Category: Tech

Using its onboard remote sensing sensors, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Aditya-L1 spacecraft has successfully captured high solar fury. For India’s first dedicated solar mission, which launched on September 2, 2023, and reached the Lagrangian point (L1) on January 6, 2024—127 days later—this is a noteworthy accomplishment. L1, which is positioned about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, enables the spacecraft to keep an eye on the Sun all the time.

In May 2024, two important Aditya-L1 instruments recorded dynamic solar phenomena: the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) and the Solar Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT). According to an ISRO statement, these instruments recorded multiple strong solar flares of the X- and M-class and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) that caused large-scale geomagnetic storms.

The activity from the solar active area AR13664 was very notable. This region produced several X-class and M-class flares during the week of May 8–15, which were connected to CMEs seen on May 8 and 9. On May 11, a significant geomagnetic storm illustrated the potential effects of these solar outbursts on Earth’s space environment.

On May 17, ISRO released extensive observations from VELC and detailed photos from the SUIT instrument, demonstrating the mission’s success in deepening our understanding of solar processes.

The largest genome ever known, exceeding the human genome by more than 50 times, was found in a little, unassuming plant called Tmesipteris oblanceolata. With 160 billion base pairs, this fern surpasses both the previous record holder, Paris japonica, and the biggest genome, the marbled lungfish, by a substantial margin.

Jaume Pellicer, an evolutionary scientist at the Botanical Institute of Barcelona, co-authored the study. Since he had previously assumed that P. japonica had the maximum genome size, this discovery caught him off guard. This plant, which is indigenous to the archipelago of New Caledonia and the surrounding areas, makes one wonder how one can manage a genome that is so large.

The evolution of such a large genome remains a mystery. Although larger genomes usually need more energy and materials for cell growth, in a calm setting with low competition, this may not be an issue. This may account for the fern’s enormous genome as a result of gradual accumulation.

Although current methods may face challenges in sequencing and assembling such a massive genome, understanding such genomes might shed light on how organisms adapt to their environments and how resilient they are.

On Monday, Japan and the European Union published a joint statement pledging to collaborate on improving clean hydrogen consumption and supply, thereby promoting associated technology. This programme aligns with Japan’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 and Europe’s plan to phase out Russian fossil fuels.

The European Commission’s Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson, emphasised the importance of hydrogen being a worldwide commodity. She emphasised the need for EU-Japan collaboration to develop renewable and low-carbon hydrogen globally while maintaining regulatory standardisation.

On Monday, Simson met with Ken Saito, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. They co-chaired a Japan-EU hydrogen business roundtable featuring executives from major companies such as JERA, Tokyo Gas, Mitsui, and Iwatani. The EU intends to produce and import 10 million metric tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030. This step will require significant infrastructure investment.

Simson emphasised that hydrogen was an important part of Europe’s energy strategy for lowering reliance on Russian fossil fuels and decarbonising the industry in the long run.

Japan plans to invest more than 3 trillion yen over the next 15 years to encourage the generation of clean hydrogen.

Agnikul Cosmos, an IIT Madras-incubated firm, has launched the world’s first rocket powered by a single 3D-printed engine. On Wednesday, the launch took place at 7:15 a.m. from Sriharikota.

The Agnibaan-SOrTeD (sub-orbital technology demonstrator) was launched from Dhanush, India’s first private launchpad founded by the firm. The mission’s goal is to collect critical flight data and guarantee that systems for the startup’s orbital launch vehicle, Agnibaan, operate optimally. Agnibaan employed India’s first semi-cryogenic engine, which combines liquid and gas propellants, providing advantages such as increased payload capacity, lower launch costs, and improved reliability.

ISRO is building a similar engine, the SCE-200, for the GSLV Mk III rocket. A Rajarajan, the director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, and ISRO chairman S Somanath all witnessed the Agnibaan launch. Somanath emphasised the mission’s numerous firsts, including the 3D-printed engine and flight control technologies.

Agnikul Cosmos is creating customised, low-cost launch vehicles. 45 former ISRO scientists are in charge of the startup’s team of over 200 engineers, which is associated with IIT Madras’ National Centre for Combustion Research and Development. CEO Srinath Ravichandran revealed plans to launch an orbital mission by the end of the fiscal year, with customer trips beginning in 2025.

An endangered male plant, Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii), known as the world’s loneliest plant, is being partnered with a female mate using artificial intelligence. The University of Southampton is leading the initiative, looking for E. woodii in South Africa, where the lone known specimen was discovered. All of the present members are male clones who cannot reproduce naturally.

Dr. Laura Cinti, the project’s leader, is employing drones and artificial intelligence to find a female E. woodii. She claimed that the E. Woodii story moved her and reminded her of a well-known tale of unrequited love. She is optimistic that there was a female somewhere and plans to reestablish this plant through natural reproduction.

The only known E. woodii was discovered in the Ngoye Forest in 1895. All propagated samples are male clones, which prevents natural reproduction. Drone imaging of the forest, analysed by AI, has covered less than 2% of the 10,000-acre plot. According to Dr. Cinti, they are using a recognition algorithm to recognise plants by shape.

The forest has never been properly investigated to locate a female. The species is still propagated at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, and is known as the “world’s loneliest plant.”

Researchers have created an iron-based cathode material, which could lead to more affordable, safe, and ecological batteries. This novel material eliminates the need for expensive and precious metals such as cobalt and nickel, lowering the cost of producing electric vehicles.

Oregon State University chemistry researcher Xiulei “David” Ji emphasised their success in changing the reactivity of iron metal. In addition to having a higher energy density than most advanced cathode materials used in EVs, iron costs less than a dollar per kilogram, far less than nickel and cobalt. These cost savings may significantly reduce the price of our batteries.

Ji emphasised that rare metals account for up to 50% of the cost of producing lithium-ion battery cells. Overexploitation could result in a shortage and the collapse of nickel and cobalt-based battery production. Iron, on the other hand, is plentiful and will be available till the sun turns red.

The researchers combined specific chemicals with iron powder, lithium fluoride, and lithium phosphate to produce iron salts that are easily reversed. This breakthrough enables the use of iron in batteries without altering other production processes.

He said, “To apply this new cathode, no new anodes, production lines, or battery designs are needed—just replace the cathode.”

Earlier this month, Mitsubishi Electric’s TOKUI Fast Accurate Synchronised Motion Testing Robot (TOKUFASTbot) broke a new Guinness World Record for solving a Rubik’s cube in 0.305 seconds. This achievement beat the previous record by 0.075 seconds.

TOKUFASTbot’s success can be credited to its high-power, signal-responsive servomotors, which can complete each 90-degree rotation in 0.009 seconds, and an AI algorithm that accurately identifies and matches colours despite impediments.

Mitsubishi engineers used motion-control technologies from their manufacturing processes to ensure the exact execution of each twist, which is critical for avoiding misalignment and jams. The robot’s AI was particularly challenged by identifying similar colours, such as red and orange, but it efficiently determined the best sequence of moves to solve the puzzle.

The record attempt in Hyogo, Japan, encountered some initial difficulties, with the first attempt resulting in a jam due to the high speed. However, the second effort was successful, demonstrating the robot’s durability and precision. This new record is a huge improvement over earlier Rubik’s Cube-solving robots, indicating a jump in robotic capabilities.

Mitsubishi Electric’s TOKUFASTbot not only displays incredible engineering and AI developments, but it also establishes a new standard in the world of robotics, pointing to the possibility for high-speed, precision robotic operations in various industries.

South Korea announced a 26 trillion won ($19 billion) support package for its chip industry to stay competitive in areas like chip design and manufacturing amid intense global competition. To increase investments by semiconductor companies, President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a 17 trillion won financial support programme via the government-run Korea Development Bank.

“Win or lose, that depends on who can make cutting-edge semiconductors first,” Yoon said, highlighting the crucial nature of the semiconductor industry. South Korea trails behind in chip design and contract manufacturing, even though it is home to major memory chip manufacturers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The nation makes up about 1% of the global fabless market, which is what companies like Nvidia are driving.

A 1 trillion won fund will help fabless companies and equipment producers address this. South Korea’s share of the global market for non-memory chips, such as mobile CPUs, is expected to rise from 2% to 10%, according to Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun. This package surpasses previous projections made by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, which indicated support worth over 10 trillion won.

Choi noted the global trend of significant government subsidies for the chip industry and compared South Korea’s support for chips favourably with that of other nations.

Europe’s landmark AI laws will take effect next month after EU countries endorsed a political deal in December, setting a potential global standard for AI regulation. China’s state-control-focused approach and the US’s voluntary compliance approach are less extensive than the EU’s AI Act.

The vote comes after EU MPs approved the AI legislation, which the European Commission first proposed in 2021 and included significant changes. As generative AI systems like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini have become more popular, worries about AI-driven disinformation and copyright violations have grown.

For high-risk AI systems, the Act imposes stringent transparency standards; for general-purpose AI, the rules are less stringent. It limits the use of real-time biometric surveillance by the government to combating major crimes and preventing terrorism. According to Cooley Law Firm’s Patrick van Eecke, the legislation will affect businesses worldwide and may lead to the adoption of comparable frameworks in other areas.

The Act prohibits the use of AI in social scoring, predictive policing, and untargeted face image scraping, and it goes into effect in 2026. Depending on the type of violation, fines can reach up to 35 million euros, or 7% of worldwide turnover, or 7.5 million euros, or 1.5% of turnover.

Researchers at Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar’s GB Pant Agriculture and Technology University, have created a process to turn pine leaves, or pirul, which frequently start forest fires, into useful bio-grease and bio-resin. This innovation attempts to strengthen the local economy and stop forest fires.

Under the guidance of Professors T. K. Bhattacharya and A. K. Verma, Tarannum Jahan led the team that developed bio-resin for plywood adhesion and bio-grease to lower friction in ball bearings and prevent rust. The Gujarat-based business Green Molecules purchased the study, which was a component of the ICAR-AICRP Energy in Agriculture & Agro-based Industries project after it was patented.

Director of Research A. S. Nain stated, “This initiative will increase the value of pine leaves and provide villagers with a new source of income, reducing forest fires.” Every year, Uttarakhand produces almost 2 million metric tonnes of pirul. Increasing its market value will provide the local villagers with substantial financial benefits.

To make bio-resin, pyrolysis oil is mixed with chemicals; similarly, to make bio-grease, pyrolysis oil is combined with caustic soda and animal fat.

The Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt Gen (retd) Gurmit Singh, presented Jahan with the “Young Woman Scientist Excellence” Award in recognition of her work.