For all the hype about data centers in space, there just aren’t very many GPUs up there. As that starts to change, the near-term business of orbital compute is starting to take shape.

The largest compute cluster currently in orbit was launched by Canada’s Kepler Communications in January, and boasts about 40 Nvidia Orin edge processors onboard 10 operational satellites, all linked together by laser communications links.

The company now has 18 customers, and announced its newest on Monday — Sophia Space, a startup that will test the software for its unique orbital computer onboard Kepler’s constellation.

Experts expect that we won’t see large-scale data centers like those envisioned by SpaceX or Blue Origin until the 2030s. The first step will be processing data that is collected in orbit to improve the capabilities of space-based sensors used by private companies and government agencies.

Kepler doesn’t see itself as a data center company, but as infrastructure for applications in space, CEO Mina Mitry tells TechCrunch. It wants to be a layer that provides network services for other satellites in space, or drones and aircraft in the sky below.

Sophia, on the other hand, is developing passively-cooled space computers that could solve one of the key challenges for large-scale data centers in orbit: keeping powerful processors from overheating without having to build and launch heavy, expensive active-cooling systems. 

In the new partnership, Sophia will upload its proprietary operating system to one of Kepler’s satellites and attempt to launch and configure it across six GPUs on two spacecraft. That sort of activity is table stakes in a terrestrial data center, and this is the first time it will be attempted in orbit. Making sure the software works in orbit will be a key de-risking exercise for Sophia ahead of its first planned satellite launch in late 2027.

For Kepler, the partnership helps prove the utility of its network. Right now, it is carrying and processing data uploaded from the ground, or collected by hosted payloads on its own spacecraft. But as the sector matures, the company expects to start linking up with third-party satellites to provide networking and processing services. 

Mitry says satellite companies are now planning future assets around this model, pointing to the benefits of offloading processing for more power-hungry sensors, like synthetic aperture radar. The U.S. military is a key customer for that kind of work as it develops a new missile defense system predicated on satellites detecting and tracking threats. Kepler has already demonstrated a space-to-air laser link in a demo for the U.S. government.

That kind of edge processing — dealing with data where it is collected for faster responsiveness — is where orbital data centers will initially prove their value. That vision sets Sophia and Kepler apart from established space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, or startups like Starcloud and Aetherflux that are raising significant capital to focus on large-scale data centers with data center-style processors.

“Because we have the belief it’s more inference than training, we want more distributed GPUs that do inference, rather than one superpower GPU that has the training workload capacity,” Mitry told TechCrunch. “If this thing consumes kilowatts of power and you’re only running at 10% of the time, then that’s not super helpful. In our case, our GPUs are running 100% of the time.”

And once these technologies are proven in orbit, well, anything can happen. Sophia CEO Rob DeMillo points out that Wisconsin adopted a ban on data center construction last week, something some lawmakers in Congress are also pushing. Anything that limits data centers on Earth is, in their eyes, making the space-based alternative more attractive.

“There’s no more data centers in this country,” Demillo mused. “It’s gonna get weird from here.”

The Masters 2026 reaches its conclusion today with Rory McIlroy atop the leaderboard with Cameron Young. It’s very tight with eight players separated by just four shots.

The best part? We’ve found a simple way to stream all the action live from Augusta National at no cost. Find out more below.

Watch the Masters 2026 for free

Google has announced that end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Gmail on Android and iOS is now rolling out for its enterprise users. Emails that require E2EE in Workspace can be composed and read within the Gmail app, so eligible users won’t need additional apps or portals.

The new feature expands Google’s client-side encryption (CSE) offering, a little more than a year after E2EE was introduced to Gmail on the web. According to a Google blog post, any encrypted message sent to a recipient who uses the Gmail app will appear in their inbox as any email thread would. If they don’t have the app, they’re still able to read and reply to the email in their browser securely, regardless of their email address.

Google says the new functionality “combines the highest level of privacy and data encryption with a user-friendly experience for all users, enabling simple encrypted email for all customers from small businesses to enterprises and public sector.” Of course, “all users” applies only to Enterprise Plus members here, with the millions of people who use Gmail as their personal email service currently unable to take advantage of the highest level of privacy and data protection.

In order for Gmail users to start using E2EE in the app, an admin must first enable Android and iOS clients in the CSE admin interface, which is available in the Admin Console. When sending an email, you have to click the lock icon and select additional encryption before sending. Attachments can then be added as normal.

E2EE is available straight away in the Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. Enterprise users will need the Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on, which provides businesses and organizations that handle sensitive data with extra security and compliance-related tools.

When it comes to smart glasses, Apple seems to be taking the road less traveled. While others have leaned on big-name eyewear brands to make their tech look fashionable, Apple appears ready to do what it does best: keep everything in-house and call it a day. Competitors have played it smart by teaming up with established eyewear giants. It makes sense. If you’re putting a camera on someone’s face, you might as well make sure it looks like something they’d already wear. Apple, however, doesn’t seem interested in that route. Instead of partnering with brands like Ray-Ban or Oakley, the company is reportedly building its own identity from scratch. Which is a bold move but also a very Apple move. This is the same company that turned wireless earbuds into a fashion statement and made smartwatches feel like personal accessories. If anyone believes it can pull off eyewear without outside help, it’s Apple.

From grand AR dreams to something more grounded

Interestingly, Apple’s current approach is a far cry from where it started. Years ago, the company had a far more ambitious plan for head-worn tech, juggling multiple ideas at once from AR-heavy devices to fully immersive headsets. The vision was futuristic, layered, and, in hindsight, a bit ahead of its time. Fast forward to today, and things look a lot more practical. Instead of jumping straight to full-blown augmented reality glasses, Apple is starting with something simpler: display-free smart glasses that prioritize everyday convenience over visual spectacle. The only product from its original roadmap to reach the market is the Apple Vision Pro. Everything else has either been reworked or pushed further down the timeline.

Apple’s upcoming glasses aren’t trying to plaster digital overlays in front of your eyes. There’s no built-in display here, which might sound like a limitation, but it’s actually the point. Instead, the glasses are expected to rely on cameras, audio, and tight integration with your iPhone to get things done. Of course, none of this works without a brain behind it. Apple is banking on a significantly improved Siri to tie the whole experience together. The idea is that the glasses can see what you’re looking at, understand the context, and offer relevant information or actions without you needing to ask much.

The Apple way, as always

By skipping partnerships with legacy eyewear brands, Apple is clearly betting on its own design language to carry the product. It wants these glasses to be instantly recognizable. It’s a risky move, sure. But if there’s one thing Apple rarely does, it’s share the spotlight.

So while Apple’s smart glasses may not come with a famous fashion label attached, that might be the whole point. This isn’t about borrowing credibility, it’s about creating it. And if Apple gets it right, you won’t be asking who made the frames — you’ll already know.

If you don’t want to bother with cutting your own cubes, then Klaris has you covered. Klaris has labored to make a kitchen countertop version of the classic Clinebell machine, and we loved it. Trouble is, it costs a hard-to-swallow $550. Now, however, the company has created a new, cheaper version called the Klaris Mini, which retails at a much more palatable $300. The small 8 x 8 x 8-inch box produces two ultra-clear, 2-inch cubes at a time, which can then be stored away in your freezer if you’re stocking up before a party.

Nice Ice

Now, these methods effectively banish those pesky bubbles, but what about replicating that glacial purity in your homegrown luxury ice? It turns out there are three solutions here, and all are easily attainable at home—the last one remarkably so.

“Glacial ice is quite pure because it comes from rainwater,” Salzmann says, adding that the way to get cleaner water at home is to remove the ionic impurities (dissolved inorganic salts, minerals, and metals that carry a positive or negative charge, such as calcium, sodium, chloride, and sulfates). Salzmann says a water filter will remove much of the tap water impurities and pollutants, or you can use what Salzmann recommends: deionized water—”the kind you would use for doing the ironing.”

Clear choice: is this the best water for luxury home ice?

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Photograph: Crystal Geyser

But we’re not done yet. Now you have to get rid of the gases in your water that will increase the chances of cloudy ice. To do this, boil your water first to force out any gas, then freeze it before it can reabsorb any more.

There’s a nasty problem with drinking too much very pure water. “Within your cells in your body, there’s a lot of water—but there’s also lots of other stuff, dissolved materials that exert osmotic pressure on your cell membranes,” Salzmann says. “If the medium surrounding your cells does not have the same content of dissolved materials, there’s a different osmotic pressure. So, the bottom line is, if you drink too much deionized or super-pure water, it would be quite bad for you.” Now, we should point out here that you’d have to drink an awful lot of this pure water to run into trouble—a few ice cubes won’t come anywhere near close to causing you any problems.

Still, we can swerve even this last potential pitfall by turning to the sage advice of Kevin Clinebell, grandson of Virgil, who now runs the family company with his brother Scott.

“I’ve got a customer in Las Vegas that studied [using water filters], because Las Vegas has very poor water,” Clinebell says. “Their dissolved solids are something to the tune of 450 parts per million, whereas here [in Colorado], it’s 45 to 48 parts per million,” adding that the system was also very inefficient. “So he started playing with different bottled waters—Fiji, Aquafina, all different types. The one that he found that was as close to perfect as you could get is Crystal Geyser bottled water. That one gave him the best results of any water that he’s ever tried, and he’s running reverse osmosis and everything else.”

Getting La Grande Combinasion in Steal a Brainrot is a big deal. It’s not often that you find a Secret Brainrot that has a lot of characters and makes a lot of money. In this guide, we’ll talk about all the possible ways to get it without making things complicated.

The main reason La Grande Combinasion is special is that it is very powerful and hard to find. In the game, it costs about $1 billion, but it gives you $10 million every second, which makes it one of the best ways to make money. Its design is also very different from anything else. It looks strange but interesting because it’s a mix of different Brainrots.

Get La Grande Combinasion in Steal a Brainrot

La Grande Combinaison is hard to get, but you’re not limited to just one method. Compared to Los Combinasionas, you actually have better chances here.

1. Buy from Conveyor Belt

The conveyor belt method doesn’t involve any risk, which makes it the best option for many players. However, the biggest challenge is waiting. To increase your chances a bit, you can buy Server Luck for 249 Robux, but even then, it may still take time.

• Save up $1 billion in cash.
• Keep checking the conveyor belt regularly.
• Buy it immediately when it appears.

2. Steal from Other Players

Stealing is the fastest way to get La Grande Combinasion, but you can’t just rush in. You need to watch the player for a bit and wait for the right moment when they’re not paying attention. If your timing is off, there’s a good chance you’ll get caught. So it’s better to plan things properly—know when to move and how you’ll get out quickly.

• Keep changing servers until you find the Brainrot.
• Watch the owner’s base and wait for a chance.
• Use trap or stun items to stop them.
• Take it and go back to your base right away.

3. Trade in Private Servers

It’s safer to trade on a private server than to steal from random players. The risk is lower because both sides agree ahead of time. But you should only do this with someone you trust, because mistakes or lying can make you lose your Brainrot.

• Join a private server with a friend or someone you know.
• Settle on a fair Brainrot trade.
• Finish the trade by taking things from each other’s bases.

How to Protect La Grande Combinasion After Getting It?

After you get La Grande Combinasion, you really have to stay careful. It’s valuable, so people will try to take it from you. Make your base stronger, use traps, and don’t just leave it unattended. Even being away from the game for too long can cause problems if someone finds an easy way in.

If you’re trying to get it faster, keep hopping between servers instead of waiting in one place. Sometimes you’ll get lucky that way. Playing during updates can also help a bit. Server Luck is there, but don’t rely on it too much. Just be ready so that when you finally get it, you don’t lose it right away.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is very tricky, especially the purple category. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Let’s all go to the movies.

Green group hint: Abracadabra!

Blue group hint: Television people.

Purple group hint: Think hats.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Seen outside a theater.

Green group: Accessories for a magician.

Blue group: TV show title surnames.

Purple group: They have caps.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is seen outside a theater. The four answers are box office, marquee, ticket line and velvet rope.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is accessories for a magician. The four answers are cape, handkerchief, magic wand and rabbit.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is TV show title surnames. The four answers are House, Lasso, Montana and Soprano.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is they have caps. The four answers are baseball player, camera lens, mushroom and pen.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Symbol in the middle of Captain America’s shield
Answer: STAR

5A clue: Chanel’s interlocking C’s, e.g.
Answer: LOGO

6A clue: Content creator’s output
Answer: VIDEO

7A clue: Two-word denial
Answer: IDONT

8A clue: Fits one inside of the other
Answer: NESTS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Part of an office presentation
Answer: SLIDE

2D clue: List that might have check boxes
Answer: TODOS

3D clue: Contract negotiator
Answer: AGENT

4D clue: Jimmy Fallon’s house band, with “The”
Answer: ROOTS

6D clue: French for “wine”
Answer: VIN