the board, smart watering solutions are fundamentally designed around scheduling. While you can always initiate a manual watering run with one of these systems, their real value is in setting up a recurring schedule so you can basically forget about them. The best systems offer sophisticated scheduling tools that let you water on your chosen days of the week or month, along with the time of watering and the amount of water you want to deliver.

Best of all, the more sophisticated solutions include what’s now commonly known as “weather intelligence,” a fancy way of saying they will check the internet for local weather conditions and adjust watering based on whether it’s going to rain or freeze. Many systems will also work with wireless soil monitors to give you even finer control over ground moisture levels—and help you conserve as much water as possible.

What if I Have an Existing Irrigation System?

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If you already have an in-ground watering system with a traditional timer attached, upgrading to a smart irrigation system is pretty simple. You simply remove your old controller and replace it with the smart one, connecting the zone wiring leads to the terminal posts inside the smart controller, just as they were in the old controller, leaving the remaining infrastructure in place. (Make sure the controller you purchase has enough zones to handle your infrastructure; controllers typically support either 8 or 16 zones.)

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Photograph: Chris Null

From there, you’ll use an app to configure your zones based on plant type, shade conditions, and soil type. Most apps will recommend watering durations for each zone based on this information, and you can fine-tune these durations as you go, zone by zone. For setups involving a garden hose, configuration is even easier. Smart sprinklers attach to the terminus of any standard hose and can be placed anywhere in your yard. Alternately, smart hose timers attach to the spigot; you then connect your own sprinkler (or, in some cases, drip irrigation) to the timer. Mobile app features will of course vary, but many are just as sophisticated as permanent smart sprinkler systems.

How I Test Smart Irrigation Systems

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I’ve been testing smart irrigation products since 2017 in yards as large as 1.3 acres in both California and Texas. My current sprinkler system is a permanently plumbed solution that spans 11 zones and includes both in-ground sprinklers and drip irrigation. For hose-based solutions, I test by connecting to a standard hose spigot, typically in both lawn and flower bed environments.

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Best Smart Controller for In-Ground Sprinkler Systems

Rachio

3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

I’ve tested over a dozen smart sprinkler controllers with my underground irrigation systems, and this Rachio controller is the one I use every day. To be sure, there’s nothing remarkable about the hardware, though it’s easy to connect zone wiring thanks to spring-loaded clips instead of screws, and the onboard controls cover just the basics.

The real magic is in Rachio’s app. Here, you define your zones based on vegetation type, nozzle/drip type, soil type, sun exposure level, and slope. If you want to get really wild, advanced options let you set everything from root depth to the amount of water depletion you wish to allow. Assign each zone a name and a photo, and they’re all presented in an intuitive grid, which you can use as a point-and-click interface for manual watering operations as needed.

Rachio’s scheduling can be fixed based on day or date, or dynamic, with adjustments automatically applied based on rolling weather conditions. The app’s logging system is copious, detailing every run’s timing and duration—for each zone and each day. It’s also easy to share access with my professional irrigation team, so they can periodically test zones for leaks or other problems without needing physical access to my garage, where the controller lives.

Other Solid Smart Controller Picks

Irrigreen 3.0

Photograph: Christopher Null

Irrigreen 3.0 Starting at $2,089: Irrigreen isn’t just a controller. It’s a pricey, complete irrigation solution that requires fresh plumbing and an upgrade of all your sprinkler heads to Irrigreen’s conservationist “water painting” system. I wouldn’t rip out an existing system for it, but if you’re installing sprinklers from scratch, it’s worth a strong look.

Silver paint catches every ray of sunlight across the smooth curves of this 2006 Aston Martin DB9. A linear actuator tilts the front fascia forward on hinged brackets. Twin assemblies shaped like miniguns slide into view right behind the grille. Propane and oxygen tanks stored in the trunk feed these devices so they shoot real flames when activated. Smoke canisters mounted on the rear subframe release thick clouds for equally dramatic exits. These effects turn the car into a rolling tribute to James Bond without any actual weapons involved.

Power comes from a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 that used to power a Corvette, as creating this car required removing the standard V12 and installing some aftermarket goodies such as a mild camshaft, bespoke air intake, and long tube headers. The electronics are handled by a Holley Terminator X Max system, giving the entire setup a professional appearance. And it all goes to the rear wheels via a 4L65E four-speed automatic transaxle sourced from a Corvette and still connected to the existing subframe. All of this results in smooth, powerful acceleration and the distinct growl of a genuine American V8.

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Inside the cabin, black Alcantara has been utilized to cover the seats, center console, and door panels, adding a stylish touch. The instrument cluster features bespoke digital gauges and a Bond-themed design. A specialized control panel is crammed into the center stack, and the push-button gear selector is hidden in the console. You can connect your music over Bluetooth to a modern digital receiver, and because some people prefer that sort of thing, a manual toggle has been installed for the air conditioning compressor, which is very reasonable. The windshield wipers are still locked in neutral, which isn’t a bad thing, and the horn has been moved to the dashboard for better access. To avoid potential problems, fuel is added slowly to the tank.

Conquer Custom in Tampa, Florida completely rebuilt this DB9. They purchased it in 2021, after a prior accident had declared it a total write-off. After then, salvage titles began to oppose it, but they were eventually able to get it re-titled as a rebuilt one. They wanted to highlight the Holley engine management system and make it a true eye-catcher worthy of the big screen. The final automobile had its public debut at the 2025 LS Fest in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Since the work was completed, the automobile has accumulated around 4,500 miles.

However, the unusual DB9 is still available through a live Bring a Trailer auction, so fans of the series with a large budget will still have a chance at it when the sale closes on May 24th. The price is steadily creeping beyond $40,000 at the moment.
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