April 3, 2026

Quantum Computers Might cCrack Today's Encryption Far Sooner Than We Thought New research reveals quantum computers could crack RSA and ECC encryption much sooner and with fewer qubits than anticipated. Scientists warn that current cryptography, including blockchain, faces immediate threats, spurring a rapid push toward post-quantum security standards. TechSpot

Sponsor Seeking Alternatives for Dispensed Adhesives? No more dispensing, no more curing. PLACE-N-BOND™ Underfilm is pre-formed adhe-sive for automated placement. Learn more. Alltemated, Inc.

From Zero-Carbon Factories to Reporting Environmental Impact: Sustainability Takeaways from APEX EXPO 2026 At APEX EXPO 2026, the electronics industry showcased sustainability in action, from Panasonic's zero-carbon factory plan to Jabil's early emission reductions. Companies use data, AI, and smarter processes to cut waste, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive edge. Global Electronics Association

RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG Paper describes a mixed reaction RAIG electrolyte that minimizes galvanic corrosion and allows higher ENEPIG gold thicknesses, enabling robust designs and world-class quality on target with minimal variation. Technical Paper

Foxconn rotates CEO to Michael Chiang to tighten profit discipline and governance Foxconn completed its rotating CEO transition on April 1, appointing Michael Chiang as the new chief executive effective immediately. Kathy Yang stepped down after finishing her term, marking a smooth leadership handover at the electronics manufacturing giant. Digitimes

Sponsor Low Pressure Plasma for Electronics Expand your knowledge of plasma technology. Register now for the new PlasmaTalk webinar to learn how low-pressure plasma can advance your production. Plasmatreat

Humanity returns to the Moon, but Outlook still doesn't work NASA's Artemis II astronauts faced a surprisingly familiar hurdle on their historic lunar mission: Microsoft Outlook wouldn't start. Livestream clips showed duplicate windows and minor glitches, highlighting Windows 11 quirks amid humanity's first journey beyond Earth in 50+ years. TechSpot

Combined Alloy and Flux Approach Cost-Effective Reliable Solder Joints This paper shows alloy and flux properties as well as temperature cycle test results comparing SAC305 and Innolot® solder pastes. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance ■ A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor ■ RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG ■ High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin ■ Understanding Solder Dross: Causes and Control Strategies MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

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Artemis II crew clears Earth orbit, heads for the moon Artemis II astronauts executed a critical trans-lunar injection burn, accelerating Orion to escape Earth's gravity and begin a moon-bound trajectory. The mission tests spacecraft systems and procedures, paving the way for future lunar landings and sustained human presence. CBS News

From MOUs to Markets: Transatlantic Deals Face Reality Test Transatlantic tech partnerships are moving from symbolic deals to execution-driven markets, forcing companies to align engineering, policy, and capital to turn MOUs into real programs as funding, procurement, and interoperability dictate success in space and electronics. EE Times

What Causes Solder Balls During Hand Soldering? To many operators believe the old myth that flux is your friend and you can never have to much flux. That is not true as to much flux will outgas at the end of the hand soldering process creating solder balls around the connection. This is one possible explanation as others have stated other causes as well. Board Talk

Sponsor Copper Stud & CTE Nano Tech Underfill AIT's proven flip-chip and BGA multi-level underfills offer both 18 ppm/°C copper CTE matching fine-pitch & nano-pitch with 10 µm & 0.3 µm respective cut-off particles. AI Technology, Inc.

Young Professional's AI Tool Spots Mental Health Conditions Abhishek Appaji advances accessible healthcare by combining AI, biomedical engineering, and neuroscience, developing retinal scanners and smart beds that improve care for underserved communities, earning the IEEE Theodore W. Hissey Outstanding Young Professional Award. IEEE Spectrum

Astronauts begin NASA mission to pass by the moon Four astronauts launched aboard a NASA rocket, beginning the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The team entered Earth orbit, tested spacecraft systems, and reported minor issues, while officials celebrated the mission as a major step toward returning humans to the moon. Taipei Times

Fine Pitch Solder Joint Fuze Electronics Under Mechanical Shock Loads The survivability of 0.4mm pitch and 0.5mm pitch parts at acceleration levels upto 50,000g have been studied for bare test boards. Technical Paper

Sponsor Eliminate Worry of Cross Contamination While Models 529 and 1550 are similar semi-automatic cleaners with single wash and rinse tanks, the Model 2003 includes 2 wash tanks for cleaning multiple applications in one machine. Smart Sonic

Apple reportedly has four new products ready to launch, pending one thing Apple has several products ready for launch, but delays to its upgraded Siri are holding them back. The postponed AI features, now expected with iOS 27, have pushed back devices like Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2. 9 To 5 Mac

Wi-Fi That Can Withstand a Nuclear Reactor Researchers engineered a radiation-hardened Wi-Fi receiver that withstands up to 500 kGy, enabling wireless control of decommissioning robots inside nuclear reactors. The breakthrough cuts human exposure and boosts efficiency in dismantling aging nuclear facilities. IEEE Spectrum

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There's Something on the Moon That Earth Desperately Needs — And It Could Be Worth Trillions NASA's Artemis II mission propels lunar colonization plans, eyeing helium-3 for fusion energy. Scientists and companies target water ice extraction and off-world industries, aiming to reduce Earth's energy strain while igniting a new, sustainable space economy. Entrepreneur

Atomristors: Non-Volatile Resistance Switching in 2D Monolayers Researchers discovered the first two-dimensional material, graphene, which consists of only a single layer of atoms13. Technical Paper

Can Global Memory Chip Shortage Drive Applied Materials' Growth? Applied Materials surges on AI chip demand, capitalizing on memory shortages and premium process pricing. Strategic R&D partnerships and a diverse portfolio drive growth, even as weak consumer electronics and rising competition challenge the company through 2026. Quartz

Bell Called Watson; Today, We Call AI From Alexander Graham Bell’s first call to today's AI era, telecom operators invest heavily in 5G yet face weak returns. Industry leaders at Mobile World Congress 2026 say AI-driven services and enterprise solutions now offer a clearer path to monetization. EE Times

Sponsor Affordable Profiling Excellence Four channels of precision data capture from the most trusted name in thermal profiling. New and improved V-M.O.L.E.™ 2 is the ideal solution for budget-conscious electronics pros. Learn more here. ECD

Energy Is Becoming the Defining Bottleneck of the AI Era. Here's What That Means for Entrepreneurs. The AI boom is driving massive electricity demand, straining power grids beyond capacity. As data centers expand rapidly, energy costs rise and infrastructure lags, making power—not algorithms—the key constraint shaping AI's future & a critical risk for unprepared entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur