Defense News: Kenya Fortifies National Air Defense with Strategic Acquisition of Israeli SPYDER Missile Systems

 

Kenya Fortifies National Air Defense with Strategic Acquisition of Israeli SPYDER Missile Systems

The Kenyan government has significantly enhanced its sovereign defense capabilities through the strategic procurement of the SPYDER air defense system from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, marking a pivotal shift in East African regional security

By Dan Arkin, Israeldefense.co.il, 17/12/25

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/67190

the truck mounted SPYDER missile system: Credit: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

Kenya’s decision to integrate this advanced surface-to-air missile technology serves as a direct response to a deteriorating security landscape characterized by sophisticated aerial and ground-based threats. 

This procurement was facilitated through a comprehensive government-to-government (G2G) framework, bolstered by a $26 million loan from the Israeli government to ensure the seamless execution of the deal. 

As reported by World Defense News, this bilateral agreement underscores the deepening technological and defense ties between Nairobi and Jerusalem, reflecting a shared commitment to counter-terrorism and border integrity in an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate.

Kenya's New Israeli SPYDER Air Defence

The SPYDER system, an acronym for Surface-to-air Python and Derby, represents the pinnacle of mobile, multi-mission air defense. Engineered to operate in diverse climatic conditions, the platform offers high-maneuverability and a "fire-and-forget" capability that ensures precision engagement of moving targets.

The system is traditionally deployed on an 8x8 heavy-duty chassis, capable of carrying eight missile canisters. According to data provided by Army Recognition, the operational versatility of the system is derived from its dual-missile configuration: the Python-5, optimized for short-range threats up to 15 kilometers, and the Derby family, which includes an Extended Range (ER) variant capable of intercepting targets at distances reaching 40 kilometers. Beyond its kinetic interceptors, the SPYDER is equipped with sophisticated electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) suites, providing a robust defense against electronic warfare and signal jamming.

The strategic impetus for this acquisition is rooted in Kenya’s urgent need to neutralize asymmetric threats emanating from militant groups like al-Shabaab. In recent years, these organizations have transitioned from conventional insurgent tactics to the utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and precision-guided munitions. Furthermore, ongoing border tensions with Somalia have necessitated a more robust aerial shield to protect critical military infrastructure. 

By deploying the SPYDER system, which is expected to reach full operational capability within the coming year, Kenya is positioning itself as a regional leader in modern defensive warfare. This move reflects a broader continental trend toward the adoption of high-tier Israeli defense technology to mitigate the risks posed by non-state actors and emerging regional rivalries.

Kenya Acquires Advanced Israeli SPYDER Air Defence System

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Science News: Advanced fusion control breakthrough brings clean, reliable energy closer to reality

Advanced fusion control breakthrough brings clean, reliable energy closer to reality

Research done by nT-Tao and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev introduces a new “nonlinear controller” that keeps power flowing smoothly even as the plasma inside the reactor changes rapidly.

By Pesach Benson/TPS, December 17,2025

https://www.jpost.com/science/article-880512

Technicians use a service system lift to access the target chamber interior for inspection and maintenance at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), a laser-based inertial confinement fusion research device, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory federal research facility in Livermore, California (photo credit: Philip Saltonstall/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Handout via REUTERS)

Israeli startup nT-Tao and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev announced a breakthrough in controlling power delivery for fusion reactors, a key challenge in making fusion energy practical.

Their research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Actuators, introduces a new “nonlinear controller” that keeps power flowing smoothly even as the plasma inside the reactor changes rapidly. Fusion energy is the power released when atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, producing large amounts of clean, safe energy, similar to the process that powers the sun.

Fusion plasma behaves unpredictably, and traditional systems can struggle to maintain stable energy delivery. The new method lets nT-Tao’s system automatically adjust in real time, improving efficiency and reducing the number of experiments needed.

“Pulsed-power control is foundational to compact fusion,” said Natan Schecter, nT-Tao’s director of power electronics. “This work provides a way to stabilize and maximize power delivery under the highly dynamic conditions of plasma formation.”

The research was led by Ohad Akler, a nT-Tao engineer, and Prof. Alon Kuperman from Ben-Gurion University. Akler added, “As fusion moves toward rapid-pulse, high-density designs, these control capabilities become indispensable.”

Ben-Gurion University campus in Beersheba, southern Israel. May 28, 2023. (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)

Crucial steps toward making fusion energy technology reliable

nT-Tao is developing a compact reactor capable of producing 10–20 megawatts of clean, stable energy. This control method is a crucial step toward making the technology reliable and ready for real-world use in data centers, factories, ships, and even remote towns.

Compact fusion reactors with advanced pulsed-power control could transform remote and off-grid electricity supply. By automatically stabilizing energy delivery even as plasma loads change rapidly, these reactors could provide reliable power to isolated communities or regions with weak grids. Their self-calibrating capabilities also make them ideal for emergency or backup power, ensuring continuous electricity during outages or critical situations without the need for extensive human intervention.

In addition, this technology could significantly impact industrial, commercial, and marine applications. Factories and manufacturing plants could run high-energy processes with stable, carbon-free power, while data centers could benefit from reliable, scalable electricity that adapts to fluctuating computational demands.

Similarly, ships and other marine vessels could use compact fusion reactors as a long-term, low-emission power source, reducing reliance on conventional fuels while maintaining operational efficiency at sea.

Nuclear fusion energy breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory

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Defense News: Greece Eyes Israeli LORA Missiles to Strengthen Deterrence Against Turkey

Greece Eyes Israeli LORA Missiles to Strengthen Deterrence Against Turkey

These systems are intended for deployment on the Aegean islands and in the eastern Mediterranean as part of the Athens government’s program to upgrade its stand-off weapon arsenal

By Dan Arkin, Israeldefense.co, 11/12/25

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/67135

 LORA (Long Range Artillery Missile) ground-to-ground ballistic missile launch, Photo: from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI/MLM).

Greece is considering a significant strategic move to strengthen its deterrence capabilities against Turkey by planning to procure the Israeli-made LORA (Long Range Artillery Missile) ground-to-ground ballistic missile systems from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI/MLM).

These systems are intended for deployment on the Aegean islands and in the eastern Mediterranean as part of the Athens government’s program to upgrade its stand-off weapon arsenal, in light of increasing regional tensions. The Greek finance and politics site Banking News reported that the intention to purchase LORA missile systems reflects this ambition of the Athens government. World Defense News also reported that Greece is allocating resources to achieve effective deterrence in view of strained relations with Turkey.

LORA missiles are designed to be mounted on a 16-ton truck, allowing rapid launch and precision deep-strike capabilities with a range of 90–430 kilometers. The dedicated launcher is capable of firing in any direction (360 degrees). First showcased at an exhibition in Athens last year, the system is primarily intended for the Hellenic Air Force, with missiles also allocated for the land forces.

These are highly accurate ballistic missiles capable of striking targets from within Greek territory, and there is also a naval version for ships. According to Greek military experts, introducing LORA missiles into service could serve as a direct response to Turkey’s missile arsenal, and LORA could counter Turkish missiles such as BORA or TAYFUN.

The intention to procure the LORA system reflects the close security ties between Greece and Israel. These ties were recently demonstrated in December 2025, when the Hellenic Parliament approved the purchase of advanced PULS rocket launcher systems from Elbit Systems in a deal valued at approximately €650 million.

Greece Deploys Israeli LORA Missile Near Turkey Explained Powerful New Strike Weapon

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Space News: NASA rover detects electrical discharges - 'mini-lightning' - on Mars

 NASA rover detects electrical discharges - 'mini-lightning' - on Mars

The six-wheeled rover, exploring Mars since 2021 at a locale called Jezero Crater in its northern hemisphere, picked up these electrical discharges in audio and electromagnetic recordings.

By Reuters, December 1, 2025

https://www.jpost.com/science/article-876899

New information regarded as strong evidence Mars had ‘vacation beaches’. Illustration. (photo credit: Pike-28. Via Shutterstock)

NASA's Perseverance rover has obtained evidence that the atmosphere of Mars is electrically active, detecting electrical discharges - what one scientist called "mini-lightning" - often associated with whirlwinds called dust devils that regularly saunter over the planet's surface.

The six-wheeled rover, exploring Mars since 2021 at a locale called Jezero Crater in its northern hemisphere, picked up these electrical discharges in audio and electromagnetic recordings made by its SuperCam remote-sensing instrument, researchers said.

It is the first documentation of electrical activity in the thin Martian atmosphere

"These discharges represent a major discovery, with direct implications for Martian atmospheric chemistry, climate, habitability, and the future of robotic and human exploration," said planetary scientist Baptiste Chide of the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology in France, lead author of the study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature.

A ''selfie'' taken by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, made up of 62 individual images, on July 23, in this image released on September 10, 2025 (credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Electrical charges in the Martian atmosphere

"The electrical charges required for these discharges are likely to influence dust transport on Mars, a process fundamental to the planet's climate and one that remains poorly understood. What's more, these electrostatic discharges could pose a risk to the electronic equipment of current robotic missions - and even a hazard for astronauts who one day will explore the Red Planet," Chide said.

The researchers analyzed 28 hours of microphone recordings made by the rover over a span of two Martian years, detecting 55 electrical discharges, usually associated with dust devils and dust storm fronts.

"We did not detect lightning by the common definition. It was a small spark, perhaps a few millimeters long, not really lightning. It sounded like a spark or whip-crack," said planetary scientist and study co-author Ralph Lorenz of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland.

Sixteen of the electrical discharges were recorded during Perseverance's two close encounters with dust devils.

Another study published in October documented how dust devils are a common feature on dry and dusty Mars, with two orbiting spacecraft detecting wind speeds reaching around 98 miles per hour (158 kph) in these whirlwinds that hoist dust into the atmosphere.

The internal dynamics of dust devils give rise to the electrical discharges.

"I would call it 'mini-lightning,'" Chide said. "The phenomena are caused by the friction of tiny dust grains rubbing against each other in the air, which builds up electrons and then releases their charge as electrical arcs just a few centimeters long, accompanied by audible shockwaves."

The phenomenon is called triboelectricity.

"Think of a sunny, dry day when you walk on a rug or a rubber surface and bring your hand close to a door handle. The small spark you might generate, and thus experience, is the same kind of electrostatic discharge that we detected with SuperCam on Perseverance," said planetary scientist and study co-author Franck Montmessin of the French research agency CNRS and research laboratory LATMOS.

Electrical activity in the Martian atmosphere had long been suspected.

"What we've observed is a result of having exceptionally sensitive instrumentation observing for a long period, so we can detect very small discharges, about the energy of an automobile ignition," Lorenz said.

Mars joins Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter as planets known to have atmospheric electrical activity. Though not yet documented, other worlds in our solar system also may have this feature, including the planets Venus and Uranus and Saturn's moon Titan, according to the researchers. 

"The Mars atmosphere was looking very favorable for electrification: full of dust, dry and turbulent," Chide said. "On terrestrial deserts on Earth, the electrification of dust and sand is well-documented, but it rarely results in actual electrical discharges. On Mars, however, the thin carbon dioxide atmosphere makes this phenomenon far more likely, as the amount of charge required to generate sparks is much lower than it is on Earth." 

SuperCam recorded the very first Martian sounds in 2021, shortly after Perseverance landed.

"Since then, it has been used daily to listen to the atmosphere, compiling a playlist of over 30 hours of sounds from the Red Planet: the howl of the wind, the whir of the (rover-deployed) helicopter Ingenuity's blades, and now, a new track: electrostatic discharges," Chide said.

NASA's Perseverance Rover Detected A Mini Lightning On Mars || Latest Updates

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Archaeology News: Ancient piggy bank: Excavation in France reveals 40,000 Roman coins from 1,700 years ago

 Ancient piggy bank: Excavation in France reveals 40,000 Roman coins from 1,700 years ago

The experts who analysed the coins believe, based on the dates on the coins, that the discovery unburied a treasure which was buried between A.D. 280 and 310.

By Jerusalem Post Staff, December 8, 2025

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-879568

A jug holding a vast number of Roman coins was found during an excavation at a French village. (photo credit: Simon Ritz, Inrap)

Excavations in France have recently revealed three ancient storage jars filled with thousands of Roman coins from 1,700 years ago, Live Science reported last week.

The archaeologists discovered that the vessels were buried in what was once the living room floor of a settlement's house,  with the goal of serving as safer or piggy banks.

Known as amphorae, the jugs were unearthed during excavations by the National Institute for Preventive Archeological Research (INRAP) team in Senon, northeastern France.

According to Live Science Plus, the three jugs contained more than 40,000 Roman coins. The calculus were made based on weight.

The first round resulted in 83 pounds (38 kilograms), which "corresponds to approximately 23,000 to 24,000 coins," Vincent Geneviève, a numismatist with INRAP who is analyzing the hoards, told Live Science in an email.

A researcher excavates one of the 1,700-year-old coin hoards. (credit: Lino Mocci, Inrap)

The second weighing round yielded 100 pounds (50 kilograms) from the inside of the jug in question, plus the 400 coins recovered from the broken neck of the object, totaling 18,000 to 19,000 coins, according to INRAP.

The last jug was not found at the excavation site; only its imprint remained in the ground. By the time of the discovery, only three coins had been found.

Ancient Roman treasures?

"Contrary to what one might think at first glance, it is not certain that these are 'treasures' that were hidden during a period of insecurity," according to a November 26 translated statement from INRAP.

The experts who analysed the coins believe, based on the printed dates, that the discovery unburied a treasure from between A.D. 280 and 310. The coins were manufactured during the reign of emperors Victorinus, Tetricus I, and his son Tetricus II, during the Gallic Empire.

"In two cases, the presence of a few coins found stuck to the rim of the jar clearly indicates that they were deposited after the vase was buried, when the pit had not yet been filled with sediment," according to the statement of INRAP.

Given that the jars were at ground level and accessible, the specialists concluded that they were being used as a long-term savings instrument.

1,700-year-old Roman hoard includes gold coins depicting illegitimate emperor

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Archaeology News: Ancient magnetite fossils may be remnants of a natural GPS used by marine creatures

 

Ancient magnetite fossils may be remnants of a natural GPS used by marine creatures

Scientists say microscopic magnetite fossils may have enabled an ancient creature to detect Earth’s magnetic field, offering clues to how early species navigated long distances.

By Reuters, December 3, 2025

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-879116

A microscopic magnetite fossil discovered in sediment below the North Atlantic, seen using X-ray microscopy

(photo credit: Harrison et al/University of Cambridge/Handout via REUTERS)

Microscopic magnetic fossils found in North Atlantic seafloor sediments may represent components of an internal "GPS system" for an ancient marine creature that used Earth's magnetic field to navigate long distances, according to scientists.

The researchers said the fossils - about 50 times smaller than the width of a human hair - are made of a strongly magnetic iron-bearing mineral called magnetite. They suspect these particles were once part of a marine organism, though its identity remains mysterious.

Scientists have recovered a number of these fossils dating back as far as 97 million years ago. There has been a debate as to whether or not they were biological in origin.

A new study employed three-dimensional imaging to determine the magnetic structure of one of the fossils, a magnetite particle shaped like a tiny ice cream cone that dates to 56 million years ago. The researchers identified features optimized to detect the strength and direction of Earth's magnetic field, a dynamic force generated by the motion of molten iron in our planet's core and extending out into space.

The fossil's interior harbored a closed loop of magnetization resembling a vortex. The particle could have been used to create a magnetoreception sense in an animal useful for guiding navigation, the researchers said.

Fishermen fish aboard the Lorient-based trawler ''Le Dolmen'' in the North Atlantic Sea, off the coast of northern France, December 7, 2020. (credit: REUTERS/PASCAL ROSSIGNOL)

Building a natural 'GPS system

"We show that the large magnetization means it would be optimized to detect variations in the strength of Earth's magnetic field from location to location, which is a key part of building a natural 'GPS system,' enabling an animal to actually geolocate itself, not just know, for instance, which way is north," said Rich Harrison, a University of Cambridge professor of Earth and planetary materials and co-leader of the study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

A global positioning system provides satellite-based navigation guidance.

While some migratory animals including birds, fish and insects are thought to use Earth's magnetic field to navigate, how they manage this remains unanswered. One hypothesis is that magnetite particles inside their bodies align with Earth's magnetic field, akin to a compass needle.

Identifying the creature to which the fossils may have belonged remains a challenge as they were not associated with any other bodily remains.

It would make sense, the researchers said, if they came from a migratory animal common enough to have left behind abundant fossil remains. Eels are a possibility, Harrison said.

"Eels are just one example of a migratory marine organism, famous for having to navigate twice across the Atlantic Ocean. Larval eels are transported by ocean currents associated with the Gulf Stream system from Sargasso Sea breeding grounds to coastal and freshwater habitats from North Africa to Scandinavia. After a decade or more, maturing adults migrate back to the Sargasso Sea, spawn and die," Harrison said.

The organism responsible for the magnetite fossils also may have been simply a microbe of some sort. These particles closely resemble magnetite fossils called magnetosomes produced by certain bacteria, though magnetosomes are around 20 times smaller.

Certain aquatic bacteria possess a form of magnetoreception arising from chains of magnetosomes inside these unicellular organisms that enable them to line up with Earth's magnetic field, helping them navigate to their preferred water depth.

"There is strong evidence suggesting that many other organisms - including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects - do have magnetic-navigation capabilities. What remains unknown is how they do it," said physicist and study co-leader Sergio Valencia of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin research institute in Germany.

"One major challenge is that if magnetic particles exist in these animals, they are extremely small and sparse, making them very difficult to locate within the whole organism," Valencia said.

So how would this biological "GPS system" work?

"If these particles were indeed part of a living organism, one intriguing possibility is that they were connected to magnetoreceptive cells, acting as magnetic sensors. As the particle reoriented itself with Earth's magnetic field, it could have generated a mechanical or electrical signal that the organism used to detect magnetic intensity and direction," Valencia said.

"In this way, the organism might have had a magnetic 'sense' - analogous to our sense of sight, which captures light distribution - allowing it to navigate its environment safely using the local strength and direction of the planet's magnetic field as a guide," Valencia said.

Did Ancient Marine Life Use Earth's Magnetic Field as a GPS? | Paleocene Magnetofossils Explained

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Health and Wellness News: This is the best time to eat dinner now that it gets dark early

 

This is the best time to eat dinner now that it gets dark early

The darkness comes early, the hunger is big and the evening is long – so how do we balance it without harming our health? It’s quite simple, and honestly it makes perfect sense.

By WALLA! HEALTH, NOVEMBER 26, 2025 

https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/nutrition/article-876291

Is there a good time for dinner? (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Winter time is already here – and that means that even before many of us leave work, it’s already dark outside. The pace of life in winter often feels heavier, the days are shorter, the evening arrives early, and eating hours change as well. But a small change in meal timing can ease the body and mind during this season.

Our body operates according to circadian rhythms – 24-hour “biological clocks” that regulate sleep, metabolism, digestion and hormone secretion. These rhythms are naturally synchronized with light and darkness, which is why when the light disappears earlier – metabolism also begins to slow down.

The connection between daylight and metabolic activity explains why a developing research field called chrononutrition points to the fact that the timing of when we eat can be almost as important as what we eat. The field examines how meal timing affects our biological clock, and our mood, metabolism and health during seasons of limited light.

When you eat relatively early, dinner aligns better with the body’s natural metabolic rhythm (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Various studies show that not only what we eat matters – but also when.

For example, in a study published in 2019 that lasted a year, experts from Columbia University studied 112 women whose average age was 33. The results showed that eating after 18:00 was linked to poorer heart health: Women who consumed a higher proportion of their daily calories after this hour suffered from a higher average blood pressure. They were also overweight and had higher blood sugar levels – two severe risk factors for heart disease.

Another study found that healthy adults who ate dinner at 22:00 experienced a 20% rise in blood sugar levels and burned about 10% less fat compared to those who ate the same meal at 18:00 – even though both groups ate the same menu and went to sleep at the same time.

A large review of 29 studies reinforced the results: An earlier eating window, fewer meals per day and eating most of the calories in the morning and afternoon are linked to greater weight loss and improvements in metabolic markers such as blood pressure, sugar levels and cholesterol.

In contrast, consistent eating at late hours – especially close to bedtime – is associated with increased risk of obesity and metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

Why does an earlier meal help?

When you eat relatively early, dinner aligns better with the body’s natural metabolic rhythm. When the meal takes place long before the “rest” phase, metabolism works more efficiently.

Many researchers in the field of biological clocks believe that adjusting meal times to day-night cycles may be a cheap and efficient tool for improving metabolic health – especially combined with physical activity and a balanced diet.

In addition, in winter we get less sunlight, which lowers serotonin levels, which may affect mood and even lead to seasonal depression (SAD). At the same time, long evenings at home increase snacking and delay dinner to late hours.

But digestion, sleep-related and digestion-related hormones, and the amount of energy the body burns – all operate according to an internal clock. Eating too close to bedtime causes digestion and rest processes to occur simultaneously – a situation that can harm sleep quality and metabolism. 

If sitting down to dinner between 17:00–19:00 is impossible for you, eating before 20:00 is still preferable to a late dinner and can help prevent blood sugar spikes that may occur when eating close to bedtime. A dinner time between 18:00 and 20:00 is a more flexible option for those who need to balance busy schedules, without risking eating too late in the evening.

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