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OpenAI Faces New Copyright Case, From Global Publishers in India

Indian book publishers and their international counterparts have filed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI in New Delhi, a representative said on Friday, the latest in a series of global cases seeking to stop the ChatGPT chatbot accessing proprietary content.

Courts across the world are hearing claims by authors, news outlets and musicians who accuse technology firms of using their copyright work to train AI services and who are seeking to have content used to train the chatbot deleted.

The New Delhi-based Federation of Indian Publishers told Reuters it had filed a case at the Delhi High Court, which is already hearing a similar lawsuit against OpenAI.

The case was filed on behalf of all the federation’s members, who include publishers like Bloomsbury, Penguin Random House, Cambridge University Press and Pan Macmillan, as well as India’s Rupa Publications and S.Chand and Co, it said.

“Our ask from the court is that they should stop (OpenAI from) accessing our copyright content,” Pranav Gupta, the federation’s general secretary said in an interview about the lawsuit, which concerns the ChatGPT tool’s book summaries.

“In case they don’t want to do licensing with us, they should delete datasets used in AI training and explain how we will be compensated. This impacts creativity,” he added.

OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations and the lawsuit, which was filed in December but is being reported here for the first time. It has repeatedly denied such allegations, saying its AI systems make fair use of publicly available data.

OpenAI kicked off an investment, consumer and corporate frenzy in generative AI after the Nov. 2022 launch of ChatGPT. It wants to be ahead in the AI race after raising $6.6 billion last year.

The Indian book publishers’ group is seeking to join Indian news agency ANI’s lawsuit against the Microsoft-backed OpenAI, which is the most high-profile legal proceeding in the nation on this subject.

“These cases represent a pivotal moment and can potentially shape the future legal framework on AI in India. The judgment passed here will test the balance between protecting IP and promoting tech advancement,” said Siddharth Chandrashekhar, a Mumbai based lawyer.

Responding to the ANI case, OpenAI said in comments reported by Reuters this week that any order to delete training data would result in a violation of its U.S. legal obligations, and Indian judges have no right to hear a copyright case against the company as its servers are located abroad.

The federation said OpenAI offers services in India so its activities should fall under Indian laws.

Reuters, which holds a 26% interest in ANI, has said in a statement it is not involved in its business practices or operations.

OpenAI made its first India hire last year when it tapped former WhatsApp executive, Pragya Misra, to handle public policy and partnerships in the country of 1.4 billion people, where millions of new users are going online, thanks to cheap mobile data prices.

Worries Over Book Summaries

A Reuters reporter asked ChatGPT on Friday for details of the first volume of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, published by Bloomsbury. The AI tool responded with a chapter-by-chapter summary and a key events summary including the story’s climax.

It stopped short of giving the actual text, however, saying, “I cannot provide the entire text of the book, as it is copyrighted material.”

Penguin Random House in November said it has started a global initiative to include a statement on the copyright page of its titles saying “no part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training” AI technologies.

The Indian federation’s December filing, which was seen by Reuters, argues it has obtained “credible evidence/information” from its members that OpenAI used their literary works to train its ChatGPT service.

“This free tool produces book summaries, extracts, why would people buy books then?” Gupta said, referring to AI chatbots using extracts from unlicensed online copies. “This will impact our sales, all members are concerned about this.”

The federation’s plea has so far only been listed before a court registrar in New Delhi who on Jan 10 asked OpenAI to respond in the matter. A judge will now hear the case on Jan. 28.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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Tata Electronics Acquires 60 Percent Stake in iPhone Maker Pegatron Technology India

Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd (TEPL) on Friday announced the acquisition of a controlling 60 per cent stake in Taiwanese contract manufacturer Pegatron’s India unit, cementing its position as a key player in the Indian electronics manufacturing sector.

The financial details of the transactions were not disclosed.

Pegatron India is a subsidiary of Taiwanese Pegatron Corporation, engaged in the provision of contract-based electronics manufacturing services (EMS) to global giants like Apple.

The latest deal is expected to strengthen Tata’s position as an Apple supplier and bolster its iPhone manufacturing plans.

Announcing the acquisition of a 60 per cent stake, Tata Electronics said Pegatron Technology India will undergo rebranding to reflect its new ownership structure and business direction while continuing to deliver high-quality electronics manufacturing services.

The latest move by the electronics arm of the salt-to-software conglomerate follows its acquisition of Wistron’s India operations (based in Narsapura, Karnataka) less than a year ago in March 2024.

In fact, in his New Year message to employees, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran asserted that with global supply chains continuing to shift in India’s favour as the world’s largest businesses strike a new balance between resilience and efficiency, manufacturing has the potential to transform the country’s economy.

Chandrasekaran termed it as “a new manufacturing golden age for India”.

On Friday, Tata Electronics CEO and MD Randhir Thakur said the acquisition of a majority stake in Pegatron Technology India fits into Tata Electronics’ strategy of growing its manufacturing footprint.

“We look forward to a new era of AI, digital, and technology-led manufacturing as we bring up these new facilities and expand our operations in India,” Thakur said.

In addition to TEPL acquiring a majority stake in Pegatron Technology India, the two companies will work on integrating their teams to work seamlessly.

Tata Group has been scripting an aggressive blueprint for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.

Tata Electronics is building India’s first Fab in Dholera, Gujarat, with a total investment of Rs 91,000 crore. In addition, another Rs 27,000 crore will be invested in a greenfield facility in Jagiroad, Assam, for the assembly and testing of semiconductor chips. Together, these facilities will produce semiconductor chips for applications across automotive, mobile devices, artificial intelligence (AI), and other key segments to serve customers globally.

Tata Group will create 5 lakh manufacturing jobs in the next five years across sectors such as semiconductor, electric vehicles, battery and related industries, Chandrasekaran said in October last year.

Tata Sons’ top honcho had asserted that India cannot achieve the goals of being a developed nation if the country cannot create manufacturing jobs.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: a well-rounded portable laser projector with Google TV

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22: One minute review Epson’s smaller, portable EpiqVision home projector models were long overdue for an update, and that’s just what it has done with the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22. This introduces the tilting, swiveling stand design that’s proven so popular with many other recent projectors, and it packs in Google TV for streaming, which helps bring the EpiqVision Mini EF22 closer to parity with its competition. Add in a pair of stereo speakers and the EpiqVision Mini EF22 proves an effective all-in-one system. The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 beams a laser through its 3LCD projection system, providing respectable brightness near 1,000 lumens. It makes for a decent picture, though it doesn’t manage quite the exciting color gamut of triple-laser options like the JMGO N1S Pro. Its 1080p resolution will also have you sticking to smaller projection sizes than you might otherwise opt for with the best 4K projectors like the BenQ X300G or even the older Xgimi Horizon Pro.While the EpiqVision Mini EF22 is a simple and effective little home theater projector selling for a reasonable $999, it struggles to contend with the market it’s entering. Not only are there many great new projectors in the $1000-$2000 range but there’s also a sea of slightly older models that have come down in price. It’s a good projector, but I’m hard-pressed to find a reason to choose it over the alternatives. I’d snag myself a BenQ X300G or Xgimi Horizon Pro instead, both of which have been seeing some impossible-to-ignore discounts. (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen sizes supported: 30-150 inches Brightness (specified): 1,000 ISO lumens HDR support: HDR10, HLG Optical technology: 3LCD Laser Smart TV: Google TV Connections: HDMI, 3.5mm audio out, USB-A, Mini USB (service) Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches Weight: 6.6 pounds / 3 kg The JMGO N1S Pro 4K delivered strong picture quality across the board (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Prices & release date Release date: October 2024 Price: $999 The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 launched in late 2024 with a starting price of $999 (£799, AU$1,599). It has seen some discounts since then, though these tend to come and go. The EpiqVision Mini EF22 comes in a variety of colors, giving you more options. You can find it in Stone Blue, Opal Green, Quartz Rose, Onyx Black, and Diamond White. (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Design & features Built-in stand makes setup easy Google TV and automatic image adjustments Built-in 2x 5W stereo speakers Like many of the new consumer projectors in 2024, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 comes with a stand built in. This makes it easy to adjust the vertical tilt and horizontal angle of the projector, even supporting vertical projection up toward the ceiling. This provides a simpler setup, though anything but a perfectly lined-up projection will result in some digital corrections that detract from the usable image. The EpiqVision Mini EF22 makes automatic vertical and horizontal keystone adjustments very quickly, letting you shift the projector around and see the image change shape in real time. It’s also quick to focus automatically. It has an optional setting to avoid obstacles when projecting, and this proves effective, but it is a slower process than the other automatic corrections, taking a few seconds. The EpiqVision Mini EF22 rounds out its smart projection features with eye protection that dims the projector when it detects someone in front of it. The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is plenty compact, proving not dramatically different in size from the JGMO N1S I recently tested. That said, projectors can certainly come smaller, as LG showed with the LG CineBeam Q. It’s hard to have small projectors get very bright or offer solid audio, though, and those aren’t sacrifices the EpiqVision Mini EF22 made. It features stereo speakers and is rated to hit 1,000 ISO lumens. It also comes with Google TV. Unfortunately, Epson didn’t make the most of the projector’s size, as it opted to include just one HDMI port (with ARC), a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio output jack. It’s providing options, but not many. The focus of the EpiqVision Mini EF22 really is on being a standalone device that doesn’t call for external connections. The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 comes with a simple remote. It’s all plastic with rubber buttons and nothing too elegant, but it’s effective. It has simple navigation controls, a Google Assistant button, a shortcut to the HDMI input (making the input selection button a bit redundant), dedicated volume and brightness controls, and shortcuts for projection settings, auto-focus, as well as YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video. None of the buttons have backlighting, making it a bit hard to use in the dark, but at least some of the buttons are white, and it’s easy enough to feel out the volume buttons. Design & features score: 4/5 The JMGO N1S Pro 4K’s picture is at its best with bright and colorful images (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Picture & sound quality Decent brightness No unsightly motion smoothing Color could use a boost The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 provides an overall good-looking image, but it’s not the most impressive I’ve seen in this projector category. While natural content looks solid, with the projector offering a great presentation for Dune, it can struggle elsewhere. In the extremely colorful Mind Game, it didn’t keep up with some of the triple-laser options on the market, like the JMGO N1S, and I noticed some banding in color gradients. That said, the 3LCD technology avoids some of the unsightly swimming-pixel artifacts I’ve seen from DLP projectors displaying large monotone regions, as well as DLP rainbow artifacts. The EpiqVision Mini EF22 doesn’t keep up with some of its 4K competition either. BenQ’s X300G may have originally been much more expensive, but it’s come down considerably in price, and it has the chops to really threaten the EpiqVision Mini EF22. I took a rough measurement to overall brightness in the Dynamic profile, which achieved 959 lumens with an ANSI test pattern and a matte white screen. There again, it’s just decent. Competitors like the Dangbei Atom and JGMO N1S offer as much, and slightly more expensive options from BenQ and JMGO take it to another level. Gaming on the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22, I found the projector added considerable latency if it had any sort of processing going on (i.e., keystone correction or digital zoom). With these disabled, the projector still had a tangible delay between actions and on-screen effects, but it wasn’t significant enough to slow me down as I worked my way through numerous encounters in Hades. Oddly enough, there’s no specific picture profile for gaming that would disable the projector’s processing automatically, so you’ll have to manage these settings on your own. With two speakers on the rear of the EpiqVision Mini EF22, it works reasonably well whether you set the projector up in front of you or at the back of the room. They provide a bit of stereo separation, which adds a touch of depth, though they’re no substitute for a dedicated audio system. They get reasonably loud for a small, quiet room, but the sound gets a bit muddled at higher volumes, making it hard to pick out everything that’s going on in a song, for example. You’ll get clear enough mids and a bit of bass, but higher frequencies tend to suffer when the volume is cranked. To the EF22’s credit, it doesn’t mess around with any unsightly motion smoothing. Right from the jump, it provides good, clear motion. Picture and sound quality score: 3/5 (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Value Effective all-in-one package Comes up short next to the competition The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 puts plenty into one package. It’s a decent projector, providing a bright image that can handle impromptu movie nights or let you settle in to binge the next hot series, as long as you turn the lights off. With Google TV, it’s ready to stream a great variety of content with no external sources. And it packs in a good enough set of speakers to make do in quiet, intimate viewing conditions. The built-in stand also proves helpful, making it that much easier to set up in various places without the need to stack up a pile of books or go buy a separate stand. The biggest thing holding the EpiqVision Mini EF22 back in the value department is the competition it faces. You can get much brighter projectors and ones that offer 4K or provide more vivid color for the same price or just a little more. Compared to these, the EpiqVision Mini EF22 ends up feeling lacking. Value score: 3/5 The JMGO N1S Pro 4K comes in a styrofoam carry case. Although portable, it is on the weightier side (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22? Swipe to scroll horizontally Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 Attributes Notes Rating Design and features Combines everything you need into one device and even builds in a stand that allows for easy setup 4/5 Picture and sound quality Reasonably bright, modestly sharp, and avoids some of the artifacts that affect DLP projectors. But it’s not 4K, and not bright enough to use in well-lit rooms 3/5 Value Not too shabby for a $1,000 projector, but you can get brighter, 4K projectors for the money, and that alone is enough to sink Epson’s value 3/5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Comparison: portable projectors Header Cell – Column 0 Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 JMGO N1S Pro LG CineBeam Q BenQ X300G Price: $999 $1,999 $1,299 $1,799 Screen sizes supported: 30 to 150 inches 85-180 inches 50-120 inches 30 to 150 inches Brightness (specified): 1,000 ISO lumens 2,400 ANSI lumens 500 ANSI lumens 2,000 lumens HDR support HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG Optical technology: 3LCD, Laser RGB laser DLP RGB laser DLP LED DLP Smart TV: Google TV Google TV WebOS Android TV Connections: 1HDMI ( with ARC), 1x 3.5mm audio 2x HDMI ( 1with eARC), 3.5mm HDMI, USB type-C (display, power) 2x HDMI 2.0 (1 with eARC) USB-C DP Alt Mode (Image credit: Future) How I tested the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions Presented the display with a variety of media and formats I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade I tested the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay. My testing evaluates the projector’s performance concerning its price and competition from other models that I and my colleagues at TechRadar have tested. I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.

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India’s Gaganyaan Project: Uncrewed Crew Module Sent for Space Exploration

India’s journey toward human space exploration marked a critical step with the dispatch of the Crew Module for the first uncrewed mission under the Gaganyaan project. The module, integrated with a liquid propulsion system at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Bengaluru, has been sent to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This development, achieved on 21 January 2025, is part of India’s efforts to attain human spaceflight capabilities.

Liquid Propulsion System Details

As reported by the Economic Times, according to ISRO, the Crew Module Propulsion System (CMPS) incorporates a bi-propellant Reaction Control System (RCS). This system is essential for precise three-axis control—pitch, yaw, and roll—during the descent and re-entry phases. Control operations will commence after the separation of the service module and continue until the parachute-based deceleration system is deployed. The propulsion system includes 12 thrusters, each delivering 100 Newtons of thrust, along with high-pressure gas bottles, a propellant feed mechanism, and associated fluid control components.

Assembly and Integration

The module’s development also involved the integration of the Crew Module Uprighting System (CMUS), designed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The module will now undergo further assembly processes, including avionics installation, electrical harnessing, and a series of checks at VSSC before its dispatch to the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. The final phase will focus on integrating the Crew Module with the Orbital Module.

ISRO has emphasised that the uncrewed G1 mission is a preparatory step for sending humans to space, enabling the validation of systems and technologies critical to the Gaganyaan project. With this milestone, India edges closer to joining the league of nations with human spaceflight capabilities.

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Coma Cluster’s Distance Closer Than Predicted, Amplifying Hubble Tension Crisis

The mystery surrounding the Hubble tension has intensified following new findings indicating that the Coma Cluster of galaxies is 38 million light-years closer than predicted by standard cosmological models. The Hubble tension refers to a persistent discrepancy between the universe’s expansion rate as measured in the modern era and the rate predicted based on observations of the early universe. This ongoing issue has now been described as a crisis, underscoring its potential implications for the foundations of cosmology.

Discrepancies in Measurements Highlight the Issue

According to a study, which was led by Dan Scolnic of Duke University and Adam Riess of Johns Hopkins University, type Ia supernova explosions observed in the Coma Cluster reveal that the cluster is significantly closer to Earth than models suggest. The findings, which anchor their data to Hubble Space Telescope observations, point to a calculated distance of 321 million light-years. This figure deviates from the 359 million light-years predicted by the standard model, which incorporates the Hubble–Lemaître law and observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB).

The Hubble Tension Explained

The Hubble constant, a measure of the universe’s expansion rate, is derived through two primary methods: observations of standard candles like supernovae and Cepheid variables and analyses of the CMB radiation from the early universe. While the standard model predicts a value of 67.4 km/s/Mpc, recent measurements using standard candles suggest a rate of approximately 73.2 km/s/Mpc, highlighting the tension. Efforts by instruments like the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) aim to refine these measurements, but results remain inconclusive.

Implications for Cosmology

The study, as reported by space.com, challenges assumptions about the standard model and suggests the possibility of unknown phenomena influencing the universe’s expansion. While some theories propose an additional burst of dark energy or other early-universe processes, no definitive explanation has emerged. Researchers agree the findings deepen the mystery, raising the stakes for future studies in this area.

The results have been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal, further highlighting the critical need for understanding the root causes of the Hubble tension.

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Nothing Teases Upcoming Smartphone With Dual Rear Cameras, Transparent Design

Nothing is rumoured to launch multiple new smartphones including a flagship device in the coming months as a follow up to the Nothing Phone 2. As part of its plans, the UK-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has yet again teased an upcoming product via its social media handle which may very well be its next smartphone. It appears to have a dual rear camera unit and a transparent design, the latter of which has become synonymous with the company in recent years.

Nothing Smartphone Teased

Through several posts on X (formerly Twitter), Nothing shared multiple design sketches of what appears to be a smartphone along with the text “WIP” which might be an acronym for work in progress. The first sketch partially showcases a phone with a transparent back panel with screws in place.

An accompanying sketch has two circles placed in a horizontal pill-shaped like structure, similar to the camera unit of the Nothing Phone 2a models. This suggests that this component could be the rear cameras of the purported phone. However, it does not show the entire rear cover, so it remains unknown if the device would get the company’s signature Glyph interface.

This development comes a day after the company rolled out another teaser of an upcoming product using an image of the Arcanine Pokémon. While it did not contain any description, it is speculated to be a teaser for the Nothing Phone 3, corroborating previous reports that the handset may bear the codename Arcanine.

A recently leaked email allegedly sent by Nothing CEO Carl Pei mentioned Nothing’s plans for 2025, which includes a “landmark” launch. Alongside, it also confirmed the moniker of the company’s upcoming flagship phone and it will indeed be known as the Nothing Phone 3. The purported device is tipped to launch in Q1 2025 as a successor to the Nothing Phone 2. The phone is said to be the first step towards offering an AI-powered platform and it would be possible through breakthrough innovations in terms of the user interface.

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This cheap Dolby Atmos soundbar splits into 3 speakers, and has its own Philips Hue-style LED lights too

The Ultimea Apollo S80 splits into three front speakers and a sub Available in Canada now, coming to US and UK in February $209 / £171 / about AU$336 It’s fair to say that most soundbars aren’t very exciting to look at, and don’t tend to go beyond the familiar lozenge shape. But the Ultimea Apollo S80 soundbar is like no soundbar I’ve ever seen. It isn’t just a soundbar. It’s a TV transformer that thinks it’s a Philips Hue system too. If you look at the main image you’d think there’s nothing particularly unusual going on: it’s a soundbar with a separate sub unit, like so many others. But that main soundbar isn’t one unit. It’s three, and you can pull them apart to turn them into completely separate speakers for left, center and right channels – adding the kind of real separation that hardcore home theater enthusiasts espouse. Once you’ve pulled your soundbar apart, you can then leave the speakers standing horizontally or vertically, or you can wall mount some or all of them. However, if you’re thinking of wall mounting, it’s worth noting that although the soundbar has Bluetooth, the speaker units need to be wired to each other. On the plus side, not only do they separate, but the left and right speakers also have LED lighting that you can adjust with the companion app. There are six dynamic scene modes and a color wheel to get the lights just-so. (Image credit: Ultimea) Is a splittable soundbar a good idea? The specification is decent: as Notebookcheck reports, the drivers are 2 inches, the sub is 5.25 inches and it’s a 5.1 system (though that’s five forward channels, not real surround) with Dolby Atmos, optical audio, HDMI eARC, USB and Bluetooth 5.3. We’ve been quite impressed with Ultimea’s affordable soundbars, such as the Ultimea Poseidon D50: while they’re not up there with their more expensive rivals from the likes of Samsung or Sonos, they’re relatively cheap ways to significantly upgrade the sound of your TV, and we rate the Poseidon as being among the best soundbars today if you’re on a budget. You can’t fault the thinking here: it’s not so much thinking outside of the box as thinking in a completely different zip code to the box. But I do wonder who the target market is for this particular unit’s transforming talents, because once you’ve got your soundbar or speakers just-so you’re probably just going to leave them where they are. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Having said that, we do like the similarly transformable JBL Bar 1300X with its rear speakers that attach to the soundbar or can be placed behind you when you want them… but those are totally wireless with built-in batteries, and rear speakers are more of an inconvenience to have permanently than front speakers, so the whole step makes more sense. And also costs many times what the Ultimea costs. The big draw here is price: good luck putting together a similar system of separates without having to hit eBay or Aliexpress and seriously lower your standards. The Ultimea Apollo S80 has an list price of $209 / £171 / about AU$336, but it’s currently cheaper with 10% off if you buy direct from the Ultimea website. You might also like

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China’s ‘Artificial Sun’ Breaks Nuclear Fusion Record with 1,000 Seconds of Continuous Plasma Loop

China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), referred to as the “artificial sun,” has achieved a new milestone in nuclear fusion research. The reactor maintained a continuous loop of plasma for 1,066 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 403 seconds. This breakthrough, reported on January 20, 2025, represents a significant step towards realising nuclear fusion as a near-limitless clean energy source. The achievement highlights advancements in sustaining plasma, a high-energy state of matter crucial for fusion reactions.

EAST’s Latest Milestone

As reported by Live Science, according to Chinese state media, EAST operates as a magnetic confinement reactor designed to sustain plasma for extended periods. The recent success was made possible by upgrades to the reactor, including an enhanced heating system with double the power. Song Yuntao, Director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described the experiment as critical for future fusion power plants. Speaking to Chinese media, he emphasised the need for stable plasma operation over thousands of seconds to achieve continuous power generation.

Understanding Fusion Reactors

Nuclear fusion mimics the sun by fusing light atoms under intense heat and pressure to form heavier ones, releasing energy in the process. Unlike the sun, where immense pressure aids the reaction, Earth-based reactors rely on extremely high temperatures. Despite the promise of abundant and clean energy, fusion reactors currently consume more energy than they produce.

Global Efforts in Fusion Technology

China is a participant in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program, a multinational initiative aimed at advancing fusion research. ITER, located in France, is expected to begin operations in 2039 and will test sustained fusion. Data from EAST’s experiments will support ITER and other global projects.

The milestone achieved by EAST marks progress in fusion technology, though decades of research remain before its application in power generation becomes feasible.

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Earth’s Hidden ‘Ignorosphere’ Could Provide Insights into Auroras

Earth’s atmosphere, particularly its upper layers, remains one of the least understood regions of the planet. Despite extensive research on the lower atmosphere, scientists have struggled to collect reliable data on the mesosphere and higher regions. This atmospheric layer, which sits between the stratosphere and space, has earned the moniker “ignorosphere” due to its inaccessibility. The mesosphere’s remoteness has left critical gaps in knowledge about its processes and their impact on Earth’s weather, climate, and phenomena like auroras.

New Dataset Offers Insights into the Ignorosphere

According to research published in Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, a team led by Kaoru Sato, a professor of atmospheric physics at the University of Tokyo, has developed a dataset spanning 19 years. The dataset models the atmosphere up to an altitude of 110 kilometres and incorporates rare measurements from sounding rockets, radar, and lidar instruments. As stated to Space.com, Sato explained that the dataset fills crucial gaps, enabling detailed modelling of processes like gravity waves and auroras.

Implications for Space Weather and Climate Modelling

It has been noted that space weather effects, including charged particles from solar storms, often interact with the mesosphere, impacting phenomena like auroras and ozone chemistry. These interactions, according to Sato, can also generate gravity waves, which play a significant role in global energy transport but remain poorly understood due to limited data.

Addressing Atmospheric Mysteries

Unexplained phenomena such as inter-hemispheric coupling, where cloud formations in the Arctic and Antarctic appear synchronised, are being studied using this dataset. Researchers are also examining the influence of the mesosphere on the ionosphere, where solar winds ionise gases.

The dataset is expected to contribute significantly to understanding atmospheric dynamics, offering new avenues for research on processes affecting Earth’s climate and space weather interactions.

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Samsung Teases XR Headset With Multimodal AI Capabilities, Smart Glasses at Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Samsung once again teased its upcoming extended reality (XR) headset, dubbed ‘Project Moohan’, this time at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in San Jose, California on Wednesday. During the announcement, a silhouette of an XR headset graced the screen with an appearance remarkably similar to the Apple Vision Pro. While the South Korean technology conglomerate did not delve into any specifics, it reiterated that the headset will be powered by the Android XR operating system (OS), developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm.

Alongside the XR headset, the company teased that it might be developing another wearable in the form of smart glasses.

Samsung XR Headset, Smart Glasses Teased

At the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, Samsung teased that its XR headset will support multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. With it, the company aims to change the way people “interact with the physical and digital world”. Subsequent visuals showed how users may be able to control the XR headset.

samsung xr control unpacked Samsung XR Headset

Ways to Interact With Samsung’s Upcoming XR Headset
Photo Credit: Samsung

The Samsung wearable might get eye tracking capabilities similar to the Apple Vision Pro, which leverages a network of LEDs and infrared cameras that project invisible light patterns onto each eye, enabling the wearer to select elements just by looking at them. Additionally, they may also be able to control the XR headset using hand gestures as well as speech.

While this was the extent of the Samsung XR headset teaser, the company also hinted towards the potential development of a pair smart glasses. It emphasised how multimodal AI will “change” interaction with new form factors like XR devices. The visual showed the aforementioned XR headset along with a pair of smart glasses.

First announced in December 2024, Samsung’s ‘Project Moohan’ XR headset is speculated to come with multimodal input, state-of-the-art displays, and passthrough capabilities. The company says it will also offer support for Google’s Gemini AI assistant and will have apps optimised to run on a large, virtual display. It is confirmed to be the first offering in the market to be powered by the new Android XR OS and thus, may support several of its features including Circle to Search with gesture support, web browsing via Google Chrome, immersive views using Google Maps, and live translation of text seen within the wearer’s point of view.