Technologies

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope successfully unfolds its massive mirror

NASA and its partners successfully unfurl an observatory in space, bringing us a step closer to seeing light from the very first galaxies.

The team behind the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope successfully finished unfolding the instrument’s distinctive golden mirror on Saturday, meaning the telescope is now fully deployed and is one step closer to sending back data about the universe’s first galaxies.

«The successful completion of all of the Webb Space Telescope’s deployments is historic,» Webb’s program director at NASA Headquarters, Gregory L. Robinson, said in a release. «This is the first time a NASA-led mission has ever attempted to complete a complex sequence to unfold an observatory in space – a remarkable feat for our team, NASA, and the world.»

NASA and its partners, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, began remotely unfolding the two wings of Webb’s primary mirror on Friday and completed the task at about 10:15 a.m. PT Saturday, when the second wing latched into place.

Made up of 18 hexagonal segments and measuring 21 feet, the mirror is the biggest ever launched into space, NASA said, with the telescope itself the world’s largest and most complex space science telescope. After the team painstakingly flexes and aligns the segments, and calibrates other instruments, the telescope can start sending back its first images, which it’s expected to do this summer.

The telescope was built to look back more than 13.5 billion years, grabbing infrared light from stars and other celestial objects, with better resolution than ever before. It’s «an unprecedented mission that is on the precipice of seeing the light from the first galaxies and discovering the mysteries of our universe,» NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a release.

The unfolding of the primary mirror follows the setup of other elements of the $10 billion telescope, which launched Dec. 25. Those elements include the five thin layers of the tennis-court-size sunshield, designed to keep unwanted heat signals produced by the sun, Earth and moon from spoiling Webb’s infrared readings.

Over the next six months, Webb is set to travel 1 million miles from Earth and begin sending back images of the universe that promise to serve up a new, unfiltered story of the cosmos. Not only will Webb teach us about hidden regions of space, it also has the power to prove whether we’ve correctly documented the events that happened right after the Big Bang.

CNET’s Monisha Ravisetti contributed to this report.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im