Category: Science & Technology

On Tuesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella shared exciting news: the company will invest $3 billion in India to help grow the country’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) abilities. There are currently 17 million developers in India using GitHub, and this number is expected to grow, making India the top country for developers by 2028. Nadella mentioned that over 30,500 AI projects are currently being worked on in India.

“We are making the biggest expansion we’ve ever done in India,” Nadella said. He talked about putting $3 billion into expanding their Azure services, which help businesses use cloud technology. Nadella also mentioned that Microsoft is focusing on growing its presence in different regions of India.

This announcement came just a day after Nadella met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. They discussed innovations in technology and how to make India a leader in AI.

Recent NASA research has found a surprising link between human projects and how our planet works. China’s Three Gorges Dam, the biggest hydroelectric power plant in the world, slightly slows down Earth’s rotation by 0.06 microseconds each day! This happens because the dam’s huge water reservoir changes the way mass is spread out on Earth.

How the Dam Changes Earth’s Spin

The Three Gorges Dam holds an incredible 40 billion cubic meters of water, which shifts where weight is distributed across the planet. This shift affects how Earth spins. Benjamin Fong Chao, a NASA scientist, explains, “When we change the mass inside our planet system, it can impact how fast Earth rotates. Even if it’s just 0.06 microseconds, it shows how our actions can influence Earth.”

When water is added to the reservoir, it moves mass away from the poles and toward the equator, which gradually slows down Earth’s rotation.

An Engineering Wonder with Big Consequences

The Three Gorges Dam is truly an engineering marvel! Standing 185 meters tall and stretching over 2 kilometers, it produces a massive 22,500 megawatts of electricity — enough to power many countries. In 2020, it generated a record 112 terawatt-hours of electricity, making it a key player in renewable energy. But its effects on the planet go beyond just energy.

When Earth’s mass changes, as it does with the dam, it can affect how fast it spins. This highlights how human inventions can impact our planet in ways that may not be obvious but are important.

How Human Actions Reshape the Earth

The impact of the Three Gorges Dam is part of a larger trend — our activities are changing nature too. Big projects like dams and groundwater pumping can affect sea levels and even shift Earth’s axis. For instance, the 2004 Indonesian tsunami moved the North Pole by 2.5 centimeters, showing that both natural and human events can change Earth’s dynamics.

While the Three Gorges Dam shows human creativity, it also raises important questions about the long-term effects on the environment. The tiny change in Earth’s rotation reminds us that human activities and nature are closely linked. “The effect of the dam on Earth’s rotation is small but significant,” Chao stated. This serves as a reminder that we need to think carefully about how our big projects impact the planet and strive for sustainable development.

Apple Inc. has announced that Kevin Parekh, an Indian-origin executive, will be the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), starting January 1, 2025. His yearly salary will be $1 million (about Rs 8.57 crore). In addition to his salary, he can also earn bonuses from Apple’s Executive Cash Incentive Plan for the 2025 fiscal year.

Kevin’s Journey at Apple

Kevin joined Apple in June 2013 and has worked in important jobs, like Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, and Vice President of Finance for Sales, Marketing, and Retail. His hard work in these roles made him a great fit for the CFO position.

Previous Work Experience

Before working at Apple, Kevin held senior jobs at Thomson Reuters and General Motors. There, he learned a lot about managing finances and making corporate strategies.

Transition of CFO Role

Kevin will take over the role from Luca Maestri, who has been CFO since 2014. Aim of the switch is to allow Maestri to lead Apple’s Corporate Services teams. This includes overseeing areas like information systems, technology, cybersecurity, and real estate.

Apple’s Board of Directors announced Kevin’s new position in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday.

A New Chapter for Apple’s Finances

With Kevin stepping in as CFO, Apple looks forward to continuing its strong financial plans. Maestri’s new job will also help Apple improve its operations and technology.

This news is a big step for Kevin, as he joins other Indian-origin leaders in top roles at big global tech companies.

Amazon’s “Home Shopping Spree” is now live, bringing you awesome discounts on home and kitchen gadgets! From heaters to air purifiers and vacuum cleaners, you’ll find everything you need to make life at home easier and more comfortable.

Why Shop Now?

The sale runs from January 3rd to January 7th, so don’t wait! You can get up to 65% off on top brands, which means you can buy things like warm room heaters for chilly days, water purifiers to keep your family healthy, and air fryers for tasty, healthier meals.

Special Offers on Instant and Storage Geysers

Check out the great deals on instant geysers! They heat water quickly, saving time and energy. There are also discounts on storage geysers that keep water hot when you need it. It’s a perfect time to upgrade your geysers with prices slashed up to 65% off.

Hot Deals on Gas Geysers!

Discover reliable gas geysers that heat water fast. They’re perfect for your bathroom and work well even when you need hot water often.

Warm Up with Room Heaters

Browse a fantastic range of room heaters designed to keep you snug during winter. There are options for rooms of all sizes, so you’ll find one that’s just right for you.

Breathe Clean Air with Air Purifiers

Stay healthy at home with air purifiers from brands like Philips and Dyson. They help remove dust and allergens from the air, making your living space better for everyone.

Cook Smart with Air Fryers

Want to make your favorite fried foods with less oil? Check out air fryers from brands like Philips and Agaro. They make cooking easier and fun!

Must-Have Kitchen Items

Don’t forget about mixer grinders for smooth blending and electric kettles for quickly boiling water on cold days. These kitchen tools make cooking a breeze.

Keep Your Home Clean with Vacuum Cleaners

You’ll find great choices for vacuum cleaners, whether you need one for tough messes or something lightweight for simple cleanup.

Take advantage of the amazing deals during the Amazon Home Shopping Spree. It’s the ideal chance to get home appliances you need, all at surprising prices!

Ready to Grab a Great Deal on the OnePlus 12R?
If you’ve been wanting the OnePlus 12R, now is a perfect time to buy! It’s on sale for a great price on Flipkart, especially before the OnePlus 13R comes out in India. The 256GB version with 16GB RAM is available for about ₹36,000 if you know how to get the best deal. Let me explain how.

How to Buy the OnePlus 12R for Around ₹36,000
When you go to Flipkart and search for the OnePlus 12R, you’ll see it listed for ₹38,078. That’s 17% off from its original price of ₹45,999. But there’s more! If you have a Flipkart Axis Bank credit card, you can get an extra cashback of ₹1,904. This brings the final price down to about ₹36,174—a fantastic deal for the top model!

Should You Buy the OnePlus 12R Now?
At around ₹36,000 to ₹38,000, the OnePlus 12R (256GB with 16GB RAM) is a great buy. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is top-notch and still very powerful, even compared to newer models.

The phone features a stunning curved display, a big 5,500mAh battery with fast charging, and it runs on Android 15. It even has Aqua Touch technology, letting you use the screen when it’s wet! Plus, it comes with a 50MP main camera along with other useful cameras.

Overall, the OnePlus 12R is an awesome deal! However, if you can wait, the OnePlus 13R will launch on January 7. Its price might be similar to the OnePlus 12R, so consider holding off if you want the latest model!

As we enter 2025, let’s skip the usual New Year’s resolutions about losing weight or hitting the gym. Instead, let’s chat about exciting technology trends! Here are some hot topics everyone is buzzing about:

1. Data Centers:
India is building a strong digital backbone, with data centers expected to be worth $10 billion by 2025. With the rise of cloud services, AI, and 5G, the need for data centers keeps growing. As more people use 5G, more will also start using AI apps.

2. Electric Vehicles (EVs):
EV sales are set to boom in India, but we need better batteries and charging solutions to make them practical. Battery swapping technology allows users to quickly exchange used batteries for charged ones, making it easier for commercial services like delivery fleets to operate.

3. AI in PCs:
This year, many laptops are labeled as “AI PCs.” What does that mean? It means new computers have special chips that help them process AI tasks quickly. This makes them more efficient and powerful. Companies like HP expect these machines to help everyone from businesses to artists be more productive.

4. Cool Gadgets to Watch:
– Apple iPhone 16: The iPhone’s design remains the same, but updates will make it smarter thanks to AI features. A foldable version may come out in 2026.
– Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Android tablets are getting popular as laptop replacements, especially for creative tasks.
– Vivo X200 Pro: This smartphone is set to take amazing photos with its upgraded camera.
– Dyson OnTrac Headphones: Dyson is entering the headphone market, aiming to compete with brands like Sonos.

5. Exciting Industry Insights:
Industry experts predict big changes in areas like fintech (digital finance), cryptocurrency, and technologies for 6G mobile internet in the coming year. They believe AI will help businesses innovate, and efforts are underway to create more trustworthy crypto systems.

Overall, 2025 promises to be a thrilling year for technology, and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds!

From January 3 to 5, 2025, you can watch Apple TV+ for free! This special offer is for everyone who has an Apple ID.

What’s Happening?
For three days, starting Friday and ending Sunday, you can enjoy all the movies and shows without paying a thing. Just log in with your Apple ID, and you’re ready to watch. No need to sign up or give your credit card information—it’s totally free!

Why Is Apple Doing This?
Apple wants more people to try out Apple TV+. Normally, it costs $9.99 each month or $99.99 for a year in the U.S., but for this weekend, it’s all on the house!

What Can You Watch?
You can catch popular shows like “Severance,” which has its second season starting on January 17, “Ted Lasso,” and “The Morning Show.” There are cool options like “Silo,” “Shrinking,” and “Slow Horses,” plus family-friendly movies like “Fly Me to the Moon” and “The Family Plan.” If you like action comedies, check out “Wolfs” and “The Instigators.” Science fiction fans can enjoy “Dark Matter,” “For All Mankind,” and “Foundation.”

Can I Watch on Any Device?
Yep! You don’t need an Apple gadget to watch. Just log in with your Apple ID on any supported device.

What Happens After January 5?
Once the free weekend is over, you’ll need to pay to keep watching. The prices go back to $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year in the U.S.

Carraro India is set to start trading its shares on Monday. Before their debut, the shares have shown no extra value in the grey market, which is where unlisted company shares are bought and sold. This means that if trends continue, the stock may have a quiet start at around Rs 704, which is the highest price set for its shares. However, grey market prices can change quickly, so they’re not a foolproof indicator.

The company’s initial public offering (IPO) managed to attract a good number of investors, being oversubscribed by 1.18 times by the end of the bidding on the last day. The IPO raised Rs 1,250 crore, all from the sale of existing shares. This money will go directly to the people selling those shares, not to the company itself.

Looking ahead, while 2024 may have its ups and downs, experts believe Carraro India has a bright future. The company makes parts that go into tractors and construction vehicles. They produce important components like axles and transmission systems, as well as various gears for cars and trucks.

Carraro India has two big factories in Pune, covering large areas for making driveline and gear products. Their sales went up by 4% from last year, reaching Rs 1,770 crore, with profits jumping 29%.

Axis Capital, BNP Paribas, and Nuvama Wealth Management helped manage the IPO, while Link Intime India took care of share registrations.

(Disclaimer: The opinions and insights here are those of experts and do not reflect the views of NiftyStat.)

Space junk is becoming a serious threat to the International Space Station (ISS) and satellites floating around Earth. A report from CNN says that these dangerous pieces of debris are getting closer to hitting the ISS, especially after a scary near miss last November. During that incident, the junk came within 2.5 miles (about 4 kilometers) of the ISS, forcing seven astronauts to take shelter while a Russian spaceship adjusted its route to avoid a collision. If they had hit, it could have caused major problems, like letting air out of the station and forcing the astronauts to escape.

Since 1957, over 650 events—like explosions, crashes, and tests—have created space debris. One big crash in 2009 between a destroyed Russian satellite and a working US satellite made thousands of small pieces of debris. Even tiny bits of junk can be dangerous because everything moves super fast in space.

Dr. Vishnu Reddy, a professor at the University of Arizona, explained that we are launching a lot more objects into space lately. “We are heading toward a situation that we are worried about,” he said. This situation is called Kessler Syndrome. It’s a scary concept where one crash causes more crashes, creating even more junk, until space becomes too messy to use safely.

The area where this is the worst is low-Earth orbit, where the ISS, many satellites, and a lot of junk reside. While lower pieces of debris eventually fall down because of drag from the atmosphere, debris higher up can stay up for hundreds or even thousands of years, risking important satellites.

Tracking larger pieces of debris is doable, but millions of smaller pieces are almost impossible to see. Predicting crashes is tricky since even small changes in space weather can shift their paths.

To fight this problem, some scientists and engineers are working on solutions. One idea from the European Space Agency is called the Drag Augmentation Deorbiting Subsystem (ADEO), which helps pull debris down so it can burn up in the atmosphere. While these ideas are promising, they are still in testing phases and can be expensive.

The United Nations is talking about how to manage space traffic and debris, but putting rules into action is difficult. Countries and companies will need to work together, and many people think the United States should help lead the way in creating global rules for space.

Dr. Nilton Renno from the University of Michigan compares our space problem to pollution on Earth. Just like we once thought oceans were unlimited but learned they have limits, the same is true for space.

India’s Exciting Space Mission: SpaDEX Launching on December 30, 2024

India is preparing for a big step in its space journey with the launch of the Space Docking Experiment, known as SpaDEX, on December 30, 2024. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will use the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C60) to send this mission into space. The launch is set for 21:58 IST from Sriharikota, where the Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located.

What is SpaDEX and Its Goals?
The SpaDEX mission is an important project for ISRO because it will show how two spacecraft can connect in space, which is a key skill for future space travels. The main goals of the mission are:

1. Docking Two Satellites: SpaDEX will launch two matching satellites named Chaser (SDX01) and Target (SDX02), each weighing around 220 kg. These will orbit Earth at about 470 km high.
2. Power Transfer: Once the satellites dock together, they will share electrical power.
3. Operating Tasks: After undocking, the satellites will carry out tasks, with a mission life of up to two years.

ISRO has confirmed that the PSLV-C60 rocket is ready and has moved to the First Launch Pad for final checks.

Why is SpaDEX Important?
The SpaDEX mission is a major step for India in space research. An ISRO official said, “This mission helps India become the fourth country in the world to master docking technology.” This skill is crucial for future missions that might need multiple spacecraft to work together, like building India’s upcoming space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

Using the Rocket’s Fourth Stage
Besides docking, SpaDEX will also use the leftover part of the PSLV rocket, called POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module), for experiments in microgravity. Twenty-four tests, created by schools and startups, will be done during this time.

Mission Steps
The Chaser and Target satellites will be launched at the same time but will initially be far apart. The Target will move away, creating a distance of 10-20 km. Then, the Chaser will slowly get closer, preparing for docking at a final distance of just 3 meters. After docking, power will be exchanged before they undock to perform tasks.

Why SpaDEX Matters
The SpaDEX mission isn’t just a cool technology test; it’s a crucial piece for ISRO’s bigger dreams, like sending missions to the moon or other planets. India aims to join the top space countries—like the US, Russia, and China—in using docking technology. This mission shows ISRO’s dedication to building advanced and cost-effective space technologies.

With the countdown on, SpaDEX is ready to demonstrate India’s growing skills in space. This mission will open new doors for research and partnerships, making India a key player in global space efforts.