A study warns of light pollution from space mirrors, while Insilico Medicine's patent filing highlights legal hurdles in AI drug discovery.

Reflect Orbital plans to launch a test satellite later this year featuring an 18-by-18-meter mirror designed to reflect sunlight to Earth. While the company suggests the technology could support solar charging and emergency response, a new study warns the light could be as bright as 10,000 full moons. Separately, Insilico Medicine recently filed a patent for a drug it previously claimed was discovered by generative AI, yet the filing listed only human inventors to comply with intellectual property law.

Space Mirror Light Pollution Concerns

Reflect Orbital aims to eventually deploy a constellation of up to 50,000 satellites to provide on-demand sunlight. However, researchers indicate that these beams could scatter light over tens of kilometers, potentially impacting aviation, wildlife, and dark sky preservation efforts. The study suggests the unintended illumination could affect significantly more people than the company initially intended.

AI and Intellectual Property Law

The case of Insilico Medicine highlights a growing conflict between AI-driven innovation and current patent law. Although the company used computer models to design a drug for pulmonary fibrosis, it did not credit AI in its patent application. Instead, it named five human inventors, as current law requires human authorship to secure intellectual property rights. This discrepancy raises questions about how patent systems will adapt as AI becomes increasingly central to drug design.