A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a low-cost energy storage system using cement, water and carbon black, a fine black powder primarily formed of pure carbon. The device – a supercapacitor – works like a rechargeable battery and could be integrated into roads and building foundations to facilitate the renewable energy transition, believe the researchers. Unlike batteries, which rely on materials in limited supply such as lithium, the technology could be produced cheaply with materials that are readily available – cement
Artificial intelligence (AI) can detect breast cancer in mammograms as effectively as experienced radiologists, and could cut their workload by about half, according to a new study. The preliminary analysis of a long-term trial of 80,000 women in Sweden, published on August 1 in the journal Lancet Oncology, showed that AI readings of mammograms actually detected 20% more cases of breast cancer than the “standard” reading by two radiologists. The AI assessments were verified by one or two radiologists, depending on the patient’s risk profile. The development has led the researchers
The Government of India on August 4 deferred the implementation of the import restriction order on laptops, computers and tablets by about three months, till October 31. The move now gives more time to electronic companies to import these devices without a licence. On August 3, the Centre put the import of these devices under a licence regime with immediate effect, leading to complaints from industry on the notification. With the latest order, the companies now would need to take a licence from the government to import these devices from November 1. In its order, the Directorate General
Researchers and surgeons at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, have successfully implanted a microchip that was developed with artificial intelligence algorithms to re-link a paralysed man’s body and spinal cord, to help him move and feel again. The patient, Keith Thomas, 45, has, thus, become the first human to have the microchip successfully implanted. The native of Massapequa, New York suffered a spine injury after a diving accident in July 2020 that left him paralysed from the chest down and unable to feel. In March 2023, he was implanted the microchip at No
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced Rajmargyatra, a unified mobile application to provide comprehensive information and efficient complaint redressal for national highway users. The user-friendly app is available for download on both Google Play Store and iOS App Store. It is currently available in Hindi and English. The app offers real-time weather conditions, timely broadcast notifications, and details about nearby toll plazas, petrol pumps, hospitals, hotels, and other essential services, ensuring a seamless and safe journey on National Highways. Users can
India’s third moon mission spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3, is now one step closer to a lunar landing, as it successfully entered the moon’s orbit on August 5. The Indian space agency released the first images of the moon taken by the spacecraft on Saturday. The images show craters on the lunar surface getting larger and larger as the spacecraft draws closer. In a tweet on X, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that a retro-burning at the Perilune was commanded from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.&nbs
Singapore-headquartered global investment firm Temasek has executed a binding agreement to invest Rs 1,200 crore in Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd (MEAL), the four-wheeler (4W) passenger electric vehicles company. Temasek will invest the amount in the form of Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) at a valuation of up to Rs 80,580 crore, resulting in its ownership of a 1.49-2.97% stake in MEAL. MEAL also has British International Investments (BII) as an investor. With the new investment, Mahindra’s EV subsidiary’s valuation has gone up by 15% from up to Rs.70,070 crore
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Survey of India (SoI) are clamping down on apps hosted on app stores such as Google Play Store that have been depicting the Indian map incorrectly. The SoI issued a notice to Google in June, stating that the app World Map Quiz, hosted on the Play Store, depicted the territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh wrongly. The app, developed by Qbis Studio, has gathered over 5 million downloads on the Play Store. India’s Information Technology Act and the IT Rules prohibit publishers of content from hosting any content
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has said that the gravity of cyber risks will increase exponentially with the advent of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data and Internet of Things. Speaking at the ‘Friends of BRICS’ meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 24, the NSA highlighted the need for collective efforts to deal with challenges emerging from cybersecurity. “The Global South in particular needs to overcome limitations of resources. In this regard, India will always remain at the forefront and work closely with the Global South,�
Tech major and Facebook’s parent company Meta has signed an initial pact with the Indian government to partner on artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. The association came amid a visit by Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs, Meta and Former British Deputy Prime Minister, to India. The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to establish a framework for collaboration and cooperation between ‘India AI’, the country’s official programme to promote the development of the technology, and make Meta’s open-source AI models available for use by th