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From decoding brain circuits to detecting cosmic neutrinos, Nobel-winning research demonstrates the extraordinary power of light
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Meta’s new AI-powered assistant, Muse, is appearing as a new icon for some Instagram users. Designed as an AI agent rather than a standard chatbot, Muse can remember conversations, assist with multi-step tasks, offer personalised recommendations and support shopping, payments and planning functions across connected services.
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The Centre has dismissed Elon Musk’s claim that Starlink is being unfairly blocked in India, stating that the satellite communication licensing framework is fair, non-discriminatory, and that all three licensees are currently at a similar regulatory stage undergoing security assessments.
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Meta has unveiled new AI-powered measures to combat child sexual exploitation on Facebook and Instagram. The company said it acted against 5.3 million pieces of such content in India between January and June, with over 98 per cent detected proactively
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Bharti Airtel has raised prices of its postpaid plans by around 3-10 per cent, with revised tariffs ranging from Rs 499 to Rs 1,799 monthly. The plans add one free international roaming trip annually, alongside data, calling and SMS benefits
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Earth’s magnetic north pole is moving rapidly, raising questions about whether the northern lights will shift as well. A new study finds auroras follow the slower-moving geomagnetic poles rather than the wandering magnetic poles, suggesting their visibility patterns will remain largely stable for now
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Conflicting reports over the death of Russian plague researcher Darya Shipilova have sparked fears of pneumonic plague after nearly 200 people were quarantined in Siberia. Authorities cite pneumonia of unknown cause, while WHO says public health risk currently appears low
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Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering light-gated ion channels and advancing optogenetics. Their work enables scientists to control nerve cells with light, transforming brain research and opening potential therapeutic applications
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OnePlus India will begin its festive sale on October 8, offering price cuts, bank discounts and freebies on smartphones, tablets and audio products. The offers will be available across OnePlus’ online channels, Amazon, Flipkart and select offline retail partners.
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Deepinder Goyal says his Temple wearable will launch in six colours, with pre-orders potentially opening next week. The device, worn near the temple, is designed to monitor brain blood flow and metabolic indicators, though experts caution that wearable readings cannot replace clinical evaluation.
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Former FTC Chair Lina Khan warned that allowing AI companies to self-regulate risks repeating Big Tech’s past failures. She urged investigations, enforcement of existing laws and new legislation, while concerns grow over increasingly autonomous AI systems and potentially dangerous behaviour
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Location-tracking technology can help parents monitor children’s safety, manage routines and support independence, but it also raises privacy, surveillance and data misuse concerns. Experts suggest parents review privacy settings, discuss consent regularly and treat location sharing as an ongoing conversation
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A new study suggests Archaeopteryx, the 150-million-year-old transitional fossil linking birds and dinosaurs, could have taken flight using several forward jumps powered mainly by its legs. Its relatively weak wings may have maintained flight after reaching sufficient speed, challenging theories of early avian takeoff
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Artificial intelligence could deliver major productivity gains while disrupting jobs and widening inequality, echoing the historical “Engels’ Pause”. For India, the challenge will be balancing AI-driven growth with reskilling, social protection and policies that ensure productivity gains reach workers
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Rising atmospheric CO₂ is boosting growth of wild C4 grasses in African savannas by improving water-use efficiency, particularly during dry conditions. A study found grass production in South Africa’s Kruger National Park increased 28% over three decades, with implications for grazing and fires
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Apple will tighten controls around Full Disk Access on Mac computers amid concerns over AI agent apps accessing users’ private data. The company plans clearer prompts requiring users to deliberately approve third-party access to sensitive system data.
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OpenAI said it notified over 100 organisations about unauthorised activities linked to its AI agents and launched a review involving large-scale data analysis. The company is strengthening safeguards as concerns rise over autonomous AI systems performing actions beyond intended user instructions
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As AI agents grow more autonomous, voluntary safeguards may fall short. Urgent global cooperation is needed to strengthen human oversight, establish common rules, and prevent the misuse of AI
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Employees are pasting customer data into AI tools. Banning them won’t work; guardrails at the prompt will
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A new study suggests ribose, a fragile sugar important to RNA, may have helped preserve its own survival on early Earth. Researchers found ribose helped dissolve borate minerals, keeping boron available to protect ribose, revealing a possible two-way chemical relationship before life emerged
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Major US technology companies agreed to internal risk reviews, external audits and board oversight for advanced super intelligence systems after meeting President Donald Trump. Leaders stressed responsible innovation, while Trump highlighted competition with China, and Musk predicted major economic and healthcare transformations
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Apple Pay has launched in India, initially supporting eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Users can make contactless payments at participating merchants, while Apple said Mac support would be introduced soon.
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OpenAI has cancelled the planned October release of GPT-6.1 Astra after internal testing raised concerns about the model staying within authorised instructions and accurately reporting its actions. The decision follows broader scrutiny of safeguards for increasingly capable AI agents.
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India’s tech industry faces a 53–60 per cent talent gap in GenAI and Cloud, with only 16 per cent of IT professionals possessing AI skills, a TeamLease Digital report said. GenAI demand is expected to exceed 10 lakh roles by 2026
