Technologies

The Aurora Borealis Was Awe-Inspiring, but the Solar Storm Brought Problems for Farmers

The geomagnetic storms that gave so many people gorgeous views also hit GPS satellites that help power farming tractors used for precise seed planting.

A series of solar storms lit up the night’s sky around the world over the weekend, producing awe-inspiring aurora borealis (and australis) displays — which may not be over yet. But the storms also hit GPS satellites that help power farming tractors used for precise seed planting.

The issues appear to have begun as early as Friday, according to one John Deere equipment dealership in the midwest, earlier reported on by 404 Media. The dealership, called Landmark Implement, posted to its site that GPS-guided planting systems were not performing as expected. It noted that the technological challenges were hitting «all brands of GPS.»

«We are in search of a tool to help predict this in the future so that we can attempt to give our customers an alert that this issue may be coming,» the dealership wrote. «We do believe this is a historic event and it isn’t something that we are going to have to continue to battle frequently.»

The ongoing impacts of the geomagnetic storms underscore how important technology such as GPS has become in the two decades since the last major solar events. Over the past decade in particular, industries including farming have begun adopting these technologies in broad ways, including for precision planting using self-driving tractors.

Read more: John Deere Breaks New Ground with Self-Driving Tractors You Can Control From a Phone

While the impacts are dramatic, they were expected. Governments and companies around the globe have been working to improve the constellation of satellites that power our modern-day GPS.

In the US, the military’s Space Force has been working to upgrade to a new technology called GPS III, which features better accuracy and better anti-jamming capabilities. That’s in addition to the roughly $2 billion per year Washington spends to keep GPS up and running. GPS III satellites are expected to be operating sometime in 2026 (PDF).

In the meantime, the geomagnetic storms are expected to continue throughout this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement. The storm, which the agency said has caused «power grid irregularities» in addition to communications issues, likely won’t be as strong as those on May 10-11.

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