Epson’s latest projector is even better value thanks to boosted brightness and performance.
Author: DA Gadgets
First Mouse with Two Fathers Thrives into Adulthood, Marking New Scientific Milestone
A major development in stem cell science has been achieved with the creation of a bi-paternal mouse, marking a significant step in reproductive biology. Scientists have successfully engineered a mouse with two male biological parents, which managed to survive into adulthood. This research, conducted by a team of stem cell experts, has addressed longstanding barriers in unisexual mammalian reproduction by modifying specific imprinting genes. The findings, which could have implications for regenerative medicine, highlight the challenges and potential future applications of the technology.
Genetic Modifications Enable Bi-Paternal Development
According to the study published in Cell Stem Cell, led by Wei Li of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the team focused on overcoming imprinting-related challenges that previously prevented embryos with same-sex genetic origins from developing fully. Modifications were made to 20 imprinting genes using techniques such as frameshift mutations, gene deletions, and regulatory region edits. These changes allowed some bi-paternal embryos to survive to birth and, in rare cases, reach adulthood.
Co-corresponding author Qi Zhou of CAS explained to phys.org, that imprinting genes have been identified as a key obstacle in unisexual reproduction. Despite previous attempts using ovarian organoids derived from male stem cells, imprinting abnormalities caused severe developmental defects. By directly editing these genes, the research team improved embryonic viability and the stability of pluripotent stem cells.
Survival and Reproductive Challenges Remain
As per reports, only 11.8 percent of the engineered embryos developed to birth, and those that survived exhibited developmental abnormalities, reduced lifespan, and sterility. Guan-Zheng Luo of Sun Yat-sen University, a co-corresponding author, stated that imprinting abnormalities have been confirmed as the primary factor preventing unisexual reproduction in mammals.
Despite the limitations, this approach has demonstrated the potential for refining stem cell-based therapies and improving cloning efficiency. Researchers plan to expand the study to larger mammals, though substantial challenges remain due to differences in imprinting gene patterns across species.
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Microsoft Adds DeepSeek-R1 AI Model to Its Azure AI Foundry and GitHub
Microsoft added support for the recently released DeepSeek-R1 artificial intelligence (AI) model to its Azure AI Foundry and GitHub on Wednesday. The reasoning-focused AI model can now be accessed via these platforms. The Redmond-based tech giant also highlighted that it has conducted rigorous safety evaluations to ensure that the model is safe to use for both individual and commercial purposes. Additionally, the company is also bringing distilled versions of the R1 model to Copilot+ PC users via the AI Toolkit.
Microsoft Brings DeepSeek-R1 to Azure AI Foundry, GitHub
In a blog post, the tech giant announced that the DeepSeek-R1 AI model is now available in the model catalogue of Azure AI Foundry and GitHub. Notably, Azure AI Foundry is an enterprise-focused platform where developers can build, evaluate, and develop generative AI applications and custom copilots.
Making the announcement, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of AI Platform, Asha Sharma said, “One of the key advantages of using DeepSeek R1 or any other model on Azure AI Foundry is the speed at which developers can experiment, iterate, and integrate AI into their workflows.”
The post also highlighted that the company conducted red teaming and safety evaluations on the R1 model, including automated assessment of model behaviour as well as extensive security reviews. Microsoft stated that it has ensured to mitigate potential risks. Azure AI Foundry also provides additional safety via its Content Safety filtering system and the Safety Evaluation System.
To use DeepSeek-R1, users can search for it in the model catalogue. After spotting it, they will have to open the model card and click on deploy. This will provide the user with the inference application programming interface (API) required to run the model.
Distilled DeepSeek-R1 Coming to Copilot+ PCs Users
In a separate post, Microsoft announced that it is bringing optimised versions of DeepSeek-R1 to Copilot+ PCs. These distilled versions will first arrive on the Snapdragon X-powered devices and later will be added to the Intel Core Ultra 200V chipset and others. The first model release will be the DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-1.5B model which can be accessed via the AI Toolkit. The 7B and 14B variants will be added later.
Budget 2025: Crypto Industry Seeks Digital Asset Innovation, Simple Tax Structure and More
The government is set to present the Union Budget for the next financial year on February 1. With only a couple of days until the next budget is revealed, members of India’s Web3 sector have revealed some of the changes to policy and taxation that they are hoping to see during the coming year. In addition to calling for revised crypto tax rates, crypto firms have urged the government to prioritise measures that ensure India remains competitive with other countries, particularly in the realm of emerging technologies.
Introduction of Crypto Regulation
Neither India nor the US have formulated rules or regulations to govern the burgeoning crypto sector. Leaders of crypto firms claim that India has a unique opportunity to launch itself as a business-for-blockchain hub with one of the largest pools of developers in the world.
“The US will take aggressive strides in crypto regulation. India, in the coming budget, should talk about prioritising investments to improve our digital infrastructure, expand blockchain research, and introduce clear policies to regulate the sectors of emerging technologies like blockchain, crypto, and Artificial Intelligence (AI),” Unocoin Co-Founder Sathvik Vishwanath told Gadgets 360.
Vishwanath also said that if the government aligns its approach on Web3 with global trends and focusses on digital asset innovation, the country will be competitive with other nations that are also working on the same technologies.
In the US, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set up a special Task Force to accelerate work on crypto-related legislation. The UK plans to finalise its crypto rules by 2026. India, meanwhile, does not have any specific timeline by which it is likely to get its comprehensive crypto rules.
Tax Reforms
Cryptocurrency earnings are taxed at 30 percent in India, and a one percent tax deducted at source (TDS) is levied on each transaction. The government introduced these taxes on April 1, 2022. The crypto sector has repeatedly urged the authorities to revise and reduce these tax rates to help the sector grow.
“Currently, high taxes and TDS law in India have pushed investments pouring into the Web3 sector to other countries like the UAE. This has led to domestic innovation being hindered. Budget 2025 must come with tax rate revisions and permission for loss offsets,” said Sonu Jain, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at 9Point Capital.
Last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the abolishment of angel tax for all classes of investors. This rule levied taxes on investments from wealthy individuals who pour their own capital into startup businesses. It is worth noting that last year’s budget speech did not include any mentions of crypto or blockchain.
“If the Finance Minister focuses on smart taxes rules and blockchain development, it could have a big impact on India’s global position in the crypto sector, which is presently valued at over $3 trillion,” said Thangapandi Durai, CEO of Madurai, Tamil Nadu-based Koinpark crypto exchange.
I saw Philips’ new elite OLED TV with Bowers & Wilkins speakers, and it’s a serious one-box home theatre option
Philips has just unveiled its 2025 range of OLED TVs, and one of its top two models (known as the OLED+ range) is the Philips OLED+910. This is a high-end OLED TV (using the new-generation META 3.0 OLED panel from LG Display) with a powerful built-in Bowers & Wilkins speaker system at the bottom. The idea is that it offers an easy single-unit option for people who want premium sound and visuals, but don’t want to deal with the extra boxes of soundbars or an actual home theatre system. Take this out of the box, mount it on the wall – it looks good and fills the room with sound. Easy. Of course, it actually has to deliver on this promise, but I had a demo with both music and movie audio at Philips’ launch event, and it looks extremely promising. One of the Philips OLED+910’s three forward speaker arrays. (Image credit: Future) The speaker setup is a 3.1 system, but there are 10 speakers in total to give it real depth and power. Across the front of the TV at the bottom, hidden behind some Kvadrat acoustic cloth, are left, centre and right speaker arrays. Each of these arrays consists of two racetrack mid-range drivers, and a tweeter, all independently suspended so their vibrations won’t interfere with each other. On the back of the TV is a subwoofer – but there’s also a subwoofer out, for wiring up a dedicated sub, and it’s important to know that my demo used a small Bowers & Wilkins sub throughout the session. The bass driver with two reflex ports, which goes on the rear of the TV. (Image credit: Future) The TV comes in 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch sizes, and the same speakers are used on all sizes, but are tuned for the particular size, to make sure that sound is aligned to the action on-screen. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You can definitely feel the width of the speaker setup when watching a movie, and the system impresses with ambient sounds especially. Watching the start of A Quiet Place: Day One, the sounds of the city around the on-screen characters and their dialogue feels detached from the action, in a good way – speech comes centrally from the screen, but the traffic sounds and other noise feel beyond and behind the TV. There’s no virtual surround effect to speak of that I noticed, it’s more just about the width and height in front of you, and I’d be perfectly happy with that. Speaking of height, while again it’s not trying to put Dolby Atmos sounds above you, it did reveal some impressive vertical motion when someone gets plucked upward from the street in the movie. The speaker arrays of the Philips OLED+910 TV in the right positions… just, y’know, they’d normally go inside. (Image credit: Future) There was good dynamic attack for when things get suddenly loud, though when a big explosion hit in the movie, I felt like maybe the speaker was pushing to its limit there – I’d need to test more to find out if it’s the same in other movies. It’s the same with dialogue; I was expecting a little more clarity than we got, considering it has a strong centre channel, but it might have just been this movie’s mix. With music, there’s impressive fidelity and a nice warm, rich tone. There’s great separation of different elements in the mix, with crisp mid-range vocals that feel well-textured, and treble percussion could shimmer around the screen nicely. The bass was broad, pervasive and full – but remember, it was coming from a dedicated sub in my demo, so more testing will be needed there. What about the picture and features? As for the picture, the new META 3.0 panel with four-stack Primary RGB Tandem construction continues to impress, after seeing it in the LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B TV at all sizes, and the 83-inch version of the Samsung S95F – it’s going to appear a lot in our list of the best OLED TVs, no question. There’s better fullscreen brightness, which Philips says should hit 350 nits (but this may depend on the mode), and this seems to help with bolder colors in overall bright scenes (though the panel overall has improved color range), and the bright peak HDR brightness produces cleaner white tones. I’ve also been impressed by Philips’ new adaptive AI color gamut enhancement tech in the demos so far, which is designed to shift the color gamut of what you’re watching closer to the native gamut of the panel, to provide rich colors – but it’s designed to handle skin tones separately, keeping those as neutral and natural as possible. This will be available on all of its 2025 OLED TVs, happily. (Image credit: Future) The OLED+910 has 4K 144Hz support with VRR for gaming, and some new features in Philips’ Game Bar software for customizing the picture based on your game. However, there are still only two HDMI 2.1 ports (out of four) for gaming in 4K 120Hz/144Hz. Notably, Philips has upgraded its budget OLED TV, the OLED760, to include four HDMI 2.1 ports – but the company told me that it had to choose between a larger and more powerful chip for picture processing that only supports 2x HDMI 2.1 ports, or a less powerful chip with 4x HDMI 2.1 ports. For the OLED810, OLED+910 and OLED+950, it chose the more powerful chips to prioritise picture. Still, at least with the built-in B&W sound, you won’t sacrifice one of those ports to one of the best soundbars over HDMI eARC. On top of all this, it comes with Philips’ four-sided Ambilight tech. I’m a total convert to Ambilight – it makes the picture feel much bigger than it is, which is probably ideal for a TV like this that aims to bring a solid home theater experience to people who don’t want the scale of gadgets and installation that a more complex setup requires. We rated 2024’s version of this TV, the Philips OLED+909, very highly – and with the new panel, new processing, and re-engineering of the sound system with its own better processing, I think this looks like a strong contender if you want one of the best TVs for sound. We’ll see how it holds up in testing, relying on its own sub, around the time of its June launch. There’s no confirmed pricing yet, but last year’s model started at £1,999 for the 55-inch. You might also like…
1,200-Year-Old Pregnant Woman’s Sacrifice Unearthed in Ecuador’s Manteño Period Burial
The remains of a young pregnant woman, who lived approximately 1,200 years ago during the Manteño period in Ecuador, have been unearthed by archaeologists. Her grave contained a striking combination of artifacts and evidence of violent death, which has led researchers to suspect ritual sacrifice. The discovery was made at the Buen Suceso site, where the burial was found to include the remains of another individual’s skull and burnt offerings. The context and contents of the grave have raised significant questions about her societal role and the reasons for her tragic fate.
Details of the Study
According to a study published in Latin American Antiquity, the woman, aged 17 to 20, was in the late stages of pregnancy when she died. Fractures on her skull indicated a fatal blow to her head, while her hands and left leg had been severed post-mortem. Radiocarbon dating has placed her death between 771 and 953. Sara Juengst, a bioarchaeologist from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, explained to Live Science that the presence of valuable trade artifacts, including Spondylus mollusk ornaments and obsidian blades, hinted at her high status within her community.
Artifacts and Interpretations
The inclusion of Spondylus shells, often linked to fertility and water, along with a crab claw placed on her abdomen, suggested ritualistic intentions. These items, along with the burnt material dated to 991-1025, indicated that the grave may have been revisited centuries after her burial. Juengst suggested that this could reflect an attempt to associate her sacrifice with environmental events like El Niño, which might have disrupted agriculture and prompted desperate measures.
Significance of the Burial
The burial has prompted discussions about women’s political and social roles in Manteño society. Juengst speculated that her power, possibly linked to her pregnancy, may have made her a target for sacrifice or elimination. Benjamin Schaefer, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, cautioned against definitive interpretations, suggesting future studies could provide deeper insights into this unique discovery.
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Vivo V50 Design, Key Features Leaked Ahead of Expected India Launch
Vivo V50 design, key features, and other details have surfaced online. The handset is said to launch soon in India. It’s predecessor, the Vivo V40, was unveiled in India in August 2024. The V50 has also recently been spotted on several certification sites. As per previous reports, the phone could be a rebadged version of the Vivo S20, which was introduced in China in November 2024. Ahead of anything official, a leak by a tipster has shown the alleged design, colours, and features of the Vivo V50.
Vivo V50 Design, Key Features (Expected)
According to an X post by tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh), the Vivo V50 will come with a quad-curved display, like the flagship Vivo X200 Pro handset. He added that the rumoured smartphone is expected to be the “slimmest phone in the segment” with a 6,000mAh battery. However, the tipster did not hint at the expected price segment of the model.
Vivo V50 leaked render in a Rose Red shade
Photo Credit: X/@heyitsyogesh
In the attached image, the Vivo V50 was reportedly seen in a Rose Red colourway. The design appeared to be similar to that of the Chinese variant of the Vivo S20. Two camera sensors and a ring-like LED flash unit appear within the pill-shaped rear camera module in the top left corner of the panel. The volume rocker and power button are placed on the right edge of the handset.
The tipster added that the rumoured Vivo V50 will be equipped with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC and a 50-megapixel front camera sensor for selfies and video calls. These features are similar to that of the Vivo S20 handset. However, instead of the tipped 6,000mAh battery for the Vivo V50, the Chinese Vivo S20 model carries a 6,500mAh battery with 80W fast charging support.
An earlier report claimed that the Vivo V50 could launch in India by the third week of February, that is, by February 18. The phone is expected to arrive in RAM and storage configurations of 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 512GB. It is tipped to be offered in blue, grey, rose and red colour options. A Vivo V50 Pro variant is expected to launch in the country later.
Nothing Tipped to Launch Three Smartphones Before Unveiling Flagship Phone 3 This Year
Nothing Phone 3 is reported to be in development as the company’s next flagship smartphone and the successor to the Phone 2. However, before it sees the light of day, the British original equipment manufacturer (OEM) could launch as many as three smartphones, according to claims by a tipster. The company is gearing up to introduce a new smartphone on March 4 which is speculated to be the purported Nothing Phone 3a and the tipster suggests that it could kick off the launch blitz.
Launch of Nothing Smartphones
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) claims that Nothing has three smartphones which are scheduled to launch ahead of the Nothing Phone 3. This includes a new phone which is confirmed to debut on March 4. Thus, people who were waiting for the flagship launch might have to “wait a little longer”.
People waiting for Nothing Phone 3 have to wait a little longer…
There are 3 devices planned ahead of it. The madness starts with Phone 3a..
— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) January 28, 2025
While the company has only shared teasers without revealing the moniker, it could very well be the successor to the Nothing Phone 2a.
Meanwhile, two other smartphones are also said to be in line for debut. An internal email allegedly sent by CEO Carl Pei earlier this month references not only the Nothing Phone 3 in the company’s 2025 roadmap, but also a “landmark” launch. This indicates a new smartphone could become part of the company’s lineup this year.
Notably, Nothing Phone 2a was launched in March 2024 and was followed up by the Phone 2a Plus in August. The company could follow a similar trend with its successor that is slated to debut next week, possibly at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2025.
Nothing Phone 3a Leaks
Nothing’s upcoming launch event has the tagline “Power in Perspective”. The phone is teased to have a Glyph interface around the two camera rings, which are stacked vertically at the back. This not only suggests that the phone will come with the company’s signature design language, but also a redesigned rear camera setup.
Nothing has previously stated that it plans to offer breakthrough innovations in terms of the user interface. It is said to be the company’s first step towards offering an AI-powered platform.
Epson’s super-bright new ultra short throw 4K projectors promise easy elite home theater pictures up to 160 inches
3-LCD short throw laser projectors with 4K UHD and HDR10/10+ Available in the UK; no details of US or Australian availability £4,500 Epson has launched two new “4K Pro-UHD” short-throw laser projectors, the EH-QS100W and the EH-QS100B. Similar to the Epson LS12000, our top pick among the best 4K projectors, the new projectors use Epson’s triple-LCD laser technology, which has separate red, green and blue panels. Epson says that delivers better colour brightness compared to one-chip DLP projectors, and both projectors are definitely bright: they’re capable of up to 4,500 lumens and can project images up to 160 inches in size. The models are identical apart from their colors: the W is white and the B is black. (Image credit: Epson) Epson EH-QS100W and EH-QS100B: key features and pricing The projectors are powered by Epson’s 4K Pro-UHD processing system and have a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for deep blacks and better shadow detail. The processing also includes frame interpolation and the projectors support HDR10/10+ and have dynamic tone mapping. The laser source has a claimed lifetime of 20,000 hours and Epson says it delivers “near-instant” warm-up and cool-down times to reduce energy use. One of the key features here is full IP control, which enables you to control the projector with related systems such as lighting and sound setups for a seamless home entertainment experience. It is compatible with systems including Crestron and Control4, and there are RS232 and Ethernet connectors. Both models are available now in the UK for £4,500 (about $5,601 / AU$8,958) but there’s no word of a US or Australian launch date. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You might also like
Astronauts’ Vision Problems Linked to Prolonged Space Exposure, Posing Risks for Mars Missions
Astronauts returning from extended space missions are reported to experience significant changes in eye health, linked to prolonged exposure to microgravity. Researchers have identified that the altered blood flow and pressure conditions in space can lead to vision problems. These changes are primarily associated with a condition termed spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), affecting around 70 percent of astronauts during six- to twelve-month stays on the International Space Station (ISS). This raises potential challenges for longer missions, such as a journey to Mars.
Study Identifies Key Ocular Changes
According to a study published in the IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology, three critical ocular parameters were analysed: ocular rigidity, intraocular pressure, and ocular pulse amplitude. Measurements were conducted on data from 13 astronauts, whose missions spanned 157 to 186 days. The researchers observed a 33 percent reduction in ocular rigidity, an 11 percent decrease in intraocular pressure, and a 25 percent decline in ocular pulse amplitude. These findings indicate biomechanical changes in the eye, accompanied by symptoms such as reduced eye size, optic nerve swelling, and retinal folds.
Potential Long-Term Effects
Dr Santiago Costantino, an ophthalmologist at Université de Montréal, highlighted to phys.org that microgravity alters blood flow and venous circulation in the eye, potentially leading to structural changes in the sclera and choroid. The observed changes could persist, raising concerns about the impact on missions exceeding one year. While most astronauts studied returned to normal vision after their missions, corrective lenses were sometimes necessary during recovery.
Mars Missions Pose New Risks
Experts remain cautious about the unknown implications of prolonged exposure to microgravity during extended missions like those to Mars. The research team emphasised that additional studies and preventive strategies are essential to address these risks. The findings serve as early indicators to identify astronauts at risk, paving the way for more targeted solutions to ensure the safety of space exploration’s next frontier.