SpaceX’s Falcon family of rockets surpassed the overall number of Space Shuttle missions from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center’s iconic Launch Complex 39A with a launch on Wednesday afternoon. The total number of shuttle flights observed at the pad was surpassed by the launch of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
With the Starlink 6-56 mission, which took off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 2:42 p.m. EDT (1842 UTC), they achieved the milestone, making 83 orbital flights from SpaceX’s KSC pad. Over the program’s 30-year lifetime, there have been one more shuttle launches than that.
Nine Falcon Heavy launches and seventy-four Falcon 9 launches make up the SpaceX flights.
A third launch was made by the first stage rocket supporting this flight, SpaceX tail number B1083. It has already launched the Starlink 6-48 mission and the Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station.
After taking off, the booster landed on the SpaceX droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” a little over eight minutes later. This was SpaceX’s 305th first-stage landing and ASOG’s 68th booster landing overall.
The commander of the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, Jared Isaacman, responded to talks of the mission on X, the former name of Twitter, a few times after the booster landing. The remarks stoked rumors that B1083 may serve as the rocket for Isaacman and his three crew members’ Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft launch.
Vice president of the Dragon program Stu Keech mentioned that Crew Dragon Resilience was already in the Sunshine State, getting ready for the launch, at a Spaces event on X to discuss the Polaris Dawn mission. The first-ever civilian spacewalk will be conducted as the mission’s centerpiece.
“It’s going through its prelaunch processing phase and the hardware is moving forward and on track for that early summer launch,” Keech stated.
Expanding Constellation
The mission on Wednesday afternoon added twenty-three more Starlink satellites to the expanding constellation. Before this launch, throughout the course of 31 missions in 2024, SpaceX has sent 702 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
As of May 6, out of the 6,350 Starlink satellites that have been launched to far, 5,935 were in orbit, according to astronomer and specialist orbital tracker Jonathan McDowell.
With the Starlink 8-2 mission, SpaceX attempted to bring an additional 20 satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO). The mission was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, approximately thirty minutes after the Starlink 6-56 mission. The 13 Starlink satellites on that mission—which is scheduled to launch at 7:48 p.m. PDT (10:48 p.m. EDT, 0248 UTC)—have the Direct to Cell capability.
At the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Novak Djokovic will look to get off to a strong start as he pursues his first championship of the year. The top seed feels relaxed and prepared for action in Rome because she hasn’t competed since making it to the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo last month.
“I had plenty of time to rest and train. Had a good training block,” Djokovic remarked on Wednesday at his pre-tournament press conference. “I arrived here two days ago to get a hit on the centre court, as well, obviously stay four or five days training before my first match with top players.”
Obviously, training with them makes a difference. You get to assess where you stand in terms of form and play practice sets to see where you are at before the first game. I hope to improve on my performance in Monte-Carlo by playing here in Rome. Of course, everyone wants to succeed and reach great heights.
A strong run will solidify Djokovic’s ranking at the top of the PIF ATP Rankings. His nearest rivals, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, are both out for the ATP Masters 1000 event owing to injury. Djokovic is hoping to win his 1100th tour-level match in the Italian capital.
The 36-year-old’s best result in 2024 was reaching the Australian Open semifinals. He now has an 11-4 record. Djokovic hasn’t won a championship this season for just the second time in the last six years as he travels to Rome.
The Nenad Zimonjic-coached Serbian has been putting in a lot of work off the court in an effort to turn around his performance at the clay-court competition.
“I am working currently with a fitness coach that I worked with for many years. It didn’t take much time to adapt to his programme and approach,” said Djokovic, “We know each other really well. That’s why I feel like we’re synchronised from the very beginning in terms of what we want to do, how we want to approach the programme of training on and off the court. With Nenad [Zimonjic] of course, as well.
“I’m pleased with the way the past 10 days, 14 days went in terms of training, in terms of preparation and looking ahead to this tournament.”
Six-time Rome winner Djokovic will begin his campaign on Friday against either Roman Safiullin or Corentin Moutet, a lucky loser from France. In their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, the seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Djokovic leads Safiullin 2-0 and has the upper hand over Moutet, 1-0.
In a recent development within the digital media landscape, the popular Instagram account 1thaj on instagram has joined the esteemed network of pages under 9GAG’s umbrella. This move signifies a strategic expansion for 9GAG into the realm of Instagram memes, further enriching its diverse portfolio of engaging content.
1thaj has long been a significant player in the meme community, capturing the attention and appreciation of users across various social media platforms with its humorous and shareable content. By becoming part of the 9GAG network, 1thaj aligns itself with one of the leading platforms for internet memes and viral content.
Since its inception in 2008, 9GAG has established itself as a hub for online humor and entertainment. Founded with a “Just for Fun” mentality, 9GAG quickly garnered a massive following and became a go-to destination for users seeking light-hearted and engaging content.
Under the leadership of its co-founders, including University of Hong Kong student Ray Chan, 9GAG underwent significant growth and expansion. Participating in prestigious accelerator and incubator programs, such as 500 Startups and Y Combinator, allowed 9GAG to refine its focus and solidify its position within the digital sphere.
With substantial funding from Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms and individual investors, 9GAG bolstered its engineering team and expanded its operations globally. Despite facing occasional controversies over content reposting, 9GAG has remained a prominent and influential platform, facilitating the global spread of internet culture and humor.
By joining forces with 1thaj, 9GAG strengthens its presence on Instagram and enhances its ability to connect with audiences who appreciate entertaining and relatable content. This collaboration underscores 9GAG’s commitment to providing a diverse and engaging experience for its users while continuing to shape the landscape of digital entertainment.
The next generation Maruti Suzuki Swift, a significantly upgraded version of the third-generation platform with a new engine, updated interior with new features, and a new exterior, is about to be released by Maruti Suzuki India.
Bookings and Launch Date
With a down payment of Rs 11,000, prospective buyers can reserve a next-generation Swift online or at their closest dealer. Pre-booking is currently open. On May 9, 2024, the hatch will formally come into the Indian market. Delivery is anticipated to start in June 2024.
Design Changes
The 2017 Swift has a redesigned grille with thick black surrounds, redesigned smoked LED headlights with DRLs, and a redesigned front bumper. The rear door handles are back in their original positions, and the clamshell bonnet is shallower. Its rear end has been redesigned, and it has a new bumper with a skid plate and an integrated stop lamp-equipped rear spoiler. Additional highlights include the blacked-out ORVMs, roo.., and LED taillights with C-shaped DRLs.
Interior and Features
The 2017 Swift’s interior features a redesigned dashboard layout with a floating infotainment system, drawing design cues from the Baleno and Fronx. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, linked auto technology, controls positioned on the steering wheel, climate controls that adjust automatically, and other practical features are anticipated.
Engine and Gearbox
The current K12 four-cylinder engine will be replaced with a brand-new 1.2-liter, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine powering the new Swift. Although exact specs are still unknown, it should produce more over 85 horsepower and 110 nm of torque. Options for the gearbox will be an AMT or a 5-speed manual.
The fourth-generation Epic New Swift is now available for pre-booking from Maruti Suzuki India, with an initial payment of ₹11,000. The hatchback car, which the firm bills as “sporty and has a dynamic driving performance,” is not yet scheduled for release. The goal of the new Swift is to combine the beloved sportiness of its DNA with the contemporary demands of low emissions and environmental friendliness.
Maruti Suzuki has increased the pricing of the Swift and certain Grand Vitara models; the price rise for the Swift is up to Rs 25,000. Nonetheless, Maruti Suzuki’s annual sales volume has topped two million units, indicating a notable increase in net profit for FY 2023–2024. This price increase hasn’t stopped customers, though.
The international lineup of the Land Rover Defender, one of the most well-liked premium offroad vehicles worldwide, has recently undergone major changes. Along with the lengthier 130 body-style variant’s option of captain chairs in the second row, it receives a new limited-edition version for the 110 body-style. Everything you should know is as follows:
Defender Sedona Edition
For a limited time, Land Rover is releasing a special Sedona Edition with the Defender 110 version. Its moniker comes from the new red exterior hue that was inspired by the sandstone formations in Sedona, Arizona. Defender 130 was the only vehicle that could have the Sedona Red before. The X-Dynamic HSE variation of the Defender 110 serves as the foundation for the new limited edition.
The 20-inch alloy wheels, sidesteps, grille, and blacked-out “Defender” insignia on the hood all contrast with the new red colour. Nevertheless, the red finish of the SUV’s exterior extends to the cover of the spare wheel positioned on the tailboard.
The Sedona Edition now comes with a new optional bonnet decal from Land Rover that portrays the landscape of Sedona. It also comes with a side-mounted gear carrier, which is useful for transporting apparel that is muddy or damp, as well as off-road specialist equipment.
The new grey cabin concept and seat upholstery represent the only significant interior changes. The limited edition SUV now has thoughtfully designed storage spaces for the front passengers as part of the makeover. The Defender 110 has not had any other feature updates.
Captain Chairs For Defender 130
The Land Rover Defender 130 has been available with a three-row seating arrangement that can accommodate up to eight passengers since its global launch. The second row now has the choice of captain chairs, which come with heating and cooling features. On the captain chair seats of the Defender X and V8 models, winged headrests are an additional option. The middle-row passengers get twin cupholders that are situated directly behind the front centre console, demonstrating that the practicality factor has not been overlooked.
Updated Diesel Engine
The D350 diesel mild-hybrid engine replaces the D300 diesel powertrain that was previously available for the upgraded Defender. 350 PS and 700 Nm, respectively, are now produced by its 3-liter diesel engine, an increase of 50 PS and 50 Nm. It has an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option and the same 8-speed automatic gearbox as previously.
A 2-liter turbo-petrol engine (300 PS), a 5-liter V8 petrol engine (425 PS), and a 5-liter supercharged V8 petrol engine (525 PS) are the additional engine options available for the Land Rover Defender.
Enhanced Interior Package
The most robust SUV from the British brand is also offered with a new interior pack, which is an optional feature on the X-Dynamic HSE model but standard on the Defender X and V8. It offers 14-way power-adjustable seats with memory, heating, and cooling features in the front row. For the Defender 110 and 130 models, it has heated third-row seats and winged headrests. The SUV also receives a selection of dual-tone cabin themes as part of this pack.
A Range Of Optional Packs
Land Rover is now offering the Defender with a range of optional packs as mentioned below:
Driving and ADAS packs
Off-road pack- Electronically activated differential, black roof rails, all-terrain tyres, domestic plug socket, and sensor-based water-wading capability.
Advanced off-road pack- More advanced off-roading systems with Terrain Response 2, air suspension, adaptive dynamics, and auto headlight levelling.
Air suspension pack- Air suspension, adaptive dynamics, automatic headlight levelling.
Cold Climate and towing packs
Cold climate pack- Heated windscreen, washer jets and steering wheel, and headlight washer.
Towing pack (90 and 110)- Tow assist, electronically deployable tow bar or tow hitch receiver, advanced off-roading systems, and same features as the air suspension pack mentioned earlier.
Towing pack 2 (130) – As above, but with detachable tow bar or tow hitch receiver.
Interior packs
Signature interior pack – Front row: Heated and cooled electric memory seats with winged headrests; Second row: Climate seats with winged headrests, suede cloth headlining, leather steering wheel, Windsor Leather and Kvadrat or Ultrafabrics seats.
Signature interior pack with captain chairs pack – As above, but with second-row captain chairs with heating and cooling, and winged headrests.
Third-row seating pack
Family pack (110) – 3-zone climate control, air quality sensor and air purifier, and manual third-row seats. All this along with the air suspension pack mentioned earlier.
Family comfort pack (110) – As above, but with heated third-row seats and 3-zone climate control with rear cooling assist.
Expected India Launch And Price
They anticipate that the Land Rover Defender Sedona Edition would come with the option of captain chairs, even if it is unlikely to reach the Indian market. The ex-showroom pricing of the India-spec Defender ranges from Rs 97 lakh to Rs 2.35 crore. It is a high-end substitute for the Jeep Wrangler.
After the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado is the second-best-selling truck in the world. Chevrolet improved the performance of the diesel engine and made some small changes to the fourth-generation Silverado truck for the 2024 model. Even while it might not be as well-liked as the Silverado, the full-size Toyota Tundra pickup truck has a solid reputation for dependability.
Toyota provides both a gas-only and a hybrid version of the third-generation Tundra. The Nightshade edition cosmetic package and a factory-installed 3-inch lift kit are new options for the Tundra for the 2024 model year.
The Silverado 1500’s 2.4-liter turbo Inline-4 TurboMax engine is engineered to generate 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The Silverado’s EcoTec3 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Achieving 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque is the goal of the larger EcoTec3 6.2-liter V8 engine. With 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque, the Duramax turbo diesel engine in the Silverado is geared to produce the least amount of power but the maximum torque. The Toyota Tundra’s gas-only engine is calibrated to generate 406-479 lb-ft of torque and 358-389 horsepower. The Tundra Hybrid’s engine is calibrated to deliver 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque combined.Performance And Capability
In addition to a diesel option, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is offered with three petrol engines. The Silverado 1500’s standard engine is a 2.4-liter turbo inline-4 TurboMax gasoline engine. The EcoTec3 5.3-liter and EcoTec3 6.2-liter V8 engines are the other two V8 options offered for the Silverado. The 3.0-liter turbo inline-6 Duramax diesel Silverado is the most fuel-efficient model. A 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine is standard on the 2024 Toyota Tundra. Better performance is available, though, in a hybrid Tundra that shares the same twin-turbo V6 engine with Toyota.
The Silverado 1500’s 2.4-liter turbo Inline-4 TurboMax engine is engineered to generate 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The Silverado’s EcoTec3 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Achieving 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque is the goal of the larger EcoTec3 6.2-liter V8 engine. With 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque, the Duramax turbo diesel engine in the Silverado is geared to produce the least amount of power but the maximum torque. The Toyota Tundra’s gas-only engine is calibrated to generate 406-479 lb-ft of torque and 358-389 horsepower. The Tundra Hybrid’s engine is calibrated to deliver 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque combined.
The V8 engines and the diesel are mated to a 10-speed automated gearbox, while the Silverado’s 2.4-liter turbo engine has an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The Tundra and Tundra Hybrid versions come standard with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Both the Tundra and the Silverado come with the option of 4×4 four-wheel drive or 4×2 rear-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
The car with the best gas mileage is the Silverado 1500 diesel. With a city rating of 23 MPG and a highway rating of 29 MPG, the EPA rates the Silverado diesel at 26 MPG overall. The Tundra Hybrid’s efficiency falls short of expectations. The Tundra Hybrid is only rated at 22 mpg combined, with 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, despite being hybridised.
Model
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tundra
Engine
3.0-liter, 6-Cylinder Diesel
3.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V6 Hybrid
City
23 MPG
20 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
24 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
22 MPG
Chevrolet Silverado vs. Toyota Tundra Towing And Off-Road Capability
The 6.2-liter V8 or 3.0-liter diesel engine in the Silverado can haul a maximum of 13,300 lbs, depending on the model. The best payload, 2,260 lbs, is available in Silverado vehicles with the smaller 2.7-liter inline-4 engine. The Toyota Tundra can only tow 12,000 pounds, which is less than the Silverado’s maximum capacity. Despite the fact that it can only tow 1,940 lbs.
Towing And Payload Capacity
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tundra
Payload Capacity
2,260 lbs
1,940 lbs
Towing Capacity
13,300 lbs
12,000 lbs
Off-Road Capability
The full-size pickup truck’s most off-road focused model is the Silverado ZR2. With a ground clearance of 11.22 inches, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 has approach angles of 31.8 degrees, breakover angles of 23.4 degrees, and departure angles of 23.3 degrees. The closest competitor to the Silverado ZR2 is the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro variant. The Tundra has a maximum ground clearance of 9.4 inches and two approach and departure angles of 26.2 and 24.2 degrees, respectively. On the other hand, the engine and gearbox underbody are protected with metal skid plates, and both the Tundra and Silverado ZR2 have off-road suspension.
Off-Road Specifications
Vehicle
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tundra
Approach Angle
31.8-degrees
26.2 degrees
Breakover Angle
23.4-degrees
NA
Departure Angle
23.3-degrees
24.2 degrees
Ground Clearance
11.22 inches
9.4 inches
Interior Design And Technology
The Silverado’s interior has undergone major revisions from Chevrolet. Particularly in the upper model levels, the 2024 Silverado 1500 features a more contemporary interior with an air of luxury. The interior appears familiar, with digital panels mixed together with bulky switches and knobs. Adults will find plenty of room in the Silverado, especially in the rear legroom, especially in crew-cab models. Large door openings make it easier to reach the interior, even though some models ride rather high.
The interior of the Toyota Tundra is quite contemporary and has an easy-to-use dashboard. Because of its elevated seating position and excellent outward sight, the Tundra is an easy vehicle to operate for a large pickup truck. The cabin appears rather roomy because of its huge windows, which let in plenty of natural light. An optional sunroof adds even more light.
Silverado Vs. Tundra Technology Comparison
The Silverado comes equipped with a standard 7-inch centre touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A bigger 13.4-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, and seven speakers of Bose premium audio are features of the higher variants.
An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on the 2024 Tundra. A larger 14-inch touchscreen is available on higher-end Tundra models, and the driver also gets a 12.3-inch digital display. Added on the flagship Tundra Capstone is a head-up display.
Interior Room And Cargo Capacity
There are three truck bed sizes available for the 2024 Silverado 1500 and Tundra pickup trucks: short, standard, and extended. The Silvio has three different length options: a 79.4-inch normal bed, a 98.1-inch long bed, and a 69.9-inch short bed. Between the wheelhouses, the bed is 50.6 inches wide and 22.4 inches tall. The beds aboard the Tundra are 20.9 inches tall and 48.7 inches wide. The short bed measures 65.6 inches, the normal bed measures 77.6 inches, and the long bed measures 96.5 inches. The Silverado 1500’s truck bed is larger, taller, and longer than the Tundra’s in every configuration. The Silverado’s flexi-tailgate increases its versatility, but the Tundra’s robust bed construction shields it from dents and scrapes.
Cargo Space Comparison
Vehicle
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tundra
Short Bed
69.9 inches
65.6 inches
Standard Bed
79.4 inches
77.6 inches
Long Bed
98.1 inches
96.5 inches
Bed Height
22.4 inches
20.9 inches
Bed Width
50.6 inches
48.7 inches
Safety And Reliability
The current generation Silverado 1500 received a complete five-star safety rating from the NHTSA in addition to an overall ‘Good’ rating from the IIHS. Nevertheless, the Toyota Tundra was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick and had an overall grade of ‘Good’. The Tundra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA as well.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Overall Rating
5 out of 5
Overall Front Crash Rating
4 out of 5
Overall Side Crash Rating
5 out of 5
Rollover Rating
4 out of 5
Recalls (NHTSA): # 0
NHTSA Investigations: # 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
Awards: NA
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Overall Rating
5 out of 5
Overall Front Crash Rating
5 out of 5
Overall Side Crash Rating
5 out of 5
Rollover Rating
4 out of 5
Recalls (NHTSA): # 1
NHTSA Investigations: # 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 3
Awards: IIHS Top Safety Pick + (2023)
Reliability Comparison
The NHTSA reports that the 2024 Silverado has a spotless history. Nonetheless, there has been one recall for the 2024 Tundra, and three customer complaints have been filed. Chevrolet provides a roadside assistance service, a 5-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranty, and a 3-year/36, 000-mile basic warranty in addition to a corrosion warranty. In addition to the five-year corrosion warranty, the Tundra is protected by Toyota’s three-year, three-6,000-mile basic warranty, five-year, 60,000-mile drivetrain warranty, and roadside assistance.
Warranty
Vehicle
Chevrolet Silverado
Toyota Tundra
Basic Warranty
3 Years / 36,000 Miles
3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty
5 Years / 60,000 Miles
5 years / 60,000 miles
Corrosion Warranty
3 Years / 36,000 Miles
5 years / Unlimited miles
Roadside Assistance
5 Years / 60,000 Miles
5 Years / 60,000 Miles
Pricing And Availability
There are six primary trim levels for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: WT, Custom, LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country. Things are more complicated, though, because there are more sub-trims. Certain models come with the option of 2WD or 4WD, while higher trim levels come with all four engine options. The 4WD exclusively, off-road-focused Trail Boss models sub-trims are also available for the Custom and LT versions. Starting at $38,795, the base Silverado 1500 work truck (WT) is available. $53,395 gets you the very popular Silverado RST trim. Starting at $64,695, the most loaded variant is the Silverado High Country trim.However, the Silverado ZR2, which is the priciest vehicle on the sale at $71,895, meets those demands in terms of off-road performance.
Additionally, there are seven model levels available for the 2024 Toyota Tundra: SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition, TRD Pro, and Capstone. The Tundra SR5 is priced at $45,500, while the standard model starts at $39,965. Tundra Capstone with the highest price tag is $78,845. The Tundra TRD Pro is the closest competitor to the off-road-focused Silverado ZR2. The Tundra TRD Pro costs $72,130, which is somewhat more than the Silverado ZR2.
A study found that persons with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who are overweight or obese also have an increased risk of serious health problems. On the optimal nutrition plans and supportive interventions to recommend, experts can’t agree. The Annals of Family Medicine, a publication, published the findings. The study employed a 2 x 2 diet-by-support factorial design to randomly assign 94 persons with the aforementioned diseases to one of two diets: the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet or a very low-carbohydrate (VLC) or ketogenic diet.
Additionally, they ascertained the results of therapies that encompassed and omitted supplementary practices of support such as social support, effective emotion control, mindful eating, and cooking training.
By using intent-to-treat analyses, it was found that the VLC diet improved more than the DASH diet in terms of estimated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP; -9.8 mmHg vs. -5.2 mmHg, P =.046), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c; -.4 percent vs. -.1 percent, P = 0.034), and weight (-19.14 lbs vs. -10.33 lbs, P = 0.0003).
The results were not statistically significantly affected by the provision of additional support. Over a four-month period, a VLC diet showed larger gains in systolic blood pressure, glycemic management, and weight for persons with hypertension, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and who are overweight or obese than a DASH diet.
In the US, over half of adult patients have either type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and nearly half (47%) have hypertension. In the United States, about 42% of adults are also obese. Stroke, end-stage renal disease, myocardial infarction, and early mortality can all be brought on by these disorders. Although a diet and lifestyle modification should be the first line of treatment for these patients, doctors cannot agree on a recommended diet.
What This Study Adds: Compared to a DASH diet, a very low carb diet showed higher gains in systolic blood pressure, glycemic control, and weight over a four-month period for people who are overweight or obese, have hypertension, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
Black holes with masses ranging from tens of billions to a few times that of the sun have been found by astronomers. Scientists have now predicted that a class of “featherweight” black holes that have escaped detection thus far may be discovered by NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Black holes nowadays originate from the merger of hefty objects or from the demise of a huge star. Nonetheless, scientists surmise that in the initial chaotic moments of the early cosmos, smaller “primordial” black holes—some of which may have had masses comparable to Earth’s—may have formed.
“Detecting a population of Earth-mass primordial black holes would be an incredible step for both astronomy and particle physics because these objects can’t be formed by any known physical process,” stated William DeRocco, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California Santa Cruz and lead researcher on a study about how Roman could find them.
The journal Physical Review D has published an article summarizing the findings. “If we find them, it will shake up the field of theoretical physics.”
Ancient Black Hole Recipe
These days, the smallest black holes originate when a huge star runs out of fuel. As nuclear fusion slows down, its outward pressure decreases, winning the tug-of-war against inward gravitational force. The star shrinks and could get so dense that it turns into a black hole.
However, a minimum mass of at least eight times that of our sun is needed. White dwarfs and neutron stars are the two eventual states of lighter stars.
However, it’s possible that circumstances in the early cosmos allowed for the formation of significantly lighter black holes. An event horizon, or the point at which falling items can no longer escape, would be roughly the width of a US dime coin for one with the mass of the Earth.
Scientists believe that during the brief but strong inflationary phase that followed the universe’s birth, space expanded faster than light. Low-mass primordial black holes might have formed under these unique circumstances if regions that were denser than their surroundings had collapsed.
Theoretically, the smallest ones should evaporate before the universe reaches its present age, but it’s possible that those with masses comparable to Earth survived.
The fields of astronomy and physics would be greatly impacted by the discovery of these tiny particles.
“It would affect everything from galaxy formation to the universe’s dark matter content to cosmic history,” stated Kailash Sahu, an astronomer at the Baltimore-based Space Telescope Science Institute who was not involved in the research. “Confirming their identities will be hard work and astronomers will need a lot of convincing, but it would be well worth it.”
Signs of Concealed Homesteaders
Already, observations have shown hints that such objects might exist somewhere in our galaxy. Wrinkles in space-time have helped identify some potential culprits, but primordial black holes would remain invisible.
Similar to how a bowling ball leaves its mark on a trampoline, the presence of mass distorts space-time, causing the observable phenomenon known as microlensing. The star’s light must travel through the twisted space-time surrounding an intervening object whenever it appears to move close to a background star from our perspective. An very close alignment may cause the object to function as a natural lens, concentrating and magnifying the light of the background star.
Utilizing data from OGLE (the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) and MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics), two distinct teams of astronomers have discovered an astronomically large population of isolated Earth-mass objects. MOA is a collaboration that uses the Mount John University Observatory in New Zealand to conduct microlensing observations.
Certain masses and abundances of rogue planets—worlds that wander the galaxy unattached to a star—are predicted by theories related to planet creation and evolution. There may be more Earth-mass objects traveling around the galaxy than predicted by models, according to the MOA and OGLE observations.
“There’s no way to tell between Earth-mass black holes and rogue planets on a case-by-case basis,” DeRocco stated. But compared to ground-based telescopes, scientists anticipate that Roman will discover ten times as many asteroids in this mass range. “Roman will be extremely powerful in differentiating between the two statistically.”
Roman was able to identify how many primordial black holes DeRocco could distinguish among the rogue planets and how many rogue planets there should be in that mass range.
The discovery of primordial black holes would provide fresh insights into the early cosmos and provide compelling evidence for the existence of an early inflationary phase. It might also account for a tiny portion of the enigmatic dark matter that scientists believe comprises the majority of the mass in our universe but have not been able to detect.
Reportedly, Microsoft unveiled a generative AI model based on GPT-4 that is specifically tailored for US intelligence organizations that don’t have access to the Internet.
This is supposedly the first time Microsoft has used a significant language model in a secure environment. It was created to enable secure chats with a chatbot like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, as well as to enable spy agencies to study top-secret data without running the risk of a connection failure. However, because AI language models have intrinsic design limits, improper use could potentially lead to officials being misled.
OpenAI’s GPT-4 is a large language model (LLM) designed to identify the most likely tokens in a sequence—fragments of encoded data. Information analysis and computer code creation are two applications for it.
GPT-4 can power AI assistants that converse like humans when set up as a chatbot (like ChatGPT). As part of an agreement, Microsoft is allowed to exploit the technology in exchange for the investments it has made in OpenAI.
The report claims that the new AI service—which hasn’t been given a name yet—addresses intelligence agencies’ growing desire to employ generative AI to handle sensitive material while lowering the danger of data breaches or hacking efforts.
Typically, ChatGPT is hosted on Microsoft cloud servers, which increases the danger of data leaks and interception. In keeping with that, the CIA declared last year that it intended to develop a ChatGPT-like service; nevertheless, this Microsoft endeavor is apparently unrelated.
In a report, Microsoft’s chief technology officer for strategic missions and technologies, William Chappell, stated that modifying an AI supercomputer in Iowa took 18 months to construct the new system. Although it is unable to access the public Internet, the modified GPT-4 variant can read files that users have sent to it. “This is the first time we’ve ever had an isolated version—when isolated means it’s not connected to the Internet—and it’s on a special network that’s only accessible by the US government,” Chappell stated.
About 10,000 members of the intelligence community can currently access the newly launched service, which was enabled on Thursday and is prepared for additional testing by pertinent authorities. Currently, Chappell says, it’s “answering questions.”
The possibility that GPT-4 will confabulate (make up) incorrect summaries, draw incorrect inferences, or give consumers misleading information is a significant disadvantage of utilizing it to evaluate crucial data.
Trained artificial intelligence neural networks are not databases; instead, they function based on statistical probabilities, which makes them inadequate factual resources unless they are supplemented with external data obtained from another source through a method like retrieval augmented generation (RAG).
In order to translate manga comics into English five times faster and ninety percent less expensively than they are now, a Japanese startup announced on Tuesday that it plans to use artificial intelligence.
Manga series like “One Piece” and “Dragon Ball” are enormous success stories in Japan; a firm called Orange Inc. estimates that the market would be valued $42.2 billion by 2030.
However, it stated that just 2% of the 700,000 manga volumes produced in Japan each year are published in English, “partly due to the difficult and lengthy translation process and the limited number of translators”.
Orange, however, hopes to use its technology to print 500 English-language mangas a month—five times the industry’s current output—and 50,000 volumes in five years. Later on, other languages will be added.
According to Orange’s vice-president of marketing Tatsuhiro Sato, “translating Japanese used in manga, which uses very short sentences of conversational language often full of slang, is extremely difficult.” This is in contrast to translating a book.
“It is also difficult to figure out if the particular quote was actually said at a scene, or the line was a murmur inside one’s heart describing a mental landscape,” Sato stated to repoters.
Other difficulties include the original text’s frequent vertical writing style and the need to discover synonyms for the numerous terms used in Japanese to represent noises.
The company declared that it had received money of 2.92 billion yen ($19 million) from nine venture capital companies, including the government-backed JIC Venture Growth Investments, and prominent publisher Shogakukan.
It claimed that its product will aid in the fight against industry piracy, which the Content Overseas Distribution Association estimates to be worth $5.5 billion a year.
