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Future networks could carry petabit speeds without new cable shapesStandard-diameter fiber hits new capacity-distance milestone in lab test US average internet speed is dwarfed by breakthrough optical transmissionBuried under city streets, countryside roads and the deep ocean floor lie the glass threads that carry almost everything we do online.These strands, often no wider than a human hair, already move astonishing amounts of data, and now, Japanese researchers have pushed those limits even further - without changing the shape or size of the cable.A team led by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), working with Sumitomo Electric and European collaborators, has achieved a transmission speed of 1.02 petabits per second over 1,808 kilometers.A new world recordThe test used a 19-core optical fiber with a standard cladding diameter of 0.125 mm, meaning it’s the same thickness as the single-core fibers already deployed in networks around the world.Instead of requiring entirely new infrastructure, the cable squeezes 19 separate light paths into the space typically used for one.That allows for a dramatic leap in capacity while staying compatible with existing systems.It also marks the first time a petabit-class signal has traveled more than 1,000 kilometers in a standard-sized fiber.The result sets a new world record for capacity-distance product at 1.86 exabits per second-kilometer.To simulate a long-distance backbone, signals were looped 21 times through 86.1 km spans of the new fiber. Amplifiers boosted the signal at every pass and were carefully tuned to work across both the C and L wavelength bands for all 19 cores.Using 180 wavelengths modulated with 16QAM, the system was able to handle huge volumes of parallel data streams.After traveling the simulated route, the signals were separated by a multi-channel receiver using MIMO digital signal processing.This avoided adding more fiber cores or expanding the cable diameter, which would have made integration with current networks harder.To put the new achievement in context, the average US broadband speed in early 2025 is around 290Mbps. The new record of 1.02 petabits per second equals 1,020,000,000 Mbps - more than 3.5 million times faster.The results were presented at OFC 2025 as a post-deadline paper, offering a glimpse at what future optical networks might look like.Although it won’t transform work or home connections overnight, the research shows how far standard fiber can still go. The team now aims to refine amplifier efficiency and signal processing to move closer to real-world deployment.With global data traffic continuing to grow, advances like this offer a way to stretch infrastructure further without the need to dig new trenches.New optical fibers with standard cladding diameter and world records achieved by NICT (Image credit: NICT)You might also likeFiber optic cables transport petabytes of data every second around the worldScientists build a silicon-less computer that use light wavesNew research leads the way to creating cheaper, high-density optical storage

The Odyssey has a confirmed release date of July 17, 2026The date was confirmed in a new posterNo trailer has been officially released online, but fans can see it at Jurassic World Rebirth showings Christopher Nolan's new project, The Odyssey, joins a host of other new movies coming soon, but what's notable about the marketing is that so far, we've only officially been given the release date and a poster.The good news is, we can confirm The Odyssey is slated for a July 17, 2026, release, so we can start counting down the days to the next big Nolan movie.We've got a cool new poster, too, which you can take a look at below. It's quite minimalist, which we've come to expect from Nolan movies.First poster for Christopher Nolan’s ‘THE ODYSSEY’In theaters on July 17, 2026. pic.twitter.com/0utuOcLFlHJuly 2, 2025The bad news is, there's nowhere online you can officially watch the trailer as it hasn't been released by approved channels online. TechRadar is aware of recent leaks, and we won't be including links to what was posted online.So, with leaked material being hit with copyright strikes, there's only one way fans can watch The Odyssey's first trailer through official channels.How can we watch The Odyssey's trailer?The highly anticipated trailer for The Odyssey is playing before another big Universal movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, so cinema goers are in for a treat before they head to see the latest installment of the dinosaur franchise.Unfortunately, I was on the fence in my Jurassic World Rebirth review, but perhaps the opportunity to see the trailer will be enough to entice people into their local theater this week.As always, we're in for a huge treat with the new Nolan movie, and the cast list is huge. The epic fantasy movie has an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron.It is based on Homer's epic poem Odyssey, with the plot following Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War.Throughout the story, we follow his encounters with mythical beings such as Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe, as he heads to a long-awaited reunion with his wife, Penelope.We have a while to wait for it to arrive in theaters, but with the trailer playing on the big screen, it's the closest we'll get to Nolan's latest blockbuster for now.You might also likeNetflix’s #1 movie is a K-pop demon hunting anime with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes that I can’t get out of my headTogether is finally coming to theaters - here are 3 reasons you shouldn't miss the body horror movieNew Ryan Gosling sci-fi movie Project Hail Mary gets first poster – and it looks like Interstellar

VW fits Transporter Shuttle and Kombi models with 65kWh batteryElectric range is around 196 milesAirConsole gaming will come as standard across the commercial rangeVolkswagen has announced that it has expanded its Transporter line-up with battery electric variants of the popular Shuttle and Kombi models of its commercial vehicle range – adding a more practical and robust van option to its existing ID Buzz model.While the ID Buzz captured the public’s imagination with its funky, retro-inspired looks, it lacked the hauling capabilities of its Transporter cousins. Even the ID Buzz seven-seater variant struggles with room for lugging bulky items.The Kombi, on the other hand, has historically proven a big hit with professionals and families alike, purely because it can transport a family of five, as well several mountain bikes, a tent and a dog without breaking a sweat.The electrified iterations add a 65kWh lithium ion battery, which results in either 194 miles of range for the Shuttle and 196 miles of Range for the Kombi model, presumably because the former is heavier, as it can be optioned with an impressive nine seats.(Image credit: Volkswagen)Both the fully-electric Kombi and Shuttle will be available in either short or long wheelbase versions, with the former able to handle a max payload of 896kg and the latter available with the aforementioned nine seats, as opposed to eight as standard.The equipment levels are also generous, with things like heated front seats, a 13-inch touchscreen and front and rear-view cameras all coming as standard on the entry-level models.The marque also announced this week that the AirConsole app, which allows users to play a range of 15 arcade games when parked, is now available as an over-the-air update in current generation ID Buzz, Caddy, Multivan, California and Crafter models.This will likely roll out across the latest Transporter range in the near future.Analysis: electric vans still have some way to go(Image credit: Volkswagen)In the UK, the cheapest electrified Transporter Kombi retails at £53,404 (around $73,183 / AU$111,423), undercutting the cheapest ID Buzz, which costs £59,135 (around $81,035 / AU$123,381).But don't get too excited, because the ID Buzz offers up to 293 miles of electric range and 200kW charging capabilities, thanks to its 77kWh battery in the standard wheelbase version. It can also be optioned in a spicy GTX model that delivers 335bhp for some serious acceleration.The electrified Transporter Kombi and Shuttle, on the other hand, use a single electric motor that develops 134bhp, which is at the lower end of what the petrol and diesel counterparts offer – even though the electrified versions are heavier.It can also only charge at speeds of up to 125kW, meaning a 10-80% charge will take at least 39 minutes.As a long-standing owner of VW’s various ICE Transporter models, very little gets close to the practicality, load-lugging abilities and relaxed drive that the German marque offers.It’s a controversial opinion, but after living with the ID Buzz for a week, I think it looks a little awkward, especially in the longer wheelbase seven-seater versions, and the interior roominess just isn’t enough to haul motorcycles or masses of camping kit, as well as the entire family.The latest Battery Electric Vehicle versions of the popular Transporter get close to Vee Dub van perfection for me, it’s just a shame about the limited range, performance and charging speeds. Oh, and that price.you might also likeVolkswagen says 'mind-blowing' electric GTI EVs are coming – here's what to expect and what I want to seeForget Tesla's robotaxis – this new VW ID Buzz will soon be the sleekest self-driving ride on the roads'We really believe that Lidar is mission critical': Ford CEO says Waymo's self-driving car tech makes more sense Tesla's

Nintendo Switch 2 users are reporting overheating issues in handheld and docked modesIt comes amid Nintendo's recent controversies surrounding its new Switch 2 deviceIt reportedly occurs even when playing less demanding gamesIt's no secret that Nintendo has been at the center of controversy since the announcement of $80 game prices, along with recent findings around its new Switch 2 display and its ghosting issues. However, the handheld's problems seemingly don't stop there.As highlighted by Notebookcheck, multiple users are reporting overheating issues with the Nintendo Switch 2, even while playing less demanding games. Notably, most reports suggest overheating occurs when using the Switch 2's Dock, a vital component that allows users to play on external displays and provides more power for improved performance.A plethora of Redditors have voiced frustrations with the Switch 2 Dock's lack of ventilation despite featuring a built-in fan. The latter isn't designed to cool the Switch 2, but rather the Dock.Others also point out higher temperatures while using its Ethernet port, to the point where the handheld and its accessory are too hot to touch, and the display output ends despite the console still running.Nintendo suggests setting the console aside to cool down and ensuring the handheld's air vents aren't obstructed – but frankly, that's hardly much of a solution to eliminate the supposed overheating.Switch 2 overheating. from r/SwitchIt's not just the Dock alone; users are also reporting that the device displays a warning message before entering sleep mode when undocked. This appears to be the system's way of throttling, but instead of that, it makes it not playable while resting.This is a worrying sign for Switch 2 owners. If these issues become more prevalent, it would most certainly supersede the concerns about the display quality.(Image credit: Nintendo)Analysis: Hopefully this isn't a bigger issue than I think...It's not uncommon to hear reports about overheating with new hardware. I've become quite accustomed to it, with new GPU launches, and (more relevant) the early reports of SD cards overheating in the Asus ROG Ally.Since this is a similar issue, it seems that Nintendo might be able to address it with a software update, similar to what Asus did. However, there's no guarantee that this will lead to a resolution. It also comes at a bad time for the Switch 2, considering its recent controversies.It's the absolute worst-case scenario for a new handheld console owner, especially at its $449.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95 price; it's also worth noting that the original Switch has seen a price hike in some regions, so it's not exactly a great time for these overheating reports to emerge.If the Dock happens to be a detriment to the Switch 2's cooling, I doubt any software update will be able to fix the issue. There's also a lack of compatibility with third-party docks, so if you're facing these temperature issues, there isn't much of a solution for now.Let's just hope Nintendo is quick to address this before it gets out of hand...You might also like...70 hours later, and I'm convinced The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a true system sellerIf you're looking for a new Switch 2 controller, these are my Prime Day deal recommendations to look out for next weekNintendo Switch 2 restocks live: all the best retailers to check after Antonline and Walmart sell out, Very in stock in the UK