LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Uniform Labs, the developer of Multiliquid, the institutional liquidity protocol for tokenized assets, today announced the close of its seed round led by Polychain, with participation from Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, Metalayer Ventures and Generative Ventures, and Circle Ventures, bringing Multiliquid’s total funding to $8 million.

Tokenized assets, from Treasuries and money market funds to private credit and other real-world assets, represent the fastest-growing frontier in institutional digital finance. However, market adoption remains constrained by traditional primary subscription and redemption cycles that can take days to settle. With federal stablecoin frameworks like the GENIUS Act prohibiting payment stablecoin issuers from paying yield directly to holders, institutions require programmatic rails to rotate between yield-bearing tokenized investments and transactional stablecoins 24/7, at scale, without balance-sheet drag.

Multiliquid delivers that infrastructure. It is a neutral, compliance-first liquidity layer that lets holders swap blue-chip tokenized assets and stablecoins in a single atomic transaction. The protocol supports tokenized funds from premier asset managers, including Wellington Management, VanEck, Janus Henderson and Fasanara, as well as major stablecoins, including USDC.

“Tokenization only matters if the assets are actually liquid,” said Will Beeson, Founder and CEO of Multiliquid. “Traditional capital markets rely on deep repo facilities and overnight lending to keep liquidity moving. On-chain finance requires the same institutional plumbing. Having Polychain lead this round, joined by Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, Metalayer Ventures, Generative Ventures and Circle Ventures, validates our focus: liquidity and continuous settlement are the next foundational layer for institutional adoption.”

“Tokenized assets have started to gain traction but liquidity remains the bottleneck. Multiliquid is building the connective layer for institutions to move seamlessly between tokenized funds and stablecoins across issuers and venues. Will’s deep experience in this market is unmatched, and we’re excited to back this breakthrough project,” said Olaf Carlson-Wee, Founder of Polychain.

About Multiliquid
Multiliquid is a 24/7 instant settlement platform for tokenized assets, providing continuous, atomic conversion between regulated real-world assets and stablecoins. Founded by veterans of Standard Chartered and UniCredit, Multiliquid enables institutions to eliminate settlement friction across on-chain capital markets. Learn more at multiliquid.xyz.

Contact: team@multiliquid.xyz

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SOURCE Uniform Labs

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) and The Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) today announced a broadening of their strategic partnership at NL-US Defense Industry Days. What began two years ago as an exploratory Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has matured into a high-impact collaboration, rapidly transitioning advanced technologies from the research lab into operational solutions that directly support the mission readiness of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

This agreement between the two like-minded organizations highlights the power of combined world-class expertise with global industry leadership to accelerate critical technological breakthroughs. Skunk Works has a more than 80-year history of developing groundbreaking aerospace systems and continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions globally for America and allied nations. Skunk Works’ visionary focus on innovation aligns with NLR’s mission of making aerospace technology more sustainable, safer, more efficient, and more effective.

Proven results driving future innovation

Since the inception of this MOU, the two organizations have successfully navigated complex operational and security environments inherent to confidential high-tech development. By establishing robust joint frameworks, workshops, and specialized working groups, NLR and Skunk Works have bridged distinct organizational cultures. This operational success has unlocked more opportunities, paving the way for a deeper and more ambitious roadmap.

“We believe that modern aerospace development relies on global integration rather than isolation, making cross-border partnerships essential to deliver systems that no single nation can build alone,” said Tineke van der Veen, CEO at Royal NLR. “Referring to the Dutch Defence White Paper 2026, NATO is the cornerstone of our defense, with the United States as our most important ally. Together with Skunk Works, we’re committed to cooperate to solve the highest priorities of the air force for the challenges ahead of us.”

“Lockheed Martin is excited about continued partnership with NLR through expansion of this MOU,” said Ron Fehlen, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works. “We have matured specific projects with cutting-edge technologies, such as Thermoplastics, and through our continued collaboration, we will develop new solutions to address pressing aerospace and defense challenges.”

In this next phase, we’ll focus on four key pillars. These include connectivity to the Dutch industrial base, coordination on military operational analysis, alignment on technology roadmaps, and collaboration on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). We’ll position the Dutch defense industrial base within the international supply chain, bridge the gap between mission needs and capability requirements, and work together on enabling technologies.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

About Royal NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre

Royal NLR operates as an objective and independent research centre, making aerospace more sustainable, safer, more efficient and more effective. As part of this, NLR offers innovative solutions and technical expertise, creating a strong competitive position for the commercial sector. More information at www.nlr.org.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

VoiceAmerica and Planet Classroom Launch New Podcast Episode Exploring How Artificial Intelligence Is Redefining Creativity, Disability, and Human Identity

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As generative artificial intelligence evolves from an operational tool into an intimate aspect of personal identity, educators, youth, and technologists face a fundamental question: When algorithms replicate human intelligence, what defines the true value of human experience?

The Planet Classroom Network, in partnership with VoiceAmerica, today announced the official podcast release of “AI for a Better World: What Does It Mean to Be Human in the Age of AI?” Hosted by award-winning journalist and education reformer C. M. (Cathy) Rubin, the episode features internationally acclaimed bionic pop artist, futurist, and former MIT Media Lab Fellow Viktoria Modesta for an in-depth conversation on how emerging technology is transforming human agency, artistic expression, and self-worth.

“We’ve spent centuries using technology to alter our physical environment,” says Rubin. “Now, artificial intelligence is altering who we are. This conversation asks what remains uniquely human when baseline intellectual tasks become fully automated.”

DISMANTLING TRADITIONAL METRICS OF HUMAN VALUE

Born in the USSR under a rigid social system focused on physical standardization, Modesta has spent two decades redefining beauty, disability, and technology by transforming her prosthetic limb into an iconic symbol of bionic design. In dialogue with Rubin, she emphasizes that the rise of generative AI forces a necessary cultural shift away from measuring people purely by productivity or rote intelligence.

“AI is creating a contrast to human value at scale for the very first time,” Modesta explains. “Historically, society valued biological abilities, sports performance, and raw processing power. Now, we must examine our deeper foundation. It is an exciting shift because it encourages greater appreciation for nature, intuition, and animal intelligence—aspects humanity previously sidelined.”

REFRAMING AI AS A COGNITIVE INSTRUMENT

Rather than treating machine learning with existential fear, Modesta draws on her background in physical augmentation to frame artificial intelligence as a “prosthetic of the mind” and a collaborative creative instrument.

“This is ultimately a relationship question,” says Modesta. “AI functions much like a musical instrument—it responds directly to human emotion and intention. It is no longer just a functional software tool; it is a vehicle for human aspiration.”

Key takeaways highlighted in the episode include:

Redefining Human Value: How the automation of routine cognitive tasks elevates the economic and social worth of emotional intelligence, lived experience, and creative intuition.The Cognitive Instrument Model: Why viewing AI as a mind prosthetic helps creators preserve personal agency and intentionality.The Premium on Originality: How the uniform, averaged output of Large Language Models (LLMs) creates higher demand for distinct, imperfect, and authentic human perspectives.Democratic Digital World-Building: How independent creators use generative tools and AI frameworks like Modesta’s Metabodies project to prototype inclusive futures across digital, virtual, and aerospace environments.

“Viktoria Modesta demonstrates that if AI operates as a prosthetic for the mind, it serves as a vehicle for human intention,” Rubin concludes. “AI is not a threat to humanity; it is a mirror that forces us to discover what makes us human.”

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE

“AI for a Better World: What Does It Mean to Be Human in the Age of AI?” debuts October 15, 2026, on the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network and all major podcast streaming platforms via the Planet Classroom Network.

Stream the episode here

CREDITS

Host: C. M. (Cathy) RubinGuest: Viktoria ModestaProducer/Editor: Sam SullivanProduction Coordinator: Sam BurnsArt Direction: Emily Brooks

About Viktoria Modesta

Viktoria Modesta is a British-Latvian multimedia artist, creative director, futurist, and the world’s first Bionic Pop Artist. A former MIT Media Lab Fellow, her multidisciplinary research spans bionic wearables, human-machine interaction, and aerospace exploration alongside partners including NASA JPL, the Aurelia Institute, and Mission AstroAccess. Her ongoing initiative, Metabodies, uses generative technology to expand representations of human identity across physical and digital spaces.

About C. M. (Cathy) Rubin

C. M. Rubin is a multimedia content creator, entrepreneur, author, and Tribeca Disruptor Foundation Fellow covering artificial intelligence, education, and innovation. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Classroom, a global streaming platform dedicated to youth media across entertainment, education, and lifestyle. Since founding CMRubinWorld in 2010, she has led digital publishing initiatives focused on human-centered AI strategy and educational policy, authoring over 800 interviews and articles—including the award-winning series The Global Search for Education. Her work has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Times Educational Supplement, Education World, and Shanghai Daily. Rubin is the author of three best-selling, award-winning books.

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SOURCE Planet Classroom Network