NASA’s upcoming mission to an ice-covered moon will include a message exchanged between two aquatic worlds.

Scheduled for October 2024, NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft, bound for Jupiter's ice-covered moon Europa, will transport a laser-etched message celebrating humanity's affinity with water. This homage to previous NASA missions featuring similar messages was crafted with the assistance of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence International (METI), a scientific entity dedicated to transmitting potent radio messages to potential extraterrestrial civilizations. I, serving as the president of METI International, collaborated with fellow linguists Sheri Wells-Jensen and Laura Buszard-Welcher, both members of[more...]

The pace at which AI chatbots are advancing exceeds that of computer chips.

The development of large language models (LLMs), which power AI chatbots, is progressing so rapidly that within eight months, a model requires only half the computing power to achieve the same benchmark score. This rate of improvement outpaces the typical advancement of computer chips, indicating that AI model developers are becoming more adept at achieving greater efficiency and intelligence, surpassing the trajectory of Moore’s law, which measures the rate of improvement in computer hardware performance.

An official stated that China is poised to be a pivotal force driving the global economic recovery.

During the opening plenary of the annual Boao Forum for Asia, Zhao Leji, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, stated that China intends to serve as a significant driving force for global economic recovery this year. He emphasized China's commitment to further opening its markets to foreign investors and fostering high-quality growth. Zhao also highlighted China's focus on making technological innovation a new engine of economic development and expressed the country's willingness[more...]

The M3 and M2 MacBook Air models from Apple are currently available at their lowest prices ever.

We consider Apple's latest MacBook Air to be the top choice for most users, and it's now available at an all-time low price of $999 on Amazon and B&H. This discount applies to the entry-level 13-inch model, featuring 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It's $100 less than purchasing directly from Apple and $50 less than the recent sale price on Amazon. Please note that this deal is only valid for the Midnight and Space Gray[more...]

The cumulative losses incurred by foreign firms due to their withdrawal from Russia exceed $107 billion.

According to a Reuters analysis of company filings and statements, the corporate departure from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has resulted in foreign companies incurring over $107 billion in writedowns and lost revenue. Since the previous assessment in August of the previous year, the magnitude of losses has surged by one-third, emphasizing the significant financial blow to the corporate sector stemming from Moscow's invasion. Additionally, it underscores the abrupt departure of Western expertise from[more...]

The government has initiated a $1 billion investment in the construction of solar panels.

Australia has embarked on its initial strides toward reindustrialization as it shifts towards achieving a net-zero economy. Despite being among the top per capita consumers of solar energy globally, Australia only contributes one percent to the world's solar panel production, with China accounting for 90 percent of manufacturing and exports. However, on Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a $1 billion initiative aimed at bolstering solar panel manufacturing within Australia. This commitment has garnered praise from environmental[more...]

Retail spending sees an upswing as the sector experiences a boost from the influence of Taylor Swift.

Retail trade received a significant boost through February fueled by Taylor Swift's widespread popularity following her seven sold-out arena concerts in Melbourne and Sydney. This surge in consumer spending encompassed dining out, apparel purchases, and merchandise, leading to a 0.3 percent increase in retail spending, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday, slightly below the anticipated 0.4 percent rise. However, when the impact of the Eras Tour was excluded, underlying retail spending showed signs[more...]

The QunaSys Workshop delves into exploring the potential of quantum computing in engineering breakthroughs.

In a recent announcement, QunaSys Inc., a pioneering quantum technology startup, has launched an initiative inviting experts to evaluate the transformative impact of quantum computing in Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). This endeavor includes a workshop designed to foster in-depth discussions on the benefits and challenges of integrating quantum computing capabilities into CAE. The workshop serves as a platform for prominent industry figures, including representatives from esteemed organizations like JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration, Murata Manufacturing Co., and[more...]

Apple Watch users are experiencing issues with ‘Ghost Touches,’ but there’s a straightforward solution available.

Multiple instances have surfaced where Apple Watch users encountered 'Ghost Touches,' such as one user reporting that the keyboard spontaneously appeared and typed 'We are in control,' while another inadvertently messaged 'Hello!' via Slack. In these cases, it seems autofill played a significant role in generating the messages, with the screen bombarded by false inputs and quick access to Slack facilitating unintentional messaging. Apple attributes these 'ghost touches' to a software glitch rather than a security breach.[more...]

Microsoft is introducing keyboard and mouse compatibility for Xbox Cloud Gaming titles, marking a significant advancement in accessibility and gameplay options for players.

Kris Holt, a Contributing Reporter, provided an update on March 27, 2024, at 1:31 am GMT+5:30, regarding Microsoft's long-awaited introduction of keyboard and mouse (KBM) support for select Xbox Cloud Gaming titles. Despite initial expectations in March 2022, the implementation was delayed, but now Microsoft is allowing testers on the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring to explore KBM functions on web browsers (Edge and Chrome) and the Xbox PC app. This feature is anticipated to become more widely available[more...]