How ISRO’s New Observatory Xposat Will Illuminate India’s Space Science

India’s space agency, ISRO, has launched a new observatory in space, called Xposat. This observatory will study cosmic sources of X-rays, such as black holes, neutron stars, and pulsars. Xposat is expected to enhance India’s capabilities in space science and exploration, as well as contribute to global knowledge of the universe.

What is Xposat and Why is it Important?

Xposat stands for X-ray Polarimeter Satellite. It is a small satellite, weighing about 250 kg, that carries a payload of two instruments: a polarimeter and a spectrometer. The polarimeter will measure the polarization of X-rays, which is a property that reveals the orientation and shape of the emitting source. The spectrometer will measure the energy and intensity of X-rays, which can provide information about the temperature, density, and composition of the source.

Xposat will observe about 40 cosmic sources of X-rays, including some of the most exotic and mysterious objects in the universe. These include black holes, which are regions of space where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape, not even light; neutron stars, which are the remnants of massive stars that have collapsed under their own gravity; and pulsars, which are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of radiation.

Xposat will help scientists understand how these objects form, evolve, and interact with their surroundings. It will also test some of the fundamental theories of physics, such as general relativity and quantum mechanics, in extreme conditions. Xposat will also explore the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetic fields, which play a crucial role in shaping the structure and dynamics of the universe.

How Will Xposat Benefit India and the World?

Xposat is a milestone for India’s space program, as it is the first dedicated mission for X-ray astronomy. India has previously participated in some international collaborations for X-ray observations, such as the AstroSat mission, which was launched in 2015. However, Xposat will give India more autonomy and flexibility in choosing and studying its own targets of interest.

Xposat will also boost India’s scientific and technological capabilities, as it involves the development and operation of sophisticated instruments and software. Xposat will generate a large amount of data, which will require advanced analysis and interpretation. Xposat will also provide opportunities for training and education of young scientists and engineers, as well as inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts.

Xposat will also contribute to the global scientific community, as it will share its data and findings with other researchers and institutions. Xposat will complement and collaborate with other existing and planned X-ray observatories, such as NASA’s Chandra and ESA’s XMM-Newton. Xposat will also pave the way for future missions, such as LISA, which will detect gravitational waves from merging black holes and neutron stars.

Xposat is a shining example of how India is pursuing its ambitions and aspirations in space science and exploration. Xposat will not only illuminate the dark and mysterious corners of the universe, but also brighten the prospects and potential of India’s space program.

Oppo A59 5G: A Stunning and Affordable Smartphone for India

Oppo has launched its latest smartphone, the Oppo A59 5G, in India. The phone offers a sleek design, a powerful performance, and a long-lasting battery at a competitive price. The Oppo A59 5G is a great choice for anyone looking for a premium and future-proof smartphone without breaking the bank.

What are the Features of the Oppo A59 5G?

Display

The Oppo A59 5G has a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. The display is bright, smooth, and responsive, making it ideal for gaming, streaming, and browsing. The phone also has a punch-hole cutout for the 16MP selfie camera, which supports AI beautification and portrait mode.

Processor

The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, which is a 7nm octa-core processor with 5G support. The phone has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 256GB via a microSD card. The phone runs on Android 11 with ColorOS 11.1 on top, which offers a smooth and customizable user experience.

Camera

The phone has a quad-camera setup at the back, which consists of a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The camera supports various modes, such as night mode, HDR, panorama, time-lapse, and slow-motion. The camera can also record 1080p videos at 30fps.

Battery

The phone has a 5,000mAh battery, which supports 18W fast charging. The phone can last up to a day on a single charge, and can be fully charged in about two hours. The phone also has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-C port, and dual-SIM support.

What is the Price and Availability of the Oppo A59 5G?

The Oppo A59 5G is priced at Rs 14,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant. The phone is available in two colors: Space Silver and Crystal Blue. The phone will go on sale from December 27, 2023, on Flipkart and offline stores.

Why Should You Buy the Oppo A59 5G?

The Oppo A59 5G is a value-for-money smartphone that offers a stunning design, a powerful performance, and a long-lasting battery. The phone also supports 5G connectivity, which makes it future-ready and compatible with the upcoming networks. The phone is a perfect choice for anyone who wants a premium and affordable smartphone in India.

Pope Francis and Regulators Sound Alarm on AI Risks

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a ubiquitous force in our lives, transforming industries and reshaping societies. However, amidst its rapid advancements, concerns regarding the potential dangers of AI have also been steadily growing. In a recent development, Pope Francis and regulatory bodies worldwide have joined the chorus of caution, urging careful consideration of the ethical and societal implications of this powerful technology.

AI’s Double-Edged Sword: Boon or Bane?

While AI holds immense promise for progress, its potential pitfalls cannot be ignored. The article in Financial Express highlights several key areas of concern:

Bias and Inaccuracy: AI algorithms can perpetuate and amplify existing biases present in the data they are trained on. This can lead to discriminatory outcomes, particularly in areas like loan approvals, criminal justice, and even hiring decisions.
Opacity and Complexity: AI models can be intricate and opaque, making it difficult to understand how they arrive at their decisions. This lack of transparency can erode trust and hinder accountability.
Technological Dictatorship: The article warns against the potential for AI to concentrate power in the hands of a few, creating a scenario akin to a “technological dictatorship.” This raises concerns about privacy, autonomy, and the potential misuse of AI for surveillance and control.

Combating the AI Juggernaut: Mitigating the Risks

The article doesn’t merely paint a dystopian picture; it also proposes concrete steps to mitigate these risks and ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI. Some of the key suggestions include:

Developing International Regulations: Establishing a global framework for AI governance is crucial to ensure ethical and responsible practices across borders. This would involve setting standards for data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and accountability.
Enhancing Transparency and Explainability: AI models should be designed to be more transparent and understandable. This would allow for better oversight and public trust in AI-driven decisions.
Promoting Human Oversight and Control: Humans must remain in control of AI systems, with clear guidelines and safeguards in place to prevent misuse. This necessitates ongoing education and training for individuals involved in the development, deployment, and oversight of AI.

Conclusion: A Call for Collective Action

The article serves as a stark reminder that AI is not a force to be reckoned with blindly. It is a powerful tool that demands careful consideration and responsible stewardship. By acknowledging the potential risks and taking proactive measures to mitigate them, we can ensure that AI serves as a force for good, empowering humanity rather than endangering it.

Samsung S24 Ultra: 3 Big Upgrades and 1 Glaring Drawback Revealed in Leaks

Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy S24 Ultra is already generating excitement, with leaks hinting at some significant advancements. While the official launch is still months away, here’s a sneak peek at what the rumor mill is churning out, including 3 potential upgrades and a concerning drawback.

1. Camera Excellence Redefined:

The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera setup is expected to be a major highlight. Leaks suggest a powerful new primary sensor with improved low-light performance and sharper image quality. Additionally, upgraded ultrawide and telephoto lenses could further enhance versatility and capture stunning landscapes and close-ups.

2. Processing Powerhouse:

The phone is rumored to be equipped with the latest and most powerful chipset from Qualcomm, likely the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This promises a significant performance boost compared to its predecessor, ensuring seamless multitasking, lag-free gaming, and efficient handling of demanding applications.

3. AI Assistant on Steroids:

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to introduce a next-generation AI assistant with improved capabilities. This could include enhanced voice recognition, more proactive context-aware suggestions, and deeper integration with various phone functions for a more intuitive and personalized user experience.

However, not all sunshine and roses:

While these upgrades paint a promising picture, a potential drawback has emerged. Rumors suggest that the base model of the Galaxy S24 Ultra might have limited RAM, potentially causing performance bottlenecks when running multiple apps or resource-intensive tasks. This could be a deal-breaker for some users who rely heavily on their phones for multitasking and power-hungry activities.

The Verdict: A Promising, Yet Intriguing Prospect

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leaks reveal a phone packed with exciting advancements in camera technology, processing power, and AI capabilities. However, the potential RAM limitation in the base model throws a curveball. Ultimately, the true verdict will have to wait until the official launch, when we can get a closer look at the specs and performance. Stay tuned for further updates as we inch closer to the big reveal!

UAV Ghatak: Unmanned Aircraft

Chitradurgam, News Today: The successful test-firing of the unmanned fighter jet (UAV Ghatak) near Chitradurgam has been confirmed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on its Twitter account. The state-of-the-art technology used in this tailless, unmanned, remote-based drone fighter jet has achieved good results, as per official sources. The technical tests for the flight were conducted on Friday, marking a significant milestone in the development of this advanced aircraft. The launch pad for the UAV Ghatak spans an area of 4200 acres near Chitradurgam, with a three-km-long runway set up for its operations. Experts have highlighted the usefulness of such vehicles during wartime scenarios. The successful test-firing on Friday marked the seventh launch after several maneuver tests and modifications, demonstrating the vehicle’s capability to meet its targets.

The Center has issued a caution for Samsung Galaxy phone users due to high-risk concerns.

CERT-In has released a high-risk alert for users of Samsung Galaxy mobile phones, advising them to quickly update the operating system and security features on their phones.

Samsung phones are categorized as “high-risk” due to multiple vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to bypass security restrictions, access sensitive information, and execute arbitrary code. Owners of these phones are advised to update their firmware or operating system as soon as possible.

What could happen if you don’t follow the advisory

Samsung Galaxy phone owners could be subjected to several risks if they don’t update their security and OS, as directed by CERT-In. Here are some vulnerabilities highlighted in the advisory by the government.

Steal phone’s secret code (SIM PIN)
Shout loud commands to phone (broadcast with elevated privilege)
Peek into private AR Emoji files
Change the clock on the castle gate (Knox Guard lock)
Snoop around phone’s files (access arbitrary files)
Steal important information (sensitive information)
Control the phone like a puppet (execute arbitrary code.

iQOO 12 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 launched in India

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powers the iQOO 12, marking the first time this phone has been released in India.

iQOO on Tuesday launched its latest smartphone the iQOO 12 in India. | Photo Credit: Varun Krishan

iQOO has launched the iQOO 12 in India, the first smartphone in the country to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the latest and most powerful chipset from the chipmaker. The iQOO 12 also comes with Android 14 out of the box, a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO OLED display, a 50MP triple rear camera setup, and a 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. The phone is priced at Rs 52,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant and Rs 57,999 for the 16GB+512GB variant, and will be available from December 14 on iQOO e-store and Amazon.

Design

The iQOO 12 is the successor of the iQOO 11, which was launched in India in March 2023. The iQOO 12 boasts a premium design, with a glass back and a metal frame. The phone comes in two colors: Alpha Black and Legend White, the latter featuring the BMW Motorsport branding. The phone has a punch-hole cutout on the top left corner of the screen for the 16MP selfie camera and an in-display fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication.

Processor

The highlight of the iQOO 12 is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is based on a 4nm process and offers up to 30% faster performance and 25% lower power consumption than the previous generation. The processor has an octa-core CPU with a prime core clocked at 3.09GHz, three performance cores at 2.5GHz, and four efficiency cores at 1.8GHz. The processor also has an Adreno 730 GPU, which supports up to 144Hz refresh rate and 8K video playback. The processor also has a Q1 chipset, which is dedicated for gaming and optimizes the frame rates and latency.

Operating System and RAM

The iQOO 12 runs on Android 14, the latest version of the operating system, with FuntouchOS 14 on top. The phone offers up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample space for apps and files. The phone also has a vapor chamber cooling system, which keeps the temperature under control during intensive tasks.

Camera Specifications

The iQOO 12 has a 50MP primary camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and a 120-degree field of view, and a 64MP periscope telephoto camera with OIS and 3x optical zoom. The phone also supports up to 100x digital zoom, and has various camera modes, such as Astrophotography, Supermoon, Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and Pro Mode. The phone can record up to 8K videos at 30fps, and has a dual-LED flash and a laser autofocus system.

Display Specifications

The iQOO 12 has a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO OLED display, which offers a resolution of 3200×1440 pixels, a peak brightness of 3000 nits, and a 144Hz refresh rate. The display also supports HDR10+, DCI-P3 color gamut, and 2160Hz PWM Dimming. The display has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and covers 92.5% of the front panel.

Battery and Charging

The iQOO 12 has a 5,000mAh battery, which supports 120W fast charging. The phone can charge from 0 to 100% in just 15 minutes and comes with a 120W charger in the box. The phone also supports reverse charging and has a USB Type-C port for data transfer and charging. The phone also has dual stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual SIM support, 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS¹²³⁴⁵

ISRO prepares for Chandrayaan-4 mission to collect lunar samples

ISRO chief S Somanath with President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. (ANI)

Isro, India’s space agency, is working on its next ambitious lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4, which aims to bring back samples from the moon’s surface. The mission will involve complex maneuvers and technologies that Isro is planning to test and demonstrate in the coming years.

Chandrayaan-4 will be a follow-up to Chandrayaan-3, which made history by successfully landing on the moon on August 23, 2023. Chandrayaan-3 also performed a lunar hop experiment, where the lander Vikram reignited its engines and lifted off from the landing site to another location. This showed Isro’s capability to launch a spacecraft from the lunar surface and reach a lunar orbit.

Another milestone achieved by Chandrayaan-3 was the return of the propulsion module, which carried the lander rover to the moon, to an Earth orbit. The propulsion module used a gravity assist flyby technique, where it used the moon’s gravity to slingshot itself towards Earth. This was the first time Isro demonstrated this technique and also brought back a spacecraft from the moon.

The propulsion module experiment, which began on October 9, 2023, helped Isro plan and execute a trajectory back to Earth. The propulsion module will remain in orbit around the Earth for a year. This experiment also avoided the risk of the propulsion module crashing into the moon or colliding with other satellites in the geostationary orbit.

These achievements have given Isro confidence and experience for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which will be much more challenging. Chandrayaan-4 will require the spacecraft to collect samples from the moon and place them in a canister, which will then return to the unit that will take off from the moon and reach a lunar orbit. There, it will dock with another spacecraft that will return to Earth’s orbit. After that, the canister will separate and dock with another spacecraft in Earth’s orbit, which will eventually make a re-entry and land on Earth.

To test the docking technology, which is essential for the sample return mission, Isro has planned the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX). SPADEX will launch a satellite with two components, which will separate and then dock again. This will also provide data on space rendezvous technology, which is crucial for future missions involving a space station and human exploration of the moon.

Isro chairman S Somanath told The Times of India that SPADEX is expected to be launched by the end of 2024. He also said that Isro is working with Japan on the Lunar Polar Exploration (Lupex) mission, which will explore the water-ice deposits on the moon’s poles.

Isro’s lunar missions are part of its long-term vision to establish India as a leading space-faring nation. The Prime Minister’s Office recently announced a roadmap for Isro, which includes a space station by 2035 and humans on the moon by 2040¹

The latest update from Apple, iOS 17.2, has been released and will bring significant changes to your iPhone.

Here is everything you need to know about the major new iPhone software update, iOS 17.2, which is now out for eligible iPhones.

iPhone 15 Pro gets most features from the iOS 17.2 update (Express Photo)

Apple has started the release of its iOS 17.2 update for iPhones that are eligible. In addition to resolving issues and problems, the most recent software update for iPhones also brings in some fresh functionalities such as the new Journal app, spatial video capture on the iPhone 15 Pro series, and updated Weather and Messages apps. For those who are currently using the previous version, iOS 17.1.2, the update size is approximately 1.5 GB.

he iPhone 15 Pro series gains features from iOS 17.2, including spatial video recording and the ability to shoot 3D videos on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. These videos will be compatible with the upcoming Vision Pro VR headset. The phone captures footage from the main and ultra-wide-angle cameras using the LiDAR sensor to create a 3D video. However, you can’t view these 3D videos on the iPhone itself due to hardware limitations.

Apple has made improvements to the telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro series, resulting in faster image capture. Additionally, the new action button on these devices now has the ability to translate phrases quickly when programmed accordingly. Furthermore, the Journal app, which was initially introduced at WWDC 2023, will be accessible on all iPhones running on iOS 17.2, including older models such as the iPhone XS/XR and the iPhone SE 2020. Users also have the option to secure their Journal app using either Face ID or Touch ID.

The iOS 17.2 update enables the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 series to be compatible with the Qi2 wireless charging standard. This allows users to quickly charge these smartphones with up to 15W using a wireless charger that is not MagSafe certified.
The iOS 17.2 update is being released to all iPhones running on iOS 17. This includes the iPhone XS series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 series, and the newest iPhone 15 series. However, certain features may be limited to the newer iPhone models due to hardware compatibility.

It’s not just the iPhones that are getting a new software update; Apple has also released watchOS 10.2, allowing Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 users to log health data using Siri. Apple TV is being updated to tvOS 17.2, introducing a new sidebar feature to quickly switch between multiple profiles and a redesigned TV app.