1. DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to lead Microsoft's AI division
Tags: Science and Technology Person in news
Google's DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman has been appointed to head Microsoft's AI division.
An Overview of the News
Suleyman will report directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Responsibilities Include Overseeing:
Integration of AI Copilot into Windows.
Incorporating interactive elements into Microsoft's Bing search engine.
Consolidating all consumer AI projects under a single leadership.
Key Points on the Background of Mustafa Suleyman
Mustafa Suleyman comes from a background where his father was a Syrian-born taxi driver and his mother was an English nurse.
He was brought up in the London Borough of Islington.
Suleyman studied philosophy and theology at the University of Oxford but discontinued during his second year.
He founded Muslim Youth Helpline, a charitable organization in the UK.
At the young age of 22, he provided advisory services on human rights policy to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
Mustafa Suleyman's Journey from DeepMind to Inflection AI and Microsoft:
Co-founded DeepMind in 2010, taking on the role of head of Applied AI, with an emphasis on ethical AI use.
Left Google in 2022 to found Inflexion AI.
Inflection AI achieved success with the creation of the popular AI chatbot Pi and secured $1.3 billion in funding.
Key figure Karen Simonyan, co-founder and chief scientist of Inflection AI, will move to Microsoft as chief scientist for Microsoft AI.
2. India's first battery storage gigafactory to begin operations in Jammu and Kashmir
Tags: Science and Technology
GoodEnough Energy announced plans to begin operations at India's inaugural battery energy storage gigafactory in Jammu and Kashmir by October 2024.
An Overview of the News
The facility aims to help industries cut carbon emissions by more than 5 million tonnes annually, in line with India's net zero emissions target by 2070.
GoodEnough has invested 1.5 billion rupees ($18.07 million) in a factory with 7 GWH capacity, with plans to invest another 3 billion rupees by 2027 to expand capacity to 20 GWH.
These expansion plans were revealed by GoodEnough founder Akash Kaushik.
Importance of renewable energy:
Battery energy storage projects are key to India's objective of expanding renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 from the current 178 GW.
Government Incentives:
The Indian government is offering $452 million in incentives to companies under a program aimed at promoting battery storage projects.
Role of battery storage systems:
Battery storage systems facilitate the storage of energy from renewable sources, ensuring reliable and continuous energy supply.
Implications of Gigafactory establishment:
The establishment of India's first battery storage gigafactory marks a significant progress towards achieving the country's renewable energy targets and reducing carbon emissions.
The operations in Jammu and Kashmir are set to boost the renewable energy sector in India.
3. xAI releases Grok-1, AI chatbot as open source
Tags: Science and Technology
Grok-1 is an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk.
An Overview of the News
xAI announced that Grok has been made open source, fulfilling a promise made by Musk.
GROC-1, the base model, is a 314 billion parameter mixture-of-experts model trained from scratch.
xAI released the base model weights and network architecture of Grok-1 on GitHub, promoting transparency and collaboration in AI development.
Elon Musk aims to set an example by open-sourcing Grok.
Open-sourcing Grok has a significant impact on the AI industry, encouraging knowledge sharing and fostering innovation.
"Grok" was named for Robert A. Named after a word from Heinlein's science fiction novel "Stranger in a Strange Land", meaning to understand something deeply.
Elon Musk, in addition to founding XAI, is known for his roles as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and his influence in the tech industry.
About Elon Reeve Musk
Elon Reeve Musk, born on June 28, 1971, is a prominent businessman and investor.
He holds various leadership positions in several high-profile companies:
Founder, chairman, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX.
Angel investor, CEO, product architect, and former chairman of Tesla, Inc.
Owner, executive chairman, and CTO of X Corp.
Founder of the Boring Company and xAI.
Co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI.
President of the Musk Foundation.
Musk is recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with an estimated net worth of US$190 billion as of March 2024 according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and $195 billion according to Forbes.
His wealth primarily stems from his ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX.
4. Tamil Nadu Creates History with India's Second Privately Developed Rocket
Tags: Science and Technology
Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited, one of Tamil Nadu's space companies, is preparing to launch its first rocket, Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
An Overview of the News
Agnibaan SOrTeD marks India's inaugural launch from a private launchpad, marking a significant advancement in the country's space industry.
The launch will also represent India's first rocket powered by a semi-cryogenic engine, showcasing advancements in propulsion technology.
Innovation with 3D Printed Engines:
Agnikul Cosmos has achieved another milestone with the production of the world's first single-piece 3D-printed engine, highlighting indigenous innovation and engineering expertise.
Founders and Collaborative Efforts:
Founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM and Satya Chakraborty, Agnikul Cosmos Pvt Ltd became the first Indian company to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under the IN-SPACe project.
The partnership, launched in December 2020, provided Agnikul Cosmos with access to ISRO's resources and expertise, facilitating the development of Agnibaan.
Prior Achievements:
India's journey into privately developed rockets began in 2022 with the launch of Vikram-S developed by Skyroot Aerospace Pvt Ltd.
Vikram-S achieved a peak altitude of 89.5 kilometers during its initial mission, marking India's entry into the privately developed rocket market and boosting its aspirations in the private space sector.
About ISRO
Founder - Vikram Sarabhai
Headquarters - Bengaluru
Established - 15 August 1969
Chairman - Shridhar Somnath
Officeholder - S. Somnath
5. Amazon's Project Kuiper launches prototypes for global Internet access
Tags: Science and Technology
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.O) successfully launched its first two prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, into low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 500 kilometers (311 miles) as part of the "Protoflight" mission of Project Kuiper.
An Overview of the News
The launch was performed using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States.
About Project Kuiper:
Project Kuiper is a satellite system composed of satellites operating in LEO at altitudes between 590 and 630 kilometers (about 367 to 391 miles).
Its primary objective is to provide fast and affordable internet access to over 10 million underserved communities globally.
The project plans to deploy 3,236 satellites, spaced carefully to minimize overlap.
Launch Agreements and Partnerships:
Amazon has partnered with three commercial space companies - Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance - to facilitate satellite launches.
These companies will launch 83 rockets to deploy the Kuiper satellites.
The project represents the largest commercial procurement of space launch services in history.
Important Points:
Project Kuiper faces competition from SpaceX's Starlink project, which shares the same goal of providing global Internet coverage through a satellite constellation.
Amazon.com, Inc. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States, it is led by Chairman and CEO Andy Jassy and was founded in 1994.
The project's launch agreements include 38 launches on ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket, 18 launches on Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocket, and 12 launches on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, with an option for 15 additional launches.
6. India's first solar roof cycling track 'Healthway' inaugurated in Hyderabad
Tags: Science and Technology
India's first solar rooftop cycling track 'Healthway' inaugurated in Hyderabad, paving the way for sustainable urban mobility.
An Overview of the News
The program was presided over by State Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K Tarakrama Rao.
The cycling track is named "Healthway" and is a pioneer project in India.
This is the second program of its kind globally, showcasing innovation in sustainable infrastructure.
Location and features of the cycling track:
The track is located along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) between the main carriageway and the service road.
Its total length is 23 kilometers and it consists of two sections: a pink line of 8.5 kilometers and a blue line of 14.5 kilometers.
The track is three lanes wide, measuring 4.5 metres, with one meter of green space on each side.
Facilities and Services Available:
The cycling track is designed as a hub for cyclists and visitors.
It provides amenities like adequate parking space, surveillance cameras, food courts, drinking water, first aid facilities and toilets.
Additionally, there will be bicycle repair shops, bicycle docking stations, rental services and more to enhance the visitor experience.
Solar Energy Generation and Environmental Benefits:
A total of 16,000 solar panels have been installed along the track.
These solar panels generate 16 megawatts (MW) of power, which is used to illuminate the track at night and provide protection to cyclists from sun, rain and adverse weather conditions.
This initiative is in line with sustainability goals and promotes eco-friendly transportation options.
7. Iran's IRGC successfully launches Nour 3 Military Imaging Satellite into Orbit
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched its third military imaging satellite, Nour 3, from Iran's Shahroud Spaceport.
An Overview of the News
The satellite was sent into orbit using a three-stage cassette carrier, which was developed by the IRGC.
In Persian,"nour" (or "noor") translates to "light", while "Qased" means "messenger".
Noor 3 was placed in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 450 km (280 mi) above the Earth's surface.
The primary purpose of the Nour-3 satellite is to collect data and images for intelligence purposes by the IRGC.
Previous versions of the Noor satellite include:
Nour 1 - It was the first military reconnaissance satellite launched by Iran in April 2020. It orbited at an altitude of 425 km (265 mi) above the Earth.
Nour 2 - It launched in March 2022, and operated in a low orbit at an altitude of 500 km (310 mi).
Other satellites of Iran
In August 2022, Iran's high-resolution, remote-sensing Khayyam satellite was launched using Russia's Soyuz-2.1B rocket. The launch took place from the Russian-controlled Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
About Iran
President - Ibrahim Raisi
Capital - Tehran
Currency - Iranian Rial
8. Union Minister Hardeep S Puri flags off India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus
Tags: Science and Technology
On September 25, 2023, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus on the 'Kartavya Path' in Delhi.
An Overview of the News
India's ambition is to become a global hub of hydrogen production and export.
Benefits of hydrogen-powered buses
Environmental benefits of fuel cell buses: Zero harmful emissions and quick charging.
The higher energy density of hydrogen than conventional fuels.
Collaboration between Indian Oil and Tata Motors for indigenous fuel cell technology and infrastructure.
Green Hydrogen Mission and Sustainability Goals
The Green Hydrogen Mission aims to establish a green hydrogen ecosystem in India.
Hydrogen has the potential to transform India's energy landscape and reduce carbon emissions.
IndianOil's commitment to sustainable solutions and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
9. 1,000-year-old alien corpse unveiled in Mexican Congress
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Jaime Maussan, a leading UFO expert, recently revealed in the Mexican Congress two alleged "non-human" bodies believed to be 1,000 years old.
An Overview of the News
These bodies were reportedly found in a mine in Cuzco, Peru.
Researchers claim that the genetic structure of these dead bodies is 30 percent different from that of humans.
Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) confirmed their age to be over 1,000 years.
Unusual Features:
The bodies were human-like in shape but displayed distinctive features such as three-fingered hands and feet.
They had retractable necks and long skulls that resembled bird-like features.
The bones of these creatures were strong, light, and lacked teeth.
Implantation and Embryo:
Eggs with embryos were found in one of these bodies.
Implants made of the metals cadmium and osmium were discovered.
Previous claims by Maussan:
In 2015, Jaime Maussan presented another alleged "alien" body, found near the Nazca Lines in Peru, famous for its giant and mysterious geoglyphs.
10. New genus and species Igai Semkhu of titanosaurian dinosaur discovered in Egypt
Tags: Science and Technology
Paleontologists led by Eric Gorscak of Midwestern University recently discovered Igai Semkhu, a new genus and titanosaurian dinosaur species in Egypt.
An Overview of the News
This dinosaur species, Igai Semkhu, lived during the Campanian era of the Late Cretaceous era, about 75 million years ago.
Igai Semkhu belongs to the titanosaurian group, a diverse category of herbivorous dinosaurs that are known for their large body size, extended neck, and wide stance.
The titanosaurian group includes a wide range of species, from the largest terrestrial vertebrates ever known, to 'dwarf' species no larger than elephants.
Igai Semkhu is one of the most informative dinosaurs yet recovered from the latest Cretaceous of Afro-Arabia.
Cretaceous-era:
This is the third and last period of the Mesozoic era.
This is often called the "Age of the Dinosaurs".
Extending from about 145 million years ago to about 66 million years ago.
It is one of the most extended geological eras in Earth's history.
Mass Destruction:
The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event marks the end of the Cretaceous era.
This end occurred approximately 66 million years ago.
This resulted in the extinction of approximately 75% of Earth's species, including non-avian dinosaurs.
