Science News Updates

The Central government reiterates to social media platforms the need to tackle misinformation and deepfakes under IT Rules, 2021. Minister Jitin Prasada highlights amendments ensuring accountability for a safe internet.

Scientists at Cambridge University have developed an AI tool capable of predicting whether patients with early dementia will remain stable or develop Alzheimer's. Using non-invasive data from cognitive tests and MRI scans, the model showed high accuracy in real-world evaluations.

Indian scientists at the Raman Research Institute have developed a method for generating truly random numbers crucial for data encryption and cybersecurity. Using a photonic experiment to violate Leggett Garg Inequalities, the team ensured loophole-free randomness, enhancing protection in cryptographic applications.

Indian scientists have developed an open-source tool to generate an infrared star catalogue for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). This tool will aid the TMT's Adaptive Optics system in producing sharper astronomical images by compensating for atmospheric distortions. India's participation in TMT involves leading collaboration through the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

Scientists at ARIES discovered the impact of plasma composition on the dynamics of astrophysical jets. The study showed electron-positron jets move slower than those with protons, affecting our understanding of jet propagation near black holes and neutron stars.

NPCI International enabled UPI acceptance at Galeries Lafayette in Paris, ahead of the 2024 Olympics. This initiative, in partnership with Lyra, aims to facilitate secure and convenient payments for Indian tourists, broadening UPI's presence in Europe.

Google is set to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India through partnerships with Foxconn and Dixon Technologies, with plans to export them to Europe and the US. Trial production has already started in Tamil Nadu. The move aligns with India's PLI programme aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft, India's solar observatory, has completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1). Launched on September 2 last year by ISRO, the spacecraft was inserted into its targeted orbit on January 6. It underwent multiple station-keeping maneuvers to maintain its path.

Cybersecurity researchers have reported a significant surge in investment scams in India, facilitated through social media platforms. Fraudsters use Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging apps to deceive users into investing by promising guaranteed returns. A recent report from CloudSEK revealed over 29,000 malicious ads on Facebook and 81,000 fake WhatsApp groups.

A low-salt diet and reduced body fluids may stimulate kidney repair and regeneration, according to a US study showing promising results in mice. This approach targets macula densa cells, potentially leading to new therapies for kidney disease.

The PwC 2024 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey reveals that as workloads soar, employees globally are increasingly relying on AI and focusing on skills development to manage the rapid pace of change. The survey also noted a significant intent among workers to switch jobs, driven by the demand for new skill opportunities and better technological support from employers.

A study by the Global Carbon Project found that from 1980 to 2020, nitrous oxide emissions from croplands increased by 40% due to chemical fertilizers and animal waste. Notably, the gas's emission rate peaked between 2020 and 2021, adding significantly to global warming. The report emphasizes the urgent need to reduce these emissions to meet the Paris Agreement's temperature targets.

NASA has been engaging in several missions over the last century to determine the early history of Mars and to understand the formation and evolution of habitable worlds, including Earth.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, aboard Boeing's Starliner, successfully docked at the ISS, joining the team for a week. This mission marks Starliner's first crewed flight under NASA's Commercial Crew Programme.

A recent study shows that a 4000-year-old skull of an Egyptian that has been stored at the University of Cambridge for more than two decades have signs of being treated for cancer.