Enterprises continue to underestimate the security threats inherent in modern voice networks. Many view voice services merely as ordinary phone calls, ignoring the fact that they are complex IP systems susceptible to the same threats as the company's other digital infrastructure.
According to Peter Bokaba, Network Manager at Centracom, the main danger lies in how easily corporate voice systems can be compromised without basic protection. Bokaba explains that when Voice over IP or PBX devices are hacked, attackers can generate fraudulent calls to expensive international destinations that they control or profit from through revenue-sharing schemes.
He warns that a company that usually pays a monthly bill of R10,000 could suddenly face expenses ten or twenty times higher if the systems are accessed without proper control.
Scammers often use automated scripting tools for multiple login attempts or to exploit open systems on a large scale. After gaining access, they can redirect calls through premium or high-cost international destinations, which quickly increases the costs for the affected organization.
Bokaba notes that while some risks are related to basic vulnerabilities, such as weak credentials or unsecured systems, modern voice infrastructure requires a multi-layered approach to security. On a practical level, enterprises must perform simple but critical tasks, such as regularly updating credentials.
Furthermore, additional controls must be implemented, including encrypted tunnels, IP-based authentication, and network segmentation, so that voice systems are not directly accessible from the public internet. Centracom also emphasizes the importance of proactive monitoring and threshold-based controls that can signal or limit unusual call behavior before significant losses occur. Bokaba adds that it is important to educate companies about what voice fraud is, as many organizations still consider voice a simple service rather than part of their digital attack surface.
Bokaba concludes that the current focus should be on raising awareness of these risks while simultaneously implementing proven protective measures to reduce vulnerability to fraud and unauthorized use. The company asserts that voice security should be viewed not as a niche or emerging discipline, but as a fundamental part of network management, requiring the same operational discipline as any other critical IT system. The ultimate goal, according to Bokaba, is to ensure that what appears to be an ordinary phone call is actually protected as part of a much more complex and valuable network environment.
Researchers suggest that the Milky Way may have undergone a drastic transformation in its history, specifically an alteration in the inclination of its galactic disk within the surrounding dark matter halo.
This theory was proposed based on new cosmological simulations presented at the National Astronomy Meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society, held in the United Kingdom in 2026. The study establishes a link between the atypical movement of the farthest stars in the galaxy and past mergers with smaller galaxies.
The investigation was conducted by a group led by astronomer Kirill Batrakov from the University of Durham, also in the United Kingdom. He analyzed models of galaxies analogous to the Milky Way to understand how major shocks could modify their structure over time.
The most recognized image of the Milky Way is its vast disk composed of stars, gas, dust, and other elements orbiting the galactic center. However, this structure is contained within a much larger area: a spherical halo of old stars and an extensive layer of dark matter.
Recent data collected by the Gaia mission, which aims to map the positions and movements of the galaxy's stars, revealed an unexpected pattern. Stars located on the outer edges of the Milky Way show a slower rotation rate than scientists predicted, considering the estimated mass of the galaxy.
Initially, one possible explanation was that the mass of the Milky Way might have been overestimated. However, Batrakov's team explored an alternative: the possibility that the galaxy's formation trajectory itself influenced the dynamics of its components.
To validate this idea, researchers employed simulations called Auriga, which replicate the evolution of galaxies similar to the Milky Way from remote epochs of the Universe. These models demonstrated that galactic systems that underwent major mergers tend to exhibit stellar halos with slower rotation.
The findings were correlated with evidence already observed of interactions between the Milky Way and other galaxies. Among these signs are stellar streams with chemical compositions distinct from those expected for objects formed internally in the galaxy, as well as visible deformations in the galactic disk.
One crucial moment is believed to have occurred approximately ten billion years ago, when the Milky Way merged with a smaller galaxy called Gaia Sausage. This name was given to the collision because astronomers believe the absorbed galaxy had a sausage-like shape.
According to the simulations analyzed by the team, an interaction of this type could generate a gravitational effect capable of gradually changing the orientation of the Milky Way's disk relative to its dark matter halo. In this scenario, what is known as the galaxy's 'sideways spin' would not be a sudden event, but rather a gradual inclination that could exceed 90 degrees over billions of years.
The hypothesis is also supported by another study cited by the scientists. A study led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences indicated signs that the Milky Way's dark matter halo is aligned almost perpendicularly to the stellar disk. The authors of this work also suggested a possible progressive reorientation of the galactic disk as a cause.
Despite the promising results, researchers emphasize that there is still no definitive confirmation that the Milky Way underwent this process. Although the low movement detected in the stellar halo is consistent with the theory, new markers of this phenomenon are needed to reach a more certain conclusion.
The sodium battery, which promises to make electric vehicles more accessible and more resistant to low temperatures, still presents a significant limitation compared to lithium in terms of autonomy per kilogram.
The first global series electric car equipped with a sodium-ion battery is the Changan Nevo A06. This sedan will be marketed in China using the Naxtra battery, manufactured by CATL, the world leader in the battery sector. The unit has 45 kWh and offers approximately 400 km of range under the Chinese CLTC cycle, a value comparable to entry-level electric models.
The main advantage of this technology manifests itself in adverse climatic conditions. Tests conducted in Inner Mongolia demonstrated that the sodium battery managed to maintain over 90% of its capacity at a temperature of -40°C, in addition to charging at -30°C and operating down to -50°C. In contrast, traditional batteries can suffer a charge drop of up to 50% in similar scenarios.
Sodium has notable benefits, such as being about a thousand times more abundant than lithium and being able to be extracted in various parts of the globe, which reduces dependence on restricted suppliers. Since sodium cells do not require lithium, cobalt, or nickel, they are inherently safer, presenting a lower risk of fire, and demonstrate superiority in cold temperatures.
However, the main weakness lies in energy density. Sodium batteries store less energy per unit of weight (between 100 and 175 Wh/kg) when compared to lithium (which ranges between 150 and 350 Wh/kg). This implies that, in practice, electric vehicles equipped with sodium will have a shorter range or will require larger and heavier packs. For this reason, the initial application of this technology should focus on urban and short-distance cars.
Regarding cost, sodium can represent a positive differential, given that it uses abundant and cheap raw materials. Although, at the moment, the cost is still close to that of the most economical lithium batteries, CATL forecasts reaching this parity as early as 2026. However, industry analysts present divergent views on the speed of this process, estimating that, in the medium term, prices could be between US$ 40 and US$ 50 per kWh as production scales up.
The Gravity-1 rocket has once again successfully reached space. This rocket, considered the world's most powerful solid-fuel rocket, managed to place nine satellites into orbit after launching from a sea platform.
The launch took place on the morning of July 22 (night of July 21 in Brazil time) from a vessel located off the coast of Shanghai. The state agency Xinhua reported that all nine satellites reached their planned orbits, although details about the cargo carried were not disclosed.
Despite its height of about 30 meters, Gravity-1 is distinguished by its ability to deliver large payloads into space using exclusively solid-fuel engines. Key features of the rocket include: a height of approximately 30 meters, three main stages, and four booster rockets. It is capable of delivering up to 6500 kg to low Earth orbit, marking its third successful mission.
Gravity-1 currently holds the position of the most powerful operational solid-fuel rocket, achieving a payload capacity of 6500 kilograms for low Earth orbit. Although its payload capacity is less than that of SpaceX's Falcon 9, the Chinese craft has secured its place through a combination of high performance with an entirely solid-fuel configuration. This provides greater power, lower costs, and flight safety.
Another notable point is that since its first flight in January 2024, all missions have launched from sea vessels and concluded as planned.
According to CGTN, Gravity-1 plans to return to space in the coming months to launch a new group of Chinese internet satellites. Meanwhile, Orienspace is working on Gravity-2 and Gravity-3 rockets, which will use liquid-fuel main stages and solid-fuel boosters.
Xu Guoguang, chief designer of Gravity-1, stated that 'sea launches of solid-fuel rockets pave the way for future liquid-fueled rocket launches at sea.' He also noted that the company is considering other options for such operations, such as launches from drilling platforms. If the current plan is maintained, Gravity-2 could debut this year, also in a sea mission.
