FROM CELL PHONES TO SPACECRAFT – TOUCHSCREENS ARE TAKING OVER UI

 As SpaceX prepares to launch NASA’s Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station, the Crew Dragon spacecraft has already distinguished itself from prior generations of space capsules. 

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley set off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020, and reached the ISS with no complications while testing out new features designed by the SpaceX team. Onboard were groundbreaking new tools such as the spacecraft’s dashboard. Normally when you see a picture of a cockpit, levers, dials, and gauges fill all the surfaces. Aboard the Dragon though, is a sleek touchscreen and a handful of buttons.

Questioned over their use of a touchscreen for a mission-critical interface, the SpaceX software team took to a Reddit AMA to answer questions. 

According to the team, their goal was to follow a human-centered design. This included safety and “identifying minimum crew interaction as a success criteria.” According to Sofian Hnaide, a SpaceX team member, they mapped out the crew’s tasks. They identified critical functions and then broke it down into a digestible screen display.  

HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN AND CHROMIUM 

What is “human-centered design” and why is SpaceX prioritizing it? 

Human-centered design, in short, is the idea that people will follow a routine that is intuitive. By increasing accessibility, a task will be easier to accomplish. This can improve safety, efficiency, and happiness among users. 

For example, a person is working in an assembly line and they need to cut a piece of wood. They need to perform this action dozens of times an hour, but they have to travel to get the tools each time. By moving the tools closer productivity improves. Small, simple changes in layout can drastically improve performance and safety. 

With this in mind, the SpaceX software team sat down with Behnken and Hurley to develop the dashboard. Together, they identified all the commands for typical and emergency protocols. 

Then, they identified which data would be mission-relevant and made it part of the main display. Emergency hardware buttons were designed to function in case the display was rendered useless. 

Some of these include: 

Break out button to abort a station approach 

Emergency deorbit 

Execute command 

Cancel command 

Cabin fire response 

The Dragon software team used Chromium to develop their dashboard’s user interface (UI). Chromium is a free and lightweight browser framework. Google uses it as the core for its Chrome browser – which arguably dominates the browser world today. The same code used by people to look up sleeping pug videos helped astronauts reach the International Space Station. 

Per the Reddit AMA, Sofian Hnaide explained Chromium was originally part of a proof of concept to NASA. They hadn’t intended to use it in real-world applications. As testing continued they found the stack to be robust and reliable, so they moved forward with the design. Chromium gave the dashboard modern features and gave the team access to a fluent talent pool. 

Chromium is only surface level though. The dashboard and user interface look straight out of Star Trek, but in reality, it hands off commands to a Linux and microcontroller backend. According to SpaceX, they used a combination of CSS/HTML/Javascript for the displays, C++ for vehicle controls, and Python for testing. 

Linux – an open-source (aka free) operating system that can be highly customizable 

Microcontroller – a tiny specialized computer that’s usually designed to handle a single task (push a lever, release a solenoid valve, etc.) 

AUTONOMOUS AND MANUAL FLIGHT 

So the controls look space-age, but how well do they actually work? 

The ship is designed to be completely autonomous – including docking, landing, and de-orbiting but it does have the option for manual flight. Before the ISS docking process, Behnken and Hurley took the Dragon for two manual flights. Hurley ran through a series of commands to test out the controls. 

In a TechCrunch interview, Hurley noted, “The difference is you’ve got to be very deliberate when you’re putting in input, relative to what you would do with a stick,” he continued. “Because you know, when you’re flying an airplane for example, if I push the stick forward it’s going to go down. I actually have to make a concerted effort to do that with the touchscreen, if that makes sense.” He followed on to say that for the docking process “the touchscreen is gonna provide us that capability just fine.” For future space tourism, this touchscreen will probably become the new normal. 

If you’re interested in trying it out SpaceX made a simulator for the Dragon docking process. The key is patience and remaining calm as you approach the station. The controls are relatively simple and intuitive. Enjoy! 

Source: rocketstem.org

Reliance Jio unveils JioGlass to expand presence in virtual reality space

 Reliance Jio on Wednesday unveiled JioGlass to strengthen its presence in virtual reality space and capitalise on remote working culture triggered by Covid-19 pandemic.

The concept of digital glass and product was started by Google a few years back. The unveiling of Jio Glass coincided with Google's Rs 33,737 crore investments in Jio Platforms for 7.7 per cent stake.

"Jio Glass comes with a convenient cable that you can attach to your phone and thus connect to the internet. It is at cutting edge of the technology that provides best in class mixed reality service," Reliance Jio Infocomm President Kiran M Thomas said at RIL annual general meeting (AGM).

It has an in-built audio system and it can make calls to contact on voice command.

"In times of Covid-19, ways of working and workspace have completely changed and digital collaborations have seen an exponential growth. We can completely imagine this in mixed reality space. With Jio Glass, you could be sitting at home and join a meeting in your office with your colleagues in three dimensions," the presenter said.

While Thomas did not disclose the price of JioGlass, e-commerce platforms show similar digital glass with access to apps and internet in the price range of around Rs 37,000- Rs 40,000 a unit.

"While you are chatting with your colleagues, you can also share presentations that you will be able to view and present on a large virtual screen in any virtual environment you want with the help of JioGlass," he noted.

JioGlass is enabling teachers to conduct hologram class in 3D virtual rooms, Thomas said.

Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL) director Isha Ambani said that Jio is committed to solve the problem being faced in education and health space though.

"With Jio meet you can conduct daily online assemblies for your entire schools and hold full day sessions as there is no limit on number of students or call duration," Isha Ambani said.

The company is also working to resolve the issue of shortage in teachers as well issues around untrained teachers through the "Embibe" platform where students can pick content of any class and improve their learnings, she added.

The company also announced making television watching interactive, as Jio TV plus users can now participate in TV programmes for voting etc in real time.

"We believe interactivity on the TV or two-way communication is the future of consumption," RJIL director Akash Ambani said.

Jio has brought in all the major over-the-top video entertainment apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Hotstar etc on its Jio TV plus which users can access through a click of button on the remote doing away with the need for separately logging in to each application.

Source: business-standard

Solar Eclipse - a Celestial 'Ring of Fire' witnessed this year 2020

Skywatchers along a narrow band from west Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, India and the Far East witnessed a dramatic "ring of fire" solar eclipse Sunday.

So-called annular eclipses occur when the Moon - passing between Earth and the Sun - is not quite close enough to our planet to completely obscure sunlight, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible

Solar Eclipse 2020 marked one of only 5 such instances where a maximum solar eclipse was visible from India in a timeframe of the next 100 years. The annular belt of the eclipse in India passed through cities like Joshimath and Dehradun in Uttrakhand, Sirsa in Haryana, parts of Rajasthan, but the eclipse was witnessed from every corner of the country.

India witnessed the magnificent 'Ring of Fire' and saw the skies turn dark as the Moon overshadowed the mighty Sun. Delhites were left disappointed since overcast weather deprived them of the historic sight.

      Partial solar eclipse from Kathmandu, Nepal

What is Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse is witnessed when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. During the Surya Grahan phenomenon, the image of the Sun is totally or partly obscured. In the case of an annual solar eclipse, the moon's apparent diameter is smaller than that of the Sun. The phenomenon also blocks most of the sunlight, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring). An annular eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region of the Earth thousands of kilometers wide. 

The silhouette of an aeroplane below the eclipse, Lhasa, Tibet

This was the last annular solar eclipse of the decade. With the next solar eclipse visible in India 11 years away in 2031, this marks a big astronomical event here. The solar eclipse started from around 9 a.m. across the Indian map as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth came in a straight line, and the country witnessed the 'deepest' annular solar eclipse in over a century and the third eclipse even for this year after first two lunar eclipses took place in January and June.

People view the eclipse from scaffolding in Kuwait

Astrologers said it is a fourth super rare hybrid eclipse which is a mix between an annular and total solar eclipse. Areas like Hyderabad, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, Patna, Shillong and more witnessed a partial phase of the annular solar eclipse from 9 a.m.

A girl observes the solar eclipse from the Mahanakhon Skywalk glass tray, Bangkok, Thailand

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the apparent size of the moon is only slightly less than the Sun's - or the Moon almost covers the Sun - leaving only the outer rim of the Sun uncovered, and hence giving the appearance of a "ring of fire" or as a necklace of pearls. The ring this time was very thin, as the Moon covered over 98.8 per cent of the Sun, making it the deepest annular eclipse of the century in India. 

Courtesy: theguardian, livemint, indiaTV

Scientists find 2 flies trapped in amber that died while mating 41 million years ago

Scientists have found 2 mating flies trapped in prehistoric amber and it is being estimated that the flies have remained in that position for almost 41 million years now. Yes, you read that right.

The pair of flies was discovered from a haul of unusual fossils recovered from sites across Australia and New Zealand. The findings of the study were recently published.

According to Jeffrey Stilwell, a palaeontologist and the co-author of the paper, the flies were mating when they accidentally got trapped in gluey resin of a tree which eventually hardened over the years.

"I looked at the piece under the microscope, and when I looked at it, I felt it looked really important, because it looked like they're almost attached or something," said Stilwell while speaking about this rare discovery. "I couldn't believe it - it looks like they're mating," he added.

Stilwell calls this "frozen behavior" because according to him, "absolutely nothing happened in the moments between when the flies were living and when they died and became entombed."

Apart from the mating flies, the scientists also discovered ants, spiders, midges, and several other insects trapped in amber.

Source:indiatoday

Earth Is Vibrating Substantially Less Because There's So Little Activity Right Now

Flights are grounded. Fewer trains are running. Rush hour is gone. The world - particularly in cities - is looking drastically different during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to seismologists, that drastic reduction in human hustle and bustle is causing the Earth to move substantially less. The planet is 'standing still'.

Thomas Lecocq, a geologist and seismologist at the Royal Observatory in Belgium, noticed that the country's capital Brussels is experiencing a 30 to 50 percent reduction in ambient seismic noise since the lockdowns began, as CNN reports.

That means data collected by seismologists is becoming more accurate, capable of detecting even the smallest tremors - despite the fact that many of the scientific instruments in use today are near city centers.

"You'll get a signal with less noise on top, allowing you to squeeze a little more information out of those events," Andy Frassetto, a seismologist at the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology in Washington DC told Nature.

Researchers in Los Angeles and in West London, UK noticed a similar trend.

But seismologists collecting data from remote stations far away from human civilization might not see a change at all, according to Nature.

Regardless, a significant drop in seismic noise also shows that we're at least doing one thing right during the current pandemic: staying in the safety of our own homes as we wait for the virus to run its course.

Super Pink moon, biggest and brightest full moon of 2020, to be visible on April 7

We have all heard of the super moon, but now comes another phenomenon known as the Super Pink moon. And while most times, stargazers have a special place they go to, everyone is stuck at home this time, courtesy the coronavirus outbreak.

The Super Pink moon is what astronomers call as a perigean full moon. At this time, the moon is at its closest distance to earth at 356,907 km away. The full moon of April is generally called the pink moon according to old Native American culture and is really no indication of the colour the moon will take.

The best time to watch the super pink moon will be on April 7 at moonrise in the early hours of the night or at moonset before dawn. There will be a problem since you are stuck at home, thanks to the lockdown in India, but if you have an east-facing window with a clear view of the sky, it shouldn’t be a problem.

However, do not expect a dramatic increase in size. The moon can appear just up to 30 percent larger than on any average day, but it will be spectacular nonetheless if caught at the right time of the night.





moneycontrol

World Autism Awareness Day 2020: Significance, history and important facts

On 2 April every year, World Autism Awareness Day is observed to recognise and celebrate persons with autism. The World Autism Awareness Day this year will be observed amidst a global coronavirus outbreak.

Autistic people are greatly dependent on their support systems and networks and hence according to the United Nations require everyone to come together to meet their needs.

“Universal human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities, must not be infringed upon in the time of a pandemic,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

He further maintained that “we must ensure that a prolonged disruption caused by COVID-19 does not result in rollbacks of the rights of people with autism.

History of day
On 1 November, 2007, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly approved eight draft resolutions, one of which was to designate a day for World Autism Day.

The Assembly designated 2 April  as the annual day for the World Autism Awareness Day from 2008.

The ‘Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (CRPD) came into effect on 3 May, 2008. According to Don MacKay, the chairman of the committee, the CRPD aimed to “elaborate in detail the rights of persons with disabilities and set out a code of implementation”.

Any country member of the UN that “ratifies” the CRPD agrees to legally “treat persons with disabilities as subjects of the law with clearly defined rights as any other person”. The said countries also have to change their legislation in accordance to the international standards laid out in the treaty.

Important facts
According to the UN, autism is a lifelong neurological condition that is mainly characterised by unique social interactions, non-standard ways of learning, keen interests in specific subjects, inclination to routines, challenges in typical communications and particular ways of processing sensory information.

Autism comes under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), where spectrum means a range of characteristics. There are four types of ASD – Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).





firstpost

'Shoot them dead': Philippine President says won't tolerate Lockdown Violators

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned violators of coronavirus lockdown measures they could be shot for causing trouble and said abuse of medical workers was a serious crime that would not be tolerated.

In a televised address, Duterte said it was vital everyone cooperates and follows home quarantine measures, as authorities try to slow the contagion and spare the country's fragile health system from being overwhelmed.

The Philippines has recorded 96 coronavirus deaths and 2,311 confirmed cases, all but three in the past three weeks, with infections now being reported in the hundreds every day.

"It is getting worse. So once again I'm telling you the seriousness of the problem and that you must listen," Duterte said late on Wednesday.

"My orders to the police and military ... if there is trouble and there's an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead."

"Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you."

His comments came after media reports of a disturbance and several arrests on Wednesday of residents in a poor area of Manila who were protesting about sufficient government food aid.

They also follow outrage among the medical community about social stigma and instances of hospital workers suffering physical abuse and discrimination, which Duterte said must be stopped.




usnews

Bill Gates calls for a 10-week shutdown in US, says any confusion 'will only extend economic pain

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has called for a nationwide shutdown in the US as the number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 2,00,000 in the country.

“Despite urging from public health experts, some states and counties haven’t shut down completely. In some states, beaches are still open; in others, restaurants still serve sit-down meals. This is a recipe for disaster. Because people can travel freely across state lines, so can the virus,” he noted in an op-ed in the Washington Post.

Gates explained that businesses need to remain shut until the numbers of reported cases start to go down across the country, which, according to him, could take at least 10 weeks.

"Any confusion about this point will only extend the economic pain, raise the odds that the virus will return, and cause more deaths," he said.

Gates also called for more testing hoped that a vaccine could be available before the suggested 18-month timeframe.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the US hard. The US has seen a significant rise in cases in the last month, and New York has now become the epicentre of the outbreak.

US President Donald Trump on April 1 warned the country to brace for a "painful" and "tough" two-week period as he extended the nationwide distancing measure to April 30.

Trump also said that more than 100,000 and up to 240,000 Americans could die due to COVID-19, a number which could surge up to millions if guidelines are not followed.



moneycontrol

Van Gogh painting "The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884” stolen from museum

In a shocking twist of events, a painting by Vincent van Gogh has just been stolen from the Singer Laren museum in the Netherlands, on the eve of what would be the Dutch master's 167th birthday. In the middle of the night, the thieves used a distressing pandemic as an opportunistic moment to break into the museum as it was closed to further the spread of the coronavirus to make off with a painting by the Dutch master, titled The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring (1884).

As Mike Corder reports for the Associated Press, a thief or thieves carried out a smash-and-grab raid in the early hours of Monday morning, likely exploiting the museum’s recent closure to help contain the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The painting, titled The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884, depicts a landscape church in Neunen, the village where van Gogh’s father worked as a pastor, according to Naomi Rea of artnet News. Rendered in somewhat muted hues, the work predates the Dutch artist’s move to southern France, where he developed a more vibrant and colorful style.

To complicate matters further, the masterpiece was never a part of the Singer Laren’s permanent collection, belonging instead to the Netherlands’ Groninger Museum, which had temporarily loaned out the artwork—the only van Gogh the institution owned.

“The Groninger Museum is shocked by the news,” officials said in a statement quoted by artnet News. A spokesperson declined to comment further, citing the police investigation.

Within hours of the painting’s pilfering, police launched a criminal investigation rounded out by security footage and accounts from residents. Any locals with pertinent information have been asked to come forward to assist the process, as museum officials stress that the incident has robbed not only the institution itself, but art-adoring patrons around the world.

“I am shocked and absolutely livid that this has happened,” says Jan Rudolph de Lorm, director of the Singer Laren, in a video statement translated by Reuters. “This splendid and moving artwork by one of our great artists has been stolen, taken from the community.”

De Lorm, as quoted by the AP, adds, “[A]rt exists to be seen and shared by us, the community.” The fruits of such creativity, he explains, exist “to enjoy, to draw inspiration from and to draw comfort from, especially in these difficult times.”

Little is known about the break-in itself. Police said that the thief or thieves forced the building’s glass front doors open at around 3:15 a.m. on Monday morning. The break-in tripped an alarm, but by the time officers reached the museum, the painting and its captors had vanished. By early afternoon, the broken entrance had been covered with a large white panel.

Prior to its disappearance, the painting was featured in the Singer Laren’s “





Source: architecturaldigest, smithsonianmag

New York's governor urgently appealed for medical volunteers as death toll surpasses 1,000

New York's governor urgently appealed for medical volunteers Monday amid a “staggering” number of coronavirus deaths, as he and health officials warned that the crisis unfolding in New York City is just a preview of what other U.S. communities could soon face.

“Please come help us in New York now,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as the state's death toll climbed by more than 250 people in a day to a total of over 1,200, most of them in the city. He said an additional 1 million health care workers are needed to tackle the crisis.

“We've lost over 1,000 New Yorkers," Cuomo said. "To me, we're beyond staggering already. We've reached staggering.”

Even before the governor's appeal, close to 80,000 former nurses, doctors and other professionals were stepping up to volunteer, and a Navy hospital ship, also sent to the city after 9/11, had arrived with 1,000 beds to relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospitals.

"Whatever it is that they need, I’m willing to do,” said Jerry Kops, a musician and former nurse whose tour with the show Blue Man Group was abruptly halted by the outbreak.

He returned to his Long Island home, where he volunteered to be a nurse again. While waiting to be reinstated, Kops has been helping at an assisted-living home near his house in Shirley, N.Y.

The spike in deaths in New York was another sign of the long fight ahead against the global pandemic, which was filling Spain's intensive care beds and shutting millions of Americans inside even as the crisis in China, where the outbreak began in December, kept easing.

More than 235 million people — about two of every three Americans — live in the 33 states where governors have declared statewide orders or recommendations to stay home.

In California, officials put out a similar call for medical volunteers as coronavirus hospitalizations doubled over the last four days and the number of patients in intensive care tripled.

“Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days," President Donald Trump told reporters. “The more we dedicate ourselves today, the more quickly we will emerge on the other side of the crisis.”

In Europe, meanwhile, hard-hit Italy and Spain saw their death tolls climb by more than 800 each, but the World Health Organization's emergency chief said cases there were “potentially stabilizing.” At the same time, he warned against letting up on tough containment measures.

“We have to now push the virus down, and that will not happen by itself,” Dr. Michael Ryan said.

More than three-quarters of a million people worldwide have become infected and over 37,000 have died, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. reported more than 160,000 infections and over 3,000 deaths, with New York City the nation's worst hot spot. New Orleans, Detroit and other cities also had alarming clusters.

“Anyone who says this situation is a New York City-only situation is in a state of denial," Cuomo said. “You see this virus move across the state. You see this virus move across the nation. There is no American who is immune to this virus."

Some hospitals are now parking refrigerated trailers outside their doors to collect the dead. At two Brooklyn hospitals, videos posted by bystanders and a medical employee showed workers in masks and gowns loading bodies onto trailers from gurneys on the sidewalk.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious-disease expert, also warned that smaller cities are likely about to see cases “take off” the way they have in New York City.

“What we’ve learned from painful experience with this outbreak is that it goes along almost on a straight line, then a little acceleration, acceleration, then it goes way up," he said on ABC's “Good Morning America.”



ktla.com

On Doctor's Day Let's celebrate the heroes who made 152,314 recoveries possible so far

Traditionally, doctors don’t have to risk their own lives to save others. But that’s what it has come to today - doctors, nurses and paramedics are all on the frontlines of a war against COVID-19. Fighting the battle against an enemy that can’t even be seen by the naked eye, so that we can stay safe at home. Many doctors and nurses are coming out of retirement to join this fight as well.

March 30 is observed as Doctor’s Day in the US. While in India, it’s on July 1st, there’s no better time than now to take a minute to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of all the doctors, in every corner of this world. It’s not just their time, skill and energy that they’ve offered. No, many have had to isolate from their families because they spend all day long in the company of patients who have an extremely contagious infection. While some of them are given PPE (government-mandated Personal Protective Equipment for medical professionals), many of them treat patients without it, at a huge risk to their own health. That’s the equivalent of going into battle without armour. Many of them are working around the clock to try and develop a vaccine for the virus or test medications that could help treat the infection. For so many of them, the fear at the back of their minds is being realized and they’re testing positive for the viral infection COVID-19. Some of them, including Dr Li Wenliang, are succumbing to the very disease they’re trying to treat.

All of their combined contributions are the reason for the 152,314 COVID-19 recoveries till date. At least for one day, instead of discussing and sharing the number of cases, we can shift the focus to the number of recoveries instead.

And on a day like this, in times like these, we wake up to news articles about how more doctors are now being evicted for this very contribution. People fear that these doctors may bring back the virus to their home and their localities. While our fear may be very real, so is their exhaustion and relief at making it back home. If you can’t appreciate them, at least just leave them alone.

At the very basic level, here’s what you can do to support doctors:

• Stay indoors - as per the government’s guidelines - so they can go to work. 
• Don’t hoard essential medical supplies like surgical masks, gloves, ventilators and medical-grade sanitizers.
• Support your neighbourhood doctors with groceries or childcare, offering to take care of them when they’re working. 
• Lend an ear - the emotional toll of this fight can be worse than the physical one. 
• If it is within your means, donate to a fund that provides them with protective gear.
• Don't panic. It leads to chaos. 
• For more tips, read our article on Inventive Solutions to Treat Symptoms of COVID-19.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel to stay home Quarantine After Meeting Coronavirus Positive Doctor

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will quarantine herself at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a government spokesman said Sunday.
"The Chancellor has decided to quarantine herself immediately at home. She will be tested regularly in the coming days... (and) fulfil her official business from home," Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

The doctor had visited Merkel Friday to vaccinate her against the pneumococcus bacteria.

It could take some time to determine whether the chancellor is herself infected as "a test would not yet be fully conclusive," Seibert said.

During her 15-year term in office Merkel has largely enjoyed robust health, although she suffered repeated shaking spells in public appearances during a summer 2019 heatwave that were never fully explained.

In response to the tremors, she chose to sit on a chair when receiving guests with military honours outside the chancellor's office in Berlin.

Previously the veteran leader broke her pelvis in a cross-country skiing accident in 2014.



ndtv.com

Pope Francis Says He Has Asked ‘God’ To Stop The Coronavirus Epidemic ‘With His Hand’

Pope Francis has asked God to stop the coronavirus epidemic and said people should utilise their time in quarantine to reconnect with their families.

In an interview with Italian journalist, Paolo Rodari, published in Wednesday’s edition of “La Repubblica” newspaper, the Pope said “ "I asked the Lord to stop the epidemic: ‘Lord, stop it with your hand’. That is what I prayed for”.

Defying a nationwide lockdown, the Pope last Sunday (Mar 15) visited the Roman churches of Saints Mary Major and Marcello on the Via del Corso and had offered prayers.

It comes as Italy is battling with the most acute outbreak of COVID-19 outside of China, with 35,500 infections and nearly 3000 deaths as of Wednesday (Mar 19).

Offering advice on facing the daily challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pope said "We need to rediscover the concreteness of small things, the small acts of kindness shown to those who are close to us, family, friends. We need to realize that our treasure lies in small things. There are tiny gestures that sometimes get lost in the routine of everyday life, gestures of tenderness, affection, compassion, that are nevertheless decisive, important”,

The Pope also gave the examples of sharing “a hot plate of food, a caress, a hug, a phone call... These are familiar, attentive gestures regarding everyday details that make life meaningful, and create communion and communication amongst us".

Addressing those who have lost loved ones in the coronavirus crisis, the Pope said: 'I ask everyone to stay close to those who have lost loved ones, to be close to them in every possible way.'

The Pope himself is said to be suffering from a cold since last month.

swarajyamag.com

The way of Busting out The Myths Surrounding COVID-19

Social media on any given day is often ripe with misinformation, something that it is always damaging but has the potential to become deadly in the current situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and many other national and regional groups and health bodies have put together myth-busting lists based on the questions people have been asking and addressing some of the wrong advice and information circulating online.

First off, there is still currently no vaccine, and though treatments are being tested, it may be a way off before we get one. The most important things we can do to protect ourselves and others are self-isolating, social distancing, and frequently washing our hands with soap and water (out and about, hand sanitizer is more convenient, but at home soap and water does a more thorough job).

MYTH: COVID-19 Is No Worse Than The Seasonal Flu Or A Cold 
COVID-19 is worse than seasonal flu and colds and a lot more deadly. The mortality rate for the seasonal flu is less than 0.1 percent, while current WHO data put COVID-19 mortality rates at between 3-4 percent. This myth is a persistent one and has spread significantly in the West, where it has been promoted by politicians, celebrities, and influencers. SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, doesn’t affect everyone equally, and many people may not experience any symptoms. This means you may have the virus even if you do not feel ill, and you could easily spread it to someone vulnerable – those with underlying health issues, weakened immune systems, the elderly etc – who could die of it. The seasonal flu vaccine each year helps provide herd immunity to protect those people. As mentioned, COVID-19 has no vaccine yet.

So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020 A new study, published in Science this week, has shown how people in China with low or non-existent symptoms of the virus were responsible for a large number of infections. This is why it is important to avoid unnecessary outings, even if you feel fine.

MYTH: Hot Weather/Cold Weather Kills SARS-CoV-2 
The virus can survive in both hot weather and cold weather; you can see how it has spread worldwide without much holding it back. At first, the distribution of cases appeared to be concentrated in temperate zones, which started speculation that the virus could only survive outside the human body in a certain range of temperatures, but as the pandemic has spread this has become obvious it's not the case.

MYTH: The Virus Is Transmitted By Mosquitos 
The virus is a respiratory pathogen spreading primarily through droplets produced by an infected person coughing or sneezing, as well as saliva. These droplets can also survive on surfaces for hours, potentially days, so regularly wipe down your countertops, door handles, electronic devices etc and throw away your tissues immediately. There is no evidence to suggest it spreads through mosquitos or other parasites (or your pets).

MYTH: I Must Wear A Mask At All Times 
You don’t need to wear a mask constantly. If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with a suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. If you yourself are coughing and sneezing and are in contact with people, do wear a mask. It's important to note, masks are only effective if you are also frequently washing your hands.

MYTH: You Should Spray Yourself With Chlorine/Alcohol Or Use UV Lamps To Kill The Virus 
Please do not do any of these. A lot of antibacterial products used to sterilize surfaces have irritants that can harm the skin. UV lamps can cause burns. Reports sunbathing will kill the virus are just wishful thinking. Washing your hands with soap and water is enough to kill bacteria and viruses. You can use an alcohol-based hand rub on top to be extra thorough, but due to their scarcity these days, perhaps just use them when you're out and about for convenience, rather than at home.

MYTH: Garlic Kills The Virus
Seriously, guys! SARS-CoV-2 is not a vampire. Garlic is not a protection against pathogens (but god, would that it was. As an Italian, I would be invincible!). Unfortunately, the delicious seasoning has no special powers against the virus or the disease. Use it to make delicious food, not home remedies.

MYTH: Masturbation Protects You From COVID-19
Despite limited studies claiming that self-love increases the immune system, masturbation doesn’t somehow magically protect you from COVID-19. But you know what, staying at home and masturbating actually makes you less likely to go out and catch and spread the disease, so in a way, it does help.



iflscience.com

Google and Microsoft are giving away enterprise conferencing tools due to Corona Virus

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has pushed more companies and organizations to transition to remote work, and now both Google and Microsoft have said they will grant access to their more robust teleconferencing and collaboration tools that are typically only available to enterprise customers to make it easier for people to work from home. Both companies are only offering free access for a limited time.

Google announced this morning that it would be rolling out free access to “advanced” features for Hangouts Meet to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally through July 1st. That means organizations can host meetings with up to 250 participants, live stream to up to 100,000 viewers within a single domain, and record and save meetings to Google Drive. Normally, Google charges $13 extra per user per month for these features in addition to G Suite access under its “enterprise” tier, which adds up to a total of $25 per user per month.

Microsoft is offering a free six-month trial globally for a premium tier of Microsoft Teams, Business Insider first reported on Tuesday. The tier was originally designed to enable hospitals, schools, and businesses in China to get up and running quickly on Microsoft Teams, and that tier is now available globally. However, when you try to sign up for it, you’ll be prompted to work with a Microsoft partner or a member of Microsoft’s sales team to get it set up.

On March 10th, Microsoft says it will also roll out an update to the free version of Teams that will lift restrictions on how many users can be part of a team and allow users to schedule video calls and conferences.

Both Google and Microsoft have also responded to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, by canceling conferences taking place in April and May. Google has also halted most international travel for employees, and Microsoft has recommended that employees work remotely to help prevent the spread of the disease.

www.theverge.com

What Answer awaits from the Nasa's 2020 rover about Mars

Exactly a year from now, a capsule will come hurtling through the atmosphere of Mars with the Americans' next big rover. If it survives the "seven minutes of terror" that describe its descent to the surface, the new robot promises a very different mission to all those that have gone before it.

Because although Mars 2020 (a new name is coming) looks like a simple copy of the Curiosity vehicle of 2012, its goals take a decisive turn towards answering the most fundamental of questions: is there - or has there ever been - life on the Red Planet?

Recent investigations have concentrated on characterising the "habitability" of Mars.

That's to say, these prior missions asked only if past conditions were conducive to biology. A less direct approach.

Mars 2020, on the other hand, will be engaged in an explicit hunt for life's traces.

Nasa 2020 robot to target ancient lake crater
'Rosalind Franklin' Mars rover assembly completed
US space agency prepares tiny chopper for Mars flight

Undeniably it'll be a difficult quest. Evidence for life on the early Earth always attracts a degree of scepticism, even controversy, and laboratory equipment the size of a large room is often required to back up a claim.

So how will people react if a rover finds something intriguing imprinted in billions-of-years-old rock on another planet?

2020 mission scientist Jim Bell from Arizona State University is candid in his response: "We can make a claim about a biosignature, but it's not clear to me anyone would believe us," he said.

"So, let's bring the samples back. So if those extraordinary claims are made, they can be verified."

This then is the strategy for Mars 2020: Find something remarkable and cache it for later return to one of those big Earth laboratories.

Source: bbc.com