General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - May 2016

May 2016

May 07, 2024

IIT-Madras Start-up Mindgrove Launches First India-made Microcontroller Chip

India is finally set to have a made-in-India microcontroller chip powering electronic devices. Mindgrove Technologies, incubated by IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and IIT Madras Incubation Cell, and supported by Peak XV Partners, launched Secure IoT, India's debut high-performance SoC (system on chip).
A system-on-chip (SoC) combines many electronic parts into one chip, like a mini-computer. It goes into the printed circuit board (PCB) and is used in various devices, making them smaller and more efficient.
With Secure IoT, Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) can integrate an Indian SoC into their products and help reduce the cost of their feature-rich devices, without compromising on high-end features.

Boeing Starliner Crewed Launch Attempt Scrubbed Shortly Before Final Countdown

Two NASA astronauts had reached the final hours before a long-awaited launch attempt aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule, marking the first crewed mission of the new spacecraft.
But the mission was scrubbed about two hours before the countdown clock hit zero because of an issue with a valve on the Atlas V rocket, a workhorse vehicle built by Alabama-based United Launch Alliance that will fire the Starliner capsule to space.

May 05, 2024

Victoria Shi, the World's 1st AI Diplomat Representing Ukraine

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly gaining a stronghold in every aspect of human life. From being an intelligent assistant enhancing productivity at work, now it seems AI has taken on a bigger role. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced an AI-generated avatar as its digital spokesperson. This is a first in the world of diplomacy.
The Ministry said that it would 'for the first time in history' use a digital spokeswoman named Victoria Shi to read its statements. Reportedly, the statements will be written by humans. The AI spokeswoman moves her head and hands as she speaks.
Moreover, the Ministry has taken adequate measures to combat issues like deepfake. Each of Victoria's statements will include a unique QR code linking to the official text version on the Ministry's website.

US Space Scientists Rediscover Satellite Missing For 25 Years

In a case of cosmic hide-and-seek, the US Space Force has located a tiny, experimental satellite that went missing in orbit for a staggering 25 years.
The satellite, named S73-7 Infra-Red Calibration Balloon (IRCB), was launched in 1974 alongside a massive Cold War-era spy satellite. Unfortunately, upon deployment, the IRCB malfunctioned and never inflated to its intended size, rendering it useless for its intended purpose.

May 04, 2024

IIT Guwahati Hosts Semiconductor Horizons Workshop to Foster Semiconductor Synergy

Aiming to foster innovation and translational research collaboration in Semiconductor Technology in the State of Assam and beyond, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati successfully conducted the Semiconductor Horizons Workshop at the Institute campus.
Organised in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Government of India; Government of Assam; Viksit Bharat Abhiyan; and Tata Electronics, the workshop aimed to foster education, skill development, Innovation, capacity building in the semiconductor domain, and technology transfer to strengthen semiconductor eco-system.
The workshop featured various sessions covering topics such as recent advancements in heterogenous integration in semiconductor packaging, test and assemble, Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, Very-large-scale integration (VLSI), compound semiconductors, and optoelectronic devices, with expert speakers from industries, academicians and policy makers sharing insights on the latest trends and advancements in the field of semiconductor science and technology.

May 03, 2024

China to Launch Chang'e-6 Lunar Probe Carrying Pakistan's ICUBE-Q Mission

China is set to launch the Chang'e-6 lunar probe on a round trip to the Moon, marking a significant advancement in their space exploration. The mission aims to gather soil and rock samples from the far side of the Moon, providing crucial insights into its early evolution and the inner solar system.
This will be the first-ever attempt to retrieve lunar samples from the far side of the Moon, a region hidden from Earth's view.
Pakistan is set to launch its maiden lunar mission, ICUBE-Q, aboard China's Chang'e-6 probe. Developed in collaboration with China's Shanghai University and Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology (IST), ICUBE-Q carries optical cameras to capture images of the lunar surface.
This historic collaboration between Pakistan and China not only marks a milestone for Pakistan's space program but also enhances international cooperation in lunar exploration.

IIT Guwahati Pioneers Groundbreaking Speech Reconstruction Technology

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati achieved a significant breakthrough in the field of speech technology with the development and patenting of "LOQU", a novel method to generate human speech signals directly from vocal cord vibration signals.

May 02, 2024

Google Launches AI-powered 'Speaking Practice' Feature for English Learning

Google introduced 'Speaking Practice,' an AI-driven feature embedded within its search platform, aiming to enhance users' English speaking abilities through interactive exercises.
Google's Speaking Practice harnesses AI technology to assist English learners in Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Venezuela. This feature, part of Google's Search Labs program, offers AI-driven interactive language exercises for users to practice conversational English.
To access Speaking Practice, users must join Google's Search Labs programme. Once enrolled, users can activate the feature to make it accessible within Google Search.
While Speaking Practice doesn't replace comprehensive language courses, it offers a valuable opportunity for users to practice conversational English.

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