Cerebras and Mistral Set AI Speed Record with Le Chat Artificial intelligence chipmaker Cerebras Systems, backed by UAE tech giant G42, announced on Thursday a partnership with France’s Mistral, helping the European AI firm achieve a major speed milestone. Mistral Challenges AI Giants with High-Speed Assistant Mistral, a rising force in open-source AI, aims to compete with industry leaders Meta and China’s DeepSeek—both of which made headlines recently with claims of cutting-edge AI at lower costs. These companies, along with OpenAI, are racing to dominate the AI landscape. On Thursday, Mistral unveiled Le Chat, an AI-powered app capable of responding…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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ESA Monitors Potential Earth-Bound Asteroid The European Space Agency (ESA) is closely tracking an asteroid with a small chance of impacting Earth in 2032. Named Asteroid 2024 YR4, the space rock has a 98.8% probability of passing safely but remains under observation as a potential risk. Tracking the Asteroid’s Path First identified as a threat in December 2024 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, Asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently moving away from Earth. However, it will return in 2028, allowing astronomers to refine their calculations. ESA estimates the asteroid’s size to be between 40 to 90 metres (131 to 295…
DeepSeek Rise Challenges OpenAI with Lower AI Costs Hemanth Mandapati, CEO of German startup Novo AI, recently switched from OpenAI’s ChatGPT to DeepSeek AI model. He made the change in minutes and saw immediate savings. “DeepSeek’s offer was five times lower than their usual prices,” he said at the GoWest conference in Sweden. He also noted that users noticed no difference in performance. DeepSeek is reshaping the AI industry by providing affordable alternatives. Interviews with startup executives and investors highlight how lower costs are making AI more accessible. The competition is also pressuring other AI firms to improve their models…
NASA’s Bennu Samples Reveal Clues to Life’s Origins Rock and dust samples retrieved from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission contain chemical compounds essential for life. This discovery strengthens the theory that space rocks may have delivered the raw ingredients that helped life emerge on early Earth. Organic Molecules and Water-Induced Minerals Found Two separate studies, published on January 29, provide key insights into the composition of the Bennu samples: Nature Astronomy: Researchers found a diverse mix of organic compounds, including amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. Nature: Scientists detected minerals formed by the evaporation of briny water on…
Trump Urges Musk to Bring NASA Astronauts Back Early Former US President Donald Trump urges Musk to bring back two NASA astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) ahead of schedule. The astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were already set to return in March aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Musk confirmed Trump’s request on Tuesday, saying the former president wanted the astronauts to return “as soon as possible.” The SpaceX CEO responded, “We will do so,” implying a possible shift from NASA’s current timeline. Trump’s Unusual Intervention in NASA Operations Trump took to Truth Social to make his…
Celebrating the 2025 Spring Festival in Outer Space As the 2025 Spring Festival approaches on January 29, marking the Year of the Snake, the Shenzhou-19 crew aboard China’s Tiangong space station extended their heartfelt New Year wishes to people back on Earth. The crew, on a six-month mission in orbit, held a special celebration to honour this most significant holiday in the Chinese calendar, which symbolises family reunions, joy, and aspirations for the future. In a festive video message released on Monday, astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze decorated the space station with traditional Chinese papercuts featuring the…
China Launches Pakistani Satellite PRSC-EO1 Successfully into Space China Launches Pakistani Satellite PRSC-EO1 into space on Friday, 17 January 2025. The launch took place at 12:07 p.m. Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, as reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency. This satellite entered its planned orbit without issue, showcasing China’s continued expertise in space technology. The launch utilised a Long March-2D carrier rocket, which also carried two additional satellites, Tianlu-1 and Lantan-1. This mission marked the 556th flight of the Long March carrier rocket series, underlining the reliability of this rocket family. Strengthening a Space Partnership China…
Suspected Marburg Virus Outbreak in Northwest Tanzania Claims Eight Lives A suspected Marburg virus outbreak in northwest Tanzania has left eight people dead and infected another, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. The cases emerged weeks after Rwanda declared its own outbreak over in December. The Marburg virus, part of the same family as Ebola, is a highly contagious viral hemorrhagic fever. With a fatality rate of up to 88%, the disease is primarily transmitted to humans through fruit bats, which are common in East Africa. Symptoms of Marburg Virus and WHO Response On 10 January, the WHO received reliable…
Healthcare Dealmakers Eyeing $10 Billion Deals at JPMorgan Conference Healthcare executives, bankers, and lawyers are gathering in San Francisco this week for the prestigious JPMorgan Healthcare Conference. With over 8,000 participants expected, the event is drawing significant attention, especially as dealmakers anticipate a surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) worth more than $10 billion. This optimism is largely fuelled by expectations of less antitrust scrutiny under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Anticipating a Resurgence in M&A In the past year, the healthcare sector saw no transactions exceeding $5 billion, marking the first time in over a decade that no such deals…
Chinese NEV Makers Boost Growth in Latin America Chinese NEV makers are driving the rise of new energy vehicles (NEVs) globally, with a focus on Latin America. Countries like Brazil are witnessing the establishment of advanced NEV manufacturing plants, which bring innovative technologies and create job opportunities. This move supports green development and promotes collaboration in the global push for sustainability. Growing Demand for NEVs Drives Chinese Exports China’s NEV exports have surged in recent years, fuelled by rising international demand. Domestic carmakers, including traditional manufacturers and newer entrants, are increasingly exploring overseas markets. “The Chinese automobile market has evolved…