Author: Resham Bhambani

Endangered Loa Water Frogs Return to Their Natural Habitat Begin In a critical step to save the endangered Loa water frogs, conservationists recently transported a dozen of the amphibians from Santiago to Calama. These frogs, which were once on the verge of extinction, are now part of a major conservation effort to restore their habitat in one of the driest deserts in the world. The frogs were flown in temperature-controlled containers, carefully monitored by scientists as they begin the journey back to their natural environment in the Loa River. The species faced near extinction in 2019 due to water extraction…

New Mars Battery Could Revolutionise Space Exploration Humans are preparing to explore Mars in the coming years. However, the planet’s harsh conditions and limited resources make it crucial to minimise weight and optimise equipment for sustainable missions. Tackling the Energy Challenge on Mars One of the biggest challenges is ensuring a consistent and reliable energy source for Mars bases, rovers, and other essential equipment. Transporting heavy infrastructure to the Red Planet is difficult and costly, so researchers are focusing on innovative solutions that reduce weight while maintaining efficiency. A team of scientists from the University of Science and Technology of…

Brightness of Chinese Broadband Satellites Raises Concerns Among Astronomers The first set of Chinese broadband satellites has been observed to be significantly brighter than their Western counterparts, creating a new challenge for astronomers. According to a study posted on the arXiv preprint server on 30 September, these satellites pose a risk of interference with ground-based observatories. Qianfan Satellite Brightness Exceeds Recommendations The study focused on 18 Qianfan satellites, also known as “Thousand Sails,” launched in August. These satellites are the initial batch of a planned constellation that may eventually consist of more than 14,000 units. Observations showed that the brightness…

China Launches Reusable Satellite, Shijian-19, into Space China launches reusable satellite, the Shijian-19, on Friday. The satellite was sent into orbit using a Long March-2D rocket. Successful Launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center The Long March-2D rocket lifted off at 18:30 Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The Shijian-19 satellite aims to enhance China’s technological capabilities in space by achieving advancements in several critical areas. Breakthrough Technologies for Enhanced Space Research The Shijian-19 satellite has incorporated breakthroughs in reusability, microgravity support, high payload capacity, and re-entry testing services. These innovations will boost China’s returnable satellite…

Shenzhou-18 Crew Advances Research in Space as Mission Progresses The Shenzhou-18 crew, now in the second half of their mission, continues to carry out significant studies, research, and daily activities aboard China’s space station, Tiangong. Ongoing Research and Experiments The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) recently shared new footage of the Shenzhou-18 crew, highlighting their ongoing efforts in space science experiments, station environment monitoring, and overall station management. The mission, which began on April 25, has seen astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu in orbit for over four months. Last week, the crew focused on improving the habitability…

Evaluating Heart Disease Risk in Women: A Need for Earlier Prevention Women should start assessing their heart disease risks in their 30s, not just after menopause, says new research. This call to action comes from researchers who published a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology annual meeting in London. The new research reveals, for the first time, that simple blood tests can predict a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease over the next 30 years. Early Risk Assessment is Crucial The study’s findings highlight the importance of early risk evaluation. Currently, guidelines suggest that women should generally not be…

US Funds Chinese Research Linked to Over 1,000 Patents for Chinese Inventors Since 2010 Research Funding Details The U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, and other federal agencies have funded research that resulted in over 1,000 U.S. patents granted to China-based inventors since 2010. This data, provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, highlights the ongoing collaboration in sensitive fields such as biotechnology and semiconductors. These findings, revealed by Reuters, have not been previously reported and are likely to intensify calls to reconsider or renegotiate the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA). Critics argue that this agreement disproportionately benefits China,…

South Korea Urges Social Media Platforms to Combat Deepfake Content Authorities in South Korea have intensified their efforts to curb the spread of sexually explicit deepfake content, urging social media platforms like Telegram to collaborate in removing and blocking such harmful material. The call to action comes amidst growing public and political outrage over the proliferation of these disturbing images and videos. Government Initiatives to Combat Deepfake Content In response to alarming reports that sexually explicit deepfake content involving South Korean women is frequently shared in Telegram chatrooms, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) announced several measures. These include setting…

Google Eyes Vietnam for First US Tech Giant Data Centre Investment Google, part of Alphabet Inc., is considering establishing a large data centre in Vietnam. This would mark the first significant investment by a major US technology company in the Southeast Asian country. A source familiar with the matter revealed these plans, noting that the data centre could be built near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic hub in the south. Potential Hyperscale Data Centre in Vietnam Google is evaluating the possibility of setting up a “hyperscale” data centre, which represents the largest facilities in the industry. These centres typically…

Tech Industry Urges Malaysia to Pause Social Media Licensing Plan An influential Asian industry group, which includes tech giants such as Google, Meta, and X, has urged the Malaysian government to reconsider its planned social media licensing regulations. The group expressed concerns over the lack of clarity surrounding the proposed rules. Concerns Over Licensing Requirements In July, Malaysia’s communications regulator announced a new policy requiring social media platforms with more than eight million users in the country to apply for a license. This move, intended to combat cybercrime, mandates compliance starting from this month. Social media platforms that fail to…