Science and Technology News: 30 October 2021

SciTech
30 October, 2021

Latest Science Technology news:

  1. On Thursday, a solar flare was recorded at its peak by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory at 11:35 a.m. Eastern Time. The burst of energy caused a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is essentially a giant magnetic field fart. The light and particles from the CME will reach Earth this Sunday as a solar storm, but won’t physically affect humans or wildlife. Popsci
  2. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company is working on futurist virtual reality and augmented reality projects, dubbed respectively Project Cambria and Project Nazaré. Venturebeat
  3. Microsoft announced Friday that it purchased Two Hat, a Kelowna-based content moderation platform that uses AI to classify and filter messages, usernames, images and videos in real time to create safer online communities. Globalnews
  4. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 vs AMD Radeon RX 6600. PCWorld
  5. Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the company’s efforts to make the Quest a fitness platform for third-party apps like Supernatural and FitXR. He compared it directly to the Peloton as a connected fitness device. Yahoo News
  6. iFixit reveals that Apple’s $19 Screen Polishing cloth is actually two pieces of material glued together and even takes a microscope to it to compare it to regular old microfiber.  TheVerge
  7. How VPN works ? Your data goes to a VPN server in an encrypted form. It is then decrypted by the VPN server, and from there, gets transmitted to its online destination with an IP address designated by the VPN server. So, anyone who tries to intercept your data will see it originating from the VPN server and not your actual device address. Techtimes
  8. Continuing about about smart devices, today we talk about smart switch. Smarteefi Touch 4 Port WiFi Smart Switch, Execute Schedule Even if no Internet, Compatible with Alexa/Google Home. WiFi enabled Smart Switch with 4 outputs whereas each output can be controlled and programmed independently. It allows you to turn ON/Off your appliances from Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Smarteefi App.

 

Compiled from Google Trends

 

Startup
24 February, 2024

Byju’s, once heralded as a flagship in India’s edtech sector, is grappling with severe financial and operational challenges, marked by a dramatic valuation drop. The company, which sought to stabilize its operations and finances, is now raising funds at a valuation significantly lower than its peak. This development comes amid efforts to address a substantial debt burden, with Byju’s proposing a repayment plan for its $1.2 billion loan. Investor confidence appears shaken, with some stakeholders pushing for drastic changes in leadership to navigate the crisis effectively. The turmoil reflects broader sectoral pressures and raises questions about the sustainability of high-growth trajectories in the edtech industry

Energy
10 February, 2024

Australia’s energy market is witnessing significant transitions and investments aimed at bolstering renewable energy infrastructure and securing gas supplies. Key developments include a $179 million investment by the Queensland Government for community battery projects, Santos’ $5.7 billion gas pipeline project following a legal battle win, and a $206 million energy savings package for NSW households. Additionally, the Australian government has secured new gas supply deals to support the east coast market, emphasizing the role of gas in transitioning to a renewable grid.

India 2024
9 February, 2024

The latest opinion polls, including the Mood of the Nation survey by India Today, predict a comfortable victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with a projected win of 335 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections. This forecast suggests a slight decrease from the 2019 elections but still ensures a majority. The survey, involving interviews with over 149,000 respondents, reflects Modi’s enduring popularity based on his nationalist policies and economic reforms. Other polls echo these findings, although seat projections vary slightly. The opposition INDIA alliance is expected to secure a significant number of seats, yet not enough to challenge the NDA’s majority. These predictions highlight a political landscape that remains largely favorable to Modi and the BJP as the election approaches