Believe it or not, your phone’s tiniest vibrations can reveal your conversations — thanks to AI.
A team of computer science researchers at Penn State has developed a startling new way to eavesdrop on phone calls remotely by decoding subtle vibrations emitted by a cellphone’s earpiece.
Using millimeter-wave radar combined with an AI speech recognition system, their setup can capture and transcribe conversations from up to 10 feet away with about 60% accuracy.
This breakthrough raises significant privacy concerns about the potential misuse of such emerging technologies.
The research builds on a 2022 project where the team achieved up to 83% accuracy in recognizing 10 predefined words using a similar approach.
The new work extends this capability to continuous speech transcription, though the accuracy is lower due to the complexity of decoding noisy radar data.
“When we talk on a cellphone, we tend to ignore the vibrations that come through the earpiece and cause the whole phone to vibrate,” said first author Suryoday Basak, a doctoral candidate in computer science.
“If we capture these same vibrations using remote radars and bring in machine learning to help us learn what is being said, using context clues, we can determine whole conversations. By understanding what is possible, we can help the public be aware of the potential risks.”
The team used a millimeter-wave radar sensor, the same technology employed in self-driving cars, motion detectors, and 5G wireless networks, to measure the tiny surface vibrations generated by speech played through a phone earpiece.
To interpret this noisy and low-quality data, they adapted Whisper, an open-source AI speech recognition model developed for clean audio, using a low-rank adaptation machine learning technique.
This method allowed them to retrain just 1 percent of Whisper’s parameters specifically for radar data, improving transcription results without rebuilding the entire model from scratch.
Radar tech breakthrough
The experimental setup involved positioning the radar sensor about three meters (10 feet) away from the phone to capture the minute vibrations.
The data was then fed into the customized AI model, which produced transcriptions with around 60 percent accuracy over a vocabulary of up to 10,000 words.
While this is far from perfect, the researchers noted that even partial keyword matches could have serious security implications.
“The result was transcriptions of conversations, with an expectation of some errors, which was a marked improvement from our 2022 version, which outputs only a few words,” said co-author Mahanth Gowda, associate professor of computer science and engineering.
“But even picking up partial matches for speech, such as keywords, are useful in a security context.”
The team compared their approach to lip reading, which typically captures only 30% to 40% of spoken words but can still help people infer conversations when combined with context.
Similarly, the radar-AI system’s output, though imperfect, can reveal sensitive information when supplemented with prior knowledge or manual correction.
Privacy risks amplified
Basak emphasized the potential privacy risks posed by this emerging technology.
“Similar to how lip readers can use limited information to interpret conversations, the output of our model combined with contextual information can allow us to infer parts of a phone conversation from a few meters away,” he said.
“The goal of our work was to explore whether these tools could potentially be used by bad actors to eavesdrop on phone conversations from a distance. Our findings suggest that this is technically feasible under certain conditions, and we hope this raises public awareness so people can be more mindful during sensitive calls.”
The U.S. National Science Foundation supported the research, and the team stressed that their experiments are intended to highlight possible vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them.
They envision future efforts to develop protective measures to secure personal conversations from this kind of remote surveillance.
At the end of Squid Game season three, Cate Blanchett appears playing ddakji in a back alley with a man who seems to be homeless, which is similar to what her counterparts did in South Korea in the events of the series.
In an interview with Variety, the Oscar winner said the “came out of the blue,” and the actress said she was not given the complete details about it.
“Because it’s such a cult series and they were shooting in L.A. of all places, everyone was on a need-to-know basis,” she explained, adding she had to bring her own suit because the production said.
To keep her cast a surprise, Cate said she practised her scene several times to get it right. “I got a couple of storyboards. I had to [learn to] play the game very quickly. I had to practice and practice.”
The star continued, “I knew there were four or five setups that they were going to do, and I knew what they needed from every shot, and then I was given the sides. But it was one of the more mysterious jobs.”
Given her cameo, the actress expressed openness to appearing in the potential Squid Game spinoff or sequel.
“I am wildly open to anything,” she shared. “And in a world that is so beautifully, magically created like that, for sure.”
The 56-year-old also raved about the makers of Squid Game, which has a massive global viewership. “They’re amazing world-builders, and that series has been eaten alive. I don’t think there’s a corner of the globe that it hasn’t touched in some way.”
11 August, 2025 – Theon International Plc (THEON) is proud to announce new strategic investments and strategic partnerships as part of its THEONNEXTinitiative, building a platform to drive the development of next-generation soldier systems through targeted investments, collaborations, and co-development initiatives.
With a focus on the creation of innovative DigitalandAugmentedReality(AR)solutions THEON NEXT aims to onboard best-in-class partners in their field of expertise to help shaping the future of operational dominance in modern warfare environments. To this end, THEON is announcing four major investments / strategic cooperations in the United States and Europe, marking a significant milestone in its journey to continue being a global leader in man-portable electro-optics. These transactions reinforce THEON’s commitment to innovation, supply chain security, and transatlantic cooperation in defense technologies.
Following the establishment of a leading position in night vision systems, THEON has successfully expanded into thermal and digital solutions with its new A.R.M.E.D. product family. Similarly to the approach adopted for traditional Night Vision systems, favoring vertical integration and long-term supply agreements, THEON is now proactively stepping further into the rapidly growing Digital and AR domain, which relies on three critical technologies:
Augmented and Virtual Reality Software – the foundation of next-generation soldier systems, enabling immersive situational awareness, enhanced decision- making, and digital overlays in real-world environments.
Micro-displays – essential for next generation visual augmentation systems, with a strategic focus on developing a US-European microLED technology.
Near-RangeWirelessConnectivity – enabling seamless, cable-free integration of soldier gear with real-time data transmission.
To successfully face these challenges, THEON announces four major initiatives and agreements that not only constitute relevant milestones in its technological roadmap but also deepen the US-European industrial cooperation:
First, THEON is investing a total of $15 million in Kopin Corporation (KOPIN, NASDAQ: KOPN),aUS-baseddefensemicro-display andsub-system specialist with operations in the US and Scotland, UK. This comprises a $7 million interest bearing loan, convertible in preferred stock of KOPIN at a share price range of $3 to $4.5 in THEON’s option, and $8 million capital increase for the acquisition of a 49% stake in KOPIN’s Scottish subsidiary, which will serve as the foundation for a new European joint venture acting as the global (non-US) conduit for the production and distribution of AR-enabledsystems co-developed between KOPIN and THEON and microLED display production. The whole investment in KOPIN of $15 million, is geared towards the co-development of products and reflects the belief by THEON, that the already extensive R&D investments that KOPIN has undertaken have established the necessary foundation, for a cooperation that can promptly translate into cost efficient, AR-enabled products.
This strategic partnership will also see THEON US subsidiary (T-Industries) moving their relevant industrial and product development operations at KOPIN’s facility in Reston, VA, which shall become the US manufacturing hub for THEON’s AR-enabled and future digital electro-optic products. As part of T-Industries’ normal course of business, THEON, over the next five years, will be investing $8 million to support its US operations, as well as the new KOPIN -THEON co-development efforts. Thisnewcooperationwillnotaffect THEON’s two existing partnerships in the night vision domain.
Secondly, THEON has signed a renewable minimum two-year supply agreement with eMagin, aUS-based manufacturer ofOLED micro-displays and virtual imaging technologies. eMagin specializes in high-resolution displays for military aviation, night vision, AR/VR, and other near-eye imaging applications. eMagin is a strategic supplier to THEON, providing most OLED displays used in THEON’s products, including A.R.M.E.D. products, including foremost IRIS-C.
Thirdly, THEON has entered into a strategic partnership with ALEREON,aU.S.-based leader in Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) wireless technology. ALEREON provides battle- proven UWB solutions that form the established Intra-Soldier communication protocol for the U.S. Army, enabling secure, jam-resistant communication between devices such as between THEON’s THERMIS, THEA, IRIS-C, and ORION. Unlike conventional protocols like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, ALEREON’s UWB technology delivers unparalleled security, low latency, and resilience in battlefield conditions. Through this partnership, THEON will fully integrate UWB into its A.R.M.E.D. product line, produce it in Greece and will promotethisuniquesolutioninEuropeandtheMiddleEastasALEREON’sprimary partner in the regions.
Lastly, THEON announces a strategic minority investment in Varjo Technologies Oy (VARJO), a Finnish deep-tech company specializing in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) headsets and applications, deepening THEON’s reach into the European innovation ecosystem. VARJO was founded in 2016 and supplies the most relevant aerospace and defense companies globally, delivering advanced military-grade VR/MR technology for training and simulation. The strategic collaboration between THEON andVARJO will combine THEON’s technological know-how with VARJO’S advanced virtualand mixed reality hardware and software, with the companies having agreed to collaborate closely on multiple product and business initiatives. The agreement envisages an investment in VARJO via a €5 million convertible loan, structured to be converted into VARJO share capital upon the occurrence of defined events. THEON also holds an option to invest an additional €5 million under the same terms. This investment will support VARJO’S continued development of immersive technologies and reinforce THEON’s digital expansion strategy under the THEON NEXT initiative, particularly on the development of high-tech products for defense applications.
Christian Hadjiminas, CEO of THEON, stated: “Following the recent significant KAPPA acquisition, THEON has managed to sign such pioneering agreements, ensuring it retains its leading position in man-portable electro-optics. We are very proud that these arrangements bring the US and Europe closer together to develop the next generation of soldier-borne systems. The partnership initially involves operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland as well as Greece and will be eventually enlarged into Germany and Belgium where our EU thermal/digital hub is being established. Together, we are pushing the frontier of Augmented Reality defense capabilities. These initiatives and investments will be further expanded upon during our announced Capital Markets Day to be held in Athens in November 2025 (details to be publicized). I am very proud of our commercial and R&D teams that have helped secure these agreements in a short time frame following a thorough review of essential technologies and potential partners over the past 12 months.”
Dimitrios Mandridis, CTO of Theon Sensors stated: “THEON has managed to establish an advanced global technical cooperation framework combining all key technologies of the new inter-connected AR-capable-soldier era, as can be seen by the introduction of THEON’s A.R.M.E.D. product line and its ever-growing adoption by modern armies. Every piece of this cooperation ensures that THEON will be at the forefront of new developments in the digital and AR technology space which further evolve THEON’s A.R.M.E.D. product line for the benefit of our final customers. THEON’s R&D department has been expanded and restructured to enable the integration of all these partnerships.”
Dimitris Parthenis, CFO of THEON, stated: “Obtaining key technologies—especially when these relate to large companies also operating in the civil sector—through such agreements represents a flexible and financially efficient investment and rapid outcome for all our stakeholders. THEON’s option to convert such development funds into equity positions would positively affect its future financial results. The current investment, totaling €25 million over two to five years, is expected to be paid back quickly, through enhancing the features and the price positioning of our current offer and also via the future growth of these companies that have some of the most promising civil and defense technologies. We are proud to be looking to the future with these compelling partners who share our leading entrepreneurial spirit.”
Michael Murray, CEO of KOPIN, stated: “With defense investments accelerating globally, especially among European NATO allies, strategic partnerships have become critical to delivering next-generation, mission-ready technologies. We are proud to collaborate with THEON in a partnership that exemplifies innovation, agility, and shared purpose. By integrating KOPIN’s cutting-edge micro-displays and application-specific optical subassemblies with Theon’s advanced expertise in night vision, thermal imaging, and Electro-Optical ISR systems, we are not only meeting the evolving demands of modern defense operations, but we are also actively shaping the future of battlefield awareness and operational effectiveness.”
AmalGhosh,CEOofeMagin stated: “We are excited to partner with Theon, a leader in advanced optics and imaging systems, to integrate eMagin’s state-of-the-art OLED microdisplay technology into their next generation of products. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to delivering unmatched image quality, performance, and reliability for mission-critical applications. By combining eMagin’s innovation in microdisplays with Theon’s expertise in precision optics, we are poised to create solutions that set a new standard in the field and deliver exceptional value to customers worldwide.”
David Shoemaker,CEOof ALEREON, stated: “We’re excited to partner with THEON and be part of this forward-looking initiative. THEON’S proven expertise in electro-optics and extensive international business development network make them an ideal ally in expanding the reach and implementation of ALEREON’s UWB technology. With THEON as our key partner in Europe and the Middle East, we look forward to bringing our battle- proven communication solutions into the hands of many more allied soldiers.”
TimoToikkanen,CEOofVARJO,added: “We are proud to welcome THEON as a strategic investor in VARJO. Since our inception, VARJO has been creating the most advanced VR/XR military systems globally. THEON’s extensive experience and leadership in the defense sector make them an ideal partner as we expand our impact in mission-critical training and simulation, enabling unprecedented levels of realism, readiness, and operational effectiveness.”
AboutTHEONGROUP THEON GROUP of companies develops and manufactures cutting-edge night vision and thermal Imaging systems for Defense and Security applications with a global footprint. THEON GROUP started its operations in 1997 from Greece and today occupies a leading role in the sector thanks to its international presence through subsidiaries and production facilities in Greece, Cyprus, Germany, the Baltics, the United States, the Gulf States, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Singapore and South Korea. THEON GROUP has more than 220,000 systems in service with Armed and Special Forces in 71 countries around the world, 26 of which are NATO countries. ΤΗΕΟΝ ΙΝΤΕRNATIONAL PLC has been listed on Euronext Amsterdam (AMS: THEON) since February 2024. www.theon.com
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 family on September 9, and as we get closer to that day more and more rumors are coming out about them. Today’s is all about antenna positioning in the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro (and presumably the iPhone 17 Pro Max too).
The antennas will allegedly be repositioned around the rear camera module, which will extend across the entire width of the device, as you may already know since this was by far one of the most rumored design changes supposedly coming this year.
Apple’s inspiration for the antenna repositioning might have been the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2, which both feature strategically integrated antennas in order to maximize reception and signal stability, according to the source of today’s rumor.
Current iPhones place the antennas along the chassis edges, with visible breaks in the frame to let signals through. For the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple apparently wants to reduce interference from the chassis materials and enhance both 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. The camera island is an area less prone to shielding and interference, thus it was a good choice for improving performance in congested environments and ensuring a stable connection.
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) — UN humanitarians on Monday demanded urgent action as Gaza’s health authorities reported that more than 100 children have died from malnutrition since the war began in October 2023.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said its relief partners in Gaza described surpassing the 100 deaths as a “devastating milestone that shames the world and demands long overdue urgent action.”
More than 300,000 children remain at severe risk, and more than a third of the Gaza population reports not eating for days at a time, the World Food Programme said.
It said that to meet the basic humanitarian food assistance needs in Gaza, more than 62,000 tonnes are required every month. So far, humanitarians have not been permitted to bring in enough supplies to support the survival of the 2 million people in Gaza.
OCHA said the United Nations and its partners reported they were able to collect some food, fuel and supplies, including hygiene kits, from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing on Sunday. However, the supplies were offloaded before the trucks reached their destination.
The office said the fuel also transited the same crossing.
OCHA said the Israeli authorities allow an average of approximately 150,000 liters daily. It remains far below the minimum required to sustain life-saving operations. The Palestine Civil Defense reported that more than half of its ambulances have stopped operating across Gaza, due to a shortage of fuel and spare parts.
The Food and Agriculture Organization last week warned that only 1.5 percent of cropland in Gaza is both accessible and undamaged, signaling a near-total collapse of the local food system.
Ramesh Rajasingham, director of OCHA’s Coordination Division, in a rare Sunday UN Security Council session, described humanitarian conditions in Gaza as “beyond horrific.”
He also expressed deep concern over the prolonged conflict and reports of atrocities and a further human toll that is likely to unfold following Israel’s decision to expand military operations in Gaza, calling it a “grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering.”
Rajasingham said that whatever lifelines remain in Gaza are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement, and insufficient levels of life-saving aid.
Also on Sunday, Israeli forces struck a tent in front of Al Shifa Hospital and killed six journalists inside. Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, more than 240 journalists have been killed. OCHA reiterated that all civilians, including journalists, must be protected under international humanitarian law. ■
1. Higher Post-operative Day 1 (POD1) pain scores were independently associated with increased 30-day infectious and non-infectious complications.
2. Infectious complications developed later (mean 6.5 days) than non-infectious complications (4.1 days).
Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)
Early postoperative pain is a significant concern following major abdominal surgery, with growing evidence linking its intensity to increased 30-day complication risks. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 1,000 patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), esophageal, liver, or pancreatic surgery at Radboud University Medical Center (2014–2020). Pain scores on postoperative day 1 (POD1) were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and complications were classified by Clavien-Dindo (CD) criteria. Results revealed 790 complications in 572 patients (36.7% infectious, 63.4% non-infectious), with infectious complications occurring later (mean 6.5 vs. 4.1 days, *p*<0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated that higher POD1 pain scores significantly predicted total complications (OR=1.132), CD severity (OR=1.131), infectious (OR=1.126), and non-infectious complications (OR=1.079). Covariates like age, ASA class, open surgery, and longer duration also contributed. The study highlights the role of early pain in impairing recovery (e.g., reduced mobility, immunosuppression) and underscores the need for optimized perioperative analgesia to mitigate complications.
Bloomington, Minneapolis, United States: Toro has announced the availability of Lynx Drive – a completely reimagined, mobile-first approach to golf irrigation software. Designed specifically for golf course superintendents, the all-new Lynx Drive is now available for order.
The new Lynx Drive is an entirely renewed system designed for real-time, on-the-go control. No matter where they are on the course, Lynx Drive puts irrigation management directly into a superintendent’s hands. Field tested on a wide range of courses, including Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia, the system has gained popularity for its usability and efficiency.
“Toro continues to design top-tier solutions for irrigation management that play a vital role in our ability to maintain our revolutionary, reversible course,” said Kyle Macdonald, Superintendent at Bobby Jones Golf Course. “The new Lynx Drive system makes it possible to respond to issues in real time with nearly pinpoint accuracy while keeping the entire crew updated on needed actions.”
With Lynx Drive, superintendents can immediately respond to changing course conditions, shifting weather and unexpected emergencies – all from a mobile device.
Designed for easy use on smartphones and tablets, the streamlined layout of Lynx Drive highlights the features used daily to optimise irrigation management. The incredibly intuitive display includes larger text and high-quality images with bright colours for enhanced visibility and detail.
The Lynx Drive system ensures the entire crew is informed, minimising delays and eliminating guesswork. Smart Notes provides immediate communication with detailed notes, photos and team transparency. The ability to include a device name makes it possible to identify who performed each action, while time-stamped photos add valuable detail. Smart Notes maintains a full notes history for up to one year for easy reference.
Smart Notes and flags help to pinpoint reports and match them to an exact station on the map, ensuring precise adjustments in the correct location. All alerts and a detailed course map are visible to the entire crew on both mobile and desktop platforms for fast, co-ordinated action.
Expanded mapping integration enables users to include files that can be shared through mobile and desktop programmes. This leads to streamlined communications, more efficient operations and greater productivity every day.
“We previewed Lynx Drive at the GCSAA Show and are thrilled to get it in the hands of the superintendents it was designed for,” said John Dalman, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Toro. “This revolutionary system will change the way courses perform preventative and reactive maintenance, improving course conditions and crew collaboration.”
Lynx Drive is currently compatible with two-wire Lynx Smart Module (LSM) systems. Support for additional platforms, such as satellite and hybrid, will be introduced with future releases.
Lynx Drive sets the standard for innovative irrigation management systems with on-the-go controls, faster response times and connected communication for precision and productivity.
For further information, visit https://lynxdrive.toro.com/
*Toro is an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
