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Power tools need to meet the highest standards and be tough enough for years of on-site work. You get what you pay for, and it's not worth cutting corners because cheap products will let you down when you need them the most.

I went into my TrueNAS Scale versus Unraid test with a pretty strong assumption about how it would end. TrueNAS Scale had almost everything I normally look for in a homelab server. Unraid looked more convenient, but I expected that convenience to come with compromises I would eventually find annoying.

Linux is an important part of modern development, and Windows users often rely on a separate app like Docker Desktop to get started. Now, Microsoft is making it easier to run Linux containers on its operating system through Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The feature was first showcased at Build 2026 and entered public preview in June. Now, it’s available for everyone with the latest WSL update.

At a glance

• End-to-end forecasting: A machine learning pipeline uses forecast-time solar-wind information to generate location-specific risk estimates for 66,935 substations in the continental United States. 
• Physics and place: The system combines Auroral Electrojet (AE) and Disturbance Storm Time (Dst) forecasts with local latitude, geology, and ground conductivity. 
• Advance warning: The pipeline detected nearly 80% of major space-weather events during the evaluation period and can warn grid operators 30 to 60 minutes before a specific risk appears. 

Forecasting a threat to critical infrastructure

During the May 2024 geomagnetic storm, utilities across North America prepared for possible impacts as auroras extended far beyond their usual range. The storm would degrade GPS accuracy and satellite operations, impacting farm operations in North America and Europe. Modern society depends on reliable electric power, yet extreme space-weather events can induce currents in transmission networks that damage equipment and increase operational risk. The challenge is not only knowing that a storm is approaching, but estimating when and where its effects could be most severe with enough warning for grid operators to respond.

During my summer internship at Microsoft Research, I developed a machine learning system that forecasts space-weather risk across 66,935 substations in the continental United States. The system measures how the sun’s activity can affect the earth’s magnetic field and, ultimately, the power grid.  It combines solar-wind observations, forecasts of the Auroral Electrojet (AE) and Disturbance Storm Time (Dst) indices, physics-informed constraints, local geological conductivity, and grid-infrastructure data to produce location-specific risk estimates 30-60 minutes ahead of potential impact. 

Building an end-to-end prediction pipeline

Space-weather prediction is difficult because it spans several coupled systems. The solar wind changes rapidly, its interaction with Earth’s magnetosphere is irregular, and the resulting ground effects depend on local conditions. Regions with resistive bedrock can experience stronger geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) than regions with more conductive geology. Transmission-line orientation, latitude, and other power-system characteristics further influence the exposure of individual assets.

The pipeline addresses this complexity in three stages, shown in Figure 1. First, solar-wind measurements from the L1 Lagrange point are used to generate forecasts of the AE and Dst indices, while geological conductivity and location features are assembled for each substation. Second, a gradient-boosting model combines these forecasted and location-specific inputs to estimate dB/dt, the rate of magnetic-field change associated with GIC risk. Finally, the resulting predictions are converted into location-specific risk estimates and aggregated into a continental risk assessment.  A system of 50 AI agents helped explore features, validation strategies, and model configurations across the pipeline. Only public data sources were used, included NASA OMNI and NASA-aggregated Kyoto World Data Center data, INTERMAGNET and U.S. Geological Survey magnetometer observations, and GridSFM-derived grid data. 

Figure 1. End-to-end forecasting pipeline from L1 solar-wind measurements to location-specific risk estimates across 66,935 U.S. substations. Evaluating geomagnetic forecasts and infrastructure risk

The AE predictor was designed to forecast rare, high-intensity geomagnetic activity that drives infrastructure risk. In the 2020-2026 evaluation period, the model produced forecasts spanning nearly the full observed range of AE activity and outperformed several empirical solar-wind-based approaches. The Dst predictor provided an additional signal describing large-scale geomagnetic storm strength. During the most geomagnetically active periods of the 2020-2026 evaluation period, the machine-learning model outperformed the Burton equation on 62.2% of individual hours. The model also produced a substantially wider prediction range than Burton-style approaches and improved severe-event detection in the end-to-end forecasting system by 1.2 percentage points when combined with AE forecasts.

PredictorResultBaseline comparisonImpactAE410.2 nT RMSELower RMSE than empirical and solar-wind-only baselinesCaptures extreme-event activity used by the GIC forecasting systemDst7.2 nT RMSEOutperformed Burton on 62.2% of peak-activity hours and provided wider prediction range+1.2pp severe storm detection when integrated into final GIC system

The GIC risk stage was evaluated differently. There is no equivalent widely deployed operational system that provides a direct industry benchmark for this calculation, so the machine learning model was compared with simple linear regression. As Figure 2 shows, the system achieved detection rates of 76.5% for major events (≥10 nT/min), 81.2% for severe events (≥20 nT/min), and 64.1% for extreme events (≥50 nT/min). False-alarm rates increased with storm severity, reflecting the trade-off between missed events and cautious alerts. Performance varied by latitude, with the highest detection rates at northern stations where geomagnetic activity is strongest.

Figure 2. Detection rates across storm-severity thresholds for regionally different substations, with a comparison between the average POD for each severity tier. Translating predictions into continental risk assessments

The final stage translates predicted geomagnetic activity into location-specific estimates of dB/dt, the rate of magnetic-field change associated with GIC exposure. Rather than issuing a single alert for the continental United States, the system combines storm conditions with each substation’s latitude and geological factor. This produces continuous risk estimates that can distinguish lower-risk locations from areas where resistive geology can amplify ground-level effects.

Figure 3 illustrates the output for a representative major-storm scenario. The map is a demonstration of the model’s continental-scale output, not a record of a live operational event. It shows how a grid operator or planner could move from a broad space-weather warning toward a more targeted view of which locations may warrant closer analysis. The current pipeline produced estimates for all 66,935 substations in approximately 333 milliseconds during measured inference, allowing many scenarios to be evaluated quickly.

Figure 3. Demonstration of a continental GIC risk assessment under a representative major-storm scenario. Colors indicate modeled risk levels across 66,935 substations. Implications and looking forward

This work demonstrates how physics-grounded machine learning could support more specific and timely assessment of space-weather exposure. Earlier, location-specific information could help utilities prioritize engineering review and consider targeted protective actions, such as adjusting reactive-power reserves or temporarily reconfiguring parts of the network. Further validation with utilities and operational data would be needed before the system could be used in grid operations.

The project also connects with broader Microsoft Research work on AI for power systems. The open grid-data pipeline provided realistic U.S. transmission models, while GridSFM applies deep learning to AC optimal power flow for fast scenario analysis. Together, these efforts point toward richer planning and resilience workflows that combine hazard forecasts, grid topology, and power-flow analysis.

• Extend forecast horizons: Explore temporal-transformer approaches that capture longer-range patterns in solar-wind data and move beyond the current 30-60-minute window.
• Scale internationally: Adapt the system to additional regions while accounting for different geological conditions and grid topologies.
• Integrate with grid operations: Evaluate how forecasts could support existing decision-making and engineering-review workflows before considering higher levels of automation.
• Provide transformer-level risk: Add asset-specific characteristics to move from substation-level estimates toward more granular assessments of critical equipment.

Related Microsoft Research work GridSFM: A new, small foundation model for the electric grid Building realistic electric transmission grid dataset at scale: a pipeline from open dataset Acknowledgements

Special thanks to my mentors Weiwei Yang and Spencer Fowers for their guidance throughout this project, and to Amber Hoak, Weishung Liu, and Andrea Britto for their editorial and technical feedback.

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The post Forecasting space weather risks on power grids appeared first on Microsoft Research.

There are a few things you should double-check before turning a laptop into a NAS. While you definitely can just do it, these three BIOS options are definitely worth double-checking before diving down the rabbit hole.

Milwaukee is one of the most popular tool brands, and many enthusiasts might even know that the company has been around for over 100 years. But what you might not know is that Milwaukee invented many power tools, like the Sawzall, and other new technologies during that century.

I made the switch to Mac as my daily driver two years ago after decades of being a Windows user. Still, I spend enough time between the two PC platforms — and both have their pull. I understand the appeal of having access to the same software everywhere. Windows has an enormous software library, but it’s not the same thing as what Mac’s best apps offer. The most celebrated macOS apps aren’t just functional—they’re known for their design, workflow, and tight integration with the operating system.

Amazon is overhauling its media streaming devices. The shopping giant has not only introduced a revamped Fire TV Stick 4K, but is slimming down its lineup and promising more software upgrades.

You had a friend over last night for movie night, and you've just discovered that they didn't log out of their Netflix account on your TV. What a shame. Now, the right move would be to log them out and get back to your own watch list. The more fun move is to tiptoe through their My List and Continue Watching rows because nothing says more about a person than the shows they're into, amirite?

Sometimes, being sedentary is just part of the job. Lengthy, highly focused desk sessions might be part of your daily work, but you don’t need to suffer through the discomfort of prolonged sitting in the right chair. The right ergonomic seating option is the office investment that goes far beyond aesthetics.

Linux has a somewhat contradictory reputation. On the one hand, it's known as a rock-solid operating system that never goes wrong and offers countless hours of uptime. On the other hand, it's also known for being easy to break in the wrong hands when you start digging around under the hood.

Day in and day out, there's one thing keeping your Android phone ticking: the battery. You may already know that your charging habits determine the battery's long-term health, but this is not some mysterious metric. It's a thing you can actually find and track.

There are countless shows on Netflix, but only a handful are good enough to become part of your regular viewing rotation. These are the shows you can put on after a long day without worrying about finding something new and the ones that somehow remain entertaining even when you already know exactly how the story unfolds. For me, some series have become an almost yearly tradition.

Supports are a frustrating but often necessary part of 3D printing. They make it possible to print overhanging elements, but they can feel wasteful and leave behind unsightly marks. While you might be used to standard or tree-like supports, fins are another option that don’t (currently) exist within your slicer of choice.

Samsung is refining its item tracking tag to challenge Apple's AirTag on its home turf. The company has introduced the Galaxy SmartTag 3 with support for both Galaxy phones and iPhone in addition to a few leaps in design and functionality.

Even though Microsoft ended support for the Windows Subsystem for Android, which let Windows 11 users run Android apps natively, you can still use Android apps and games on your Windows machine. Your options include emulators such as BlueStacks, the Google Play Games Windows app, which lets you play Android games on your PC, and tools such as scrcpy, which lets you display and control your Android phone or tablet from your Windows PC.

You may think that if you've spent money on one of the most expensive SSDs (hopefully not too recently, given the prices), you've got the fastest storage in the world. In a way, it's true. But not in every context.

I used to hate combining weekly Excel reports. Copying data from one workbook to another works well enough, but it gets tedious when you have to do it every week. Then you have to remember whether you've done it, or worry about overwriting existing data. Thankfully, Excel can connect to a folder and combine those files for you, and even though it sounds like Excel wizardry, the setup takes just four simple steps.

The best early Prime Day gaming deals: Best video game deal Starfield (Standard Edition PS5) $39.18 (save $10.81) Get Deal Best console deal Nintendo Switch (Renewed) $189.99 (save $40.50) Get Deal Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 $199.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best gaming headset deal HyperX Cloud III S $129.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best gaming keyboard deal Razer BlackWidow V4 X $99.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best gaming mouse deal Razer Basilisk V3 $34.98 (save $35.01) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day is now less than a week away, and the early gaming deals are getting better with each day. We’re already seeing decent price cuts on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox games, as well as cheaper consoles, gaming monitors, headsets, mice, keyboards, and other setup upgrades ahead of the Oct. 6-7 sale.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Pokémon Eevee is close to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $12 before October Prime Day

Some of the strongest offers have already shifted since these deals first started appearing, so we’ve refreshed our picks to focus on what’s actually worth buying right now. That includes a sub-$200 renewed Nintendo Switch, the best deal on Starfield on PS5, and sizeable savings on gaming gear from HyperX, Samsung, Razer, and more.

We’ll keep updating this page as Prime Day gets closer, but these are the best gaming deals live right now.

Best video game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Starfield (Standard Edition PS5) $39.18 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.81   Get Deal Why we like it

Starfield only made the jump to PS5 in April, and the Standard Edition is already at a sizable discount. The game is currently listed at $47.31 (usually $49.99), but an on-page coupon drops it to $39.18 at checkout — for a saving of $10.81 in total. This is the full base game rather than a trimmed-down edition, giving you Bethesda’s huge sci-fi RPG with deep character customization, ship building, and over 1,000 planets to explore.

More early Prime Day video game deals

PS5

• NBA 2K26 — $15.79 $19.99 (save $4.20)

• Sonic Superstars — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)

• Red Dead Redemption — $24.99 $29.99 (save $5)

• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 — $25.74 $49.99 (save $24.25)

• Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties — $39.06 $59.99 (save $20.93)

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• The Last of Us Part II Remastered — $37.49 $49.99 (save $12.50)

• The Last of Us Part 1 — $37.99 $69.99 (save $32)

• God of War Ragnarök — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• MLB The Show 26 — $42.99 $69.99 (save $27)

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 — $44.75 $69.99 (save $25.24)

Nintendo Switch

• South Park: Snow Day! — $22.93 $29.99 (save $7.06)

• Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection — $23.98 $39.99 (save $16.01)

• Sonic Origins Plus — $24.10 $39.99 (save $15.39)

• Sonic Frontiers — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15.00)

• Batman: Arkham Trilogy — $26.99 $29.83 (save $2.84)

• Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition — $32.85 $59.99 (save $27.14)

• Super Mario RPG — $34.87 $59.99 (save $25.12)

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong — $45.99 $49.99 (save $4)

Xbox

• Cuphead — $20.23 $39.99 (save $19.76)

• Sonic Superstars — $22.67 $59.99 (save $37.22)

• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 — $23.47 $49.99 (save $26.52)

• Sonic X Shadow Generations — $24.82 $49.99 (save $25.17)

• Borderlands 4 — $24.91 $49.99 (save $25.08)

• Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition — $29.54 $69.99 (save $40.45)

• DOOM: The Dark Ages — $39.95 $69.99 (save $30.05)

• Forza Motorsport — $38.48 $69.99 (save $31.51)

Best console deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo/Amazon Renewed Store Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con (Renewed) $189.99 at Amazon
$330.49 Save $140.50   Get Deal Why we like it

The standard Nintendo Switch is still hovering above $300, but Amazon Renewed is once again offering a much cheaper way into the platform. The Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con model is down to $189.99 in refurbished "Acceptable" condition, saving $140.50 off its $330.49 list price.

You’ll need to be fine with some light cosmetic wear, but you’re still getting the full 6.2-inch Switch experience with detachable Joy-Con and handheld, tabletop, and docked TV play for plenty of both first-party Nintendo and third-party multiplatform games.

Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) Series QHD Gaming Monitor $229.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $120   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Finding a 32-inch 1440p panel from a top-tier brand under $200 is a steal. You're getting a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, plus G-Sync and FreeSync support to keep fast-paced action smooth and free of screen tearing. It also comes with a height-adjustable ergonomic stand right out of the box, so you can pivot, tilt, and swivel to your setup's needs — a practical feature most budget displays cut to trim costs.

More early gaming monitor deals

• msi Pro (MP243) 24-inch 1080p FHD Gaming/Office Monitor — $89.99 $109.99 (save $20)

• Sansui 24-inch curved 160Hz gaming monitor — $92.99 $119.99 (save $27)

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey (G50F) QHD Gaming Monitor — $169.99 $279.99 (save $110)

• Samsung 32-inch Odyssey (G55C) 1,000R Curved Gaming Monitor — $189.99 $329.99 (save $140)

• LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor (27GS93QE-B) — $550.88 $899.99 (save $349.11)

Best gaming headset deal Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud III S – Wireless Gaming Headset for Multi-Platform $129.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

The HyperX Cloud III S is a wireless upgrade at $129.99, down $50 from its $179.99 list price — that's its lowest-ever price on Amazon (confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel). In exchange, you’re getting up to 120 hours of battery life over 2.4GHz, or as much as 200 hours through Bluetooth, alongside 53mm angled drivers and HyperX’s memory foam cushioning. It also works on PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Mac, and mobile devices, with both USB-A and USB-C connectors included for easier switching between platforms.

More early gaming headset deals

• Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset — $39.99 $69.99 (save $30)

• Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• HyperX Cloud III Wired Gaming Headset (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless Gen 2 Gaming Headset — $169.99 $199.99 (save $30)

• Logitech G Astro A50 Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset — $284.99 $299.99 (save $15)

Best gaming keyboard and mouse deals Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Basilisk V3 $34.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $35.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Getting a top-tier wired mouse at half off makes the Razer Basilisk V3 an easy pick. It has 11 programmable buttons, a smart scroll wheel that toggles between tactile clicks and free-spin scrolling, and a thumb rest shaped for long gaming sessions.

If you're upgrading your keyboard too, the Razer BlackWidow V4 X has real tactile mechanical switches instead of those squishy membrane keys. It includes six dedicated macro keys, custom RGB lighting for each key, and a physical volume roller right above the number pad, so you don't have to tab out of your game to tweak audio.

More early keyboard and mouse deals

• Logitech G213 Prodigy Wired RGB Gaming Keyboard - Black — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard — $49.99 $54.99 (save $5)

• Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)

• Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Razer Basilisk V3 Customizable RGB Wired Ergonomic Gaming Mouse — $34.98 $69.99 (save $35.01)

• ASUS ROG Spatha X Wireless Gaming Mouse — $119.99 $169.99 (save $50)

SAVE OVER $50: As of Sept. 30, the Shark WandVac is on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. That's $50.01 off its full price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark WandVac Cordless Hand Vac $79.98 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.01   Get Deal

When you don't have time to take an upright vacuum around your house or wait for a robot vacuum to run its course, handheld vacuums are perfect for quick cleanups. If you've been hoping to buy one, Amazon's dropped a great deal on the Shark WandVac ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

The Shark WandVac is normally priced at $129.99, but Amazon has it on sale right now for $79.98. That saves you just over $50, and this deal is just a few dollars away from its lowest-ever price of $75.99.

The rose gold model has the lowest price, but the black, white, and sage green models are available for a cent more at $79.99.

SEE ALSO: 30+ early October Prime Day deals: We found live deals on Bose, Lego, and Apple

Whether it's pet hair on seat cushions or crumbs in the car, the Shark WandVac can clear it up. It has a lightweight design for carrying around, weighing just 1.4 pounds, plus a high-speed, brushless motor that offers powerful suction for cleaning up a variety of surfaces. For trickier spots with pet hair, it also comes with a Multi-Surface Pet Tool. There's even a Duster Crevice Tool attachment, which helps reach tight spaces.

Emptying the hand vacuum is quick and easy, done by just touching a button. That way, you don't have to worry about your hands getting dirty in the process. And once you're all done, it can be slotted back into the charging dock.

This Shark WandVac deal is well worth taking advantage of before Prime Big Deal Days. Don't miss out on $50.01 off.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $89.99 (save vs. market price)

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,797.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,202)