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In order to start working on an asteroid mission, the European Space Agency signed a contract with OHB, but it will take more than a year to decide whether to fully fund the trip.

A contract worth 63 million euros ($68 million) was signed by representatives of ESA and OHB Italia on October 17 during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in this city. The mission is named Ramses, or the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety, and it will prepare for an asteroid flyby of Earth in April 2029.

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test will use the spacecraft design created for the Hera mission, which launched on October 7 to the asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos. In order to reduce costs, Ramses will be a more straightforward variant of Hera with a single-string design.

The next ministerial conference of ESA member states will take place in late 2025, and at that time they will decide whether to formally approve full funding for Ramses. But in order for Ramses to be prepared for launch in early 2028—which is necessary in order for the spacecraft to reach Apophis roughly two months before to its passing Earth—mission work needs to start prior to the ministerial.

With this contract, OHB, the prime contractor for both Hera and Ramses, will be able to complete the spacecraft’s design and start acquiring long-lead parts. Additionally, it will help with the coordination of the mission with other agencies’ projected missions to examine Apophis either prior to or following the flyby in April 2029.

During a July briefing, project scientist Patrick Michel stated that the preliminary work will mature the spacecraft design through a preliminary design review, coinciding with ESA’s announcement of its intent to support early work on Ramses. This will entail deciding whether payloads from the mission’s prospective international partners—South Korea, Japan, India, and the United States—are included.

According to ESA, funds from its Space Safety Program and General Support Technology Program went toward the Ramses contract. Hera contributed about 20 million euros, coming in under budget.

Paolo Martino, the head of ESA’s Ramses project, stated in a statement, “By developing and launching the Hera mission on time and under budget, we have demonstrated that ESA and its industrial and scientific partners can meet the challenging deadlines required by asteroid missions.” “With Ramses we are raising the bar even further, so we need to act now to ensure that, if our member states decide to support the mission in 2025, we can hit the ground running and reach Apophis in time.”

The estimated overall cost of Ramses was not disclosed by ESA. The agency had to pay 363 million euros for the Hera mission.Ramses asteroid mission contract is awarded by ESA

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Business

In a fresh round of insider funding, sources stated that Clay, the AI-powered sales startup, is expected to be valued at $1.3 billion.

In June, Meritech Capital led Clay’s $46 million Series B fundraising, valued at $500 million. The company was founded in 2017. The participants in that round were Boldstart Ventures, Box Group, Sequoia Capital, and First Round Capital.

The most recent round of funding’s specifics are still being worked out, and the amounts involved could vary.

On its website, Clay is described as helping growth teams automate outreach to potential clients and supporting revenue operations. The business provides go-to-market teams with richer client data to assist them create a sales lead list. With more than 75 data suppliers, Clay assists its clients in customizing outreach by providing more specific data on possible clients, such as a company’s headcount and fundraising history.

Research on prospects is also supported by Clay’s AI agent. Based on corporate domains, the “Claygent” can respond to inquiries about target companies, including information about its rivals. Sales teams can then use Clay’s AI messaging platform to deliver customized outbound communications to potential clients.

On its website, the business names Anthropic, Notion, Vanta, Ramp, and Intercom as clients.

Amin worked as The Wall Street Journal’s vice president of products prior to starting Clay. In addition, he was successful in selling Sailthru, a marketing personalization firm, his e-commerce optimization venture Frame, and was appointed head of engineering for the latter. Varun Anand, one of Clay’s cofounders, oversees operations and was previously employed by companies Candid and Newfront.

There are other companies in this category than Clay. Last year, Apollo, a startup providing sales analytics, raised a $100 million Series D headed by Bain Capital Ventures, valued at $1.6 billion. Other startups include $1.5 billion-valued Lusha and Unify, which is supported by Thrive.

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Technology

In response to increasing energy demands for cloud computing and artificial intelligence, Microsoft has announced a partnership with Constellation Energy to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. This decision aims to support Microsoft’s data centers, addressing concerns about energy resources and cloud storage capacity.

A Surprising Turn of Events


For those unfamiliar with the history of nuclear energy, the reopening of this particular plant might seem unremarkable. However, for Pennsylvania residents and those acquainted with nuclear energy, it is noteworthy. The Three Mile Island incident in 1979, which involved a partial meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2), was a significant event in nuclear history. Although it was later overshadowed by the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, it marked a pivotal moment in the public perception of nuclear energy in the U.S. TMI-1, the adjacent reactor, continued operations until 2019, when it was shut down due to economic factors, with plans for decommissioning by 2052.

Now, those demolition plans are being postponed indefinitely as the partnership with Microsoft aims to extend operations at the plant until at least 2054. TMI-1 is expected to be restored by 2028, generating approximately 835 megawatts of carbon-free energy for Microsoft’s data centers. Constellation Energy states this initiative will create around 3,400 direct and indirect jobs and contribute over $3 billion in state and federal taxes.

Commitment to Carbon-Free Energy


Bobby Hollis, Microsoft’s VP of Energy, noted, “This agreement is a major milestone in our efforts to help decarbonize the grid and support our commitment to becoming carbon negative. Microsoft is actively collaborating with energy providers to develop sustainable energy sources to meet the grid’s capacity and reliability needs.”

Constellation’s announcement indicates that the reopening of Three Mile Island, to be renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center, has garnered support from the U.S. Department of Energy, local politicians, and residents, who reportedly favor the restart by a 2-to-1 margin.

Economic and Environmental Benefits


Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized the significance of the nuclear energy sector in providing reliable, carbon-free electricity, which contributes to economic growth while reducing emissions. “My Administration will continue to work to cut energy costs and ensure the reliability of our energy grid,” he stated, highlighting the importance of the Crane Clean Energy Center in achieving these goals.

U.S. Congressman Scott Perry also expressed support for the project, stating, “This critical step forward will ensure Pennsylvania has sufficient baseload power to meet its needs for decades to come while generating 3,400 jobs in our community. Thank you to Constellation Energy for bringing this economic driver back to South Central Pennsylvania.”

As Microsoft moves forward with this partnership, the reopening of the Three Mile Island facility represents a significant development in the intersection of technology, energy, and environmental sustainability.

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Business

India’s experimentation with a high-speed transportation system known as the hyperloop could soon come to pass as TuTr Hyperloop, a deep tech startup based at IIT Madras, is developing a full-scale hyperloop infrastructure capable of reaching speeds of up to 600 kmph. Chennai is the perfect location for its benefits, and the city has the opportunity to host the first Hyperloop test facility worldwide thanks to the strong technological support of the local population.

At IIT Madras’ Discovery campus in Thaiyur, the 410-meter hyperloop test track will host the technology’s first 100 kmph speed test. Once this threshold is reached, a longer track with a 600 kmph test will follow. If all goes according to plan, the technology might potentially enhance the Metro Rail system.

“TuTr engineers have successfully developed the linear induction motor prototype which is currently undergoing rigorous trials on the test track. The team is currently in the final stages of developing the levitation technology for this pod and will start testing on the tracks by the end of this month. We are working towards testing the pod propulsion and levitation technologies together in the 410 metre tube in the coming weeks,” Dr. Aravind S. Bharadwaj, the founder and director of TuTr Hyperloop, who left The Mahindra Group to assist with the commercialization of hyperloop technology, stated.

The primary goal of TuTr Hyperloop is to commercialize the technology for usage in India, not to reach 600 mph. “We have already identified real-world applications of this technology. One such potential application is to augment the existing Metro Rail network with a high-speed corridor developed with appropriate components of hyperloop technology.However, a key challenge is to develop it at a competitive cost. If we are able to cover 60km in 15 minutes, we will have a technology solution that will address a societal need. The pod can be like a bus taking 30 to 40 passengers at a stretch in a dedicated high-speed corridor,” he explained, stating that other uses for the hyperloop include transporting cargo from Chennai Port, which would ease traffic, and mining without interfering with environmentally sensitive areas.

On the IIT campus itself, the technocrat added, the pods may serve as a sustainable form of transportation. It can act as a test bed for the advancement of levitation technology and doesn’t have to move quickly.

In addition, he stated that the tube’s vacuum-sealed construction makes it possible to test hyperloop pods in environments with almost no air resistance, which is essential for reaching the high speeds involved in hyperloop transit. “The pod design has been inspired by the Falcon in the Indian context ‘Garuda’ and we are planning to extend it to 450 metres making it one of the longest hyperloop testing facilities,” Bharadwaj added.

TuTr has already established partnerships with other top European technology start-ups, including Swisspod and Hardt Hyperloop, to form part of the worldwide hyperloop community. With the Union Government serving as the main sponsor, the program has the backing of numerous academic institutions and business partners, including Indian Railways, which has granted a grant of Rs 8 crore.

Up to present, it has been granted approximately 15 crore. Prominent corporations such as L&T, Arcelor Mittal, Hindalco, Dassault, Ansys, and TI have also expressed their support for the initiative by contributing resources, funds, and experience.

According to Bharadwaj, India’s technology lagged behind Europe’s when the project was initiated, with Europe leading the race to create hyperloop technology by at least three to five years. He stated, “Now we are almost catching up with them,” IIT Madras intends to hold the Global Hyperloop Competition in February of next year in order to foster young people’s interest in hyperloop technology.

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Science

The outlook for the “Doomsday Glacier” has grown more dire. Scientists warn that the Thwaites Glacier, part of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, will deteriorate “further and faster,” potentially causing significant sea level rise that could affect “hundreds of millions” in coastal communities.

“By the end of this century, or into the next, we are likely to see a rapid increase in ice loss from Antarctica,” said Dr. Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the University of Colorado. “The Thwaites is essentially doomed.”

These findings are the result of six years of research by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, involving over 100 scientists. The Thwaites Glacier, roughly the size of Florida, is among the world’s largest glaciers, and its collapse could raise sea levels by up to 65 centimeters (about 26 inches). However, if the surrounding glacial basins are taken into account, the total rise could reach closer to three meters.

Researchers noted that the volume of water flowing from the Thwaites and nearby glaciers into the ocean has doubled since the 1990s. Currently, about one-third of the glacier’s front is protected by a floating ice shelf, which limits the flow of ice into the sea. However, Scambos indicated that melting is accelerating and the ice sheet is nearing a critical point of breakup. “In the next two or three years, it will likely fracture into large icebergs,” he explained. This will expose the glacier’s front, altering how ocean waters interact with the ice shelf, though it may not immediately accelerate melting.

Key ridges in the bedrock that currently slow ice flow into the ocean are also eroding. As the Thwaites collapses, it will lose contact with these stabilizing features, leading to increased ice discharge into the ocean.

Surprisingly, researchers discovered that tidal activity is pumping warmer seawater into the glacier at high speed. This water, slightly above freezing, gets trapped beneath the glacier, melting freshwater ice and then being expelled, creating a continuous cycle.

The new insights from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration build on extensive research indicating how glaciers worldwide contribute to sea level rise. In May, a study revealed that high-pressure ocean water is seeping beneath the Thwaites, causing vigorous ice melt. Study co-author Christine Dow labeled the Thwaites the “most unstable place in the Antarctic,” noting that its rapid melting could have devastating impacts on global coastal communities.

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, project that ocean levels could rise by about 60 centimeters (23.6 inches), aligning with the predictions from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration. Meanwhile, experts have raised alarms about the Greenland ice sheet, which is currently the leading driver of sea level rise. If it were to melt entirely, it could result in a rise of 20 to 25 feet.

Rising global temperatures linked to climate change have warmed oceans and altered wind patterns, making glaciers more vulnerable to melting. “This is very likely connected to increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which have shifted wind patterns and ocean circulation around Antarctica,” Scambos explained. “That’s the main culprit.”

Without intervention, scientists predict that the Thwaites could completely vanish by the 23rd century.

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Business

The second annual Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator with Amazon Web Services (AWS) has begun, according to a statement released by CrowdStrike. Additionally, NVIDIA contributes to the Accelerator program’s support, enabling the next wave of cloud security and artificial intelligence (AI) firms. Through its Inception initiative, NVIDIA is partnering with AWS and CrowdStrike to target the next big disruptors in the cybersecurity sector in the U.S. and EMEA. The program will offer mentorship, technical expertise, investment, and go-to-market opportunities.

The AWS and CrowdStrike Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator with NVIDIA is accepting applications from September 16, 2024 through January 10, 2025. AWS, CrowdStrike, and NVIDIA will partner with selected businesses to deliver a free eight-week program that includes mentorship and advice from executives and industry experts. Among other exclusive incentives, startups will also receive access to enablement sessions, top-tier global cybersecurity investors, and up to $25,000 in AWS Activate credits.

During the RSA Conference in April 2025, applicants will get the opportunity to showcase their solutions at an in-person Demo Day at the AWS Startup Loft in San Francisco. The CrowdStrike Falcon® Fund may be able to provide funding to presentations that win.

“CrowdStrike and AWS created the Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator as a formative, value creation experience for innovative startups to learn, create and grow. Since participating in the Accelerator, last year’s cohort participants raised over $150 million from leading global VCs,” According to Daniel Bernard, chief business officer of CrowdStrike, “We’re proud to welcome NVIDIA as a supporter of the Accelerator program – bringing together market-leading cybersecurity, cloud and AI expertise to cultivate tomorrow’s great innovators.”

According to Bartley Richardson, director of cybersecurity engineering at NVIDIA, “For startups seeking to tackle the most pressing security challenges, the Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator provides the AI technologies, accelerated computing resources and technical expertise they need,” 

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Technology

Today, Microsoft is releasing a Windows software for web browsers, Android devices, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Windows PCs. In essence, the Windows app serves as a central location to stream Windows from a number of providers, such as Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, and more.

With its customized home screen, support for multiple monitors, and USB redirection, this new unified app—which has been in beta for almost a year—allows you to utilize local devices like printers, webcams, and storage devices just like if they were plugged straight into a cloud PC.

This Windows application is only compatible with Microsoft work and school accounts since its main purpose is to facilitate the migration of current Remote Desktop clients for Windows and other operating systems users to Windows. For many years, Microsoft has offered comparable remote PC connection programs for Windows, such as the Remote Desktop Connection app that is still included in Windows 11. These apps are helpful for connecting from a personal laptop or PC to work PCs, including the new Windows one.

However, Microsoft’s new Windows app does not appear to support customer accounts. Microsoft’s long-term objective of fully deploying Windows on the cloud was made public last year with the stated purpose of “enable improved AI-powered services and full roaming of people’s digital experience.”

The Windows software is available on the Microsoft Store for Windows users. For macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, it can also be obtained through the Apple App Store. Today, the public preview mode for an Android version opens.

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Business

Ten cybersecurity businesses from four different nations have been chosen by Singapore to participate in its first CyberBoost: Catalyse program.

On September 17, while a Singaporean team was in the UK for an international cyber skills summit, the startup accelerator program was unveiled.

The program intends to assist cybersecurity entrepreneurs in expanding their reach beyond their home market. It is financed by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Plexal, a UK innovator cluster.

Cyberstartups in the US, UK, Singapore, and India

At the CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre, a collaborative venture between the CSA and NUS, representatives from each firm have convened in Singapore for the program launch. The initiative was started in July 2024.

Support for Developing Growth Strategies for Six Months

For a period of six months, each firm will receive support to establish its international networks, secure financing, and create go-to-market strategies for additional geographic locations.

Additionally, the companies will have the chance to participate in and present themselves at international events such as GovWare Conference and Exhibition and Singapore International Cyber Week.

Plexal’s chief innovation officer and commercial officer, Saj Huq, stated, “Singapore is Asia’s leading smart city and the country boasts the world’s most competitive economy. Building on this, Plexal, together with CSA and NUS, are poised to support startups tap into Singapore’s dynamic market, as well as broader opportunities across the Asia Pacific and beyond.” 

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Healthcare

Global campaigners and experts are urging prompt action on the harmful effects of plastic on human health.

Their requests are in response to a recent analysis that suggests indoor spaces may be a significant contributor to the pollution caused by microplastics. Put simply, it indicates that plastic particles can enter the brain swiftly and are easily ingested.

Microplastics were found to be present in the olfactory bulb, which is located near the base of the brain, according to study conducted by Professor Thais Mauad and Dr. Luis Fernando Amato-Lourenco of the Universities of Sao Paulo and Freie Universität Berlin.

The olfactory route is probably where foreign particles enter the brain, based on the scientists’ finding of microplastics in both the nose and the bulb.

How was the finding made by the scientists?

Eight of the fifteen samples of brains obtained from the deceased citizens of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were found to contain plastic fibers and particles by the researchers.

They found that polypropylene, which is commonly used for bottles, clothes, and food packaging, was the most frequently found plastic.

Worrisomely, they also discovered that the quantity of tiny nanoplastics that more easily enter the human body is far larger than previously believed due to the presence of microplastics with a diameter of 10 microns.

According to Professor Thais Mauad, the primary researcher from the University of São Paulo, “this study finds that the olfactory pathway is a potential major entry route for plastic into the brain, meaning that breathing within indoor environments could be a major source of plastic pollution in the brain.”

“With much smaller nanoplastics entering the body with greater ease, the total level of plastic particles may be much higher. What is worrying is the capacity of such particles to be internalised by cells and alter how our bodies function.” 

Specifically, the ability of these particles to become internalized within cells worried the researchers. Put simply, they may affect the way cells work, especially when they interact with a child’s organs. Thus, they have the potential to significantly impact adult life as well.

Supporters of a UN Global Plastics Treaty that appropriately addresses the effects of plastic on human health, including the Plastic Soup Foundation and the Plastic Health Council, provided funding for the study.

What more information concerning the risks that plastics pose to human health has come to light?

This study is a response to Professor Dr. Lukas Kenner of the Plastic Health Council’s April discovery of plastic in the body.

He discovered that exposure to microplastics can cause cancer cells in the gut to spread more quickly, suggesting that plastics may be a major factor in the genesis of early-onset cancer.

According to other studies, exposure to plastics may also have negative effects on human health, such as heart disease, endocrine disruption, and lower fertility.

“Plastic has become as synonymous as air is to breathing. Time and time again scientists are peeling back the cover on plastics’ dangerous effects on human health,” according to Maria Westerbos, co-founder of the Plastic Health Council and founder of the Plastic Soup Foundation.

“The international community is only months away from the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, and yet policymakers are giving in to the petrochemical giants. The international community cannot waste any more time, they must finally listen to science, once and for all.” 

Nowadays, plastic is produced annually in excess of 500 million tonnes for a wide range of uses.

In addition to compiling a list of over 16,000 compounds identified in plastic items worldwide, scientists also discovered that over 4,000 of these chemicals posed a risk to the environment and public health.

A United Nations Global Plastic Treaty final round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in South Korea in November. Campaigners and scientists who are primarily worried about the draft provisions’ exclusion of measures that completely address the impact of plastic pollution on human health will be calling for quick action during the event.

The Plastic Health Council argues that all single-use plastic products should be eliminated while simultaneously reducing the production quantities of plastics through an influential treaty guided by science.

They also want governments to step up and enforce the correct testing of all chemicals in plastics, warning future generations about the ever-more concerning risks posed by microplastics.

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Entertainment

Transformers One, which opens on Friday, will be the first new animated Transformers movie in almost 40 years, despite the franchise having more than six films since 2007. Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Brian Tyree Henry, and Chris Hemsworth make up the formidable ensemble. Transformers One, which takes place on Cybertron, the home planet of the Transformers, narrates the beginnings of Optimus Prime and Megatron as well as the divide that eventually made them enemies.

Based on Hasbro’s toy line, the Paramount Pictures film has one of the highest Rotten Tomatoes ratings in the franchise. There is no clear relationship between the movie and the main Transformers film series; it is a stand-alone prequel. The live-action Transformers movies, dubbed the Bayverse, include two prequels, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Bumblee, along with five Michael Bay features.

Fans who want to rewatch the original franchise may easily do it on a single streaming service, even though the film stands alone. All of the Bayverse movies are available onParamount+ as they were released by Paramount Pictures.

Transformers, Bumblebee, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Transformers: The Last Knight are all available for streaming onParamount+.

It is not possible to rent or stream the original 1986 animated movie The Transformers: The Movie, therefore those hoping to do so are out of luck. On the other hand, you can buy it on Blu-Ray or DVD. In the Transformers universe, there have also been many animated films released; one such film being the War for Cybertron Trilogy, which had its Netflix debut in 2020.

Transformers One is being released 40 years to the week after the television program debuted on September 17, 1984.

To tie into the most recent Transformers movie, Hasbro has naturally produced new action figures, including exclusive editions. Here are a few items for you to look at.

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