Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă recently presented his “new honorary adviser,” an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant to help the government know in real-time the proposals and wishes of Romanians by scanning social media networks. An “international first”, the AI assistant named “Ion” will chat with Romanians on the project's website. Ion "will use technology and artificial intelligence to capture opinions in society” using “data publicly available on social networks,” read a government document on the project. Ion, which has been developed by Romanian
Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates has said that no country in the world has built a more comprehensive digital infrastructure than India. He underlined that prior to digital infrastructure, accomplishing the number of bank accounts that the country has today would have taken 50 years. During his visit to India early March, Gates acknowledged India’s competitive private market, reliable and low-cost connectivity. He said that India will be one of the “cheapest 5G markets” globally. The country already sees a great digital network and high levels of smartphone use with really good connec
A San Francisco-based venture, Living Carbon has created poplar trees that are genetically engineered to grow larger and pull more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than standard trees do. In February, workers planted rows of these poplars in southern Georgia, kicking off the company’s plan to transform forestry. Living Carbon plans to plant 4 to 5 million trees by the middle of next year to help address the climate crisis. “Living Carbon is our answer to the question: Are we capable of storing carbon with the same ingenuity that allowed us to release it?” writes Maddie Hall, Living
Reliance Industries (RIL) is getting into genetic mapping space, says a Bloomberg report. The Indian conglomerate plans to make a healthcare trend launched by disruptive US ventures like 23andMe more affordable and extensive in India’s growing consumer market, the report added. RIL will roll out a comprehensive Rs 12,000 ($145) genome sequencing test within weeks, said Ramesh Hariharan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Strand Life Sciences, which has developed the product. RIL had acquired the Bengaluru-based firm in 2021, and owns about 80% of the company. The genome test, whi
Northwestern University researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind small, stretchable bandage that uses electrotherapy to a wound site to accelerate the healing process. In an animal study conducted by the US university, the new bandage healed diabetic ulcers 30% faster when applied for just 30 minutes per day. It also actively monitors the healing process and easily dissolves into the body when no longer needed. The new device could prove to be a useful tool for patients with diabetes, whose ulcers can lead to serious complications. Clinicians have used electrotherapy fo
UK-based satellite company Inmarsat has claimed that it achieved the world’s first carbon neutral rocket launch with the send-off of its I-6 F2 satellite into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. “We are offsetting roughly 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the launch,” said CEO Rajeev Suri. The CarbonNeutral Protocol certified the launch as a carbon neutral event. London-based Inmarsat sent its I-6 F2 satellite into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on February 17, lifting off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Rajeev Suri said the rocket and spacecraft build emi
Researchers from IIT Guwahati have developed a ‘recombinant protein toolbox’ that converts skin cells into heart cells. The heart cells produced using this toolbox can perform the same function as the original heart cells and regenerate damaged heart tissues. This technique is safer as the recombinant proteins disappear over time, without leaving toxic waste. The toolbox comprises six special proteins. The results of the research have been published in the journals, Current Research in Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, Applied Microbiol
A 53-year-old man diagnosed with HIV in 2008 is now free of the virus after a stem cell transplant treatment, researchers reported in the journal Nature Medicine on February 20. The German man, known as “the Düsseldorf patient,” is the third confirmed person to be cured of HIV using this treatment. Last year, the researchers announced that two other patients had recovered from the virus. The patients included a woman of mixed race. However, papers on these patients have not been published yet. The Düsseldorf patient received the stem cell transplant to treat his leukemia
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the government has released Rs. 126.99 crore towards Kisan Drone promotion. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the union minister said that the released funds include Rs. 52.50 crore released to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for purchase of 300 Kisan Drones and organising their demonstrations on the farmers’ fields in 75,000 hectares through 100 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, 75 ICAR institutions and 25 state agriculture universities. The released funds will go to various state governme
The Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman S Somanath on February 17 said that the space agency is planning to launch a second batch of 36 OneWeb satellites in March. In October 2022, ISRO had successfully launched the first batch of 36 satellites by OneWeb from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. S Somanath was speaking after the successful launch of ISRO’S Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) D2. He said that the year 2023 will see new developments and activities, specifically leading to the Gaganyaan programme. The OneWeb communications satellites will b