NASA is evaluating the risks involved in returning astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth. Their ride, Boeing’s Starliner, has been plagued with technical issues, forcing NASA to come up with contingency plans. Despite being ready for an emergency return, even alternative rideshare options pose considerable risks. One … Read more
A breakthrough in genetic research may have found a way to control Fusarium wilt, a devastating disease threatening the global supply of bananas. The disease has already wiped out other banana varieties and devastated production in the 1950s. Researchers discovered that the current strain didn’t evolve from the previous one and identified genes responsible for … Read more
People wear the self-care T-shirt but rarely practice it. The concept has been oversimplified, making it seem like a luxury rather than a necessity. However, self-care is not just about bubble baths and fancy brunches; it’s about taking care of yourself daily, just as you would for someone you love. The truth is, many people … Read more
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a breakthrough material that can withstand the harsh conditions inside nuclear fusion reactors, significantly increasing their lifespan. The innovative solution involves lining the reactor vessels with nanoparticles of ceramic compounds, which absorb helium atoms produced during the fusion reaction. Helium atoms are a major challenge … Read more
India’s massive road network, the second-largest globally, has traditionally relied on manual tollbooths, leading to congestion and long commute times. To address this issue, Calsoft, an Indian- American tech company, implemented a solution powered by Nvidia technologies. The system integrates with India’s dominant payment system, UPI, to automate toll collection. A key challenge was the … Read more
As working parents, we often feel guilty about not spending enough quality time with our children. However, research shows that play is a crucial element of a child’s development, critical to building their emotional intelligence and social awareness. Prof Adam Guastella from the University of Sydney suggests meeting kids where they are and embracing incidental … Read more
Tesla is taking steps to develop its humanoid robots, known as Optimus, designed to automate tasks in company factories. To gather data and provide equipment feedback on the robots, the electric-vehicle company is hiring “data collection operators” who will wear motion-capture suits and virtual reality headsets. According to job listings, applicants must be able to … Read more
Microsoft has backed an open-source project aimed at helping address PostgreSQL’s weaknesses as an analytics database. The project, which is under the permissive MIT License, brings popular in-process OLAP system DuckDB to PostgreSQL. This will enable developers to build analytical systems based on PostgreSQL more effectively. PostgreSQL has been the most popular database among developers … Read more
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is poised to begin the next leg of its Red Planet journey, with a final destination that promises to be the most spectacular yet. Next week, the rover will start ascending the western rim of Jezero Crater, where it began its Martian adventure three and a half years ago. The team … Read more
A recent study has discovered a microscopic eukaryote that appears to have eliminated its mitochondria, joining an exclusive club of organisms that can thrive without these essential energy-producing structures. Skoliomonas litria is the first free-living eukaryote found to have lost its mitochondria. Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, generating energy … Read more