Chemical Market Reports

Timothy

What Role Will AI Play in Space Exploration?

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AI systems are being utilized to tackle both minor and major issues on both Earth and beyond. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence hold great potential to increase space travel prospects in great strides. From offering personal support to astronauts to assisting us in better understanding the Sun, here are several ways AI can aid in space travel. We’re still a considerable distance from a real-life R2D2, but AI-powered virtual assistants that can help astronauts are presently being developed. One recently created AI assistant can detect threats and dangers in extended space trips by monitoring changes in the spacecraft’s environment, such as rising carbon dioxide levels, etc. These mechanical helpers can notify the crew of sensor discrepancies and other concerns that need to be inspected. Similarly, a comparable AI helper known as Cimon reached the International Space Station in 2019 and will “live” there for 3 years.

Cimon will be put to the test to see if it can lessen the stress of astronauts by completing duties that are assigned to it. If you will, consider it an interstellar butler. Furthermore, NASA is creating Robonaut, an AI robot that will operate alongside astronauts in the harsh conditions of space, and even undertake tasks that are perhaps too risky for humans to complete. Studying the Sun is a particularly difficult task. According to NASA, solar telescopes deteriorate fast owing to strong levels of energy, and a “never-ending shower of solar particles.” Several researchers are employing artificial intelligence to advance solar studies. AI can assist scientists to guarantee that the data they need to study the Sun is still correct and allows them to readjust their telescopes regularly to preserve data quality. As a result, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has been continuously monitoring the Sun since 2010, obtaining photographs spanning 10 wavelengths, every 12 seconds.

They use machine learning and artificial intelligence to evaluate how much deterioration is affecting the telescopes’ current photos, and how much calibration is required. This leads to a far better knowledge of our universe’s most crucial star. Exploring the great beyond necessitates preparing for a slew of unknowns. As astronauts go to places where few, if any, have gone before, they must rely on limited knowledge gained from previous research or space flights. This data may be sparse and difficult to get a hold of. AI is now being used by mission planning teams to make gathering knowledge together from previous excursions an easier process.

One AI helper is already in place to speed up the process of developing a preliminary mission concept. Daphne is also an intelligent helper used in the construction of Earth observation satellite systems. AI has an obvious potential to cut the number of man-hours necessary to construct a mission plan, as well as to swiftly gather knowledge and comments. Space, as it were, is running out of space. There are roughly 34,000 items larger than 10 cm in size that potentially endangers existing space infrastructures, triggering accidents or otherwise destabilizing space operations. Using “collision avoidance maneuver designs,” machine learning is assisting in avoiding potential collisions with space junk. The AI performs sophisticated calculations to determine the optimal course for a satellite or spacecraft to take in order to escape incoming debris. These models can assist in increasing safety as well as the maintaining of satellites in orbit for extended periods of time.

Satellites generate so much information that scientists and academics can’t possibly analyze all of it in real-time. AI can assist by creating reports that have a genuine influence on Earth’s life. For example, AI may utilize satellite data to predict heat retention of buildings or meteorological information to improve the ability to estimate wind speeds more accurately. AI can also assist scientists in determining when satellites need to be recalled for repair, detecting issues or malfunctioning, and forecasting overall performance. AI is expected to play a bigger role in the form of software rather than hardware, hence, unfortunately, a humanoid assistant from the movie Alien: Covenant is unlikely to be a reality any time soon.

With commercial space travel becoming a more common reality, companies are anticipated to employ AI systems for purposes such as customer service in outer space, passenger onboarding, etc. As with the development of most technologies, space exploration is also expected to play a catalyst in the advancement of artificial intelligence as well as machine learning. Space agencies around the world are increasingly taking assistance from private space firms for various tasks such as launches, spacecraft assembly & design, alternative fuel tech, space equipment, food technology, etc. As a consequence of private players collaborating with public agencies, there has been a significant increase in the rate of advancement of all facets of the space industry.

Apple Accuses Israeli Spytech Company NSO Group of Targeting Its Users

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The Pegasus malware from NSO can infiltrate both iPhones as well as Android devices, enabling operators to retrieve texts, photographs, emails, monitor telephone conversations, and discreetly activate cameras and microphones as well. According to the NSO Group, its technologies are designed to combat jihadists and thieves. However, it is also said to have been used on protesters, politicians, and journalists. According to the NSO Group, Pegasus is exclusively supplied to the military, law enforcement, and intelligence services in nations with excellent human-rights records. Nevertheless, earlier last month, US officials blacklisted the firm on a trade blacklist, claiming that the software allowed other governments to engage in translational oppression.

Apple’s stance followed criticism from other technology companies such as Microsoft, Meta Platforms (previously Facebook), Google-owner Alphabet, as well as Cisco Systems. Apple stated in a blog post detailing the California lawsuit that it wished to make the NSO Group as well as its parent firm OSY Technologies “responsible for the monitoring and manipulation of Apple consumers.” “To avoid additional misuse and injury to its consumers, Apple is also demanding a permanent injunction prohibiting the NSO Group from utilizing any Apple software, applications, or products,” the company stated. Apple takes pride in its privacy policies. It’s a big selling factor for its products.

So, it’s not strange that a corporation that reportedly attempted to circumvent Apple’s security safeguards would be at odds with the tech behemoth. But it isn’t the primary reason Apple is making a statement. Not all attackers are created equal. The NSO Group has government customers, or is “state-sponsored,” as Apple describes it. According to NSO, it exclusively collaborates with organizations that have a positive human rights record. In this approach, the firm has attempted to differentiate itself from unknown hackers engaged in malicious operations. Apple is ignoring that distinction by charging the NSO Group. Apple is emphasizing that it doesn’t matter who they are; if they’re a gang attempting to breach into an Apple device, they’ll take action – regardless of their motivations.

But there’s a little more to this than that. Apple will believe it is simpler and more politically acceptable to prosecute a private corporation than the countries accused of utilizing this technology. Apple claimed in its allegation, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, that NSO’s tools were used in “coordinated efforts in 2021 to attack and target Apple customers” and also that “US individuals have been constantly monitored by NSO’s spyware on portable devices that can and do pass international boundaries.” Apple said that the NSO gang established over 100 bogus Apple ID user credentials to carry out its assaults.

The tech behemoth stated that its systems were not compromised, but that NSO abused and exploited the infrastructure to deliver the assaults on Apple consumers. Apple also claimed that the NSO Group was actively involved in the spyware’s consultancy services, while NSO claims that it only sells its products to customers. Apple said it was obliged to engage in a never-ending arms race with NSO because the Israeli company was “constantly upgrading its viruses and vulnerabilities to defeat Apple’s security improvements.”

The iPhone manufacturer stated that it will contribute USD 10 million, as well as any damages won in the case, to cyber-surveillance research organizations such as Citizen Lab, a University of Toronto group that identified NSO’s assaults. In response, the NSO Group stated, “Thousands of people have been saved throughout the world as a result of NSO Group’s technology employed by its clients.” Sexual predators as well as jihadists operate freely in electronic safe-havens, and we give governments the legal means to combat them.

Blue Origin’s Gears Up For Third Crewed Flight, To Take Michael Strahan To Edge Of Space

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Blue Origin, the rocket company of Jeff Bezos, is preparing for its third crewed flight to the edge of space. This crewed mission will carry six people, two more than that previous suborbital space flights. The third crewed flight is scheduled for December 9 launch. This time there will be two special guests along with four other paid customers. The special guests include Michael Strahan – the popular host of Good Morning America. Strahan will be joined by Laura Shepard Churchley. She is the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard. It must be noted that Shepard was the first American to fly to space. He first went on a suborbital flight in the year 1961. Later, he walked on the moon.

They will be joined by space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor. The other three members who will be aboard the capsule are investor Evan Dick along with Bess Ventures found Lane Bess and his son Cameron. Lane and Cameron will create history by becoming the first parent-child pair to reach space. Blue Origin is calling Churchley and Strahan ‘honorary guests.’ Though others appear to be paying for the trip, there is no detail about how much they have paid for the trip. Just like William Shatner who did not pay for the flight when New Shepard went to space for the second time. 90-year-old Shatner created a record after the trip by becoming the oldest person ever to reach space.

The company said in a statement that the flight will move Blue Origin closer to its vision of people living in space and working for the benefit of Earth. This is going to be New Shepard’s third human flight in 2021. Blue Origin said that the flight will the sixth under the program this year and 19th in its history. Blue Origin is moving closer to launching a regular commercial space tourism service. The company has said that scientists and students will have access to the service to carry our experiment and microgravity conditions. By offering a free trip to space, the company is getting plenty of publicity for the service it is planning to launch. Blue Origin is competing with companies like Virgin Galactic for short trips. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is looking to launch a similar commercial service but for longer orbital flights. SpaceX had a successful test mission in September this year by putting four civilians into space. The civilian crew was in space for three days.

Information Of Over 1 Million GoDaddy Users Exposed In Recent Data Breach

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GoDaddy has revealed that it experienced a security breach. In disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the web hosting company said that the breach happened on September 6, 2021. During the breach, ‘unauthorized third party had gained access to information of WordPress users. The company said that data of around 1.2 million Managed WordPress customers may have been accessed. WordPress is a web-based content management system that is used by millions of bloggers and websites owners across the world. GoDaddy customers are allowed to host their own WordPress installs on their servers. In a filing with the SEC, GoDaddy’s chief information security officer Demetrius Comes said that a third party used a compromised password to get access to GoDaddy’s systems. However, GoDaddy was unaware of the breach for almost a month. It got to know about the hack only last week on November 17. The breach was found when the company noticed that someone was accessing its Managed WordPress hosting environment. WordPress is an open-source content management system that lets users develop a website very easily. The company has not shared any details about whether the compromised password was protected with two-factor authentication or not. The data breach has affected 1.2 million customers, both active and inactive users. Email addresses and mobile numbers could have been exposed in the data breach.

The customers whose emails were exposed could be at risk of phishing attacks. Under this, hackers trick users to click on links sent via email that can deploy malicious software in their systems. Hackers also trick users into sharing their sensitive information. The company also said that the original WordPress admin password was also compromised in the breach. The original password is created when WordPress is first installed. Access to this password can be used to access the servers of WordPress customers. According to GoDaddy, FTP credentials along with login details of the WordPress databases of the active customers were also exposed in the breach. WordPress database stores all the content of users. What is more worrying is that the SSL (HTTPS) private keys of some customers were also exposed. Attackers can abuse this to impersonate websites or services of customers. After noticing the breach, the company has reset WordPress passwords a private keys of customers. GoDaddy is also in the process of issuing new SSL certificates. The company started an investigation immediately after the breach came to its notice. It has contacted law enforcement agencies. The company is also reaching out to customers to address their concerns. The company has also asked customers to directly get in touch with them through an online help center in case of any difficulty or queries related to the breach.

“We are continuing with our investigation and as part of it, the company is contacting customers. We will definitely learn from this data breach. We are already working on strengthening our provisioning system and adding an additional layer of securities,” Comes said. Comes has also apologized for the problem that customers could face because of this data breach. “We are sincerely sorry. This is an unfortunate incident. It may cause concerns in the minds of our customers. Leadership and employees of GoDaddy take full responsibility to protect our customers. We never wanted to let them down.” There has been a surge in the number of incidents related to data breaches in the recent past. Several companies have reported security breaches of late. Recently, Robinhood faced the same issue when hackers managed to access the personal information of around 7 million customers. Hackers even demanded a ransom payment. Earlier in August, around 100 million wireless customers of T-Mobile were affected by the data breach. These incidents have seen a surge after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Law enforcement agencies have warned big companies to be extra cautious. They also asked them to report immediately if they find anything suspicious.

How Does the Fossil Fuel Sector Account for the Largest Representation at COP26?

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Campaigners headed by Global Witness, a human rights organization, evaluated the UN’s participation list, which was made public at the outset of the summit. They discovered that 503 representatives had ties to the fossil fuel industry who were granted accreditation for the climate conference. These delegates are reported to lobby for the petroleum & oil sectors, and protesters believe they should be barred from attending. “The fossil fuel sector has spent years rejecting and postponing serious action around the climate crisis, which is why this is such a significant concern,” Global Witness Murray Worthy warns. “Their involvement is one of the primary reasons that 25 years of UN climate discussions have failed to result in meaningful reductions in global emissions.”

The COP was attended by around 40,000 individuals. The United Kingdom, which is holding the conference in Glasgow, has 230 registered delegates. A fossil fuel lobbyist is defined by Global Witness, Corporate Accountability, and others who analyzed somebody, as a representative of a trade organization, delegation, or a body that promotes the objectives of petroleum & energy firms. At the summit, they recognized 503 individuals who were employed by or linked to these organizations. They also discovered that advocates for fossil fuels are members of 2 country delegations, Canada as well as Russia. The fossil fuel lobby at the COP is greater than the 8 delegations from the nations most affected by global warming over the last 2 decades combined.

At the COP, around 100 fossil fuel firms were present, as 30 trade groups and membership organizations. By a factor of two, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber the UNFCCC’s recognized indigenous group, the LCIPP. The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) was one of the largest organizations they discovered, with 103 representatives in attendance, including 3 from the petroleum & energy major British Petroleum. As per Global Witness, the IETA is supported by several big oil firms that encourage offsetting as well as carbon trading as a means of continuing to produce petroleum and gasoline. “This is an organization with a large number of oil & coal businesses as members.”

Its purpose is controlled by fossil fuel firms and supports the interests of fossil fuel corporations,” according to Mr. Worthy. “What we are witnessing is the promotion of phony solutions that look to be climate movement but maintain the status quo, preventing us from adopting clear, easy steps to keep fossil fuels underground that we understand are the true solutions to the climate issue.” According to the IETA, it exists to determine the most effective market-based ways of reducing emissions. Members include fossil fuel firms, as well as a variety of other organizations. “We have legal firms, project developers, and the people who deploy cleaner energy on the ground all across the world.

“We’re not coming to a halt today and tomorrow, and there will be no emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.” “There is a transition process going on, and carbon markets are the best way to ensure that transition occurs.” Campaigners say that the World Health Organization did not take tobacco prohibition seriously until all business representatives were barred from attending WHO conferences. They want petroleum & energy corporations to be treated the same way at the COP. “Despite publicly admitting to increasing their production of fossil gas, companies such as Shell and BP are involved in these negotiations,” stated Pascoe Sabido of the Corporate Europe Observatory.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Hit By Dust, Debris As It Nears Sun

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NASA’s solar probe has a guest on its way to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe was hit by solar dust and debris. According to NASA, the Parker probe will help in a better understanding of the Sun. The probe was launched in 2018. It travels through the atmosphere of the Sun to move closer to the surface. The spacecraft is facing an immense amount of solar radiation conditions. NASA said that the Parker probe is the closest-ever object to be sent to the Sun. Scientists said that they examined the collisions between the Parker and solar dust. They said that as the probe passed through the zodiacal cloud, thousands of tiny dust grains at hypervelocity bombarded the spacecraft. The grains were around 2 to 20 microns in diameter.

The zodiacal cloud is very thick. The dust cloud is like a pancake in shape. It is mainly composed of dust grains that are shed from space rocks. The cloud extends throughout the solar system. The impact of dust grains on the spacecraft made the surface hot. The surface temperature of the spacecraft first vaporized most of the dust grains. It was followed by an ionization process. This leads to plasma explosions lasting for nanoseconds and creating clouds of debris. The debris expands away gradually from the spacecraft. NASA said that the findings can provide new insights into weather around the Sun. The impacts can pose a threat to the spacecraft’s safety and affect its lifespan majorly.

The pictures were taken by Parker’s navigational and scientific cameras. Images show metallic flakes and paint chips knocking loose when hit by solar dust. NASA said that debris also scattered sunlight into the cameras. This prevented the probe temporarily from determining how it was oriented. The Parker probe has completed nine full orbits of the Sun since its launch in 2018. The prime mission will end in 2025. By that time, the spacecraft will complete at least 24 orbits of the Sun. It uses Venus’ gravity during flybys to bring its orbit closer to the Sun. It is currently flying into Corona which is the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. NASA said that the probe will revolutionize the understanding of the solar wind. It will also help in enhancing the ability to forecast changes in Earth’s weather.

NHTSA Awards USD 24 Million To Whistleblower For Exposing Safety Lapses In Hyundai, Kia

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said that a whistleblower has been awarded a record USD 24 million for providing key information related to the safety of vehicles manufactured by Hyundai and Kia. The whistleblower revealed that Hyundai and Kia moved very slowly to address issues linked with Theta II engines. The companies did this despite the fact that engines were prone to catching fire or could freeze up. The whistleblower was an ex-employee of Hyundai. Kim Gwang-ho said that deliberately moved slow on recalling more than 1 million vehicles with faulty engines. Kim was a motor engineer at the South Korean motor company.

Law firm Constantine Cannon said that the award given to Kim is the biggest ever to any whistleblower in the auto sector globally. It must be noted that Constantine Cannon had represented Kim. Also, this is the first time when NHTSA has paid an award to any whistleblower. The announcement comes at a time when the US Department of Transportation along with the NHTSA is planning to propose regulations in the automotive whistleblower program that was created in 2015 by Congress. NHTSA also said in a statement that the award given to Kim is the maximum percentage that has been allowed to by law.

“Whistleblowers have been playing a very important role in bringing information to NHTSA. The information shared is usually related to serious safety problems. Most of the time the agency is not aware of those things,” said NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator Steven Cliff. Kim had brought the issues to the notice of the regulator in 2016. Kim sighted an internal report of Hyundai to inform NHTSA that the Korean company failed to take enough measures to address the engine fault. NHTSA later found that the automaker delayed recalling affected vehicles. Also, it provided wrong information about the faults. It was in 2020 when US units of Kia and Hyundai agreed to pay penalties after NHTSA said that both companies failed to recall vehicles on time.

Some States In The US Decide To Pay Children In Cash For Being Vaccinated With Pediatric COVID19 Shot

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A panel of independent experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given a green signal to a pediatric COVID19 shot that has been developed by Pfizer. With the sanction, nearly 28 million children in the United States have become eligible for COVID19 vaccination this week. However, many parents are still hesitant to get their kids immunized. Health officials are trying all ways and means to persuade parents to get their kids inoculated as soon as possible. Considering the vaccine hesitancy, some health officials have decided to motivate these eligible children to get the vaccine by including them in many incentive programs. New York City officials have said that children can get $100 if they take the first dose of Pfizer’s COVID19 pediatric shot at a vaccine site that is run by the city administration. These kids can claim tickets to other exciting venues of the city as well such as the Statue of Liberty or the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team. Other people living in New York City who have been vaccinated as well have been given such incentives. Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that health officials of the city want children and parents to take full advantage of such incentive programs and get themselves immunized. Kids or anyone can use these incentives around the holidays but most essentially, the officials want kids and families to be safe from the dreaded disease.

Health officials in Chicago as well are giving away $100 gift cards to children in the age range of 5 to 11 years when they get vaccinated against COVID19 at Chicago Public Health events or clinics. The Chicago School District, which is one of the biggest schools in the US, as well has decided to close the school on November 12 to observe Vaccination Awareness Day; therefore, children can easily get their shots. The CEO of the Chicago School District, Pedro Martinez has said that it is very unlikely that the school makes any late changes in the school calendar but it is viewed as a crucial investment in the future of the school and the health and welfare of the students and school staff. San Antonio health officials in Texas have declared that parents or guardians of children who help their kids to get the vaccines at a public health clinic can claim $100 gift cards for the H-E-B grocery store. Health officials from Louisiana as well have said that children who are in the age group of 5 to 11 years can get $100 if they take COVID19 shots. Public Health officials from Minnesota have recently launched a vaccine campaign program for kids called Kids Deserve a Shot. The program aims to strengthen the number of vaccinated people in the age range of 12 to 17 years.

The state officials in Minnesota have been giving away $200 visa cards along with an opportunity to participate in a lucky draw for a $100000 college scholarship or a Minnesota experience prize package. However, some experts have said that it is unclear whether these incentive programs will help strengthen the number of vaccinated people. A study that has been released last month has shown that incentive lotteries that have been conducted by 19 states in the US have not worked well in increasing the number of vaccines used. This study has been released in the journal JAMA Health Forum. Nevertheless, health officials think that the lottery incentive might be less alluring as compared to actual cash for vaccination. A survey that has been done by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has found that nearly 47 percent of people who earlier have alleged that they want to wait and watch have said paid time off from work might persuade them to get vaccines. Nearly 39 percent of people enrolled in the survey have said that a cash incentive of $200 from their employers might motivate them for vaccination. As per the CDC data, over 58 percent of the US population has been fully vaccinated so far.

Parents Criticize San Francisco’s Plans To Make COVID19 Shot Compulsory For Children Aged 5 To 11 Years

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The San Francisco Department of Health has decided to make COVID19 shot for children who are 5 to 11 years old mandatory to be able to participate in society. However, many parents have condemned the decision stating that the health officials have taken the decision to mandate COVID 19 shots despite no one who has been below the age of 20 years has lost their lives in the city. The data from San Francisco’s official COVID19 tracker has shown that no one under the age of 20 years has died out of 664 people who have lost their lives when the virus has hit the states nearly two years ago. The data has revealed that only 1529 children have been diagnosed with COVID19 infection in the city in that period. Parents have been asking the officials if they will have to carry their children’s birth certificates to restaurants and grocery stores to show their kids are not eligible for vaccines yet. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that less than 700 people who have been below 18 years of age have succumbed to COVID19. Only 206 of them have been below 5 years of age. However, the recording of the data has started in April 2020 itself. The CDC figures have shown that there have been nearly 1.9 million confirmed cases in kids who have been in the age group of 5 to 11 years from March 2020 to October 10, 2020. Well, some experts say that figures might be much higher than the official number as some children might have been down with mild or asymptomatic infection who might have not been tested.

The officials have said that despite the data and figures, children who are in age set of 5 to 11 years will have to prove they are immunized in order to enter indoor restaurants and entertainment spots in San Francisco. San Francisco is the first city in the United States that has implemented strict vaccine mandates for indoor settings in August 2021 for kids and adults who are above 12 years of age. The decision has come after the CDC has given a go-ahead to Pfizer pediatric COVID19 shot for children aged 5 to 11 years. The CDC’s decision to grant emergency use authorization to Pfizer pediatric shots has led to a storm of debates across the US. Some opponents have been saying that there is not enough data to suggest that immunizing kids aged 5 to 11 years is required. They have said that children in this age group are at a lower risk of COVID19 and they contribute to only 0.1 percent of more than 750000 COVID19 deaths in the US. With CDC’s decision, the US has become the first nation to authorize a COVID19 shot for children as young as 5 years. However, scientists in the UK have given a warning to officials against suggesting a shot for this age group. Many polls have shown that many parents are not willing to get their children immunized and one poll has revealed that only a third might consider vaccinating their kids.

Health Officer of San Francisco, Susan Philip has said that the city administration will give children only two months to get fully immunized after that they will need to have their vaccination passport or they will not be allowed to enter local establishments. Vaccination for children in this age range has started in California the day after the CDC has authorized Pfizer pediatric shot. A report says that China has already started vaccinating its children as young as 3 years old. Chile has started rolling out vaccines for children who are in the age set of 6 years and above. Israel as well might follow the US footsteps as the CDC has given a green signal to Pfizer’s pediatric shot. Bahrain as well has authorized Sinopharm COVID19 pediatric vaccine for children aged 3 to 11 years. However, these countries are exceptions as many countries are still measuring the risks and benefits of vaccinating small children against COVID19.

Chip Shortages Hits Apple, New Products Might Not Be Available Until December

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This has been a difficult year for electronics manufacturers. Anything from the PlayStation 5 to graphics processors has been impacted by worldwide chip shortages. For a time, it appeared as though Apple had escaped the worst of the distribution network difficulties, still, it appears that good fortune has now worn off. As per Bloomberg, the majority of Apple’s new goods would not be available until mid-November or perhaps even December. This covers the iPhone 13 edition, the iPad Mini, the 9th-generation iPad, the Apple Watch Series 7, as well as the MacBook Pro. Worryingly, the disruptions are also impacting earlier models such as the MacBook Air as well as the most recent iMac.

When it concerns Apple products, shortages aren’t particularly unusual, however, scale is now the issue. The iPhone 13 Pro, for example, has only been available for around a month, and virtually every variant of the smartphone is hard to come by. According to Apple’s website, the newest delivery window is Nov. 19-29, and no version of the smartphone is sold at any of the 12 Apple Locations in the five boroughs, at least in New York City. This month, the firm reduced its 2021 iPhone 13 manufacturing estimates by around 10 million devices. The iPad Mini has the same shipping window, and just a few models were available for pickup at one or 2 Apple Stores in New York City.

Neither of the Apple Stores in New York appears to have the apple watch series 7 in stock. The MacBook Pro’s that were revealed earlier this week have also been pushed forward to November 12-19. The 24′ M1 iMac has also been pushed to November 12-19. There were just one or two combinations available for pickup. The availability of Apple’s latest USD 19 polishing cloth has also been postponed by 10-12 weeks; this is the reality in which we now live. The worldwide chip shortage is expected to hurt Apple’s revenues during its most productive season, but it’s difficult to feel sorry for one of the world’s wealthiest businesses.

Setback For Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin As It Loses NASA Lawsuit Over SpaceX USD 3 Billion Moon Landing Contract

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In a setback for Blue Origin, the US Court of Federal Claims has dismissed a lawsuit brought up by Jeff Bezos’ company against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The lawsuit was filed as Blue Origin was not happy with the US space agency for awarding the USD 3 billion lunar lander contract to SpaceX earlier this year. Federal Judge Richard Hertling has put an end to over a month-long battle that started with Blue Origin suing NASA. Soon after the judgment, the space agency has said that the work on the project with SpaceX will soon start. “There will be more opportunities for companies in the future where they will get to partner with NASA in its effort to establish a long-term presence of humans at the Moon,” the US space agency said. It must be noted that these initiatives are being taken under NASA’s Artemis program. Reacting to the judgment, a Blue Origin spokesperson said that the company tried to highlight the important safety issues and that must still be addressed. “There are serious safety issues with the procurement process of the Human Landing System procurement. This must still be addressed. An unprejudiced procurement process along with a sound policy is very crucial for returning astronauts safely to the Moon through the US space agency’s public-private partnership model. We are committed to ensuring that the Artemis program of NASA becomes a success,” the spokesperson said.

Bezos personally commented on the judgment. In a tweet, Bezos said that the company respects the judgment of the CFC but he said that ‘it was the decision they wanted.’ His tweet clearly hints that the company is not planning to appeal the decision any further. Hertling has issued a short ruling in which he noted that the motion for judgment moved by the Bezos’ company has been denied. The opinion is yet to be published. It is likely to be released on November 14 after all the properties involved in the lawsuit will propose which parts of the judgment they want to be redacted. Blue Origin was expecting to be part of NASA’s ambitious and much-awaited plan. In order to take the project forward, the US space agency had awarded the contract worth USD 2.9 billion to build Human Landing System to SpaceX. As part of the contract, SpaceX will use its Starship rocket to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the Artemis program. Earlier, the US space agency had publicly hinted that it would choose two companies for the contract. It hinted that the move would keep some competition and redundancy. After initial screening, the US space agency had narrowed to three companies – SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics. However, it took everyone by surprise by announcing just one company for the contract.

SpaceX had asked for USD 2.9 billion for the project. Commenting on its decision to go with only one company, the space agency had said that it was because of the lack of funding for its lunar lander program. This was apparently because of the lower-than-expected allocations for the Artemis program from Congress. However, the appeal was denied by the GAO in late July. This leads to Bezos to take the issue with the US Court of Federal Claims. NASA had halted the work on the contract with SpaceX during the lawsuit. But now the space agency is all set to resume the work on the HLS contract. The decision comes at a time when the company is having an equal share of success and scrutiny. Also, Bezos has increased his involvement in the company after stepping down from the post of chief executive officer of Amazon. The company has two successful crewed flights of New Shepard to its credit. But at the same time, it has been facing a lot of soaring employee turnover. But the company continues to work towards making the company achieve the vision of Blue Origin. The vision of Blue Origin is to make it possible for millions of people to live and work in space so that they can benefit Earth. In October, the company had announced Orbital Reef, a private space station. This will be developed in partnership with a consortium of space companies.

NASA Selects New Space Telescope Proposal To Study Milky Way Evolution

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Scientists are studying how the Milky Way was evolved. In a bid to further advance the study, NASA has selected a proposal for a new space telescope. The observatory will allow scientists to study star birth, death, and chemical elements among others. The US space agency said that the new telescope will be called the Compton Spectrometer and Imager. It is a gamma-ray telescope. Astronomers hope that the instrument will provide a breakthrough in the study of the recent history of the Milky Way evolution. As per the proposal, the telescope will be launched in 2025. NASA said that it will a part of the agency’s latest small astrophysics mission.

According to NASA, its Astrophysics Explorers Program in 2019 had received 18 proposals for a new telescope. The agency, however, selected only four proposals. The proposals were then taken into consideration for advanced studies. Scientists and engineers undertook an exercise to review the studies in detail. Based on their submission, the agency selected COSI. It means that NASA has paved the way for the work on the development of the telescope to continue. The agency expects that the new telescope will be able to answer questions related to the evolution of chemical elements in the galaxy. Chemical elements are critically crucial to the formation of planets including the Earth.

The telescope will study gamma rays emanating from radioactive atoms. These atoms were produced when massive stars exploded. The telescope will map where these chemical elements were formed. It will also collect data about the mysterious origin of positrons. NASA said that the mission will cost USD 145 million. This excludes that cost for the launch. The agency will select a launch provider later. The team behind the new telescope spent decades in finding a technology to better understand the Milky Way’s evolution. NASA had in 1991 launched the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. This was NASA’s one of four Great Observatories that it launched to explore the sky.

Health Experts Discover The Use Statin Drugs Might Be Able To Reduce The Risk Of Mortality Linked To COVID19

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A team of experts from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has done a new study that has found that widely known statin drugs that are used to reduce the levels of cholesterol might be able to reduce the risk of mortality. The authors of the study have looked at the health records of 1 million residents of Stockholm who have been in the age range of 45 years and above from March and November 2020. Among the participants of the study, nearly 18 percent of them have been given a statin such as simvastatin from Merck & Co. known as Zocor, and atorvastatin from Pfizer Inc. known as Lipitor. The findings of the study have shown people who have been prescribed statin drugs have been at a reduced risk of developing serious complications due to COVID19 infection. Most participants who have been prescribed statin medicines to reduce the levels of cholesterol and have shown fewer outcomes of COVID19 infection have been male. They have been older in age. These people have been found with more underlying health issues. They have belonged to low-income households and have has less disposable income. After health experts have adjusted these factors, then also, these people who have been taking statin drugs have been at a 12 percent reduced risk of death due to COVID19 infection. The authors have released the findings of the study in a journal called PLOS Medicine.

The authors of the study have not compared the findings of the study in people who have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Health experts who have been involved in the study have relied on prescriptions to gather data on people who have been taking statin medications. They have not analyzed whether people have been taking statin drugs as prescribed by health care providers. However, after adjusting all factors, it has been proven that treatments with statin drugs might have a modest preventive beneficial effect on the risk of mortality linked to COVID19 infection. Experts have said that the link between reduced risk of fatality due to COVID19 and statin drugs has been examined to understand the pleiotropic impact of statins on coagulation and immune response. Many past studies on the same topic have been observational ones and have been found with design drawbacks. The findings of these studies have led to major heterogeneity and doubts. In the new study, the exposure to statin treatment among the participants has taken place before the COVID19 pandemic has hit the region. Experts have collected the data on deaths from the Swedish Cause of Death Registry. They have used multivariable Cox regression models to evaluate hazard ratios (HRs). The authors of the study have further conducted a target trial emulation limited to initiators of statin treatments. As per the experts, around 2545 participants have lost their lives due to COVID19 during the follow-up of the study. In the cohort, nearly 51.6 percent of them have been women. Around 53.3 percent of statin users have been male with a median age of 71 years. These male participants have been mostly on anticoagulant and antihypertensive treatments. Around 765 statin drug users and 1780 non-users have lost their lives to COVID19 infection during the follow-up of the research. The authors of the study have concluded that statin therapy has been linked to a reduced risk of fatality due to COVID19.

The authors of the study have mentioned that statin therapy might have a modest negative link to the mortality related to COVID19 infection. As per the findings of the study, people should continue with the statin treatment for health issues such as cardiovascular disease, and hyperlipidemia during the COVID19 pandemic as per the existing guidelines by the health officials. However, experts have said that there is a need for further confirmation and randomized clinical trials to verify the link between statin therapy and the reduced risk of death related to COVID19. Many health experts are trying to find different alternative therapies and treatments to save as many lives as possible during the pandemic. Experts have cautioned people saying that people should not only rely on alternative therapies, as vaccines are the only safe and most effective option to prevent COVID19 disease. Recently some experts have also said that getting booster shots from a different COVID19 vaccine might be safe and will help trigger a stronger immune response. A recent study has found that people who have been vaccinated with the single-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson initially have shown a much better immune response after they have received booster shots from a different COVID19 shot. This study has been conducted by the National Institutes of Health. The study has enrolled more than 450 people who have been given initial shots of either Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. The study has noted that mixing and matching booster shots with various vaccine tools is quite a safe practice among adults. Pfizer- BioNTech and Moderna COVID19 shots have been designed with the help of an mRNA tool while the single-dose shot developed by Johnson & Johnson works on viral vector technology. The new study has looked at a total of nine groupings of initial shots and booster shots. The authors of the study have said that using different types of COVID19 shots for booster doses can produce a more robust immune response and higher levels of antibodies as compared to using the same type of shot for booster doses. They have said that mixing and matching vaccines for booster doses will offer immunological benefits as well that can improve the endurance and breadth of immunity, which is derived from currently existing COVID19 shots.

Scientists Claim A Commonly Used Diuretic Drug Might Help Find New Treatment Options For Alzheimer’s Disease

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In a new study, experts have found that a commonly used 50-year-old diuretic drug has shown promising efficiency in reducing an individual’s risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Health experts who have been involved in the study have said that they have been hunting for a pre-approved drug that can be repurposed to find a new and more effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The findings of the new study have revealed that exposure to this widely used diuretic drug can cut down the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The study has started many years ago along with the research of brain tissue samples that have been taken from patients who have been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The authors of the study have designed and used a new computational approach to find out gene expression profiles that are specific to the dreaded disease. They have particularly analyzed certain specific strains that have been linked to a gene known as APOE. The APOE has been known to be linked to an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Later, experts have shifted their focus to observing a database of more than 1300 drugs that have been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The lead author of the study, Dr. Alice Taubes has claimed that an impartial method has helped them to find some drugs that are able to reverse the altered gene expression, which is linked to Alzheimer’s disease, back to the normal status. Alice Taubes has said that the findings of the study have given some crucial clues about which drugs can be efficient against Alzheimer’s disease linked to APOE4 gene expression. Health experts have stated that a drug that is known as bumetanide has turned out to be a top contender for developing a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease out of an already authorized drug. They have said that it has been in use for many decades, particularly as a diuretic drug.

The authors of the study have tested the effectiveness of this drug on many animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings have shown that the drug is able to reduce cognitive deficits significantly and has been able to reduce the volume of toxic amyloid proteins. The drug has been able to restore a normal state of electrical brain activity as well, said the experts. A co-senior author of the study, Marina Sirota has noted that there is a need for in-depth safety testing before initiating a clinical trial in humans and animals, and cell studies as well while developing a traditional drug. However, in the case of an existing FDA authorized drug, they can use and test real-world human data to test in silico to identify the effectiveness of the drug. Therefore, the authors of the study have analyzed real-world data to understand the drug’s efficiency in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Experts have analyzed electronic health data of more than five million people whittled down to two age and demographically coordinated sets of nearly 3000 people each. One set of people has been exposed to bumetanide and the other has been treated with a different type of diuretic drug. People in both groups have been identified with similar genetic risks of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. However, those who have been exposed to bumetanide have been at 35 to 75 percent lower risk of being detected with the disease. The senior author of the study, Yadong Huang has said that though animal models involving bumetanide have looked at a specific APOE4 genetic pre tendency to the disease, the real-world tests have been more general and have shown that the drug might be broadly potent. Huang has said that as the two electronic health data do not divide patients as per their APOE4 types, the real-world data shows that the drug might be more largely effective against the disease afar from the patients who have two prints of APOE4.

It is not the first time when bumetanide has been suggested to treat mental diseases. Experts have said that the method that is used by the drug to treat water retention in cells affects neuron activity in the brain as well. The authors of the study have said that for ages, health care providers have considered bumetanide as an effective therapy for treatment for autism spectrum disorder. Animal studies and interim human trials have shown that the drug might be able to lessen behavioral anomalies that are linked to the disease. However, experts’ hope has collapsed after a pair of large-scale phase 3 trials have been stopped after interim findings have shown that the drug is no better than a placebo. A neuroscientist from the University of Nevada, Los Angeles, Jeffrey Cummings has said that he does not believe that bumetanide will work as a potent treatment for the disease. He has said that the findings will help scientists to invest their energy in a direction to come up with new drugs that are based on how bumetanide can help improve the condition. Cummings has said that the link between the drug and Alzheimer’s disease has not been proved yet. The side effects caused by this drug are not desirable among elderly people. He has claimed that the outcomes of the new study show a range of pathways that have not been tested fully. As the FDA has already granted a sanction to bumetanide and it has an established safety profile, experts are planning to launch a large-scale clinical trial to test its potency in humans. Experts have said that initially, clinical trials will focus on patients who carry APOE4 genetic risk factors specifically. The head of the drug development program at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Division of Neuroscience, Jean Yuan has said that the outcomes of the new study are strong enough to begin a clinical trial to test the drug in people who carry certain genetic risks factors for the disease. She has said that it seems that the future of Alzheimer’s disease treatment will be quite personalized, as the disease appears to be more heterogeneous as compared to what has been perceived earlier. Experts have said that Alzheimer’s disease might need definite types of care such as multiple remedies, to target a person’s unique genetic and disease traits.

Top Infectious Disease Expert Claims Partially Vaccinated People Are At 57 Times Higher Risk Of Death Due To COVID19

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A leading infectious disease scientist from the White House in the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that people who have not been fully immunized are many times more likely to be admitted to hospitals and die due to COVID19 infection. The expert has shared the data on the SARS-CoV-2 virus by the status of vaccination that has been taken from Public Health-Seattle and King County in the state of Washington. The data has revealed that people who have not been fully inoculated or have not even taken the first dose are at eight times greater risk of testing positive for COVID19. Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that such people are at 41 times higher risk of being hospitalized due to COVID19 and 57 times elevated risk of death due to the disease as compared to those who have taken both doses of COVID19 shots. He has said that estimates from the last month show how contagious the delta variant is and how efficient COVID19 shots are against the most severe complications induced by the virus. Dr. Fauci has said that COVID19 shots that are being used in the US are highly potent and free of cost and they are able to protect people and communities.

Experts who have come up with the data have compared breakthrough cases among residents of King County that have taken place when people have been diagnosed with COVID19 14 days after taking their first dose to people with COVID19 who have not taken the shots yet. Earlier experts have said that COVID19 shots do not offer 100 percent immunity from the SARS-CoV-2 virus; therefore, it means that there will be many breakthrough cases as people continue to take the shots. However, many studies have now shown that fewer than 1 percent of people who have been fully vaccinated will test positive for the dreaded virus, and even fewer people will have a severe infection even if they contract the disease. As per the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 14643 people who have been fully immunized have been admitted to hospitals after contracting the virus post-vaccination. Among these people, only 4493 people have lost their lives.

Experts have said that the new data collected by the King County officials have shown that breakthrough cases are quite uncommon and COVID19 vaccines have been working well against severe problems due to the disease. Experts have said that in the last one month, around 11868 people who have not started their vaccination or have completed their vaccine regimen within 14 days have been diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus as compared to only 5640 fully vaccinated people who have been fully immunized. The rate of new daily cases among fully immunized people has been 10.7 new cases per 100000 people. On the other hand, the rate of new cases among people who have not been fully vaccinated has been 82.4 cases per 100000 people. It shows that people who have not been fully inoculated are at a 7.7 times higher risk of testing positive for the virus. Health experts have said that the risk has been further higher among not fully vaccinated residents in terms of hospitalization and death due to COVID19. They have said that nearly 543 people from King County who have not been fully immunized have been admitted to hospitals along with a rate of 8.72 cases per 100000 people each day in the last month. While around 131 people who have been fully protected have been admitted to hospitals with a rate of 0.21 cases per 100000 per day. It shows that people who are fully immunized are at 41 times lower risk of hospitalization.

Experts have said that last month, nearly 90 people have lost their lives due to COVID19 among not fully immunized people and only 26 people have succumbed to disease among those who have been fully protected with COVID19 shots. The daily rate of death due to COVID19 among not fully vaccinated people has been 2.28 deaths per 100000 people. The death rate among fully vaccinated people has been 0.04 deaths per 100000 people per day. It shows that people who have not started their vaccine regimen or have not completed their second dose within 14 days are 57 times more likely to lose their lives due to COVID19 as compared to those who have been fully immunized. As these cases, deaths, and hospitalizations have taken place in the last month, Dr. Fauci has said that the delta variant might have been a driving factor. Last, week, a report from The State Health Department has shown that all virus samples that have been sent for genetic sequencing have been found to be linked to the delta variant. It shows that the delta strain has been behind all new cases in the county.

Experts have said that the delta variant is two times more infectious as compared to other dominant strains such as the Alpha strain that has been detected in the UK for the first time. The delta variant has been found in India for the first time during the second wave of the pandemic. The Secretary of Health of Washington, Dr. Umair Shah has said that officials are quite worried about the surge in cases that have been caused by the delta strain, which is spreading rapidly among men, women, children, and elderly people. Experts have advised people to take the shots as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones as COVID19 shots are the most vital tool to end the pandemic. They have said that people should adhere to COVID19 prevention guidelines such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

Pregnant Man, Melting Face Are Part Of Final List Of 37 Emojis Coming To Phones Very Soon

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Emojis let to express your feelings and emotions without typing a single word. Emojis also make messaging more fun. This is going to be more fun as several new emojis will be soon added to smartphones. The two prominent emojis among them would be a pregnant man and a pregnant gender-neutral person. Reports suggest that around 37 new emojis would be added to play with. The new emoji icons will be soon added as part of the Emoji 14.0 update. There would be a range of other inclusive illustrations covering all genders and skin tones.

The proposal to add new pregnancy emojis was first announced earlier this year. Both the emojis are similar to the emoji of a pregnant woman already available for users. Both the man and a gender-neutral person can be seen having their hands clasped over their baby bumps. While the man can be seen with a little mustache, the gender-neutral person has mid-length hair. Apart from this, the updates also include characters representing a royal person, melting face emoji, multiracial handshake, and others. The changes will give users more options to express their feelings with the help of emojis.

The addition of new emojis is an effort to make it look more neutral. This is apparently the Unicode Consortium had added a woman with a beard. It must be noted that these emojis are yet to get final approval and some of them are likely to change before that. Earlier in 2020, the consortium had said that version 14.0 would be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Emojis have always been an integral part of messaging platforms and every company works on its own to make them better. Recently, Microsoft had announced that it would redesign its around 1800 emojis. The tech giant had also said that its paper clip emoji would be swapped with its assistant Clippy. Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention that a study published by Adobe revealed that ‘laugh out loud’ it the most popular emoji in the world.

NASA Announces Launch Date Of James Webb Space Telescope, To Succeed Hubble Space Telescope

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The stage is set for the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. The US space agency NASA has developed the observatory. Astronomers are hopeful that the James Webb Space Telescope will open a new era of discovery. NASA has announced that the telescope will be launched on December 18. NASA has spent USD 10 billion to develop the telescope. It will succeed the Hubble Space Telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope is bigger than the Hubble. The Hubble telescope was launched in 1990. It operates in low Earth orbit. It has provided spectacular views of the cosmos since then and helped in solving space mysteries. NASA has described it as the world’s most complex space telescope.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a joint project by NASA, ESA, and CSA. The telescope will be shipped from California to Europe’s French Guiana. It will lift off aboard Ariane 5 rocket. The observatory is touted to be the most powerful space telescope ever developed. It can look back in time. According to NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope can see the first stars. It can detect infrared. The Hubble telescope also can detect infrared but to a limited extent. Astronomers believe that the James Webb Space Telescope will open new avenues of investigation for scientists to understand the Universe and search for alien worlds.

The James Webb Space Telescope completed its final tests in August. NASA had earlier targeted to launch it in March 2021. It pushed the date to October and later to December. The US space agency said that the dates were postponed due to the pandemic. NASA said that the telescope will be a major turning point in humans’ science journey to understand the Universe and its origin. The telescope will not operate in low Earth orbit just like the Hubble. It will travel for a month to reach its orbital location in space. The location is approximately one million miles away from Earth. It will start scientific operations around six months after launch.

Samsung’s New Z Flip 3, Can It Compete with Conventional Flagship Phones?

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Samsung’s new foldable smartphone Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first to challenge conventionally designed phones. In terms of processing power, it is identical to the Galaxy S21, which was introduced earlier this year. Reminiscent to Samsung’s previous flagships, the screen operates at a flawless refresh rate of 120Hz. According to reports, it’s built with a new, more robust material and is IPX8 water-proof, just as expected from a modern smartphone manufacturer. The last benefit is that the Z Flip 5G starts at USD 1,000, USD 450 cheaper than the Z Flip 5G it succeeds. Those prices bring the Flip 3 on par with several high-end non-folding smartphones. Nonetheless, there are a few areas where it falls short of conventional phones.

The notion of a foldable phone is unique.  For the first time, a folding smartphone that is not exclusively for initial enthusiasts can attract even mainstream users. Unlike the original Galaxy Flip as well as the Flip 5G, which were released last year, the Flip 3’s appearance is essentially unchanged. Unlike the Galaxy Fold line, the objective of this foldable smartphone is not to transform a regular phone into a tablet instead to do the contrary: turn a huge smartphone into something which fits easily in a user’s pocket. The Flip 3 has a 6.7-inch display, but when folded, it is about the size of a wallet.

The Flip 3 model functions at a 120hz refresh rate and has an aspect ratio of 1080 pixels per inch only when unfolded. It has the same quick touch response, vivid colors, deep blacks, and seamless scrolling as Samsung’s previous OLED displays. As a result, it’s easier to see in the sunlight and looks excellent when watching a video. In terms of speed and quality, it is on pace with other flagship devices. However, besides the Flip 3’s larger 9:22 aspect ratio, it operates like every contemporary smartphone. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 CPU, as well as 8GB of RAM power, the Galaxy Flip 3’s performance is equal to any other new smartphone introduced this year, including the Galaxy S21. The Flip 3’s lens setup is possibly the place where Samsung has made a minimal improvement. This year’s Flip 5G has the same 12-megapixel regular, wide, and ultra-wide back cameras as last year’s Flip 5G, as well as a 10-megapixel front-facing camera. The Z flip is expected to disrupt the conventional smartphone market to a certain extent. Info about the smartphone market is publically available on a wide range of analytical forums.

NASA Says James Webb Space Telescope’s Final Testing Successful, Read To Be Shipped To Launch Site

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The much-awaited James Webb Space Telescope is now ready. NASA said that engineers have completed the final testing of the telescope. The testing was successful. The long-spanning comprehensive testing was done at the facilities of aerospace and defense firm Northrop Grumman. NASA said that engineers are now preparing to move James Webb Space Telescope to its launch site. The preparation is likely to be completed in September. The telescope will be launched in November or December year. NASA had earlier decided to launch the telescope in October. But the agency recently pushed back the launch date. NASA had previously set March as the deadline to launch the telescope. But some technical challenges and the pandemic forced the agency to postpone the date.

James Webb Space Telescope is touted to be the most advanced telescope. It will succeed the Hubble Space Telescope. The space agency said that the telescope is at a major turning point ahead of the launch date. NASA said that the new instrument will give a push to the astrophysics mission. It said that the dedicated workforce completed the work within time despite multiple challenges. The teams will continue to check its parts and the communications network as shipment work gets underway. Launch rehearsals are being done to iron out challenges if any. The telescope will lift off from French Guiana aboard Ariane 5. Ariane 5 is a European launch vehicle. The James Webb Space Telescope is a result of the contribution of thousands of scientists, engineers, and professionals from other walks of life from more than 14 countries.

NASA said that the spacecraft will be separated from Ariane 5 after 26 minutes of the ride. The spacecraft will take nearly one month time to reach the telescope’s orbital location. The telescope will not be in orbit around the Earth like the Hubble Space Telescope. It will be located at a distance of nearly one million miles from Earth and orbit the Sun. The telescope will begin its scientific operations six months after the launch date. According to NASA’s claim, James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most complex, and powerful telescope ever built by any agency in the world. The agency is hopeful that it will solve the mysteries of the solar system and provide a view of other worlds in the universe.

Google Employees May See Change In Pay If They Switch To Permanent Work From Home

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Work from home has become a trend ever since the coronavirus pandemic struck. Several tech giants like Google and Facebook allowed their employees to work from remote locations as following norms of social distancing is one of the ways to keep COVID-19 at bay. But with vaccination drive picking pace and more and more people getting vaccinated, companies want people to report in offices. However, plans to call them have been again postponed amid a rising number of cases of Delta variant of COVID. Now there are reports that Google employees would see a change in their salaries if they opt for the permanent work from home option.

According to a company pay calculator, long commuters would be among the most affected. It is being done on an experimental basis but it could set the trend and other companies may follow it. Social media giant Facebook also decided to cut the salary of employees who are working from locations that are less expensive. Some smaller companies are following pay models which depend on locations. A Google spokesperson said that the company has always been giving a salary that is determined by location. “Our compensation has always been depended on the location of our employees and we pay at the top of the local market,” the spokesperson said.

According to Google’s internal salary calculator, seen by a news agency, shows that an employee working from Stamford, Connecticut is likely to get a 15 percent reduction in salary. While a colleague who will live in New York will continue to get the same pay even if he continues to work from home. Google has not clearly stated anything on this. It must be noted that several offices have openly expressed that they would their employees to come to the office. However, only those employees would be allowed to come to offices who are fully vaccinated. Several companies are encouraging their employees to get COVID-19 jabs at the earliest.

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