This week’s picks

football greats
Wide range of weekly episodes available
Was Ian Wright a better footballer than Alan Shearer? How do players communicate with foreign teams who only know the word “Bobby Charlton”? Geoff Stelling discusses these questions with guests including Paul Merson, Glenn Hoddle and Sir Geoff Hurst. In the first episode, Stelling reunites with Soccer Saturday partner Chris Kamara and relives many fond memories, including the origin of that iconic “I can’t believe it, Jeff!” Catchphrase. Hannah Verdier

Blindspot: Plague in the Shadows
Wide range of weekly episodes available
This podcast focuses on New York, where misinformation and misinformation were rife in the early days of the HIV epidemic. WNYC’s Kai Wright has been a reporter on the ground since 1996, and is not critical of how people in need are denied access to medical care. Dr. Anthony Fauci was among those interviewed, along with activists from the 1980s. HV

On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Mandel Gunn/AFP/Getty Images

capture the kingpin
BBC Sounds, weekly episodes
If you enjoy a podcast filled with drug dealing, corruption, and encrypted phone networks, then this six-part show about the Metropolitan Police’s biggest organized crime bust is for you. As host Mobeen Azhar puts it, the story becomes “increasingly shocking” as we uncover inside stories from the squad that infiltrated key figures in the criminal organization. HV

less is better
Episodes will be widely available weekly starting Sunday, January 14th
Is it better for your health to eat high-quality meat or eat less meat? This month, promoting vegan curiosity and positive health messages, Katie Revell and Olivia Oldham explore what it’s like to raise and slaughter animals, and how culture and education influence people’s preferences. Find out whether it is easy to give and buy good things. HV

January 6: America’s Story
Wide range of weekly episodes available
As we mark the third anniversary of the storming of the U.S. Capitol and with Donald Trump set to become the next Republican nominee, Our Body Politics on the people of color who helped lead the committee investigation on January 6th is an insightful series. They talk about their experiences, starting with why they chose to protect a country that doesn’t always protect them. Holly Richardson

There’s a podcast for that

Oprah Winfrey speaks on Oprah’s “2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus” tour. Photo: Steve Jennings/Getty Images

this week, Rachel Aroesti Our picks for the 5 best podcasts featuring true storyfrom a chronicle of LGBT heroes to the remarkable rise of Oprah Winfrey.

unusual life
Truth is always stranger than fiction, this fascinating series from the BBC World Service delicately unearths some of the most remarkable stories of human endeavor. I am amazed at the determination of Tariq Mehmood, one of the bradford 12, He was arrested as a young man for trying to protect himself from skinhead violence and became a novelist. In the drama “Prison His Break'' Jaibet uses his knowledge of Papua to escape from an inhumane immigration camp in New Guinea as he is overwhelmed by Nous of Elom. And just as amazed by the courage of Laura Dekker, who decided to travel around the world alone at the age of 13 (much to the surprise of the Dutch authorities).

making gay history
Journalist Eric Marcus established himself as a leading authority on 20th century gay life with his award-winning 1992 book Making History. In this moving podcast, he revisits his extensive archive of interviews to allow key figures in the LGBT rights movement to tell their own stories. Celebrities like early transgender activist Sylvia Rivera, playwright Larry Kramer, and television host Ellen DeGeneres, as well as lesser-known figures whose activism has made the world a safer place for queer people. I’ll listen to you.

CEO diary
Money can’t buy happiness. And just because you make millions doesn’t automatically mean you’re considered an inspirational person. But it’s also true that entrepreneur Stephen Bartlett’s hit interview podcast frequently serves as motivational rocket fuel. Since 2017, Bartlett has relentlessly questioned business leaders about their childhoods, work habits, and the philosophies they live by, unearthing practical, life-changing advice for his listeners. Since then, he has expanded his remit to include headline-grabbing celebrities including Davina McCall, Maisie Williams, Liam Payne, and Jesse Lingard.

hidden heroes of history
From energetic secret agent Virginia Hall and her epic prison escape to Surrey banker Eric Roberts’ hunt for Nazi sympathizers, this thrilling podcast narrated by Helena Bonham Carter explores perseverance from the second world. Relive some of the most amazing feats and stories of damnation. war. Along with stories of spies, we hear about the remarkable artistic resistance of Claude Cahan and Marcel Moore, and the pioneering feminism of Major Charity Adams, the first black officer to serve in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

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The World’s Top 10 Longest Rivers of 2023

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The largest civilizations have been built on and around it, providing a precious source of water and life. Of course, we are talking about rivers. There are many impressively long rivers around the world, but what is the world’s longest river?

Determining the exact length of a river is a complex process. You need to know the source location and the estuary location, that is, where the river starts and ends, respectively.

This is more difficult than it sounds and can change over time. Considering tributaries and waterways can further complicate matters, along with the changing seasons through which the river passes.

For this reason, river length is not an exact science and this is why you see a list of different lengths on the web. That also means there’s a debate about the longest river on Earth (more on that below). The lengths listed below are approximations that take into account a range of variables.

With all this in mind, here are the top 10 longest rivers in the world.

10. Amur River – 4,444km (2,761 miles)

Photo credit: Getty

The tenth longest river in the world is the Amur River, with a total length of 4,444 km (2,761 miles). This is its total length including its most distant source, the Argun River.

The Amur River’s flow begins in Mongolia and heads east through China and Russia, forming the main border between the Russian Far East and northeast China. Its mouth is the Amur Estuary, which flows into the Tartary Strait.

The kaluga fish, which can grow up to 5.6 meters long, lives here and is just one of the 100 species of fish found in this basin.You can also find indian lotus flower The northernmost habitat along the river.

9. Congo River – 4,700km (2,920 miles)

The Congo River is the ninth longest river in the world and the second longest in Africa, with a total distance of 4,700 km (2,922 miles) from its furthest source to its mouth.

Traveling through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, and Rwanda. It begins in the east, arcs to the northwest, and then flows southwest, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at its mouth on the borders of Angola aand the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This river, which flows through the Congo rainforest, is the second strongest current in the world after the Amazon. It provides an important water source for more than 400 species of mammals, including gorillas, African elephants, and bonobos, as well as more than 1,700 species of birds and fish.

8. Rio de la Plata – 4,880km (3,032 miles)

The Rio de la Plata is the eighth longest river in the world, with a length of 4,880 km (3,032 miles). This is the combined length of the overlapping rivers Paraná, Rio Grande, and Uruguay.

The Plata River itself is only 290 km (180 miles) long, but its tributaries are even longer, running from north to south through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean between Argentina and Uruguay.

Another accolade of the Rio de la Plata is that it is the widest river in the world. In some areas its width is up to 220 km.

7. Ob River – 5,410km (3,362 miles)

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Top AI Chatbots in January 2024

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

2023 is the year of artificial intelligence, with AI chatbots emerging as an essential tool for businesses, individuals, and organizations around the world.

However, while most people have probably heard of ChatGPT, which is probably the most used AI tool in the world, there are many others available, including Google Bard and Hugging Chat.

Chatbots have been taught how to have conversations and answer questions by filling in endless online posts. Some of the responses people are getting are surprisingly realistic, with all kinds of answers and chats responding to user prompts.

Which one is the most useful? Read this article for our recommendations for the best AI chatbots in 2024.

The best AI chatbot in 2023

There are many high-quality AI chatbots that you can use to answer questions, chat, and more. It's worth noting that the answers provided require fact-checking, as all of them currently have issues with accuracy and sourcing. Here are the best available in 2023.

Chat GPT

specification | Developer: Open AI | price: Free ($20/month paid “Plus” subscription) | platform: Browser-based and app | Website: Chat.openai.com

Strong Points:

Free for anyone with an account
Adequate response time
Can write STEM code

Cons:

May become unavailable due to demand
Premium subscription cost
privacy issues

ChatGPT has been the talk of AI chatbot town for quite some time now, and for good reason. ChatGPT is the go-to for many people looking to use a chatbot, and while so many people are trying to use it, it's actually a huge number of people who log in and ask questions. Often you can't.

A ChatGPT Plus subscription costs $20 per month and allows users to use the program even when demand is high, boasting faster response speeds and priority access to new features. At the moment, it is also completely free to use. Just create an account and accept the privacy options.

google bard

specification | Developer: Google | price: Free | platform: Browser-based | Website: bard.google.com

Strong Points:

quick and easy to use
If you already use Gmail, you don't need to create another account
Built-in Google search to help you with your research

Cons:

Slightly less conversational than other chatbots
It is still listed as experimental, so some errors are expected.
Previous conversation context is not preserved

One of the main ChatGPT alternatives, Google Bard, has been impressing users for some time now. It has a slightly less conversational tone than its competitors and doesn't remember much of the context of conversations during a session, but is instead promoted as a search and research tool.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The World’s Top 10 Largest Cities

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Since the world’s population reached 8 billion on November 15, 2022, various predictions have been made about when the world’s population will reach its peak. Studies vary, with some suggesting that the world’s population will peak at 8.8 billion by mid-century and then begin to decline. Other predictions, such as those made by the United Nations, world population By the 2080s, the number could exceed 10 billion.

In any case, the massive increase in population has created significant congestion in some of the world’s largest cities, raising major concerns about pollution and overcrowding.

To put this list in some perspective, Greater London in the UK has a whopping 8.9 million people, and New York in the US has a population of about 8.5 million.

Here are the 10 most populous cities on Earth and what it’s like to live there.

10. Osaka, Japan – 19.2 million people

Aerial view of Osaka city.Photo credit: Getty Images

Approximately 19.2 million people live in the Keihanshin metropolitan area, which includes Japan’s third-largest city, Osaka. Historically an important center of commerce and industry, the city remains a financial center with many of Japan’s largest companies based there.

Osaka is famous for its food culture and modern architecture, making it a popular destination for tourists. And thanks to a middling public transport system, unheard of in the UK, the city’s Underground carries more than 900 million passengers a year.

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To be amazed by more science, check out our ultimate Interesting information page.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Top 10 Stunning Images from the Royal Society Publications Photography Competition

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Ever wanted to visit another world? Mars, one of our closest celestial neighbors, is an astonishing 225 million kilometers from Earth, a distance that would take over 1,000 years to walk.

But guess what? Many things on Earth look exactly like Mars; that’s what this year’s winner of the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition proved. Although this photo looks like a snapshot of an extraterrestrial plant, it actually shows a group of Smile mold growing in a lush garden in the UK.

But the other pictures in the collection are equally amazing. From a crystal forest to a temporary rift and jellyfish elevator, the images capture strange scientific phenomena.

Ecology Category Runner-Up – Postwar Chamois

The image shows an Alps chamois (Lupikapra Lupikapra) Licking the walls of a World War II air raid shelter in the mountains of Val Valaita in the Western Alps. Photo credit: Filippo Calgati

Micro-imaging category runner-up – Crystal lighthouse in the wild forest

The image shows microcrystals of beta-alanine and L-glutamine, showing the evolution of the crystal pattern during the crystallization process. Photo credit: Shyam Ulhas

Astronomy Category Winner – Western Veil Nebula

The Veil Nebula, a spectacular supernova remnant, discovered in the constellation Cygnus, about 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, has gained attention. The horn of the nebula in our sky is several times the size of the Moon. Photo provided by Imran Sultan

Overall Winner – Mars Landscape

The photo shows a specimen *lamproderma scintillance,* a microorganism that grows on the autumn leaves of Somerset, England. The slime mold exhibits a range of hues, from earthy browns to glossy bronzes to steel-blue iridescent hues of the surrounding deciduous trees. Photo credit: Irina Petrova Adamatsky

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Top 10 Most Powerful Animals in the World

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

What is the strongest animal in the world? This is an important question, especially if you are moving and can’t afford to hire movers.

But suppose you have an animal that helps you get around. Which one should you choose? What is the strongest animal? Who can lift the most weight?

To answer this most important question, we have compiled a list of the strongest animals on Earth today. Get ready to journey through a world of brute force as you marvel at incredibly strong birds, muscular polar bears, and powerful punching cows.

10. Harpy Eagle – Can lift 18 kg (twice its own body weight)

A female harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) carries prey such as a skinned and half-eaten coati (Nasua nasua) to her nest. Pousada Curpila Dalaras, southwestern Brazil.Photo credit: Alamy

Female harpy eagles are the strongest birds in the world. Females are stronger than males and can lift up to 18 kg, about twice their own body weight. This is useful when choosing prey and means a greater variety of animals are available for dinner.

They are apex predators at the top of the food chain. And when you see strength like this, you can see why.

9. Leopard – Can lift 125 kg (about twice its body weight).

A leopard (Panthera pardus) takes shelter in a tree at Sabi Sands Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, South Africa.Photo credit: David Silverman/Getty Images

The average male leopard weighs between 30 kg and 70 kg, and the largest leopards can lift weights of 125 kg using strong jaw muscles and powerful legs and claws.

Leopards are not as strong as rivals like tigers and lions, so after hunting they need this strength to pull large prey up trees to protect them from rivals. This ability is also useful for storing food out of reach for later consumption.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Explore Our Stunning Collection of This Year’s Top Aurora Photographs

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Matthew Brown's entry “Goleuadau'r Gogledd”. Means “Aurora” in Welsh.

Matthew Brown

There are few sights as spectacular as the Northern Lights. The Aurora Photographer of the Year competition, run by travel photography blog Capture the Atlas, takes advantage of the dazzling effects of the Northern Lights.

The waning sun photographed on Senja Island in Norway

alex wides

This year, 25 breathtaking shots from around the world made it to the final round, and we've published a selection of them here. Each brings a special aspect to this unusual phenomenon caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with atmospheric gases.

“Circle of Life” filmed in Finland at almost -30 degrees Celsius

Freudis Dalheim

As the sun's next peak in activity (known as the solar maximum) approaches in 2024, people are already able to catch glimpses of the aurora borealis over a wider area than usual in both the north and south. Next year's exhibition will be even more spectacular.

“A moment on the ice” taken from an ice cave in Alaska, USA

marybeth kitzenski

'Lost Who I Want To Be' filmed at Moke Lake in New Zealand

Jordan McInally

Many of the photos in the 2023 competition were taken in locations where the Northern Lights are rare, such as south Wales, and are captured in Matthew Brown's photography. Goreuadau's Goggled (Main image). The name translates to 'lights of the north' in Welsh and images show local landmark Paxton's Tower lit up. “It's rare to see the aurora borealis this far south,” Brown said. “For more than an hour, the horizon beyond the clouds cast shades of green and pink. But for one brief but magical moment, the sky burst

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Top 6 Spectacular Space Photos from 2023

Posted on December 25, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Wolf Rayet star WR 124 glimpsed by JWST

NASA, ESA, CSA, STSCI, ERO production team

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) helped make 2023 the year of amazing space images. But this groundbreaking telescope wasn’t the only source of visual wonder. A series of new missions are sending back photos from space, and the view from Earth isn’t bad either. Here are 6 photos that surprised us the most.

The star in the photo above was captured by JWST as it prepared to explode. It’s called WR 124 and has about 30 times the mass of the Sun. When a star that large runs out of hydrogen to burn in its core, heavier elements begin to fuse together. This fusion creates a powerful burst of energy, sending gusts of wind at speeds of millions of kilometers per hour. When these powerful winds strip away the outer layers of a star, it becomes a star known as a Wolf-Rayet star. It will explode as a supernova within a few million years after it peels off. The purple spots in this photo are clouds of dust and gas that were the outer layer of WR 124. It has already lost about 10 times the mass of the Sun. If these layers are not intact, it is doomed to explode into a supernova.

Solar tornado seen from Earth

Andrew McCarthy and Jason Guenzel

Then we have the tallest solar tornado ever recorded (above). The event occurred on March 14, when the rotation of the sun’s magnetic field stirred up plasma near the north pole. This feature rose above the surface of the Sun, and the giant flare reached a height of 178,000 kilometers, or nearly 14 times the diameter of Earth. This image is the result of a careful collaboration between astrophotographers Jason Genzel and Andrew McCarthy. They used high-speed cameras to record the event, and it took him five days and 90,000 individual shots to create the photos. The sun appears furry in this image because it is covered in millions of stirring geysers of plasma, each lasting only a few minutes.

Herbig Halo 211 captured by JWST

ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, Tom Ray (Dublin)

This bright explosion (above) reveals the newborn star’s incredible supersonic jet. These result in what are known as Herbig-Haro objects. The star itself is hidden within the dark cloud of gas from which it formed, but when jets erupt from its
ides, they collide with surrounding gas and dust, creating huge shock waves that cause them to glow. This particular object, called Helbig Halo 211, is located in the constellation Perseus, about 1000 light-years from Earth.

Jupiter’s moon Io

NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift/CC BY

Return to our solar system and proceed to Jupiter’s moon Io (above). In October, NASA’s Juno spacecraft flew just 7,000 miles (11,645 kilometers) above the moon’s surface, capturing this amazing image of it passing by. This is one of the best photos of Io ever taken, with enough detail to show the shadows of some of the giant volcanoes.

India’s Vikram lander lands on the moon as part of Chandrayaan-3 mission

Isro

And to our moon. On August 23, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission landed near the moon’s south pole for the first time. This photo (above) of the Vikram lander landing on the moon was taken by the mission’s Pragyan rover a week later. The study of the moon’s south pole, initiated by Chandrayaan-3, is particularly important because of the large amount of ice there, which could help in future human exploration and the establishment of a permanent lunar base.

Comet Nishimura as seen by an amateur astronomer

Javier Zayas/Moment RF/Getty Images

Our final images become more ephemeral. Above is Comet Nishimura, which shows a striped pattern in the night sky as seen from Earth. Two rare green comets made a dramatic appearance in the sky this year. First, in early February, comet C/2022 E3 approached Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. Then, in August, amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura discovered another comet (now named after him) that remained visible for about two months. These comets appear green because the gas surrounding their rocky core contains diatomic carbon. Diatomic carbon is a relatively rare substance consisting of a pair of bonded carbon atoms. Make the most of your images of Comet Nishimura now. The comet takes about 437 years to orbit the Sun, so it won’t be seen again until the 25th century.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Top 5 Pet Tech Gifts for Your Furry Friend in 2023

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

If you or someone you know is looking for a gift to pamper one of the cutest creatures on the planet, there are some strong contenders worth checking out. From smart cameras that keep an eye on mischievous puppies 24/7 to interactive toys, automatic spinning balls, and drinking fountains for cats, here are 5 high-tech pet gifts that will make your life easier and your pet’s life more enjoyable.

Introducing: PetCube Bites 2 Lite – Price: $149
It can be difficult to leave your pet alone at home, especially if your pet has very convincing puppy dog eyes or a meow that’s been trained to break your heart. A smart camera like PetCube’s Bites 2 Lite is a good option. This camera is equipped with 1080p HD video, night vision, a 160-degree lens, two-way audio, and a treat dispenser that lets you toss treats from up close or far.

Recordable Conversation Button – Price: from $40
For those looking to jump on the TikTok trend of dogs learning to “speak” specific words, investing in a recordable conversation button is a great option. Fluent Pet is a system of foam hexagonal tiles and recordable sound buttons designed to teach pets how to communicate their wants and needs.

Cheerable – Price: $35.00
Cheerable is a self-rotating ball with three interactive modes: rolling, bouncing, and glowing, providing mental stimulation, physical exercise, and even stress relief for bored pets. The toy will stay lit for up to 4 hours before needing to be charged.

Fi Smart Dog Collar – Price: $19/month
In addition to attaching to a collar using an Apple AirTag, the Fi Smart Dog Collar creates a geofence for your dog and uses algorithms to detect dog escapes and send alerts to your app. It also tracks your dog’s location, sleep, steps, and has social features that compare your dog’s activity to other users.

Petlibro Pet Fountain – Price: $31.99
Petlibro pet fountain is designed to help cats embrace their ancestral background by providing a gently flowing stream and filtered water. It is recommended to change the filter every two weeks to keep the water fresh.

These high-tech pet gifts are a fun way to interact with your pet and reward positive behavior, but remember that they are not a substitute for one-on-one attention.

Source: techcrunch.com

The Top Animal Photos of 2023: From Hyenas to Southern Rays

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Spotted Hyena

This spotted hyena (Crokuta Crokuta) is a natural in front of the camera, while its mother and siblings watch closely in the background. This playful shot was taken by Wim van den Heever in Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya.

Southern Stingray

As the sun rises over the coast of the Cayman Islands, southern rays (Dashatis Americana) are captured in this striking split-level snap by the photographer, Alex Mustard, as they wander on a sandy beach.

Slug Sucking Sap

A brightly fluorescent animal known as the sap-sucking slug (Costasiella crocimae) is captured by Mustard, crawling on green algae just off the coast of northern Indonesia. This sea slug has a special ability to preserve the chloroplasts of the algae they feed on, allowing them to photosynthesize.

Eurasian Brown Bear

Deep in the forests of Finland, Andy Rouse took an action shot of a Eurasian brown bear (Ursus Arctos Arctos) after a short soak in the pond, the body trembles dry. These mammals can weigh up to 480 kilograms and are common in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Spotted Fritillary Larva

In the grasslands of the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria, Guy Edwards took a colorful photo of a spotted fritillary (Melitaea Didyma) larvae. It eventually transforms into a butterfly, its wings becoming bright orange with brown spots.

White Winged Snowfinch

The majestic white-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla Nivalis) is captured braving a snowstorm in the Swiss Alps by Mateusz Piesiak. It is a relatively large and sturdy bird, reaching up to 19 centimeters in height.

Fruit Bat

This bewildered fruit bat has its nose and throat swabbed as part of an effort in the Republic of Congo to better understand how zoonotic diseases such as Ebola are transmitted to people. Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Congo Medical Research Foundation collected blood and saliva samples from about 100 fruit bats.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Top funding choices for mature startups

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

“Entrepreneurs navigating the later stages of startup are faced with a mine of funding options, not all of which are suitable for their business,” said David Spreng, Founder and CEO of Runway Growth Capital. is writing.

All articles on TechCrunch+ are available to members only.
Use discount code TC Plus Roundup Save 20% on a 1-year or 2-year subscription.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to financing, David explains some options to help you choose the right one for your business. For example, a strategic partnership may be a better fit and can often drive business growth. You also have the option of applying for government grants if it makes sense for your company.

thank you for reading!

Karin

A lone figure stands at the entrance to a hedge maze, with an American flag in the center

Image credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch

Dear Sophie

My colleagues and I work at a large technology company. We have an idea that we would like to pursue for a startup. We both have H-1B visas. Our I-140 EB-2 green card petition has been approved, but we are waiting for our green card priority date to become current. How do I transfer my H-1B to a new startup? Can I transfer our green card to a new startup as well?

Image credits: cat lane (Opens in new window) / Getty Images

Our resident pitch expert, Haje-Jan Kamps, trained an AI model on thousands of pitch decks. This tool analyzes your pitch deck and provides feedback. Of all the decks the tool analyzed, only 6% contained all the information the AI robot was looking for. Haje offers some tips on how to fix common mistakes when putting together slides.

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Champ Suthipongchai, co-founder and general partner at Creative Ventures, writes that more conventional investors are starting to call themselves deep tech investors. Before choosing a deep tech fund manager, it’s a good idea to answer a few questions, such as: Does their investment approach make sense?

Image credits: jilsac (Opens in new window) / Getty Images

CRM isn’t just for sales teams. Founders can use these tools to streamline their relationships with investors. A good CRM will help you track interactions, remind you to follow up, and generate detailed reports.

Source: techcrunch.com

Top Tech Gifts Under $50 to Consider for 2023

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Tech gifts that your loved ones will use don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a gift for someone, there are many great gadgets to choose from. This list includes budget-friendly gift ideas ranging from Bluetooth trackers and wireless earbuds to smart home accessories. I have personally used most of the items on this list, especially AirTags, and have even gifted some of the products to my own family (my brother has his Govee smart LED strip lights). You don’t have to spend a fortune to give someone a cool tech gift. All of these products are also easy to use, so they would make great gifts for anyone, regardless of age. This article contains links to affiliate partners where possible. When you buy through these links, TechCrunch may earn an affiliate commission.

AirTags are a great gift for people who often misplace their belongings. AirTags help you find lost items through Apple’s “Find My” app. Small tracking devices can be attached to personal items such as wallets, bags, and keys. AirTags are also useful for friends and family who travel frequently, as they can be used to track their luggage.

Tile Pro is a great gift for both Android and iOS users. It essentially works the same way as an AirTag, as it helps you find lost items. If you’re not sure which phone the person you’re looking for a gift for has, Tile Pro is the way to go.

These wireless earbuds have 8 hours of playtime, and the charging case gives you an additional 24 hours of playtime. Very comfortable and features deep bass. These earbuds don’t have fancy features like wireless charging or noise cancellation, but they’re water resistant, making them perfect for working out.

Govee Smart LED strip lights are a great way to bring color into anyone’s home. You can use it to accent the edges of a room, brighten your TV setting, or illuminate other areas of your home. You can use the Govee Home app to control the lights, change the color of the strips, turn them on or off.

This wireless charging stand is perfect for those who don’t have one yet. The great thing about wireless charging stands as opposed to wireless charging pads is that you can easily check your notifications using the stand. The stand allows you to charge your phone vertically or horizontally, so you can also watch movies, FaceTime, and other tasks while charging.

This smart hub is the perfect gift for someone who has yet to embrace the world of smart home technology. With Echo Dot, you can play music, check the weather, set alarms, control other smart home devices, and more. The fifth generation model has improved sound and faster response times.

This wireless mouse is comfortable and designed to fit people of all hand sizes. It has a battery life of 24 months and is compatible with computers, laptops, tablets, Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux, and iPadOS. You can use it on up to three computers and customize the six buttons for a customized experience.

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to gift someone a high-quality fitness tracker. The budget-friendly Amazfit Band 7 can track several basic health metrics. It can alert you to abnormal heart rate, monitor your stress levels, and track your sleep quality. This watch has a battery life of 18 days with normal use and up to 28 days in battery saver mode.

The Philips SmartSleep Alarm Clock is the perfect gift for anyone of any age. A simulated sunrise prepares your body to wake up while you’re still asleep, improving your morning mood. You can choose from 10 brightness levels and can also be used as a bedside lamp.

UV phone sanitizer is a great gift for anyone with a phone. Considering how dirty your phone gets after leaving it on something like a restaurant table, it’s good to have a layer of protection against viruses and other harmful germs. While some are more expensive, the PhoneSoap Basic is great and lets you sanitize more than just your phone, as you can add things like keys, glasses, wallets, and more.

This wireless Bluetooth speaker is a great gift for anyone who wants to listen to music or podcasts without headphones while at home, in the background, at the beach or camping. The speaker is protected from rain, dust, snow, and spills, so you can use it almost anywhere. The speaker can play for up to 24 hours on a single charge, so you don’t have to constantly worry about battery life.

This supurs electric lighter A great gift for someone who is crazy about candles. It’s also a great tool for friends and family who love barbecuing and camping. The lighter is designed with a child safety protection device as you need to press the safety lock switch first and then press the ignition switch.

This post was originally published on November 13th and has been updated to include more gift recommendations and deals. Check out our other 2023 gift guides.

Source: techcrunch.com

Top Science News of 2023: New Scientist’s Selections

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Space News Highlights of 2023

Spiral galaxy M51 seen with the James Webb Space Telescope

ESA/Webb, NASA, and CSA, A. Adamo (Stockholm University)/FEAST JWST Team

From extreme heat to stunning space footage, new scientist covers a wide range of the biggest developments, discoveries and events in science, technology, health and the environment in 2023. Here we summarize some of the best news of the year.

Environment

In July 2023, a forest fire broke out on the Greek island of Rhodes. Angelos Tsolzinis/AFP via Getty Images

The number of heat records broken in 2023 is staggering. We won’t know for sure until next month’s official statistics are released, but there is little doubt that this year was the hottest on record. As a sign that abnormal temperatures continue, new scientist We already reported on this possibility in mid-June, long before summer in the northern hemisphere was in full swing. A few weeks later, a particularly surreal series of events occurred. The average global temperature, which is recorded 2 meters above the Earth’s surface and is basically a way to measure global temperatures, hit an all-time high on July 3rd, which was 7. It was quickly broken on the 4th of May, and then the record was broken on the 5th. July came and the next day it broke again. By the end of August, it was the hottest three months on record, followed by the hottest September on record. In November, researchers announced the hottest 12 months on record. Against this backdrop, negotiations at the COP28 climate change summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were extremely difficult. A key point of disagreement was whether the world would finally take action against fossil fuels, and at one point it looked like the summit might collapse. Ultimately, the world agreed to begin a “transition” away from fossil fuels, but this was the first time fossil fuels were mentioned in a COP document, although what that actually meant was unclear. Many questions remain.

Health

Demand for weight loss drug Wegoby will surge in 2023 Carsten Snejbjerg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

This year’s demand for Wigovy, a weight-loss formulation of semaglutide, has been like no other drug in history. In addition to being incredibly effective for weight loss, early trials this year showed it may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes and may even help treat addiction. Despite some moralizing about “quick cures” for obesity, and despite drug shortages and difficulty in obtaining them, it is clear that a health revolution has begun. This past year also marked the first time since 2019 that Covid-19 was not on everyone’s mind. The World Health Organization’s announcement on May 5 that the viral disease is no longer a public health emergency means, in a sense, the coronavirus pandemic is over, at least for some people. Millions of people are still experiencing long-term symptoms of COVID-19, which are still poorly understood.

Artificial Intelligence

London writers hold rally in solidarity with striking US screenwriters to protect their jobs from AI Vuk Valcic / Alamy Stock Photo

Roughly counting, new scientist has published around 150 articles on artificial intelligence this year. Tech companies were competing against each other, with OpenAI claiming “human-level performance” for its GPT-4 large-scale language model and Google claiming its Gemini model was even better. There have been concerns about the rise of misinformation through AI, from images of the Pope in a down jacket to the risk of bias feedback loops to attempts to detect AI-generated text. AI has also been the subject of high-level discussions across politics and business. This led to a major stalemate in the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strike, but in November world leaders, researchers and businessmen gathered at Bletchley Park in the UK to sign a declaration on the risks of new technologies. Indeed, this year was the year that AI became mainstream.

Space

The dense center of the Milky Way seen with the James Webb Space Telescope NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Samuel Crow (UVA)

This year’s biggest space mission is also the cheapest, with India’s low-budget Chandrayaan-3 moon landing costing just £60 million. India’s success makes it the fourth country to safely land on the moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. It also happened just days after a Russian spacecraft crash-landed on the moon in a bid to restore it to its Soviet-era glory. Further out in space, the James Webb Space Telescope continues to shine, providing stunning images and advancing our understanding of the universe, from the fastest-growing galaxies to the most distant black holes ever seen.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Baldur’s Gate 3 wins top award at The Game Awards 2023, but show faces criticism for short speech and dismissal

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

RPG game Baldur’s Gate 3 has been honored as Game of the Year at the largest awards ceremony in the industry. This game, which was released earlier this year for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, surprised reviewers with its expansive world and story that allows players to influence the game through their choices. Inspired by the classic Dungeons and Dragons tabletop game, it is one of the most acclaimed titles of the year, beating out other popular games like Alan Wake 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, and Super Mario Bros.

Belgian developer Larian won six awards at the event, including Best Multiplayer and Role-Playing Game, for Baldur’s Gate 3. Alan Wake 2, created by Finnish studio Remedy, won Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, and Best Art Direction. Other winners included Nintendo’s latest Zelda and Mario titles, Xbox’s Forza Horizon racing series, and the long-running Final Fantasy series. However, Spider-Man 2, one of the most nominated games, did not receive any awards.

The Game Awards are known for showcasing trailers and advertisements for new games, and this year was no different. It included a collaboration between game creator Hideo Kojima and Hollywood director Jordan Peele, as well as the announcement that Matthew McConaughey will play the lead role in the upcoming sci-fi action game “Exodus.” Additionally, a new Jurassic Park game, Survival, was announced, and trailers for new releases from popular game series like Prince of Persia and Monster Hunter were shown.

While the awards show attracted over 103 million viewers last year, the host, Geoff Keighley, was criticized for spending too much time on trailers during this year’s event and failing to acknowledge industry layoffs. Some awards were announced without the winners being invited on stage, and the winners had little time to give their acceptance speeches.

The complete list of game winners included Baldur’s Gate 3 for Game of the Year, Alan Wake 2 for Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction, and several other games in various categories such as Best Multiplayer, Best Family Game, Best RPG, and Most Anticipated Game.

Source: news.sky.com

DeepMind AI outperforms top weather forecasts, with one caveat

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Will the AI tell me if I need an umbrella?

Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images

AI company Google DeepMind says AI can more accurately predict the weather 10 days out than current state-of-the-art simulations, but meteorologists are still trying to build weather models based on actual physical principles. It warns against abandoning and relying solely on patterns in the data. Expose the shortcomings of AI approaches.

Existing weather forecasts are based on mathematical models, which use physics and powerful supercomputers to definitively predict what will happen in the future. These models have gradually become more accurate by adding more details, but this requires more calculations, more powerful computers, and higher energy demands.

Rémi Lam and his colleagues at Google DeepMind took a different approach. The company’s GraphCast AI model is trained on his 40 years of historical weather data from satellites, radar, and ground-based measurements to identify patterns that even Google DeepMind can’t understand. “As with many machine learning AI models, it’s not that easy to interpret how the model works,” Lamb says.

To make the predictions, actual weather measurements taken at two points six hours apart from more than one million locations around the globe are used to predict the weather six hours into the future. These predictions can be used as input for another round that predicts another 6 hours into the future.

DeepMind researchers carried out this process using data Produces a 10-day forecast from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). They say it outperformed ECMWF’s “gold standard” High Resolution Forecasting (HRES) by providing more accurate forecasts on more than 90 per cent of the data points tested. At some altitudes, this accuracy increased to 99.7%.

Matthew Chantry He, who worked with Google DeepMind at ECMWF, said his organization had previously seen AI as a tool to complement existing mathematical models, but in the past 18 months it has seen a shift in the way AI can actually provide predictions on its own. He said that he has become able to do so.

“We at ECMWF believe this is a very exciting technology that has the potential not only to reduce energy costs when making forecasts, but also to improve them. Creating a reliable operational product “Probably more work is needed, but this is likely the beginning of a revolution in the way weather forecasts are made, and this is our assessment,” he says. According to Google DeepMind, using GraphCast to make a 10-day forecast takes him less than a minute on a high-end PC, but with HRES it can take several hours on a supercomputer.

But some meteorologists are wary of trusting weather forecasting to AI. Ian Renfrew According to researchers at the University of East Anglia in the UK, GraphCast currently lack the ability to marshal data into its own starting state, a process known as data assimilation. In traditional predictions, this data is carefully incorporated into simulations after thorough checks on physics and chemistry calculations to ensure accuracy and consistency. Currently, GraphCast must use a starting state prepared in the same way by ECMWF’s own tools.

“Google won’t be doing weather forecasts any time soon because they can’t assimilate the data,” Renfrew said. “And data assimilation is typically one-half to two-thirds of the computation time for these forecasting systems.”

He says there are also concerns about completely abandoning deterministic models based on chemistry and physics and relying solely on AI output.

“Even if you have the best predictive model in the world, what’s the point if the public doesn’t trust you and you don’t take action? We ordered the evacuation of 30 miles of Florida’s coastline. “If nothing happens, it will blow away the trust that has been built over decades,” he says. “The advantage of a deterministic model is that you can investigate it. If you get a bad prediction, you can investigate why that prediction is bad and target those aspects for improvement.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

15. Afterburner (1987)

14. Saxon (1982)

13. Virtua Racing (1992)

This week’s picks

There’s a podcast for that

10. Amur River – 4,444km (2,761 miles)

9. Congo River – 4,700km (2,920 miles)

8. Rio de la Plata – 4,880km (3,032 miles)

7. Ob River – 5,410km (3,362 miles)

The best AI chatbot in 2023

Chat GPT

google bard

10. Osaka, Japan – 19.2 million people

Ecology Category Runner-Up – Postwar Chamois

Micro-imaging category runner-up – Crystal lighthouse in the wild forest

Astronomy Category Winner – Western Veil Nebula

Overall Winner – Mars Landscape

10. Harpy Eagle – Can lift 18 kg (twice its own body weight)

9. Leopard – Can lift 125 kg (about twice its body weight).

How to have an optimal day, according to research published this year

Set the right temperature in your bedroom

Enjoy a snooze to activate your brain

The strangest news of 2023

Scientists unleashed their creativity with annoying questions

Medical advances this year

New technology has 'invaded' the brain

Fecal transplants begin in the UK

Technology and Physics in 2023

ChatGPT-4 changed AI forever

An important theory of gravity has become a reality

Space Exploration 2023: Timeline

Science news that cheered up the world this year

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Spiral galaxy M51 seen with the James Webb Space Telescope

Environment

Health

Artificial Intelligence

Space