Tag Archives: aiming

China’s Ambitious Plan: Why Is the Nation Aiming to Launch 200,000 Satellites?

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Increasing Traffic in Earth’s Orbit

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China has proposed launching nearly 200,000 satellites into Earth orbit, potentially aiming to secure orbital space rather than genuinely establishing the largest satellite constellation.

On December 29, China’s newly formed Radio Technology Innovation Research Institute submitted a proposal for two satellite constellations, CTC-1 and CTC-2, to the Chinese government and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which manages frequency allocations in space.

Each constellation will consist of 96,714 satellites arranged across 3,660 orbits. This starkly contrasts with the current active satellite count of approximately 14,300, of which around 9,400 are SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, providing internet service. SpaceX has also applied to the ITU for a total of 42,000 satellites.

Victoria Samson from the US nonprofit Secure World Foundation indicates that this application might reflect a strategy of land grabbing in space. “They might be preparing for something much larger,” she suggests.

By raising this claim with the ITU, other satellite operators intending to launch in the same orbits must prove that their operations won’t be affected. According to ITU regulations, at least one satellite must be launched within seven years of the initial application, and all proposed satellites must be deployed within another seven-year timeframe.

“If you apply early and meet the deadlines, you can deter others from launching in your designated space,” states Tim Farrar, a US satellite communications expert. He further clarifies that China’s extensive applications for multiple orbits suggest some uncertainty in their constellation plans, giving them flexibility. “There’s almost no penalty for doing it this way.”

However, should this application be legitimate, achieving such a launch scale appears nearly impossible. In 2025, China achieved a record of 92 rocket launches. To deploy 200,000 satellites within seven years would necessitate launching over 500 each week, translating to hundreds or even thousands of launches annually.

This is not the first instance of spatial land grabbing; Rwanda previously applied to the ITU for a constellation of 327,000 satellites in 2021, yet this did not impede the operations of Starlink and other satellite providers. “Operations remain largely unchanged,” remarks Farrar. “It seems doubtful that Rwanda will achieve such a massive number of satellite deployments.”

China’s proposal underscores the intensifying rivalry among mega-constellation players, particularly among space internet companies vying for a market potentially encompassing millions or more, thus influencing global information distribution. Many entities are racing to catch up to SpaceX, including Amazon’s Project Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), which has launched about 200 of its intended 3,236 satellites. Additionally, China’s state-backed constellations, Qianfan and Wang, have launched several hundred of their anticipated thousands.

“Fifteen years ago, the notion of a single constellation hosting 1,000 satellites seemed far-fetched,” states Samson. “Currently, over 9,000 personnel are engaged in Starlink operations.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ready to Roll: German Remote Driving Company Aiming to Make Private Car Ownership Obsolete

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hWith just a few taps on the app, the electric car slowed down and came to a halt outside Berlin’s old cargo hall. There’s no one behind the wheel, but as passengers enter, a voice chimes in:

The vehicle emits a cheerful jingle before proceeding to the former runway, where traffic cones indicate various operational zones.

This isn’t an ordinary driverless car. “Bartek” refers to Bartek Sztendel, not just an automated voice from Robotaxi. A real person, stationed hundreds of meters away at a remote driving hub, controls it.

Bartek Sztendel, remote driver at work. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

Seated in a plush leather chair, he uses pedals for acceleration and braking while steering with a wheel, closely monitoring the journey through three large screens in front of him, supplemented by four discreet rooftop cameras. Headphones provide audio feedback from both inside and outside the vehicle, while sensors let him sense the bumps on the road.

Sztendel is part of Vay—a name that reflects how many Germans say “Way.” This remote driving tech firm, founded in Berlin in 2018, aims to transform urban mobility across Europe.

Vay’s communications manager, Silvia Avanzini, reviews the apps used to start and conclude remote drives. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

While the world is gradually adopting conventional self-driving taxis in cities like San Francisco and Shanghai, Vay envisions a future where remote-driven cars can pick up rental vehicles in Berlin, transport them to a desired location with a remote operator, and terminate the rental—leaving the hassle of parking to the driver. Users are charged per minute for electric rides at a rate claimed to be approximately half of current shared services.

Vay’s CEO and co-founder, Thomas von Der Ohe, plans to utilize Las Vegas as a trial area for its services, with Germany set to follow soon. A Stanford University alumnus in computer science and entrepreneurship, he mentions that American cities “have a crucial legal framework.”

Vay CEO Thomas Von Der Ohe poses with one of the electric vehicles in their fleet. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

“It made it onto page three. Germany had its share of challenges, but we collaborated closely with authorities to address everything from technical specifications to safety concerns.

Just before the summer break, the German parliament approved legislation to allow commercially operated remote-controlled vehicles in designated areas, starting December 1. Though not as daring as laws enabling firms like Waymo and Cruise to run autonomous vehicles in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, it still signals a new momentum for major European automakers.

An application is available to initiate and complete your journey. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

Von Der Ohe envisions a future where car ownership is no longer necessary, contributing to sustainable urban living.

Beyond engineers, the company heavily relies on drivers, which represents a significant cost. Despite the skills gap, attracting candidates for this emerging field hasn’t been problematic.

According to Von Der Ohe, many of the controllers have backgrounds from Uber and traditional taxi services, especially those who have faced safety issues. He noted that even truck drivers, worn out from lengthy hauls and time away from family, are looking for a change, including some coping with health issues due to extended vibrations.

“People see this as a promising career. They enjoy scheduled breaks and work in teams rather than isolation,” Von Der Ohe emphasized. Moreover, they earn hourly wages instead of on a per-ride basis.

Sztendel, who hails from Poland, logged extensive driving hours over several weeks before becoming certified as a remote operator. He remarked that individuals with gaming experience tend to adapt quickly, but emphasized that “serenity, strong safety, and responsibility skills” are critical. He enjoys games like Need for Speed, but described the experience of remotely controlling real vehicles as “truly incredible.”

Glancing away from his monitor, he pointed out that the large red button on the left can be pressed in an emergency, prompting the car to stop instantly.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Big Tech Invested $155 Billion in AI This Year—I’m Aiming to Spend Over Tens of Billions!

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The largest companies in the US have outspent the government, pouring $155 billion into artificial intelligence development, positioning themselves for the competitive landscape of 2025 as they race to invest more in each other. Education, training, employment, social services continues to dominate the agenda through 2025.

Recent financial disclosures from major Silicon Valley corporations indicate an impending surge that could impact hundreds of millions of people annually.

In the past fortnight, Alphabet (Meta’s parent company), Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have released their quarterly financial reports. Each report disclosed that their capital expenditures related to the acquisition or enhancement of tangible assets since around 2018 are already totaling tens of thousands.

Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) denotes the spending technology firms allocate for AI, necessitating large investments in physical infrastructure—primarily data centers that demand substantial electricity, water, and costly semiconductor chips. Google highlighted in its latest revenue call that capital expenditures “support AI by reflecting primarily investments in servers and data centers.”

Since the beginning of the year, Meta’s capital expenditures have reached $30.7 billion, which is double the $15.2 billion reported last year. Just in the most recent quarter, the company incurred $17 billion in capital expenditures, exceeding the $8.5 billion spent during the same timeframe in 2024. Alphabet has reported approximately $400 billion in CAPEX during the first two quarters of this fiscal year, while Amazon has reported $55.7 billion. Microsoft has announced plans to spend over $300 billion this quarter to develop a data center that powers AI services. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood indicated that this quarter’s CAPEX is at least 50% higher than that of the previous year, surpassing the company’s record capital expenditures of $24.2 billion from June to June.

“We will continue to leverage the vast opportunities ahead,” Hood stated.

In the upcoming year, the total capital expenditure of Big Tech is anticipated to grow significantly, surpassing last year’s impressive figures. Microsoft plans to invest about $100 billion in AI during the next fiscal year, as CEO Satya Nadella announced on Wednesday. Meta is expected to invest between $660 billion and $720 billion, while Alphabet’s estimate has risen to $85 billion, exceeding a prior projection of $750 billion. Amazon anticipates spending $100 million in 2025, now projected to reach $118 billion. Collectively, these four tech giants are predicted to exceed $400 million in CAPEX next year. Wall Street Journal.

The billion-dollar expenditure represents colossal investments, even overshadowing the EU’s quarterly defense spending, as noted by the Journal. However, major tech firms seem unable to allocate sufficient funds for investor returns. Microsoft, Google, and Meta informed Wall Street analysts last quarter that their estimates exceeded previous projections. This led to a surge in excitement among investors, resulting in significant stock price increases following each company’s earnings reports. Microsoft’s market capitalization reached $40 billion the day after their report.

Even Apple, typically regarded as a strong competitor, has hinted at increasing its AI spending next year. The company’s quarterly spending surged to $3.46 billion from $2.15 billion in the same period last year. Apple reported rebounding iPhone sales and strong business performance in China, yet is perceived as lagging in developing and implementing advanced AI technologies.

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on Thursday that the company is reallocating a “fair number” of employees to focus on artificial intelligence, emphasizing that the “core of its AI strategy” involves ramping up investments across all devices and platforms to “embed” AI features. However, they did not disclose specific spending figures.

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“We’re significantly expanding our investments. We don’t have specific figures yet,” he noted.

Meanwhile, smaller companies are striving to compete with the substantial expenditures of the major players and capitalize on the AI boom. Recently, OpenAI announced it had secured $8.3 billion in investments, as part of a planned $40 billion fundraising effort, valuing the ChatGPT startup at $300 billion as of 2022.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The groundbreaking project aiming to decipher and potentially reverse menopausal age

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From the moment you begin as an immature egg in your grandmother’s womb, your fertility journey is limited. However, scientists at Cambridge University may soon change that reality in their bright labs.

Dr. Staša Stankovic is one of these scientists. Her research at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge has uncovered valuable data in the field. Now, Stankovic is focused on unraveling the mysteries surrounding fertility and menopause.

Women’s ovaries hold a finite supply of eggs that represent their fertility. Stankovic compares this concept to an hourglass, where the sand (eggs) can only flow in one direction until it runs out, signaling the onset of menopause.

“In science, we aim to control the hourglass’s middle part,” she explains. “Our goal is to limit the eggs’ loss over time, preserving the highest quality eggs for as long as possible.”

Working with a team for five years, Stankovic is developing a method to predict the natural fertile period and age of menopause with 65% accuracy, aiming for 80% accuracy in clinical practice.

Additionally, the team is exploring potential drug solutions to address infertility and potentially delay menopause. The onset of menopause is influenced by the ovarian reserve and the rate at which eggs deplete over a woman’s lifetime, typically occurring around age 50 with fewer than 1,000 eggs left.

For women experiencing early menopause or premature menopause, these drug treatments could be life-changing.

Your Menopausal Age

Researchers are studying genetic factors using a blood sample rather than physical examinations to understand how genes impact fertility and menopause.

The research team analyzed data from over 200,000 women in the UK Biobank, which provided insights into menopause, fertility, and overall health metrics. This data will help researchers make connections with other health outcomes like dementia and diabetes.

By identifying over 300 genetic variations linked to menopause, researchers foresee potential solutions for ovarian diseases and early menopause using drug interventions.

Stankovic cautions against relying solely on IVF and egg freezing as magical solutions, emphasizing the need for more effective treatments with higher success rates.

Effects of Delaying Menopause

The research team is hopeful about developing infertility drugs that not only address symptoms but also regulate ovarian function. While the drug’s availability is estimated within the next decade, rigorous testing and validation are still required.

The team’s focus is on identifying crucial genes, conducting testing in ovarian models, and formulating drugs that maintain egg quality and quantity as women age.

Ultimately, the goal is to delay menopause and extend reproductive lifespan. Preliminary studies on mice have shown promising results, but further research is needed before human trials can begin.

Aside from fertility benefits, delaying menopause could also impact women’s overall health, offering insights into various diseases associated with menopause.

About Our Experts

Dr. Staša Stanković is an ovarian genomicist with a PhD in reproductive genomics from the University of Cambridge. Her groundbreaking research has been published in top scientific journals, shedding light on the biological mechanisms behind ovarian aging and menopause.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

France to Emulate UK Investment Scheme, Aiming to Boost Angel Investing

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As part of the 2024 French budget passed by the French government last week. without voting, France plans to create a new tax break for angel investments in technology startups. In many ways, France is drawing inspiration from the UK’s tech ecosystem for this change.

If you are a UK angel investor, you may already be familiar with the acronyms SEIS and EIS, which stand for Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme. These two tax breaks have encouraged angel investments in small private companies, typically technology startups, since 1994.

In the UK, investments in early-stage startups have an annual investment cap of £200,000 and are eligible for a 50% income tax deduction. You may be wondering, what exactly is an early-stage startup? Criteria change over time, but currently, SEIS-compatible companies are those that are less than three years old, have fewer than 25 employees, and have total assets. UK businesses under £350,000.

“I have benefited from SEIS both as a founder and as an investor. SEIS funding reduces the risk of angel investing and allows startups to close rounds faster,” said Reedsy. co-founder and CEO Emmanuel Nataf told me. “The fact that all taxpayers, not just the wealthiest, can benefit from tax cuts makes them a real enabler for the UK’s tech ecosystem.”

When it comes to corporate investment schemes, as the name suggests, they cover a wider range of companies. However, in that case, individual investors will only receive a 30% income tax reduction. EIS-compatible companies should be less than seven years old, have fewer than 250 employees and have total assets of less than £15m.

Interestingly, deep tech companies still qualify if they have been in business for less than 10 years, so they have a little more leeway. An individual can invest up to £1 million a year to receive a tax deduction (for deep tech investments he can invest £2 million).

And it’s working incredibly well.According to Report from Paul MidiThe MP, who represents Emmanuel Macron’s party on the subject, said a total of £175 million and £1.6 billion have been invested in private companies through SEIS and EIS respectively (as of today). 213 million and $1.95 billion respectively) (exchange rates).

“Angel investors who use this system also provide significant support to founders, which may be difficult to obtain from institutional investors,” Nataf added.

Importing SEIS and EIS schemes

Now that we understand how this works, France is essentially copying these systems with a different standard. From 2024, the JEI label (Jeunesse Entreprize Innovantes) is eligible for a 30% income tax reduction.

Starting in 2025, two new categories will be created: JEIC and JEIR. C is Croissant and R’s rupture. These acronyms are a bit technical, but the bottom line is that an investor in a deep tech startup can receive a 50% tax break on investments of up to 100,000 euros per year. Investors in other start-ups can enjoy a 30% tax break on investments of up to €150,000 per year.

“This scheme for so-called ‘young enterprises’ aims to help thousands of young innovative businesses gain jobs, raise capital, improve cash flow and access public contracts. .” Said In a video on X (formerly Twitter). “This should enable our startups to raise an additional EUR 500 million annually, especially in their early stages.”

It will take some time for the French tech ecosystem to feel the impact of this regulatory change. But this is a welcome change, as France, like many tech ecosystems around the world, is experiencing a slowdown in traditional VC investment.

Source: techcrunch.com