COLLECTING DATA
In 2009, NASA started conducting the largest airborne survey of Earth's polar ice under Operation IceBridge to bridge the observational gap between ICESat and ICESat-2
In 2009, NASA started conducting the largest airborne survey of Earth's polar ice under Operation IceBridge to bridge the observational gap between the ICESat and ICESat-2 satellite missions. The campaign used research aircraft, laser altimeters, radar and imaging systems to track changes in Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic and Alaskan glaciers. Its data helped scientists study ice thickness, glacier changes, sea ice and possible effects on sea-level rise.
The epistemology of power: Why BRICS must build a common scientific architecture
For nations striving for geopolitical balance, achieving scientific and technological independence is crucial. The BRICS alliance, with its substantial population and economic resources, is focused on developing joint scientific initiatives and promoting collaborative innovations. By pooling their strengths, they intend to amplify their influence on future technological advancements and frameworks, thus enhancing their role in global tech governance.
US budget deficit shrinks in August, year-to-date flat at $1.97 trillion
The US federal budget deficit decreased significantly in August. This reduction occurred due to lower spending and some payment shifts. However, the fiscal year-to-date budget gap remained largely unchanged. August receipts saw an increase, including customs revenue after refunds. The overall deficit for eleven months exceeds the projected full-year 2025 deficit.
Granules India promoter sells 1.72 crore shares worth Rs 1,500 crore; Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas among investors
Granules India promoter Krishna Prasad Chigurupati sold 1.72 crore shares worth about Rs 1,500 crore through block and open-market deals. The sale funds the second tranche of a preferential issue, while promoter holding falls to 31.08% following the transaction today.
India's physical AI boom spawns a new class of robot workers
Data collection related to basic human activity and on the shop floor was the first layer, and is well documented, but now teleoperators, robot operators, field workers, data annotators, supervisors and robotics technicians are emerging as the next layer, according to physical AI startups such as Humyn Labs, Neo Cambrian AI and Modal Robotics.
In 2024, Botswana used Slaty Egret surveys to track ecosystem damage at Okavango Delta. 2 years later, researchers found 3 eggs, offering fresh hope for the Delta after a very long search
Slaty Egret Okavango Delta: Researchers are closely observing the Slaty Egret, a crucial indicator species for the health of the Okavango Delta ecosystem. Recent surveys highlight a troubling decline in breeding habitats due to harmful environmental factors and habitat degradation. Yet, the discovery of three Slaty Egret eggs shines a hopeful light on conservation efforts.
- Go To Page 1
AI is going to help find the Moon’s most valuable resource: How NASA and IBM are using AI to search for water ice
New artificial intelligence models are helping scientists find vital lunar water. This technology analyzes vast lunar data for future exploration efforts. Water ice is crucial for astronaut survival and rocket fuel production. AI also aids in identifying safe landing sites for lunar missions. This advancement supports humanity's sustained presence and deeper space exploration.
MDR on UPI coming soon; India's new class of robot workers
Happy Friday! With a fee on UPI set to come into the picture soon, issuing banks are poised to claim the biggest slice. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
In 1985, Soviet engineers sent two balloons floating through Venus for 46.5 hours. Their motherships then used the planet’s gravity to chase Halley’s Comet
Soviet spacecraft Vega 1 and Vega 2 undertook a dual mission to Venus and Halley's Comet. These probes deployed landers and balloons onto Venus before flying past the comet. Vega 1 and Vega 2 successfully transmitted data from Venus's atmosphere and surface. The spacecraft then gathered crucial information about Halley's Comet during close encounters.
Fintechs must treat data as fiduciary duty, not business asset, says RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra
Mumbai fintechs must treat user data as a fiduciary responsibility, not a business asset. RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra stressed trust is key for financial system adoption and endurance. Firms growing significantly must take systemic responsibility beyond their balance sheets. Operational resilience and cybersecurity are essential prices for achieving scale.
'Fintechs must treat data as fiduciary duty, not business asset,' says RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra
Reserve Bank of India governor Sanjay Malhotra stressed data fiduciary responsibility for fintechs. He stated that user data must be treated as a trustee asset, not a business asset. Firms must use data strictly within user consent, protecting it diligently. He warned that eroding trust through data misuse leads to irreversible damage. Operational resilience and cybersecurity are essential for firms achieving significant scale.
IBM, NASA launch AI model to help map ice, craters on Moon
The NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model is a publicly available AI tool designed to study the Moon. It was trained on more than 30 layers of data collected by nine instruments on four NASA missions, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
BFSI sector in no hurry to adopt complete automation: Perfios Group CEO
The BFSI sector adopts automation cautiously due to strict regulations and its conservative nature. Artificial general intelligence adoption will likely be slow, with humans remaining essential. Automation will enhance underwriter efficiency for loan decisions, not replace human oversight entirely. Perfios launched an agentic AI system for credit evaluation using real-world data.
Govt asks sugar mills to ensure adequate supplies during festivals, keep prices 'reasonable'
Indian sugar mills are asked to ensure adequate supplies for the upcoming festival season. Domestic mills are seeking to import nearly 800,000 tons of duty-free raw sugar. The government directed mills to sell sugar at reasonable prices. Officials will continue monitoring prices and take corrective measures. This aims to keep sugar rates stable for consumers.
August AMFI Data: Equity mutual fund inflows rise 19% MoM to Rs 29,328 cr; smallcap inflows hit Rs 7,973 cr
In August, equity mutual funds witnessed a notable inflow increase of nineteen percent, reaching Rs 29,328 crore. Smallcap funds topped the inflow chart, followed by midcap and flexi-cap categories. Conversely, debt funds faced a significant outflow of Rs 8,127 crore, and hybrid funds experienced a downturn with inflows of Rs 10,045 crore. The total mutual fund assets under management surged to Rs 86.92 lakh crore.
Census 2027 totally perverted, intent dubious: Congress
Congress criticizes Census 2027, calling its intent dubious and content flawed. Jairam Ramesh stated the census has been perverted with worthless and superfluous questions. The party also raised concerns about new questions and data collection quality. Congress leaders previously wrote to Prime Minister Modi about the caste census. They expressed objections to the current caste census process.
Apple Watch Series 12’s ‘Health Age’ takes on WHOOP’s health tracking
Apple Watch Series 12 now offers a Readiness score for daily preparedness. This new feature analyzes activity, sleep, and vitals data. The device also introduces a Health Age metric for long-term tracking. These advancements position Apple Watch against WHOOP's established health monitoring. The new models offer enhanced health sensing capabilities for users.
Subhash Chandra Garg cherry-picking figures from two different bases: CBIC
Garg, who has been at the centre of the recent controversy over the government's GDP growth estimates, had questioned the Centre's claim of 14.8% growth in gross GST collections in August and 11% growth in the first five months. In a social-media post, with an attached article, he argued that the headline numbers present an overly favourable picture of revenue performance because compensation cess collected in the year-earlier period was excluded from the comparison.
Company was throwing away an old server, employee took it home and found nearly 2TB of RAM worth Rs 1 lakh sitting in his garage
A Reddit user has discovered a huge stash of server-grade DDR4 RAM in their garage, including around 30 Samsung 64GB DDR4-2666 ECC registered DIMMs. If all the sticks are 64GB modules, the collection could contain up to 1.92TB of memory and may be worth thousands of dollars. However, these server-focused RDIMMs are incompatible with most consumer gaming and creator PCs.
India on track for 100-plus GCCs in 2026 despite geopolitical uncertainty
Despite the ongoing West Asia conflict, more than 60 GCCs were set up in India in the first six months of 2026, with the number of companies establishing such centres rising about 20% from the same period last year, the data showed.
In 2012, a NASA airborne science mission was launched to investigate hurricane formation and intensity change: What HS3 studied?
In 2012, a NASA airborne science mission was launched to investigate hurricane formation and intensity change. The Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel, or HS3, ran from 2012 to 2014. NASA used Global Hawk uncrewed aircraft and instruments to study tropical storms, their formation, rapid intensification, inner-core structure, deep convection and the role of the Saharan Air Layer.
Banks plan to e-auction cars, vehicles on BAANKNET to speed up recoveries
Banks are planning to auction cars and vehicles on the BAANKNET platform. This initiative aims to streamline the recovery of non-performing assets for lenders. The platform will integrate with VAHAN and RTO services for complete vehicle information. PSB Alliance operates BAANKNET and has already facilitated numerous property auctions. This expansion seeks to enhance efficiency and transparency in asset recovery processes.
In 1997, Galileo mapped a 400-kilometer patch of Europa; a later analysis found ammonia-bearing compounds near fractures in the ice
Recent examinations of historical Galileo data have uncovered ammonia compounds near the surface fractures of Europa. This discovery points to potential cryovolcanic activity, hinting at a connection between the moon's subsurface ocean and its outer crust. Given that nitrogen, an essential ingredient for life, is abundant in ammonia, this finding significantly enriches our comprehension of Europa's oceanic chemical diversity.
Nepal flash floods: India's Embassy in Beijing asks families of missing nationals to submit DNA samples
Indian nationals missing after a mudslide and flood require DNA samples. Families must submit samples to the Indian Embassy in Beijing for identification. Chinese authorities can now receive and compare these crucial DNA samples. Blood samples from parents are prioritized, followed by spouses and children. Siblings and other relatives can also provide samples if needed.
Government to ask Meta if US child safety defaults will extend to India as well
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been having regular meetings with Meta on technical measures since last month when Meta’s global executives were summoned to India over a host of issues, including the spread of child abuse content online.
Voice AI startup Navana raises Rs 40 crore from Ronnie Screwvala, others
Navana successfully raised forty crore rupees in its recent funding round, aimed at broadening its presence in the banking and financial sectors. This investment will also enhance development for speech models tailored for Indian languages, as the company currently manages over one hundred million voice AI minutes for its clients. This funding will further bolster its evolution within regulated enterprise sectors.
Blue Machines AI unveils speech-to-text model built for India's BFSI sector
Blue Machines AI has launched Aurora, a new speech-to-text model for Indian financial services. This model is designed for real-time multilingual financial conversations across India. Aurora boasts low error rates for English, Hindi, and mixed-language financial discussions. It recognises specific financial terms and numbers crucial for banking operations.
Caste census: DMK chief Stalin urges Centre to avoid discrepancies, demands Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution
DMK president M K Stalin criticised the Centre’s proposed open-ended system for recording caste details in Census 2027, warning it could lead to major discrepancies. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to pass a special Assembly resolution pressing the Centre to use a standardised caste list/drop-down system based on state BC and MBC lists.
Census: Population enumeration in 4 poll-bound states from Dec 1, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027
Population enumeration for Census 2027 will occur in Goa and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab and parts of Uttarakhand will also participate in this exercise. Citizens can opt for self-enumeration before the main enumeration begins. This census aims to collect demographic and economic data from households. The exercise was postponed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Load More
