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Ruchi Group Records Profit 105% jump

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has announced its un-audited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 (Q3). As compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, net profit for the quarter rose by 105.45% from Rs. 24.05 crore to Rs. 49.41 crore whereas net sales rose by 17.56% from Rs. 6,954.29 crore to Rs. 8,175.16 crore.

During the quarter, branded sales registered a healthy 22.95% growth from Rs. 1,374.23 crore to Rs. 1,689.59 crore. Refining capacity utilization improved by 8.85% from 4,78,589 MT to 5,20,960 MT. Export of Soya Meal in value improved by 47.29% from Rs. 883.16 crore to Rs. 1,300.83 crore. Sale of Textured soya protein (TSP) stood at Rs. 28.16 crore registering an impressive rise of 43.53% from Rs. 19.62 crore during Q3 in the last fiscal.

Commenting on the performance, Managing Director, Mr. Dinesh Shahra said, “I am happy to share the healthy growth recorded by the Company during the third quarter ended December 31, 2012. Improved branded sales, better sales realization of oilseed extraction, effective control on the costs and favourable business sentiments helped us to get profit on the track. We are making our efforts to have good performance on a sustained basis in the times to come.”

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited
Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer. An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya features amongst top three players based on market share in the overall Refined Oil in Consumer Packs (ROCP) in India with leadership position in important segments like palm oil. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.

Source: http://planetcorporatenews.wordpress.com/

Scientists enable rats to 'talk' through brain link

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:56:00 +0000

Telepathy just around the corner? Researchers have allowed rats thousands of miles apart to communicate with each other by connecting their brains through cables. Scientists wired the brains of two rats together and show that signals from one rat's brain can help the second rat solve a problem it would otherwise have no clue how to solve.

The wired brain implants allowed sensory and motor signals to be sent from one rat to another, creating the first ever brain-to-brain interface, 'BBC News' reported. Scientists then tested whether the rat receiving the signal could correctly interpret the information.The team even linked the brains of rats that were thousands of miles apart as the ultimate test of their system.

Professor Miguel Nicolelis and his team at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina built on their previous work with brain-machine interfaces. In earlier study, the researchers implanted electrodes in the part of the rat's brain that processes tactile information and attached these to infrared sensors -- effectively allowing the rat to "touch" infrared light.

During the latest study, the scientists wanted to test whether the systems they had developed could be used to establish a new artificial communication channel between animals.

"Until recently we used to record this brain activity and send it to a computer... and the (computer) tells us what the animal is going to do," Nicolelis said. "So we reasoned, if we can do that with a computer, could another brain do that?" Nicolelis said.Placed in separate cages, the rats were able to solve puzzles with the aid of micro-electrodes one hundredth the diameter of a human hair implanted into their brains.

One rat was able to interpret the other's actions and intentions even when they couldn't see or hear each other. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/scientists-enable-rats-to-talk-through-brain-link/1081838/0#sthash.ZAPYlreB.dpuf

Move over 3D, 4K TVs are the real deal

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:52:00 +0000

Consumer Electronics Show 2013 in Las Vegas, USA signalled the end of gimmicky innovations in televisions. Last year's CES was full of 3D TVs, while many 4K (four times high-definition) TVs were among the best products at this year's event.

Toshiba was the first to bring 4K TVs to India, after it launched its product last year, followed by LG. Samsung announced its first TV that can handle 4K content on Friday. The new product is called 85S9 and it will be available from May 2013. The company is not calling it a 4K TV, preferring the "Ultra HD TV" moniter instead, but just like 4K TVs, this product has the potential to give you the most immersive experience seen in TVs till date.

4K content (see picture), is about as real as high-definition gets. If you are hungry, do not watch a cookery show on 4K TVs. The experience is mouth-watering to say the least. The 85S9 is an impressive example of the technology. It doesn't matter how far you are from the TV, the image clarity never drops.

The catch is that there isn't enough 4K content in the market as of now, but that is always the case with new technologies. Content creators will catch up eventually. Instead of taking 3D to mainstream television, companies would benefit much more by bringing 4K TVs to the market.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/move-over-3d-4k-tvs-are-the-real-deal/1081839/

Touch-based remotes redefine how we interact with TVs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:48:00 +0000

Samsung launched a new remote control for its smart TV range at the company's Regional Forum 2013 in Hyderabad on Friday. The device is a universal remote, which means that it will work with TV sets from other manufacturers as well.

This is the first Samsung remote to feature a touchpad. Previously, this technology was unique to Bose, as an accessory with the company's top-of-the-line VideoWave series of televisions. The Bose touchpad opens an array of options at the edges of the screen. Users need to swipe their thumbs across the edges of the clickpad remote to access options, much like navigation in the iPod Classic.

Samsung's product relies more on swipes. Simple functions include swipe left to rewind 10 seconds, and swipe right to forward. There are four buttons on the edges of the touchpad, which mimic the arrow keys on traditional remotes. The bottom arrow key also doubles up as a key to let you access your history (recently played videos) or a search button.

The touchpad is fairly responsive. Users can "write" the channel number on the touchpad to switch channels. As you draw a digit, it appears on one corner of the screen.

There isn't much innovation in the remote apart from the touchpad. While it performs well, it still feels raw – as expected from the first version of any device. Users can expect it to be refined in future versions, but the important thing is that companies are trying to improve how we interact with the television.

Last year, Samsung introduced voice recognition and gesture controls in its smart television series. Although both have been effectively used in other product categories, they do not work well for a television because watching TV is a passive experience. Few would enjoy constantly shouting at the TV set or waving at it to change channels. Remotes such as the Bose clickpad or Samsung Smart Touch Control hit the middle ground between innovation and user-friendliness. Don't be surprised if other manufacturers come up with touch-based remotes in the near future.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/touchbased-remotes-redefine-how-we-interact-with-tvs/1081840/0#sthash.bP7UMfcr.dpuf

At Global CSR Congress - Ankesh Shahra of Ruchi Soya receives CSR Award for Community Development

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:45:00 +0000

Mumbai, February 20, 2013: Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has been Felicitated with the CSR Award for Community Development during the World CSR Congress.

Mr. Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai. Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger, Executive Director and Founder of Globethics and Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate affairs handed over the trophy and citation to Mr. Ankesh Shahra.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Ankesh Shahra stated, “I am very grateful to the World CSR Congress for honouring Ruchi Soya with the award for Community Development. Ruchi believes in sharing its growth with every stakeholder and giving back to the society in a sustainable and transparent manner. A big congratulations to the team.”

Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer through popular brands like Nutrela, Ruchi Gold, Mahakosh and Sunrich. Ruchi Soya is working closely with the communities around its plants in Patalganga and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Ruchi Soya believes in the concept of ‘Giving back to the Society’. The corporate social initiatives of Ruchi Group are executed through Shri Mahadeo Shahra Sukrat Trust with the focus on three core areas of Health, Education and Women Empowerment.

An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.

Source: http://planetcorporatenews.blog.com/ankesh-shahra-of-ruchi-soya-receives-csr-award-for-community-development-at-global-csr-congress/

First space tourist planning historic trip to Mars in 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000

A multi-millionaire investment tycoon and space travel enthusiast is planning a privately funded 501-day round trip mission to Mars in 2018.

Inspiration Mars Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, led by millionaire Dennis Tito - the world's first space tourist ¿ will hold a news conference next week to announce the mission, for a January 2018 launch.

"This 'Mission for America' will generate new knowledge, experience and momentum for the next great era of space exploration," Inspiration Mars officials wrote in a media advisory.

Some people and media reports speculate that given the speakers' backgrounds and the lofty goals articulated in the media advisory, Inspiration Mars is planning a manned mission to the Red Planet, 'SPACE.com' reported.

According to the NewSpace Journal, Tito's paper discusses "a crewed free-return Mars mission that would fly by Mars, but not go into orbit around the planet or land on it. This 501-day mission would launch in January 2018, using a modified SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched on a Falcon Heavy rocket."

The Journal writes: "According to the paper, existing environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) technologies would allow such a spacecraft to support two people for the mission, although in Spartan condition."

It added the mission would be privately financed and cheaper than previous estimates for manned Mars efforts, though no overall cost is given.

A 501-day mission would pose potentially serious physiological and psychological issues for astronauts, experts say.

Tito made history in 2001, plunking down a reported USD 20 million for an eight-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/first-space-tourist-planning-historic-trip-to-mars-in-2018/1078136/

North Korea to allow mobile Internet for foreigners

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:39:00 +0000

North Korea will soon allow foreigners to tweet, Skype and surf the Internet from their cellphones, iPads and other mobile devices in its second relaxation of controls on communications in recent weeks. However, North Korean citizens will not have access to the mobile Internet service to be offered by provider Koryolink within the next week.

Koryolink, a joint venture between Korea Post & Telecommunications Corporation and Egypt's Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, informed foreign residents in Pyongyang on Friday that it will launch a third generation, or 3G, mobile Internet service no later than March 1.

The announcement comes just weeks after North Korea began allowing foreigners to bring their own cellphones into the country to use with Koryolink SIM cards, reversing a longstanding rule requiring most visitors to relinquish their phones at customs and leaving many without easy means of communication with the outside world.

The two changes in policy mean foreigners in North Korea will have unprecedented connectivity while living, working or traveling in a country long regarded as one of the most isolated nations in the world.

However, wireless Internet will not yet be offered to North Koreans, who are governed by a separate set of telecommunication rules from foreigners. North Koreans will be allowed to access certain 3G services, including SMS and MMS messaging, video calls and subscriptions to the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper, but not the global Internet.

The lack of Internet access in North Korea has put the country at the bottom of Internet freedom surveys. Though North Korea is equipped for broadband Internet, only a small, approved segment of the population has access to the World Wide Web.

During a visit to Pyongyang early last month, Google's executive chairman pressed the North Koreans to expand access to the Internet. Eric Schmidt noted that it would be ``very easy'' for North Korea to offer Internet on Koryolink's fast-expanding 3G cellphone network.

``As the world becomes increasingly connected, the North Korean decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world and their economic growth,'' he wrote in a Jan. 20 blog post after returning to the United States. ``It will make it harder for them to catch up economically. It is their choice now, and in my view, it's time for them to start, or they will remain behind.''

Soon after Schmidt's visit, Google unveiled maps of North Korea with more details based on contributions from foreigners using satellite images and publicly available information to map the country. Before, North Korea was left mostly blank in Google Maps but with the update, Pyongyang and major North Korean cities are shown with street names, parks, roads, train stops and monuments.

Cellphone use has multiplied in North Korea since Orascom built a 3G network more than four years ago. More than a million people are now using mobile phones in North Korea, where the network now covers most major cities, according to Orascom.

Chinese-made Huawei cellphones sold by Koryolink are not cheap, with the most basic model costing about $150, and the governments restricts North Koreans from phoning abroad or foreigners from their cellphones. Still, mobile phones have become a must-have accessory among not only the elite in Pyongyang but also the middle class in cities such as Kaesong and Wonsan.

Foreigners, meanwhile, can now purchase SIM cards at the airport or at Koryolink shops for 50 euros ($70). Calls abroad range from 0.38 euros a minute to Switzerland and France and more than 5 euros a minute to the U.S. Calls to South Korea remain prohibited.

Starting next week, foreigners will be allowed to purchase monthly mobile Internet data plans for use with a USB modem or on mobile devices using their SIM cards. Prices for the service haven't been announced yet.

The expansion of cellphone and Internet services _ at least for foreigners _ comes as North Korea promotes the development of science and technology as a means of improving its moribund economy.

Late leader Kim Jong Il was revealed to have been a Mac user. His Macbook Pro, or a replica, is enshrined at the Kumsusan mausoleum where his body lies in state.

Current leader Kim Jong Un, meanwhile, was shown in a recent photo with a more mobile computing accessory: a smartphone.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/north-korea-to-allow-mobile-internet-for-foreigners/1078119/0

Facebook blocks access to NBC.com after reports site is infected

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:38:00 +0000

Facebook Inc has blocked users from accessing the NBC.com website following reports that the site is infected with a computer virus.

Facebook users were told "This link has been reported as abusive" on Thursday when they attempted to access the NBC.com website.

Several security bloggers warned on Thursday that the site was infected with malicious software, advising computer users to avoid the site.

Officials with NBC could not immediately be reached for comment.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/facebook-blocks-access-to-nbc.com-after-reports-site-is-infected/1078112/

Milky Way grew by 'cannibalising' other smaller galaxies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:36:00 +0000

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered tantalising evidence for the possible existence of a shell of stars that are a relic of the Milky Way's past cannibalism of other galaxies.

Peering deep into the vast stellar halo that envelops our Milky Way galaxy, a team of astronomers led by Alis Deason, from UC Santa Cruz, used Hubble observations to precisely measure, for the first time ever, the sideways motions of a small sample of stars located far from the galaxy's center.

Their unusual lateral motion is circumstantial evidence that the stars may be the remnants of a shredded galaxy that was gravitationally ripped apart by the Milky Way billions of years ago. These stars support the idea that the Milky Way grew through the accretion of smaller galaxies.

"Hubble's unique capabilities are allowing astronomers to uncover clues to the galaxy's remote past," said coauthor Roeland van der Marel of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore.

"The more distant regions of the galaxy have evolved more slowly than the inner sections. Objects in the outer regions still bear the signatures of events that happened long ago," Marel said in a statement.

They also offer a new opportunity for measuring the "hidden" mass of our galaxy, which is in the form of dark matter -- an invisible form of matter that does not emit or reflect radiation.

"Our ability now to measure the motions of these stars opens up a whole new territory we haven't explored yet," Deason said.

Deason and her team plucked the outer halo stars out of seven years' worth of archival Hubble telescope observations of our neighbouring Andromeda galaxy.

In those observations, Hubble peered through the Milky Way's halo to study the Andromeda stars, which are more than 20 times farther away.

The Milky Way's halo stars were in the foreground and considered as clutter for the study of Andromeda. But to Deason's study they were pure gold.

The observations offered a unique opportunity to look at the motion of Milky Way halo stars.

"We knew these stars were there, because for the Andromeda study we had to separate the stars in Andromeda from the stars in the Milky Way," said co-author Puragra Guhathakurta, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz.

Researchers said finding the stars was meticulous work. Each Hubble image contained more than 100,000 stars.

"We had to somehow find those few stars that actually belonged to the Milky Way halo. It was like finding needles in a haystack," Marel said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/milky-way-grew-by-cannibalising-other-smaller-galaxies/1078215/0

Ankesh Shahra receives CSR Award (Ruchi Soya)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:37:00 +0000

Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai.

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi Soya) has been felicitated with the CSR Award for Community Development during the World CSR Congress. Ankesh Shahra who manages the international businesses of Ruchi Soya and participates in the CSR activities of the Company was honoured with the felicitation at a glittering event in Mumbai.

Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger, Executive Director and Founder of Globethics and Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs handed over the trophy and citation to Ankesh Shahra.

Commenting on the occasion, Ankesh Shahra stated, “I am very grateful to the World CSR Congress for honouring Ruchi Soya with the award for Community Development. Ruchi believes in sharing its growth with every stakeholder and giving back to the society in a sustainable and transparent manner.

A big congratulations to the team." Featuring among the top five FMCG players in India, Ruchi Soya is India’s number one cooking oil maker and marketer through popular brands like Nutrela, Ruchi Gold, Mahakosh and Sunrich.

Ruchi Soya is working closely with the communities around its plants in Patalganga and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Ruchi Soya believes in the concept of ‘Giving back to the Society’. The corporate social initiatives of Ruchi Group are executed through Shri Mahadeo Shahra Sukrat Trust with the focus on three core areas of Health, Education and Women Empowerment.

An Integrated player from farm to fork, Ruchi Soya has secured access to oil palm plantations in India and other important parts of the world. Besides being a leading manufacturer of high quality edible oils, soya foods, vanaspati, and bakery fats, Ruchi Soya is also the highest exporter of soya meal, lecithin and other food ingredients from India. Ruchi Soya is committed to renewable energy and exploring suitable opportunities in the sector.

Source: http://newsaboutruchigroup.wordpress.com/

Tiniest planet ever discovered outside our solar system

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:27:00 +0000

NASA has discovered the smallest known planet outside our solar system which is slightly larger than the Moon and orbits its Sun like host star every 13 days.

NASA's Kepler space telescope detected the smallest planet yet found around a star similar to the Sun in a new planetary system. The planets are located in a system called Kepler-37, about 210 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra.

The smallest planet, Kepler-37b, is slightly larger than our Moon, measuring about one-third the size of Earth. It is smaller than Mercury, which made its detection a challenge.

The Moon-size planet and its two companion planets were found by scientists with NASA's Kepler mission to find Earth-sized planets in or near the "habitable zone," the region in a planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of an orbiting planet.

However, while the star in Kepler-37 may be similar to our Sun, the system appears quite unlike the solar system in which we live.

Astronomers think Kepler-37b does not have an atmosphere and cannot support life as we know it. The tiny planet almost certainly is rocky in composition.

Kepler-37c, the closer neighbouring planet, is slightly smaller than Venus, measuring almost three-quarters the size of Earth. Kepler-37d, the farther planet, is twice the size of Earth.

"Even Kepler can only detect such a tiny world around the brightest stars it observes," said Jack Lissauer, a planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

"The fact we've discovered tiny Kepler-37b suggests such little planets are common, and more planetary wonders await as we continue to gather and analyse additional data," said Lissauer in a NASA statement.

Kepler-37's host star belongs to the same class as our Sun, although it is slightly cooler and smaller. All three planets orbit the star at less than the distance Mercury is to the Sun, suggesting they are very hot, inhospitable worlds.

The estimated surface temperature of this smoldering planet, at more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit, would be hot enough to melt the zinc in a penny. Kepler-37c and Kepler-37d, orbit every 21 days and 40 days, respectively.

We uncovered a planet smaller than any in our solar system orbiting one of the few stars that is both bright and quiet, where signal detection was possible," said Thomas Barclay, Kepler scientist at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute in Sonoma, California, and lead author of the new study published in the journal Nature.

"This discovery shows close-in planets can be smaller, aswell as much larger, than planets orbiting our Sun," he said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tiniest-planet-ever-discovered-outside-our-solar-system/1077692/0

HTC One looks to redefine photography, social hub

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:26:00 +0000

Smartphone maker HTC is looking to breathe new life into its fortunes with its latest product. HTC One, a 4.7-inch phone with the best display in the market at 468 pixels per inch, was launched in Sydney on Thursday.

With this phone, HTC has taken a big step away from the megapixel race. The camera is rated at just four megapixels, but HTC says that doesn't matter because it has a large sensor. The sensor is bigger than that in some compact cameras. This ensures that the picture quality is high.

HTC One is powered by Android Jelly Bean, running the firm's custom skin -- Sense 5. This version of Sense brings radical improvements to the phone. The most noticeable change is called Blinkfeed. Building on the features in Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10, HTC Blinkfeed lets users integrate all their social networks, calendar, email accounts and displays these with news updates. It's the default homescreen on HTC One, meaning that it can be accessed by pressing the home button.

Another radical feature of Sense 5 is HTC Zoe, the new gallery app. It captures a short video, letting users choose the best frame and save it as a picture, rivalling BlackBerry Time Shift. Users can also remove unwanted objects from the picture easily. Zoe can also make a short movie by putting together all your pictures and videos, it adds background music on its own.

Other additions include a new music player app that adds new visualisations and pulls lyrics from the web, and Sense TV. The company has built an infrared transmitter into the power button, which helps it double up as a TV remote. Using the Sense TV app, users can see TV schedules and open the channel airing a particular programme.

The phone will be launched in India in March. HTC did not announce the price, but it is expected to be around Rs 42,000.

(The reporter was in Sydney on the invitation of HTC India)

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/htc-one-looks-to-redefine-photography-social-hub/1077641/0

NASA rover Curiosity grabs first Martian rock sample

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:23:00 +0000

In a hunt for discovering life on Mars, NASA's Curiosity rover has beamed back pictures confirming the first ever sample collected from the interiors of a rock on another planet. No rover has ever drilled into a rock on any other planet and collected a sample from its interior, NASA said.

Transfer of the powdered-rock sample into an open scoop was visible for the first time in images received yesterday at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"Seeing the powder from the drill in the scoop allows us to verify for the first time the drill collected a sample as it bore into the rock," said JPL's Scott McCloskey, drill systems engineer for Curiosity. "Many of us have been working toward this day for years. Getting final confirmation of successful drilling is incredibly gratifying," McCloskey said in a statement.

The drill on Curiosity's robotic arm took in the powder as it bored a 2.5-inch hole into a target on flat Martian bedrock on February 8. The rover team plans to have Curiosity sieve the sample and deliver portions of it to analytical instruments inside the rover. The scoop now holding the precious sample is part of Curiosity's Collection and Handling for In-Situ Martian Rock Analysis (CHIMRA) device.

During the next steps of processing, the powder will be enclosed inside CHIMRA and shaken once or twice over a sieve that screens out particles larger than 0.006 inch (150 microns) across. Small portions of the sieved sample later will be delivered through inlet ports on top of the rover deck into the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument and Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument.

The sample comes from a fine-grained, veiny sedimentary rock called "John Klein," named in memory of a Mars Science Laboratory deputy project manager who died in 2011. The rock was selected for the first sample drilling because it may hold evidence of wet environmental conditions long ago. The rover's laboratory analysis of the powder may provide information about those conditions.

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Project is using the Curiosity rover with its 10 science instruments to investigate whether an area within Mars' Gale Crater ever has offered an environment favourable for microbial life.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nasa-rover-curiosity-grabs-first-martian-rock-sample/1077627/0

Facebook, Google launch $15 mn prize for scientists who cure deadly diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:20:00 +0000

The founders of Google, Facebook and other tech giants have announced a new multi-million-dollar prize for scientists who are working to cure the world's most devastating diseases. Mark Zuckerberg, his partner Priscilla Chan, Google co-founder Sergei Brin, 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki and Russian venture capitalist Yuri Milner will launch 15 million dollars annual Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in hopes of curing cancer and other diseases

Five scientists will be given three million dollars for 'recognizing excellence in research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life," the New York post reports. Zuckerberg said in a statement that he believes the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences has the potential to provide a platform for other models of philanthropy, so people everywhere have an opportunity at a better future.

According to the paper, the inaugural year of the prize, however, has gone to 11 scientists who will each receive three million dollars to further their scientific research. Among this years winners were Charles L. Sawyer, who the committee singled out for his work on cancer genes, and Shinya Yamanaka, whose research focuses on stem cells. Art Levinson, chairman of the board of Apple and Chairman and former CEO of Genentech, will serve as the Chairman of the Board of Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation, which will distribute the prize money each year, the report said.

The first 11 recipients of the Breakthrough Prize are:

- Cornelia I Bargmann

- David Botstein

- Lewis C. Cantley

- Hans Clevers

- Napoleone Ferrara

- Titia de Lange

- Eric S. Lander

- Charles L. Sawyers

- Bert Vogelstein

- Robert A. Weinberg

- Shinya Yamanaka

All prize winners have agreed to serve on the Selection Committee of the Foundation to choose recipients of future prizes. "We are thrilled to support scientists who think big, take risks and have made a significant impact on our lives. These scientists should be household names and heroes in society," said Anne Wojcicki.

"Curing a disease should be worth more than a touchdown," said Sergey Brin. "Priscilla and I are honored to be part of this," said Mark Zuckerberg. "We believe the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences has the potential to provide a platform for other models of philanthropy, so people everywhere have an opportunity at a better future."

"Solving the enormous complexity of human diseases calls for a much bigger effort compared to fundamental physics and therefore requires multiple sponsors to reward outstanding achievements," said Yuri Milner.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/facebook-google-launch--15-mn-prize-for-scientists-who-cure-deadly-diseases/1077600/0

Google reveals what users of wearable computer 'Project Glass' will see

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:17:00 +0000

Google has revealed for the first time what view users will get through its "Project Glass" wearable computer. The glasses allow wearers to see sat-nav directions, take pictures and reply to emails, but until today Google has refused to show how they actually work.

But now the firm explained for the first time what looking through its high-tech glasses feels like, the Daily Mail reports. "Want to see how Glass actually feels? It"s surprisingly simple. "Say "take a picture" to take a picture. Record what you see, hands free. Even share what you see, live," Google said. "Directions are right in front of you. Speak to send a message, or translate your voice.

Get the notifications that matter most. Ask whatever"s on your mind and get answers without having to ask," the firm added. The firm also said all of the footage was captured through Project Glass, which will come in five colours - black, gray, blue, red or white and have removable shades. According to the paper, Google also detailed how the first people to get hold of them.

Potential "Explorer" early-adopters will have to apply in 50 words or less, including a short video (15 seconds max) and five photographs, to explain what they would do with the early version of Glass, the paper said. They will then have to order a 1,500 dollars Project Glass "Explorer" kit and attend the pick up in New York, LA or San Francisco in person, it added.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/google-reveals-what-users-of-wearable-computer-project-glass-will-se.../1077591/

Apple computers targeted by Facebook 'hackers'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:08:00 +0000

Tech giant Apple has said its computers were attacked by the same hackers that targeted Facebook last week.

The US-based firm said a small number of its machines were affected, but added there was 'no evidence' of data theft.

Last week Facebook said it had traced a cyber attack back to China, which had infiltrated employees'' laptops, the BBC reports.

In a statement, the iPhone maker said that it has 'identified malware which infected a limited number of Mac systems through a vulnerability in the Java plug-in for browsers.'

It added that the firm is working closely with law enforcement to find the source of the malware.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/apple-computers-targeted-by-facebook-hackers/1076926/

Top iPhone, iPad apps on App Store

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:05:00 +0000

Apple app store official charts for the week ending February 18, 2013:

Top Paid iPhone Apps:

1. Clear Vision 2 (DPFLASHES STUDIO)

2. Minecraft - Pocket Edition (Mojang)

3. WhatsApp Messenger (WhatsApp Inc.)

4. Angry Birds Star Wars (Rovio Entertainment Ltd)

5. Wood Camera - Vintage Photo Editor (Bright Mango)

6. Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick Studios)

7. Plague Inc. (Ndemic Creations)

8. CraftedBattle (C-Apps)

9. Haze (Robocat)

10. Arms Cartel Global (Pixel Addicts)

Top Free iPhone Apps:

1. 4 Pics 1 Word (LOTUM GmbH)

2. Lazors (Pyrosphere)

3. iMadeFace (Keyloft LLC)

4. Temple Run 2 (Imangi Studios, LLC)

5. YouTube (Google, Inc.)

6. What's the Word? - new quiz with pics and words (RedSpell)

7. Fast Camera (i4software)

8. Infinity Blade (Chair Entertainment Group, LLC)

9. Google Maps (Google, Inc.)

10. Ruzzle (MAG Interactive)

Top Paid iPad Apps:

1. Minecraft - Pocket Edition (Mojang)

2. Angry Birds Star Wars HD (Rovio Entertainment Ltd)

3. Pages (Apple)

4. Fionna Fights - Adventure Time (Cartoon Network)

5. Bad Piggies HD (Rovio Entertainment Ltd)

6. FIFA SOCCER 13 by EA SPORTS (Electronic Arts)

7. Trainz Driver - train driving game and realistic railroad simulator (N3V Games Pty Ltd)

8. Where's My Perry? (Disney)

9. TETRIS for iPad (Electronic Arts)

10. The Room (Fireproof Games)

Top Free iPad Apps:

1. Infinity Blade (Chair Entertainment Group, LLC)

2. 4 Pics 1 Word (LOTUM GmbH)

3. Temple Run 2 (Imangi Studios, LLC)

4. YouTube (Google, Inc.)

5. Tiny Dentist (fantastoonic)

6. Calculator for iPad Free (International Travel Weather Calculator)

7. Candy Crush Saga (King.com Limited)

8. Skype for iPad (Skype Communications S.a.r.l)

9. Netflix (Netflix,Inc.)

10. What's the Word HD (RedSpell)

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/top-iphone-ipad-apps-on-app-store/1076938/0

Nature follows a number pattern called Fibonacci

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:02:00 +0000

What do pine cones and paintings have in common? A 13th century Italian mathematician named Leonardo of Pisa.Better known by his pen name, Fibonacci, he came up with a number sequence that keeps popping up throughout the plant kingdom, and the art world too.

A fibonacci sequence is simple enough to generate: Starting with the number one, you merely add the previous two numbers in the sequence to generate the next one. So the sequence, early on, is 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 and so on.

NUMBERS AND PLANTS
To see how it works in nature, go outside and find an intact pine cone (or any other cone). Look carefully and you'll notice that the bracts that make up the cone are arranged in a spiral. Actually two spirals, running in opposite directions, with one rising steeply and the other gradually from the cone's base to its tip.

Count the number of spirals in each direction a job made easier by dabbing the bracts along one line of each spiral with a colored marker. The number of spirals in either direction is a fibonacci number.

I just counted 5 parallel spirals going in one direction and 8 parallel spirals going in the opposite direction on a Norway spruce cone.Or you might examine a pineapple. Focus on one of the hexagonal scales near the fruit's midriff and you can pick out three spirals, each aligned to a different pair of opposing sides of the hexagon. One set rises gradually, another moderately and the third steeply. Count the number of spirals and you'll find eight gradual, 13 moderate and 21 steeply rising ones. Fibonacci numbers again.

Scales and bracts are modified leaves, and the spiral arrangements in pine cones and pineapples reflect the spiral growth habit of stems. To confirm this, bring in a leafless stem from some tree or shrub and look at its buds, where leaves were attached.

The buds range up the stem in a spiral pattern, which kept each leaf out of the shadow of leaves just above it. The amount of spiraling varies from plant to plant, with new leaves developing in some fraction _ such as 2/5, 3/5, 3/8 or 8/13 _ of a spiral. Eureka, the numbers in those fractions are fibonacci numbers!

You can determine the fraction on your dormant stem by finding a bud directly above another one, then counting the number of full circles the stem went through to get there while generating buds in between.

So if the stems made three full circles to get a bud back where it started and generated eight buds getting there, the fraction is 3/8, with each bud 3/8 of a turn off its neighbor upstairs or downstairs. Different plants have favored fractions, but they evidently don't read the books because I just computed fractions of 1/3 and 3/8 on a single apple stem, which is supposed to have a fraction of 2/5. All are fractions with fibonacci numbers, at least.

NUMBERS AND ART

I haven't forgotten about the artists. It turns out there are certain proportions we humans generally find pleasing: the rectangular proportions of a painting, for example, or the placement of a focal point in a painting.

In a painting, for example, the Golden Cut states that the ratio of the distance of the focal point from the closer side to the farther side of a painting is the same as the ratio of the distance from the farther side to the painting's whole width. A pleasing ratio, it turns out, is 0.618... or, if you want to use the inverse, 1.618... . Enter fibonacci: Divide any fibonacci number by the fibonacci number before or after it and you get 0.618... or 1.618..., not exactly at first, but closer and closer the higher the fibonacci number you start with. Try it.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nature-follows-a-number-pattern-called-fibonacci/1076960/0

Microsoft users say goodbye to Hotmail, hello to new Outlook.com

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:59:00 +0000

Microsoft has announced that its new webmail service, Outlook.com, is now set to replace Hotmail.com. The software giant said that Outlook.com is coming out of beta testing and is now ready for primetime. The service, which was announced last July, now has 60 million users and will now replace Microsoft's older webmail system. Microsoft''s Hotmail, which was originally MSN Hotmail, has been online since 1997. Hotmail users will still keep their Hotmail.com email addresses and their contacts and emails will all be moved over, they will just now get a new user interface and all the new features of Outlook.com, ABC News reports. According to the report, Outlook.com was designed with a similar aesthetic to Microsoft''s Windows 8 operating system.

It also includes new social features and a sorting option called Sweep, the report said. The Sweep feature moves newsletters, promotional messages and other recurring emails into their own folders or to the trash, it added.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/microsoft-users-say-goodbye-to-hotmail-hello-to-new-outlook.com/1076963/

HTC says it 'reinvents smartphone' with new Android-powered handset

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:44:00 +0000

Taiwan-based mobile maker HTC has announced its latest flagship Android phone -the HTC One. Mike Woodward, President of HTC America said that they think 'it''s time to shake things up in the smartphone space.'

The firm has decided to come out and reinvent the smartphone, he added. According to Woodward, the One is a complete shift for the industry, built around how people use their phones now, ABC News reports.

The report said that HTC''s Android phones have always been known for their top-of-the-line hardware parts and the One is no different.The phone is made entirely of aluminum, no small feat, according to Woodward, who said it took two years to make a good all-metal phone.

It also has a large 4.7-inch, 1080p screen, which is flanked vertically by two speaker strips. (HTC calls it Boomsound.)The phone is fast too, due to its quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor and 2GB of RAM.

According to the report, where the One stands out from other Android phones on specs is with its camera. HTC has ditched megapixels for an ultrapixel camera, which would allow users to take much better low-light shots without having to use flash, Woodward said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/htc-says-it-reinvents-smartphone-with-new-androidpowered-handset/1076972/

Ruchi Soya forays into health drinks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:02:00 +0000

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (RSIL) has expanded their product portfolio by launching ‘N’rich’ in the beverage segment with their flagship brand-Nutrela. RSIL is the first Indian company to export Soya meal and manufacture edible grade Soya flour and textured Soya proteins.

N’rich is a tasty protein drink available in 3 distinct flavours, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which make it a healthy beverage. The flavours are a rich combination of exotic fruits like, Apple Kiwi, Apple Peach and Multifruit. The range of fruit juices are an assortment of traditional Indian and international flavours. The product will be offered in all leading metros.

On the occasion of the launch, Sarvesh Shahra, Head-Foods Division, RSIL said, “While all segments of the beverage market are evolving, the growth seems to be directed more towards healthy, light and low-calorie drinks, in particular organic and fruit juice varieties. We have created N’rich using an innovative technology and recipe that includes ingredients from natural sources, capitalizing on the growing consumer demand for premium and more nutritious products.”

N’rich is a packaged, 100% preservative-free fruit juice brand offering consumers the great taste and wholesome nutrition of fruit juices in a hygienic and attractive pack.

Source: http://metrocitiesnews.wordpress.com/

Launchpad: Samsung REX 90

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:58:00 +0000

Samsung REX 90

Samsung has launched a new series of feature phones developed in India. The REX 'smart' feature phones are priced between Rs 4,280 and Rs 6,490 and run on the Java platform. The company launched four models. REX phones are dual SIM and let you change SIM cards while the phone is on. They run the TouchWiz interface and two of them support WiFi.

Dell Inspiron 15z

Dell has launched a new model in its mid-range Inspiron laptops. Inspiron 15z is available starting Rs 41,990. The ultrabook comes with a 15.6-inch LED display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and weighs 2.17 kg. Another variant comes with a touchscreen. The laptop has Intel's third generation core-series processor and Nvidia GeForce GT630M 2GB graphics card, optimised for Windows 8.

XOLO A1000

Xolo has entered the 5-inch smartphone segment with A1000. The device runs on Android Jelly Bean and has One Glass Solution HD IPS display. Other specs include 1GHz (dual-core) processor, 1GB RAM, 8-MP rear camera and a 2100mAh battery that Xolo claims delivers music playback of 21 hours, and 4GB memory expandable up to 32GB.

MapMyIndia LX340

Digital maps and GPS provider MapmyIndia has added another product — Lx340 Navigator — to its navigation devices portfolio. It has a 4.3-inch display for seamless navigation. Its Don't Panic software features instant route calculation and re-routing, and has visual and audible alerts for lane guidance, over-speeding and road signs.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/launchpad-samsung-rex-90/1075724/

Scientists discover water on Moon's oldest rocks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:56:00 +0000

Researchers have detected traces of water within the crystalline structure of one of the oldest rocks obtained from the Apollo missions on Moon. The new findings indicate that the early Moon was wet and that water there was not substantially lost during the Moon's formation.

The lunar highlands are thought to represent the original crust, crystallised from a magma ocean on a mostly molten early Moon, according to a University of Michigan study.Researchers used Infrared spectroscopy to analyse the water content in grain of plagioclase feldspar from lunar anorthosites - highland rocks composed of more than 90 per cent plagioclase. The bright-coloured highlands rocks are thought to have formed early in the Moon's history when plagioclase crystallised from a magma ocean and floated to the surface. The infrared spectroscopy work detected about 6 parts per million of water in the lunar anorthosites. "The surprise discovery of this work is that in lunar rocks, even in nominally water-free minerals such as plagioclase feldspar, the water content can be detected.

"It's not 'liquid' water that was measured during these studies but hydroxyl groups distributed within the mineral grain," researcher Youxue Zhang said in a statement. We are able to detect those hydroxyl groups in the crystalline structure of the Apollo samples," said study's first author Hejiu Hui from the University of Notre Dame.

The hydroxyl groups the team detected are evidence that the lunar interior contained significant water during the Moon's early molten state, before the crust solidified, and may have played a key role in the development of lunar basalts.The results also contradict the predominant lunar formation theory that the Moon was formed from debris generated during a giant impact between Earth and another planetary body, approximately the size of Mars."Because these are some of the oldest rocks from the Moon, the water is inferred to have been in the Moon when it formed," Zhang said."That is somewhat difficult to explain with the current popular moon-formation model, in which the Moon formed by collecting the hot ejecta as the result of a super-giant impact of a martian-size body with the proto-Earth.

"Under that model, the hot ejecta should have been degassed almost completely, eliminating all water," Zhang said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/scientists-discover-water-on-moons-oldest-rocks/1075845/0

Apple iPhone 5 behind 4 Android phones in user satisfaction: survey

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:53:00 +0000

Apple's iPhone 5 ranks fifth behind four Android smartphones in user satisfaction, a new report has said. Mobile research firm OnDevice Research conducted a new survey, which covered 92,000 smartphone users, to determine how satisfied people are with their devices.

On a scale of 1-10 with the latter being the best, the Motorola Atrix HD ranked highest with a score of 8.57, the survey showed. According to the survey, the Motorola Droid Razr M trailed the Atrix with a grade of 8.5, Fox News reports.

Following this was the HTC Rezound 4G at 8.32 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 at 8.26, the report said. According to the report, the iPhone 5 trailed the Note 2 by 0.03 with a score of 8.23. Those who participated in the survey also indicated that they were more satisfied with 4G devices (7.76) than non-4G enabled phones (7.28).

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/apple-iphone-5-behind-4-android-phones-in-user-satisfaction-survey/1075883/

"Meteorite rush" begins as Russian scientists find fragments

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:49:00 +0000

A meteor that exploded over Russia's Ural mountains and sent fireballs blazing to earth has set off a rush to find fragments of the space rock which hunters hope could fetch thousands of dollars a piece. Friday's blast and ensuing shockwave shattered windows, injured almost 1,200 people and caused about $33 million worth of damage, said local authorities.

It also started a " meteor ite rush" around the industrial city of Chelyabinsk, 1,500 km (950 miles) east of Moscow, where groups of people have started combing through the snow and ice. One amateur space enthusiast estimated chunks could be worth anything up to 66,000 roubles ($2,200) per gramme - more than 40 times the current cost of gold.

"The price is hard to say yet ... The fewer meteor ites that are recovered, the higher their price," said Dmitry Kachkalin, a member of the Russian Society of Amateur Meteor ite Lovers. Meteor ites are parts of a meteor that have fallen to earth. Scientists at the Urals Federal University were the first to announce a significant find - 53 small, stony, black objects around Lake Chebarkul, near Chelyabinsk, which tests confirmed were small meteor ites.

The fragments were only 0.5 to 1 cm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) across but the scientists said larger pieces may have crashed into the lake, where a crater in the ice about eight metres (26 feet) wide opened up after Friday's explosion. "We just completed tests and confirm that the pieces of matter found by our experts around Lake Chebarkul are really meteor ites," said Viktor Grokhovsky, a scientist with the Urals Federal University and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"These are classified as ordinary chondrites, or stony meteor ites, with an iron content of about 10 percent," he told RIA news agency. He did not say whether the fragments had told his team anything about the origins of the meteor , which the U.S. space agency NASA estimated was 55 feet (17 metres) across before entering Earth's atmosphere and weighed about 10,000 tons. The main fireball streaked across the sky at a speed of about 30 km (19 miles) per second, according to Russian space agency Roscosmos, before crashing into the snowy wastes.

Treasure Hunters

More than 20,000 people took part in search and clean-up operations at the weekend in and around Chelyabinsk, which is in the heart of a region packed with industrial military plants. Many other people were in the area just hoping to find a meteor ite after what was described by scientists as a once-in-a-century event. Residents of a village near Chelyabinsk searched the snowy streets, collecting stones they hoped would prove to be the real thing. But not all were ready to sell.

"I will keep it. Why sell it? I didn't have a rich lifestyle before, so why start now?" a woman in a pink woollen hat and winter jacket, clutching a small black pebble, told state television Rossiya-24. The Internet filled quickly with advertisements from eager hunters hoping to sell what they said were meteor ites - some for as little as 1,000 roubles ($33.18).

The authenticity of the items was hard to ascertain. One seller of a large, silver-hued rock wrote in an advertisement on the portal Avito.ru: "Selling an unusual rock. It may be a piece of meteor ite, it may be a bit of a UFO, it may be a piece of a rocket!"

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/meteorite-rush-begins-as-russian-scientists-find-fragments/1075932/0