Chemical Market Reports

Elizabeth Moseley

NBA Icon LeBron James To Join Pepsi By Ending 18 Years Of Association With Coca Cola

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NBA star LeBron James has been synonymous with Coca-Cola for around 18 years but he has now decided to switch allegiances. James is now reportedly joining the PepsiCo brand and is set to sign a new endorsement deal. As per the new deal with Pepsi, James is expected to promote the upcoming drink ‘Rise Energy’ of Pepsi’ Mountain Dew brand. It is being said that the deal could be extended companywide. The development comes at a time when the company has already signed deals with several other NBA players. One of the prominent players who signed the deal is Zion Williamson.

It must be noted that James signed a deal with Coca Cola way back in 2003. At that time, he had not even started his NBA career and remained with Cola ever since. In 2014, the beverage conglomerate launched ‘Sprite 6 Mix by LeBron James’. It was his signature drink and also featured its own campaign. But the NBA player’s pact with Coca Cola came to an end in September 2020. Sources privy to the development said that the contract of LeBron came for renewal at a time when both the NBA star and the beverage company were actively reviewing all options.

“The company wanted to make sure that its investment goes for a long term and benefit the company,” Coca-Cola said. The company said that the decision was mutually agreed upon. “After many rounds of discussion with the player and his team, it was mutually agreed that we should part ways.” Interestingly, Coca Cola was replaced by Pepsi as the official food and beverage partner of the WNBA and NBA in 2015. This had ended 30 years of partnership with Coca Cola. On the other hand, PepsiCo continued to grow its dominance and grabbed an even larger share of the market space by acquiring Rockstar in March 2020 for a huge USD 3.85 billion.

Visa Scraps USD 5.3 Billion Takeover Deal With Plaid After Antitrust Lawsuit By Department Of Justice

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Almost two months after the Department of Justice (DOJ) raised antitrust concerns, Visa has scrapped USD 5.3 billion acquisition deal with Plaid. The antitrust lawsuit was filed by the DOJ on the grounds that the deal would reduce competition in the payments industry. But the company had denied it saying it in no way was trying to eliminate the competition. However, Visa has announced that the deal is being scrapped on mutual understanding. The move is being considered as a setback to Visa as it has been trying to add the fintech services to its payments business. Plaid is known for providing software solutions to companies like Venmo and Mint. The services help payments groups and financial planning companies to connect with their bank accounts.

The deal between the two companies was in January last year. Al Kelly, chief executive officer of Visa, had then said that the deal would have brought the combined company at the epicenter of the fintech firms. However, the DOJ moved the antitrust lawsuit in November 2020 alleging that Visa decided to acquire Plaid as it was developing its own platform. This would have challenged the dominance of Visa in the sector. The lawsuit had cited an internal Visa document wherein an executive of the company allegedly referred to Plaid as a ‘volcano.’ The executive had said that the ‘current capabilities of Plaid are just the tip which is visible above the water.’

According to the lawsuit, senior management of Visa had warned directors of the company about the potential downside risk of around USD 400 million if any rival company manage to buy Plaid. These claims were outrightly rejected by Visa and Plaid echoed it. However, the DOJ has now claimed that the termination of the deal between the two companies is a victory for consumers as well as small businesses. Plaid has now said that it will work with Visa as a partner and an investor going forward.

Hyundai Motor, Apple In Early Stage Discussions Reportedly Over Developing Electric Car

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South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. is in talks with Apple reportedly over working together on developing an electric vehicle. The discussions are in a very early stage and nothing has been finalized yet. Without mention what the talks are about, Hyundai Motor said the tech giant is in talks with various automakers across the globe and Hyundai Motor is one of them. “Nothing has been decided,” the company said. The statement comes after local media reported that Apple has put forward the terms of the tie-up and Hyundai Motor is reviewing it. As per the report, the proposal includes both development of batteries as well as the production of electric vehicles. “The electric vehicle could be launched in 2027,” the report said.

While Hyundai Motor issued a statement on the report, Apple has refused to comment. “We have been getting a lot of queries regarding cooperation for autonomous driving electric vehicles. Discussions are going on but no decisions have been made as they are in a very early stage,” the company said. The development comes days after reports emerged that Apple has been working on developing an electric car under Project Titan. The report quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that the iPhone maker has set the target of launching its electric car by 2024.

The reports sent shares of Hyundai soaring but prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo feels that the hype is merely speculation. Kuo said that these companies may provide some part for the electric vehicle of Apple. Talking about the launch date, Kuo said that he would not be surprised if Apple fails to launch the vehicle until 2028 or later. He said that this would be a possibility only if Apple starts full-fledged development of the vehicle immediately. Kuo even said that all the specifications of the electric vehicle being developed by the tech giant will be known only by 2022. He also opined that despite having an edge, it is not important that Apple will succeed in new business.

Scientists Claim Medicine Used For Treating Cancer Might Be Able To Cure COVID19 Disease

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A new study has found that a drug, which is being used to treat cancer for more than a decade, might be able to treat patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. Scientists have said that this drug is called Pralatrexate. It is a chemotherapy medication, which has been developed to cure lymphomas, a type of cancer, which begins in the glands. Chinese scientists have said that this drug might be able to outperform Remdesivir, which is currently being used as a leading anti-viral drug for the treatment of COVID19 patients. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given a green signal to Pralatrexate in 2009 for treating patients who are dealing with a terminal disease despite its toxic nature. There are many adverse side effects, which are linked to Pralatrexate such as fatigue, nausea, and mucositis. Mucositis is a type of inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes, which layers the digestive tract. Scientists have said that they might be able to repurpose this drug to eliminate the side effects, which will be more effective in treating COVID19.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Haiping Zhang from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, China has said that it is important to identify drugs that can cure COVID19. He has said that approved drugs can be straight away tested in clinical trials. The study has shown that Pralatrexate might be able to reduce the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The drug is able to trigger stronger inhibitory activity as compared to Remdesivir within the same experimental conditions, said the expert. They have said that artificial intelligence can be a great help to identify such drugs. It will simulate how differently these drugs react with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which leads to COVID19 disease. Zhang and his teammates have merged many computational methods, which are able to imitate drug-virus reactions to support virtual screening of existing drugs.

Scientists have used a hybrid screening method to test 1906 existing drugs for their potency to reduce the multiplication of the virus. They have targeted a viral protein known as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). RdRP is an important protein present in the genomes of all RNA containing pathogens like the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The hybrid screening approach has been able to find out four effective drugs. Scientists have said that there have been two drugs Pralatrexate and Azithromycin, which have been able to reduce the replication of the virus effectively. Further lab tests have proved that Pralatrexate has been able to cut down the replication of the virus more strongly than Remdesivir. It shows that Pralatrexate can be repurposed for treating COVID19. However, this medicine can lead to adverse side effects as it is used for treating lymphoma. Therefore, it cannot be immediately used to treat COVID19 patients. The lead author of the study has said that the novel hybrid approach involves deep learning technologies and traditional imitation of molecular dynamics.

Scientists have published the findings of the study in the journal called PLOS Computational Biology. They are going to develop additional computational techniques to produce novel molecular formations, which can be developed into a new drug that can treat COVID19 patients. Scientists have been a little cynical about the efficiency of Remdesivir, which has been developed to treat Hepatitis C and later has been repurposed to treat Ebola as well. The drug has delivered poor outcomes during the treatment of Ebola in 2014. Later it has been tested for the treatment of COVID19 in the early days of the pandemic. Scientists have been testing different drugs, which have been developed to treat other issues and can be repurposed to treat COVID19 as well.

Google Pixel 6 To Come With An Under-Display Selfie Camera Technology

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Google is actively working on a new model of the Pixel series. It will be called Pixel 6. The search-engine giant will launch Pixel 6 in 2021. According to a patent filed by the company, Pixel 6 will feature an under-display selfie camera. The patent didn’t go into any detail about the handset. It remains unclear how Google will achieve this. The patent only stated that the camera will be underneath the smartphone’s display. The patent revealed other details about the device. The smartphone will have a basic design. The patent said that the smartphone’s primary camera design and location will remain the same as seen on Pixel 5. The module will come with two sensors. There will an LED flash.

Pixel 6 will be the successor of Pixel 5. Google is planning to launch the smartphone in the second half of 2021. The new device will sport a 6.0-inch display. The display will be a full HD+ OLED screen. The aspect ratio will be 19.5:9. The smartphone will run on Android 11. The handset will be powered by an octa-core Snapdragon processor. The device will come with a storage capacity of 128GB. It will have 8GB RAM. Google is likely to offer a 4,080mAh battery with the device. Besides, Google is also mulling to provide fast-charging support with Pixel 6. Meanwhile, Google said that it is also working on a Pixel 5 Pro. It will probably be launched before Pixel 6 is made available to the public.

Notably, Google is the first company that is working on a smartphone with an under-display selfie camera. Earlier, ZTE had released a smartphone that featured an under-screen camera. Xiaomi and OPPO have also exhibited their prototypes. Samsung is also working on bringing the technology into its products. The South Korean giant is likely to release Galaxy Z Fold 3 with a camera fitted behind the screen. The smartphone is likely to hit the shelves in the second half of 2021.

Zoom Reportedly Planning To Challenge Google, Microsoft By Launching Email, Calendar Service

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It has been a fantastic year for video conferencing platform Zoom and it witnessed a 500 rise in stock price during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The lockdown brought the trend of work from home or remote work and people started using Zoom to connect with each other over a video call. But now the company has decided to foray into new territories, specifically calendar services and email. The company is looking to expand further than the video chat app and has already worked on the email product. According to reports, the company may begin testing as early a web email service Zoom as early as next year. Things are yet not clear about the calendar app and it is not known whether the company has even started working on it.

This seems to be a calculated move by the company and both avenues have good scope to grow. Especially when people will start going to offices and reliance on Zoom will start declining. Use of videoconferencing apps is set to decline with vaccination drive expected to pick up from next year. Zoom has so far not commented on the development. But it is important to understand that most of its biggest competitors have bundled several things. Microsoft and Google are considered to be its biggest rivals. Initially both the companies entered into Zoom’s territory by incorporating features like breakout room. Now Zoom has decided to challenge these tech titans with its own version of email service.

Both Google and Microsoft offer platforms like calendar and email services making Zoom more of a single-purpose platform. The information available suggests that the company is looking to build a full enterprise app suite. It will have features like job postings, an option for chatting, and integration with email. However, some experts believe that the company might opt for a wait and watch strategy and decide anything after analyzing how things change with the shift back to office work. Zoom became extremely popular because of the ease with which each people can use the videoconferencing platform. It became popular among students and teachers after it removed the restriction of 40 minutes time limit on free basic accounts.

Advisory Panel Says Frontline Essential Workers Should Be On Priority In The Distribution Of Moderna Vaccine

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An Advisory Panel at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that frontline essential workers and elderly people in the age range of 75 years and above should be next in line to get the Moderna Inc vaccine for COVID19. Moderna vaccine is the second one to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The distribution of this vaccine has started across the nation. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted in favor of the vaccine. Health experts have said that first responders, teachers, food and agriculture, manufacturing, the US Postal Service, public transit, and grocery store workers should receive Moderna Vaccine in the next round. This move will make another 51 million people entitled to the vaccine in the next round. The panel has said that nearly 200 million people along with non-frontline workers such as media professionals, finance, energy and IT, and communication sectors should be included in the following round. People in the age range of 65 to 74 years and those in the age group of 14 to 24 years with high-risk conditions as well should be given the vaccine in the next round of vaccination.

States, which have started giving the shots to their residents, are expected to follow the panel’s suggestions to make a plan for distributing the vaccine when supplies are limited. Experts have said that vaccination against the disease will help in reviving large parts of the economy. It will reduce the risk of outbreaks at crowded meatpacking plants, factories, and warehouses as well. However, there has been a lot of confusion over who is regarded as essential during the pandemic. Many firms and industry groups have been trying to get their workers in the US in line to get the vaccines after healthcare staff and long-term facility residents. United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) and FedEx Corp have started transporting the doses of the vaccine from warehouses to hospitals and other locations. Vials of Modern vaccine have been filled at Catalent Inc facility in Bloomington, Indiana. McKesson Corp has been sending the doses of Moderna vaccine across the country including Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, which are located nearby air hubs for FedEx and UPS. The officials from FedEx and UPS have said that the shipment is going smoothly as planned.

While the distribution of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is taking place in the US, the officials from the CDC have been looking at a new strain of the virus, which has emerged in the UK. Experts have said that the mutation of the virus shows that people should follow all the precautions to keep themselves safe while they wait for the vaccine. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the new strain of the virus has increased the number of infections. The UK government has applied strict restrictions across London and nearby areas considering surging cases. New restrictions have disrupted the holiday plans of millions of people in the UK. Experts have said that this variant of the virus is 70 percent more contagious than the original strain. It has raised many concerns over the extensive spread of the virus in the UK. Many European nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy have said that they have stopped their citizens from traveling to Britain. They have been planning to ban the flights and trains from commuting to the UK. The distribution of the Moderna vaccine will take place in more than 3700 sites in the US, which will expand the vaccine rollout, which has been started by Pfizer and its German partner BioNtech. The US Government has been planning to deliver 5.9 million Moderna shots and 2 million Pfizer vaccines this week. A report from the CDC has shown that nearly 2.84 million doses of vaccines have been allocated and around 556208 doses have been given to people so far.

Prolonged Side Effects Of COVID19 Might Alter Food Choices And Lifestyle Of Patients

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A new study has revealed that a fraction of patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19 and are undergoing long-lasting side effects of the disease are not able to enjoy common food items. Experts have termed this condition as Parosmia. People affected by this condition, deal with an altered sense of smell. Dr. David Beckham, who is a neuro-infectious disease expert at Colorado’s UC Health, has said that many large scale studies have found that this type of neurological side effect of COVID19 can be found in patients who are struggling with elongated side effects of the disease after being diagnosed with COVID19. He has said that nearly 25 percent of patients with COVID19, he has seen so far, have been diagnosed with smell or taste abnormalities.

Dr. David Beckham has said that studies have shown that this condition takes place when the SARS-CoV-2 virus damages nerves in a region of the sinuses. He has said that it can significantly disrupt the signals, which are essential to go from the sensory nerves in the nose to the brain. However, he has been able to explain why some patients deal with this condition and some do not. However, patients will be able to recover from it over time, said the expert. The recovery depends on how much damage has been done to the nerves. Amanda Frankeny, a dietician, has said that she has started dealing with this condition a week after she has been diagnosed with COVID19. She has said that she was not able to smell any food item properly. Along with the smell, she has lost her sense of taste as well within a couple of days. After she has recovered from this condition, no food seems to be appetizing to her. She has experienced a distorted sense of smell and taste.

A retrospective cohort study has looked at patients who have lost their sense of smell after being diagnosed with the disease. Around 14 patients have been included in the study. The authors of the study have observed the link between smell-loss related factors and changes in overall and sub dimensional olfactory working of the threshold, inequity, and detection. They have found that people with lower baseline olfactory function are more likely to have significant improvement in overall olfactory function. People with lower baseline olfactory performance with Parosmia will have an improvement in discrimination function; they are more likely to have significant improvement in odor detection as well.

Amazon Adds Luna Cloud Gaming Support On Android Devices

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Amazon has announced to introduce Luna on Android devices. Luna is a cloud gaming service by the American multinational. The company said that Luna is now available on select Pixel, Samsung, and OnePlus. Users will require downloading Luna app from the Play Store. It said that Android users can also access Luna through the Chrome web browser. After launching the web app, users will have to sign in to start playing. Amazon said that Luna is, however, only available by invitation. It has asked interested users to sign up on the company’s website for early access. Amazon said that it has plans to add support for Luna on more devices.

Luna was launched in October 2020. It was made available on Windows PC and Fire TV. It is also available to Apple users via Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Amazon didn’t add support for Android users. According to Amazon’s version, users do not need gaming consoles or gaming PCs to play games. Users can stream games directly from the cloud. Users only require having a high-speed internet connection. Luna was launched with nearly 100 games. Its monthly subscription is USD 5.99. It runs on Amazon Web Services. Luna is, however, available to subscribers in the United States only. The company is yet to confirm its international release.

With Luna, Amazon aims to take on existing players like Microsoft xCloud, Apple Arcade, and Google Stadia. According to Amazon, the Luna Controller is Alexa-enabled. It connects directly to the cloud. This helps in providing users to control games effortlessly. The company has also removed 20 milliseconds of roundtrip latency. If players want to switch between screens, they can do it easily without requiring additional pairing. Amazon also owns Twitch. It is a video live streaming service. It is among the most popular live streaming services. The company said that Luna is integrated with Twitch. This means if a user changes his mind to play games while watching a show on Twitch, he can switch to Luna immediately.

NASA’s Hubble Telescope Discovers An Exoplanet 336 Light Years Away From The Earth

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The number of planets in the solar system keeps fluctuating from 8 to 9 depending on whether astronomers find Pluto large enough to be a planet. However, another mysterious planet, the so-called Ninth Planet might be prowling in the periphery of the solar system. Scientists have found a massive exoplanet in a different solar system, which exhibits strange behavior, which is similar to a hypothesized ninth planet. They have found that exoplanet HD106906 b is almost 336 light-years far away from our planet earth. The data has found that the total mass of the exoplanet is equivalent to 11 Jupiter. The newly discovered planet orbits a double star system. Scientists found it in 2013 itself but they were unable to gather many details about it. However, NASA’s Hubble telescope has been able to gather 14 years worth of accurate data about the exoplanet. It has offered a treasure of new insight about the new mysterious planet.

Scientists have said that the exoplanet is quite far away from its host stars. It is 730 times more far from the Sun than it is far from the earth. The slow 15000 years long orbit of the new planet does not allow any conclusive observation in just 14 years, said the experts. As per the Hubble team, the orbit of the exoplanet stays on the outside of a debris disc adjoining the twin stars. Its orbit is very inclined, extreme, and extended. The lead author of the study Meiji Nguyen has said that in our solar system all the planets rest approximately on the same plane. It is bizarre to see how HD106906 b has been located so far out on a leaning orbit. He has said that it is uncertain how the planet has developed such an orbit. Experts have said that it has originated much closer to the host stars but due to the drag from the system’s gas disc, its orbit might have been affected. The drag from the system’s gas disc might have pushed the mysterious planet closer to twin stars.

The gravitation force of the twin stars might have bowled it into eccentric orbit. Experts have said that a passing start might have rectified the orbit of the exoplanet and then refrained it from leaving the home system. This process might have pushed the potential Planet Nine towards the edges of the solar system beyond the Kuiper belt. Scientists have said that Jupiter as well might have pushed the exoplanet out from the inner solar system, which might have impacted its orbit. Planet Nine would have surpassed Pluto but a passing star has refrained it by changing its orbit, said the experts. However further investigation is needed to substantiate the findings of this new research.

Netflix Provides More Control To Parents To Monitor Kids’ Activity On Platform

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American over-the-top platform Netflix has announced a new tool to keep a watch on kids’ activity. Netflix said that it will give more control to parents to monitoring what their children are watching on the platform. The new tool is called Kids Activity Report. According to the company, it will start sending emails to parents to tell them about the new tool. Parents who have enabled kids’ accounts on the platform will receive the communication. It will provide them in detail about the feature. Netflix is a hugely popular streaming service across the world. According to its claim, there are over 193 million paid subscribers spread in nearly 190 countries.

Besides streaming TV series, films and documentaries, Netflix also offers shows for kids. The company said that Kids Activity Report will tell parents what type of content their kids are most watching. Apart from having control over the flow of content, the new feature will also tell the parents about their kids’ interests. Back in April, Netflix improved controls to help parents keep a tab on content being watched by kids. The controls were specifically designed to prevent kids from watching adult content. The platform saw a surge in demand during the lockdown. Also, many parents enabled kids’ accounts to keep their children engage during the restrictions.

According to Netflix, parents can PIN protect accounts. They can also filter out titles based on age. They can even remove series or shows by title which according to them is not appropriate for minors. The new tool is available under the profile’s settings option. It has added Profile and Parental Controls. It said that there is also an option available to turn off autoplay of shows. Meanwhile, Netflix said that it has also started testing a Family Profile setting. It will pull in series and movies that users can select as family-friendly. It will, however, appear in one profile only. In another related development, Netflix is currently testing a new vertical feed feature in the US and UK. It is called Fast Laughs.

American Airlines Adopts New Testing Strategy, To Offer Home COVID-19 Test

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To help travellers meet various state travel restriction requirements, American Airlines have decided to offer an at-home COVID-19 test. The test will cost USD 129 and the results will help travelers avoid up to two weeks of quarantine. The company announced that it will partner with direct-to-consumer home testing company LetsGetChecked for this. Travelers will have to pay for the test which will be on top of the cost of travel. This is one of the few steps taken by airlines to encourage bookings. COVID-19 test before flying is one of the most common restrictions implemented by states and the at-home service will definitely help travelers, the airlines said.

Several states are asking for negative COVID-19 test results either before departure or upon arrival. Also, this provides a reliable source of testing as it continues to be hit-or-miss in several parts of the US. But there are certain loopholes, as there is the possibility of still getting infected during the journey to the airport, for example. Different states still have different restrictions with some still requiring mandatory quarantine even if the test result is negative. This is why the airlines are asking passengers to make sure that they know the requirement of the state where they are planning to land. Earlier, the airlines were offering an at-home COVID-19 test for international passengers who are traveling to destinations with restrictions.

LetsGetChecked, which is providing COVID-19 test to American Airlines’ passengers, has asked travelers to order the test at least five days before the scheduled flight. The test kits of LetsGetChecked use nasal swab so the customer will have to take the sample on their own and then need to send it back. The company will then run through a PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction test which requires a few days. American Airlines is the first to provide an at-home COVID-19 testing facility for domestic flights. There are several other airlines that are trying to introducing this testing protocol in order to encourage travelers.

Airbnb Blocks Bookings In US, UK To Stop Unauthorized New Year Parties Over Covid-19 Scare

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America’s popular hotel chain company Airbnb has announced a major change in its online booking policy. The company has restricted bookings of home rental services in multiple countries. The decision was taken in order to check unauthorized parties on the occasion of the New Year. The development comes in the backdrop of a spurt in Covid cases. People across the globe plan New Year Eve parties and make bookings. The company doesn’t want to invite a bad light in the midst of the pandemic. Airbnb said that the change in the booking policy has been introduced to deter unauthorized house parties and large gatherings.

The restriction is applicable in seven countries. These countries are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Britain, France, Australia, and Spain. Airbnb said that guests without a history of positive reviews will not be allowed to make one-night bookings reservations in entire home listings. The company said it will bring in place technology to restrict some local and last-minute bookings. It will block reservations by people without a history of positive reviews. Those having a history of positive reviews will not be covered under this restriction. The company said that already planned one-night bookings will be allowed. Its data showed that one-night New Year’s Eve reservations rarely lead to unauthorized parties.

The San Francisco- headquartered vacation rental firm had in October announced a similar measure. It blocked bookings for the Halloween festival. The company said that the restriction was aimed at helping to protect communities from the virus. Airbnb suffered as coronavirus wreaked havoc on the travel industry worldwide. Its revenue was hit hard by the pandemic. The company reported a 39 percent loss in its gross booking revenue till September. It filed for an initial public offering in November. The company has maintained silence on the number of shares it will offer and the price range. Its IPO will be released after the Securities and Exchange Commission completes its review process. The SEC is currently reviewing Airbnb’s market and other conditions.

Scientists Discover Neutrinos Originated From Nuclear Fusion Reaction In The Sun For The First Time

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Astronomers have been able to detect ethereal particles known as Neutrinos for the first time. These particles can be found in the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen fusion or CNO fusion inside the sun. Experts have said that it is a milestone discovery, which proves abstract forecast from the 1930s. It will be hailed as one of the biggest findings in physics of the new millennium. The findings of this large-scale study have been published in the journal Nature. In the study, scientists have used an ultrasensitive Borexino detector at the INFN’s Gran Sasso particle physics laboratory in Italy. It is the largest underground research center in the world. It is located deep under the Apennine Mountains, nearly 65 miles northeast of Rome. The new finding culminates the decade-long study of neutrinos in the sun by the Borexino Project. This research has been able to find the main nuclear reaction, which is used by the stars to fuse hydrogen into helium.

Experts have said that almost all the stars including the sun release a huge amount of energy by fusing hydrogen into helium. Scientists put it as an effective way of burning hydrogen. Hydrogen is the richest element and the main source of fuel in the universe. Nearly 99 percent of the energy of the sun comes from proton-proton fusion, which produces beryllium, lithium, and boron prior to dividing them into helium. However, most stars in the universe are much larger than the sun, such as the red giant Betelgeuse. This star is around 20 times more massive and 700 times wider than the sun. Those stars, which are larger than the sun, are much hotter as well, which means they are tremendously driven by CNO fusion. These stars fuse hydrogen into helium through atomic nuclei, which are formed into a loop between carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.

The CNO cycle is known as the central source of energy in the universe. However, it is hard to identify inside a relatively cool sun, where it contributes to only one percent of its energy. The huge Borexino detector identifies the neutrinos released during nuclear fusion at the core of the sun. Experts have said that neutrinos hardly interact with any element; therefore, it is easy to study them for distant nuclear reactions. However, experts have said that it is hard to identify these neutrinos as well. As per the astronomers, trillions of neutrinos released from the sun go through the Borexino detector every second, but only dozens of them are found each day. This large detector looks for faint flashes of light as they disappear in its 300-ton water tank. The author of the study has said that they have spent decades calculating neutrinos from the sun’s proton-proton chain reaction, however, identifying the CNO neutrinos has been quite hard. They have made the detector more sensitive over the years to discover these neutrinos. They have been protecting the detector from outside sources of radioactivity. As per the experts, the inner layer of the detector is the most radiation-free place on the earth. The findings of the study are the only direct signs of CNO fusion ever seen in history. Experts have said that the discovery has brought them one-step close to studying the composition of the Sun’s core and the configuration of the massive star.

Adobe Launches Beta Version Of Photoshop For Macs With Apple Silicon M1

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American software major Adobe has launched Photoshop for Macs with Apple Silicon. However, it is a beta version that is available for Macs. The support is added to Macs that come with an Apple M1 processor. Photoshop is basically a photo drawing and editing software. It is one of the most widely used photo-editing software in the world. It is even used by amateurs and professionals to fulfill their day-to-day editing requirements. The software has invited applause for transforming the world of photography and design with its tools that offer perfection. Photoshop was created in 1988. It has since then become the industry’s one of the most loved destinations for digital artworks. It is published by Adobe for both Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS.

Adobe in a statement said that this is the first beta release of Photoshop that will run on the Apple Silicon. It said that the early version offered many core features of Photoshop. The company said that it will add more features in the coming weeks. According to Adobe, it doesn’t offer support to run the regular x86 versions with Rosetta 2. It added that the Apple M1 chip is not a good fit for those depending majorly on Photoshop for their work. According to Apple’s claim, the M1 is the first chip that it has designed specifically for Mac systems. The iPhone maker claims that M1 delivers incredible performance.

Notably, Apple had earlier declared that Adobe is working on a plan to release Creative Cloud apps for Apple Silicon M1 hardware. The launch could take place early in 2021. The beta version of Photoshop needs Apple Silicon hardware and Creative Cloud desktop edition 5.3.1.470 or above. The release comes with several limitations. Adobe promised a fully functioning version soon. Adobe in past had made a similar approach for the iPad. It had initially released a basic version and gradually added new features. Adobe launched Photoshop for the iPad last year.

Apple One Subscription Plans Unveiled, Starts At USD 15

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Tech giant Apple has unveiled Apple One subscription plans. Apple One is a bundle of Apple’s multiple services. It brings services like Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV Plus, and Apple News Plus under one roof at an affordable price. The company has launched Apple One in over 100 countries. With one subscription, users can now enjoy multiple Apple services. They need not subscribe to Apple’s services separately. Users can enjoy the Apple One services across devices. It includes iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV. Apple had announced Apple One earlier this year. Users can subscribe to Apple One via the App Store.

Apple One comes with several different tiers of service. The company has launched three plans — for an individual, for a family, and a premier plan. All three plans start with one month of free services. After one month, the company will charge the customers on a monthly basis. An individual subscription will cost USD 15 per month. The family plan has a price tag of USD 20 and the premier will be available for USD 30. All three plans are different from each other in terms of numbers of services. The individual plan subscription has Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV. Besides, Apple has included 50GB iCloud storage. The family plan has Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and 200GB iCloud Storage. The family plan can be shared by six individuals.

The premier plan includes everything that the two previous plans offer. In addition to the existing services, Apple has included Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+. Besides, it also offers 2TB of iCloud storage. The premier plan can also be shared by six individuals. Apple said that those taking Apple One subscription will now get only one invoice every month. Earlier, users were required to subscribe to Apple services individually for which the company was generating separate invoices. Apple said that it is also offering feasibility to users to change plans and cancel a subscription at any time.

An Artificial Intelligence Tool Can Detect COVID19 Infection By Listening To The Sound Of Cough

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Since the COVID19 pandemic has hit the world, a sign of cough triggers a panic attack among people. However, a team of experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has come up with artificial intelligence (AI) tool, which can detect whether a person is infected with COVID19 from the sound of their cough. As per the report, this tool uses neural networks to spot a slight change in people’s coughing patterns. It shows whether the people are actually infected with the disease even if they do not show any other symptoms. People with no symptoms at all have been a major factor in the spread of the virus, as they are less likely to be tested in the absence of symptoms. Such carriers of the virus can easily infect others unknowingly. With the new tool, it will be quite easy to track down such people with no major symptoms.

Scientists have said that the difference between a healthy person’s cough and the cough of someone who has been infected with the virus is so tiny that it cannot be detected by the human ears. Now, experts have made an AI tool with the help of tens of thousands of recorded cough sound samples and spoken words to detect these tiny changes in cough. The early results of this tool have been highly accurate. This AI tool has been able to detect 98.5 percent of coughs from people who have been tested positive for COVID19. It has been able to detect 100 percent of coughs from people who have not shown any symptoms.

Experts say that one neural network of the tool looks for cough sounds linked to vocal chord strength. While another neural set-up detects signs of one’s emotional state like frustration, which can exhibit a flat effect. A third network notices slight changes in the lungs and respiratory performance. Experts have combined all three networks and covered them with an algorithm to identify muscle dilapidation. Many experts have said that the sound of a cough can reveal important signs related to one’s overall health. Experts have said that though the AI tool has been quite accurate, however, it cannot be replaced as an alternative for a COVID19 test. This tool has not been developed to diagnose those people who have been actively showing symptoms of the disease.

Apple Developing Own Search Engine As Google Faces Antitrust Scrutiny In US

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Tech giant Apple is expanding its footprints as it plans to leap in an online search. The company is believed to be ramping up its efforts to build a search engine. It aims to provide an alternative to Google Search. Google’s online search tool is the world’s most used search engine. It covers over 90 percent of the market share. According to an estimate, the search engine handles nearly 5.5 billion searches on a daily basis. Apple’s decision is believed to be influenced after Google’s search engine came under antitrust scrutiny in the United States. Reports say that Apple is aggressively working on the project.

Notably, Apple has started to display its website search results on iOS 14. iPhone users have reported that when they type to search from the home screen, they are delivered with Apple’s website search results. The company has dedicated a separate team that is developing an in-house search engine. Apple had in December 2018 hired John Giannandrea who led Google Search. John joined Apple with a wealth of experience. He is believed to be playing a pivotal role in Apple’s project. Google’s search engine is iPhone’s default search tool. The company pays Apple around USD 12 billion every year to be the iPhone’s default search tool.

Apple’s move is significant as it comes in the backdrop of a lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit was filed by the US Justice Department and 11 states. They alleged that Google marred competition and harmed consumers with its dominance in search and advertising. Soon after this, Google announced a series of upgrades to soothe regulators. In case the antitrust scrutiny bars Google, Apple’s efforts in developing its search engine will pay off. Even if Google manages to escape, Apple will be in a position to easily terminate its reliance on Google. Google is also facing heat from several quarters for promoting its own products on the platform. Google has repeatedly claimed that its services are beneficial for consumers.

Facebook Promotes Executive Alex Schultz To Fill Empty Position Of Chief Marketing Officer

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Facebook has promoted one of its long term executives to fill the position of chief marketing officer. Former vice president of product growth and data analytics Alex Schultz has been promoted to fill the post of Antonio Lucio. Schultz is one of the oldest executives and has been in the company since 2007. The position has been lying vacant after Lucio announced his resignation last month. He had joined the popular social media platform in 2018 after leaving HP. While leaving Facebook, Lucio said that he took this step to dedicated 100 per cent of his time to ‘diversity, inclusion, and equity.’

Schultz has been one of the key executives of growth and data analytics. The move will bring the company’s marketing efforts and user growth under one person as he will continue in the role to work in the role of data crunching. Announcing the development on Facebook, Schultz said that he will try to use his experience in targeting, segmentation, and measurement to extend the massive reach of the company. Schultz is an executive sponsor of the LGBTQ resource group of the company. He added a personal note in the post saying Facebook is the first place where he has found that it is safe to be gay.

Schultz is part of the important growth team of the company and has been responsible for expanding into new markets and adding users. He was also one of the members of the group that compiled the company’s quarterly reports highlighting efforts needed to fight hate speech content on the platform. Some of the highest priority projects of Mark Zuckerberg are being handled by him. He was also given the responsibility of analyzing whether success Instagram was hampering the growth of Facebook in 2017. However, he is not a traditional chief marketing officer but his promotion to the post points out that may be the company is willing to take a more analytical approach while promoting its products.

Lawsuit Accuses Instagram, Facebook Of Spying On Users Using iPhone Cameras

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A lawsuit has been filed accusing Facebook of allegedly spying on Instagram users by using iPhone cameras. Earlier in July, there were talks that Facebook-owned Instagram was accessing cameras of some smartphones manufactured by Apple even when it was not being used. Facebook had outrightly denied the claims saying the Apple’s iOS 14 software wrongly sent notifications for the same even the app wasn’t using it. Facebook said it happened because of the bug and it was fixing the same. The lawsuit claimed that the photo sharing app Instagram was using the camera on purpose and it had nothing to do with the bug.

The lawsuit has been filed in San Francisco by a New Jersey based Instagram user Brittany Conditi. Conditi claimed that the app having access to her smartphone’s camera was being done on purpose. The plaintiff argues that Instagram and its owner Facebook monitor the most intimate and private moments of users. The suit says that in addition to all this, the app collects market research and valuable insights on its users. The plaintiff claimed that Instagram does more than it claims and monitors users without permission. The lawsuit pointed out that the app claims that it doesn’t use the camera of the device when not being in use.

The suit said that there is no justifiable reason for the app to access the cameras of its users when Instagram camera features are not in use. The plaintiffs alleged that Instagram and Facebook both illegally use cameras of users to find out what products they are using and then hike their advertising revenue. The plaintiffs have urged the court to certify the suit as a Class Action. Facebook has declined to comment on the development but in July it had said that the app doesn’t access cameras of users. Cameras have become an integral part of our life as they are essential for sharing some great moments with your friends on the social media platform.

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