Sharad Kumar, an Indian para high jumper, secured a silver medal in the T63 category at the Paris Paralympic Games, clearing a height of 1.88m. His compatriot, Mariyappan Thangavelu, also won a bronze medal with a jump of 1.85m. Despite facing challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Kumar’s dedication and resilience have allowed him to excel on the world stage.
India’s Paralympic athletes, including badminton champion Nitesh Kumar, celebrated their achievements in Paris and discussed their future aspirations. Nitesh expressed the pressure he felt in the absence of Pramod Bhagat, while other athletes like Suhas Yathiraj and Thulasimathi Murugesan highlighted their ambitions for future competitions.
Scientists have a new theory about why orcas are ramming yachts in the Iberian Peninsula: it’s practice for hunting their favorite food, Atlantic bluefin tuna. The study suggests that the young orcas are using the boats’ rudders as targets, mimicking the behavior they use to isolate and tire out tuna before capturing them. This behavior, while concerning for sailors, may be a natural part of the orcas’ playful learning process, which helps them develop the skills needed for successful hunting.
A lunar crater has been named after 19th-century Korean astronomer Nam Byeong-Cheol, marking a historic first for Korean scientists. The naming was confirmed by the International Astronomical Union following research by the Kyung Hee University team using South Korea’s first lunar orbiter, Danuri.
The Indian government has included primary hyperoxaluria, a life-threatening kidney, bladder, and urinary tract condition, under its National Policy for Rare Diseases, providing financial assistance of up to ₹ 50 lakh for patients requiring kidney transplants. This inclusion signifies the government’s commitment to supporting individuals battling rare diseases and ensuring access to life-saving treatments.
Archaeologists in Kazakhstan have unearthed 10 centuries-old burial mounds, known as kurgans, dating back to the Middle Ages. These mounds, including three unique ‘mustache kurgans’ with distinctive stone ridges, provide insights into the nomadic and settled societies that inhabited the region during that period.
Chinese scientists have created a groundbreaking tensor processing unit (TPU) utilizing carbon nanotubes instead of traditional silicon. This innovative chip promises to significantly improve energy efficiency in artificial intelligence (AI), a crucial factor in scaling AI applications. The new TPU outperforms existing models by consuming significantly less power while delivering high performance, paving the way for a more sustainable future for AI.
The global biological safety cabinet market is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years, driven by rising concerns over biological hazards and the expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Class II cabinets, known for their versatility and efficacy in protecting both users and samples, are expected to dominate the market.
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used to write scientific papers, leading to concerns about plagiarism, bias, and the quality of research. A new study suggests that at least 10% of new scientific papers contain LLM-generated text, with some fields like computer science showing even higher prevalence. Researchers are exploring methods to detect LLM-generated text, but challenges remain, raising questions about the future of scientific publishing and the role of AI in research.
A busy day for space exploration is in store on September 6th, with Boeing’s Starliner capsule set to return from the International Space Station and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission launching with a crew of private citizens. This marks a significant milestone in the expanding field of commercial space travel.
