What is yellow fungus? Symptoms, treatment, how is it different from black and white fungus

  What is yellow fungus? Symptoms, treatment, how is it different from black and white fungus  ?

Yellow fungus is considered dangerous than black and white fungus. so it is important to pay attention to symptoms and seek medical help when needed. 

As India battles the second wave of COVID-19 and the rising cases of black fungus and white fungus infections in several states of the country, the first case of yellow fungus, which is considered dangerous than black fungus and white fungus, has been reported from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. 

The yellow fungus disease can be fatal as it starts internally and a person needs to seek immediate medical assistance if they have any symptoms of yellow fungus, minor or major. 

Symptoms of Yellow Fungus 

Symptoms of yellow fungus are laziness, loss of appetite, or no appetite at all, and severe weight loss. In serious cases, the yellow fungus can also cause leakage of 'pus' and slow healing of the open wound as well as all other wounds. Malnutrition and organ failure and sunken eyes due to eventual necrosis are also major symptoms of the deadly virus.  

Causes of Yellow Fungus 

The causes behind yellow fungus can range from high humidity to old food, however, the primary cause is said to be poor hygiene. Getting rid of old food, proper disposal of feces can block the bacteria and fungus from growing. 

Treatment of Yellow Fungus 

If medical help is taken on time, the yellow fungus is treatable. Amphotericin B injection, which is an anti-fungal drug is used in the yellow fungus treatment. 

As for the patient in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, he is still undergoing treatment in the hospital. Yellow fungus is considered dangerous than black fungus and white fungus so it is important to pay attention to symptoms and seek medical help as and when needed. 

Top 10 Best Soccer Players in the World

 

Top 10 Best Soccer/Football Players in the World 

Contents

1. Lionel Messi

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

3. Neymar

4. Robert Lewandowski

5. Kylian Mbappé

6. Kevin De Bruyne

7. Virgil van Dijk

8. Sadio Mané

9. Riyad Mahrez

10. Erling Haaland 

Although there is no one correct answer, most of the players on this list have been objectively the best players in the world this past season. However, due to constant fluctuations in form as well as the fact : 

1. Lionel Messi

La Pulga Atómica (the Atomic Flea) has remained at the top of this list for over a decade now, and at 33, he’s still going strong. In fact, sensational stats and seasons have become second nature for him. Despite missing Barcelona’s first four games of the season due to injury, Messi is likely to win La Liga top scorer for the seventh time in his career with 22 goals so far and three games left to play. Along with those 22 goals, Messi has 20 assists in the league so far, beating his own personal record of 18 in a season and totaling 42 goal contributions in 30 league games. For any player, that’s the season of a lifetime. For Lionel Messi, that’s business as usual.

In all competitions, Messi has 27 goals and 24 assists and is hoping to lead Barcelona to its first Champions League title since its treble win in the 2014-15 season. Messi is also the most recent player to win the Ballon d’Or, just barely beating out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk by seven points. Despite Barcelona’s managerial problems and uncertainty towards the future of the club when Messi leaves, the Argentinian forward has been playing some unstoppable and exciting soccer as per usual and recently scored his 700th career goal.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

As long as he’s around, he’ll be up near the top of the list. Cristiano Ronaldo is 35 years old, playing in Italy for only his second year, and still racking up absurd numbers in front of goal. Ronaldo has contributed to half of all of Juventus’ goals this season with 28 goals and 6 assists in the 28 games he’s played in the league and a total of 39 goal contributions in all competitions. He is currently challenging Lazio’s Ciro Immobile for the Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer) and has been Juventus’ star player in what looks to be a title-winning campaign. Having won the Champions League with both of his former clubs, Ronaldo will want to complete his personal treble this season when the tournament restarts in August.

What’s even more impressive is that Ronaldo is managing a goal a game in the league with less help from his teammates than he’s had in the past. Out of the 20 teams in Seria A, Juventus ranks 16th in crosses this season and 14th in both accurate crosses and assists from crosses. Ronaldo has the most headed goals in the history of soccer, so the lack of crossing ability has made a significant dent in his goal tally this season. Yet, he’s still one behind the leading scorer.

3. Neymar

Despite struggling with injury this season as well as not having played since early March due to Ligue 1’s decision to end the season early rather than restart play after lockdown, Neymar Jr. comes in third on my list. This should indicate just how incredible the Brazilian winger is when fit. In only 15 league games this season, Neymar recorded 13 goals and 6 assists. In 22 games in all competitions, those numbers increase to 18 goals and 10 assists. In his three seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar has not managed anything close to a fully fit season, but his world-class ability is as clear as day whenever he’s on the field. The only reasons that Neymar hasn’t won the Ballon d’Or are Messi, Ronaldo, and injuries. Without those three factors, Neymar would easily be a contender, if not a shoo-in, for the best player of all time.

Besides the Ballon d’Or, Neymar’s next objective is to win the Champions League with PSG. Into the quarterfinals of the tournament after beating Borussia Dortmund on aggregate in the Round of 16, Neymar will be fit and hungry for the title.

4. Robert Lewandowski

bayern Munich’s world-class frontman just finished his sixth season with the club and his tenth season in the Bundesliga altogether, helping Bayern win its 8th title in a row. And at 31, Robert Lewandowski had his best season yet. Lewandowski secured Bundesliga’s top scorer award for the fifth time with 34 goals in the 31 matches he appeared in. He only failed to score in six games the entire season, recording seven braces and one hat trick. He also managed 51 goals and 6 assists in 43 games in all competitions, including two in the DFB Pokal final that Bayern recently won. Those numbers will likely increase in August as well when the Champions League resumes in Lisbon, as Lewandowski has scored in every Champions League game he’s featured in so far this season.

After such an incredible season, Robert Lewandowski is well in the conversation for the 2020 Ballon d’Or. In fact, the decision could turn out to be somewhat simple if Lewandowski can continue his incredible form and, in turn, help Bayern Munich win the Champions League and become the second-ever European side to win a continental treble twice. This looks well within reach for the Polish international, as Bayern Munich are widely considered to be favorites to lift the trophy.

5. Kylian Mbappé

 Mbappé only falls short of Lewandowski on my list due to his youth and the fact that he hasn’t played since March. However, in a few years, the French 21-year-old could very well be at the top of this list, for his stats and ability are absolutely and objectively outstanding. Already a World Cup winner with a goal in the final and a four-time Ligue 1 winner, Mbappé’s trophy cabinet will only continue to expand. Slightly hampered by injury this season, Mbappé still scored 18 goals and made 7 assists in the 20 league games he played. In all competitions, he managed 47 combined goals and assists in 33 games. These are Messi numbers. These are Ronaldo numbers. These are Mbappé’s numbers.

Unfortunately, due to Ligue 1’s abrupt ending, Mbappé will most likely be an outsider for the 2020 Ballon d’Or. However, if he can win his and PSG’s first-ever Champions League title in August, with help from Neymar, of course, he could jump right back into the conversation.

6. Kevin De Bruyne

Another player who could easily end up challenging for the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year is Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian midfielder is absolutely world-class. He is easily the best midfielder in England, and his vision and passing ability are off the charts. De Bruyne has 11 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League this season, and with four games left to play, could very well be the player to finally break Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of 20 assists in a season.

Having conceded the Premier League title to Liverpool this season, Pep Guardiola’s dominant Manchester City team will want to prove itself when the Champions League resumes in August, and Kevin De Bruyne will be a major factor in whether or not City can finally lift the trophy that the team has so coveted.

7. Virgil van Dijk

 Dutch defender signed for Liverpool from Southampton in January of 2018 and has since become one of the best Premier League defenders of all time. One of the most important players in an excellent championship-winning side, Virgil van Dijk finished just behind Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or rankings, almost becoming the first defender since Italian center-back Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to win the award. He did, however, win UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. In the Premier League last season, van Dijk conceded only 22 goals, kept 20 clean sheets, had a 74% tackle success rate, and recorded the second-most number of passes, earning himself the title of Premier League Player of the Year. Liverpool only lost once in the league and ended the season in second with 97 points, one point behind the team that beat them, Manchester City. Liverpool did, however, win the Champions League and have since won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. In all competitions, van Dijk was only dribbled past once the entire season.

This season, van Dijk has led Liverpool to its first Premier League title in 30 years. Although he hasn’t had as incredible a season as last year, he still has the most passes in the Premier League and has helped Liverpool hold the most clean sheets in the league so far. Fortifying and commanding the Liverpool backline, he has certainly been the best defender in the world over the past two seasons and is arguably the most crucial player to Liverpool’s present success.

8. Sadio Mané

Liverpool has had one of the most threatening attacks in the world in the past few years, and Sadio Mané has been a key reason why. The Senegalese winger has been exceptional for the current English and European champions, recording 16 goals and 9 assists so far this season and winning the Premier League Golden Boot with 22 goals in the last alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammate Mo Salah.

Despite Mo Salah’s record-breaking goalscoring campaign two seasons ago or Roberto Firmino’s technical superiority over both wingers, Sadio Mané stands out. His pace, finishing, and control are all world-class, and he has scored some incredible goals for Liverpool in the past two seasons, including a brilliant chip against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last year. Mané finished fourth for the 2019 Ballon d’Or and looks to be a challenger for the award again in 2020.

9. Riyad Mahrez

 Liverpool, it is incredibly difficult to pick out one attacking player in a side with so much talent up front and on the wings. What makes this even more difficult is that Manchester City’s squad depth forces some of the team’s best players to sit on the bench. I knew I had to include at least one Manchester City attacker, however, and between the likes of Bernardo Silva, Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, and even the injured Leroy Sané, I decided on the former Leicester City player and Algerian international.

Riyad Mahrez has 10 goals and 12 assists in the Premier League this season. While he is actually only the fifth Man City player to reach double digits in goals and assists this season (a Premier League record, by the way), he has only started 60% of City’s matches and was benched for five of them. Mahrez’s control and first touch are absolutely extraordinary, and he would arguably make it into the starting XI of any other team in the world.

10. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland is arguably the best teenage soccer player in the world and has quickly become of one the best strikers in the game. Although he is only 19, his numbers are too ridiculous for him to not be one of the best players in the world right now. Haaland started this season with RB Salzburg in Austria, netting 16 goals and managing 6 assists in only 14 league games as well as recording 8 goals and 1 assist in the Champions League group stage. The Norwegian forward then made the switch to Borussia Dortmund midseason and continued his incredible form with 13 goals and 3 assists in 15 Bundesliga matches. In total, Haaland has 44 goals and 10 assists this season in 40 games, and it is these astonishing numbers that bring the youngster into the top 10 right now.

Haaland certainly has a lot of time to improve and will only go on to score more goals and play for bigger clubs, but this season is not simply a breakout year. If he had won any trophies this year, the 19-year-old would indubitably be a Ballon d’Or contender. Despite being knocked out by PSG in the Champions League round of 16, Haaland scored two goals, including a magnificently powerful long-range strike. He and Mbappé, as well as a few other youngsters who were considered for this list, look to be the real deal, and both will likely be near the top of this list in a few years’ time. 

Honorable Mentions

Here is a list of all the players that I also considered for the top 10 best players in the world right now, specifically the last three slots. It is no particular order.

Mohamed Salah

Bernardo Silva

Raheem Sterling

Eden Hazard

Serge Gnabry

Sergio Agüero

Thomas Müller

Roberto Firmino

Luis Suárez

Antoine Griezmann

Karim Benzema

David Silva

Luka Modrić

Toni Kroos

Casemiro

Sergio Busquets

Frenkie De Jong

N’Golo Kanté

Paul Pogba

Thiago

Fernandinho

Fabinho

Paulo Dybala

Ángel Di María

Gareth Bale

Kalidou Koulibaly

Sergio Ramos

Raphaël Varane

Mathijs De Ligt

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alphonso Davies

Alisson

Jan Oblak

Marc-André Ter Stegen

Timo Werner

Kai Havertz

Jadon Sancho

Ciro Immobile

Christian Pulisic

Bruno Fernandes 

Supercentenarians’ DNA Reveals Clues to Human Longevity Genetic variants linked to DNA repair appear to contribute to a longer life.

Supercentenarians’ DNA Reveals Clues to Human Longevity

Genetic variants linked to DNA repair appear to contribute to a longer life.

By KRISTIN HOUSER 14 May, 2021 05:00 PM 

By studying the genomes of people over the age of 105, an international team of researchers has identified several genetic factors that appear linked to human longevity — and they center on the body's ability to repair its own DNA.

The challenge: The world's average life expectancy is 72 years today, but many people live decades longer.

Research suggests that genetics play a role in human longevity, but we don't know precisely what it is that allows some people to live so much longer than others. 

If we can figure it out, though, we might be able to use the knowledge to combat aging, giving more people the option of living longer lives.

In their blood: For their human longevity study, the researchers sequenced the genomes of 81 semi-supercentenarians and supercentenarians (people over the ages of 105 and 110, respectively).

They then compared them to the genomes of 36 healthy people with an average age of 68.

"People in this younger age group tend to avoid many age-related diseases and therefore represent the best example of healthy aging," first author Paolo Garagnani of the University of Bologna explained in a press release.

They discovered that the people in the 105+ group were more likely than those in the younger group to have five common genetic variants linked to more efficient DNA repair.

When the researchers compared their results to a previous study involving more than 300 people over the age of 100, they saw the same variants in that group.

Collecting mutations: Those genes were all variants inherited from their parents, but DNA can change throughout our lives.

Some of those changes, known as somatic mutations, occur in specific cell lines throughout the body. Such mutations have been linked to aging, so the researchers wanted to test their participants for them, too — specifically focusing on genes where the mutations have been linked to cancer. 

DNA repair is one of the mechanisms allowing an extended lifespan in humans.

CRISTINA GIULIANI

When they did, they found that people in the older group — despite living for three or four more decades — had accumulated far fewer of the mutations than people in the younger group, for six of the seven genes tested.

What it means: The genetic variants found in the older group indicate that some people are simply born with genes that make their bodies more efficient at DNA repair, and they may be more likely to live longer.

However, the research doesn't prove why the people in the older group were less likely to accumulate somatic mutations — it may be the specific genes for DNA repair that they found, or it may be something else. Future studies are needed to tackle that question.

Still, this study suggests that the body's ability to ward off cellular damage on its own plays a key role in human longevity, potentially offering new targets for future aging research.

"Previous studies showed that DNA repair is one of the mechanisms allowing an extended lifespan across species," senior author Cristina Giuliani of the University of Bologna told New Atlas. "We showed that this is true also within humans." 

Deadly Fungi Are the Newest Emerging Microbe Threat All Over the World

 Deadly Fungi Are the Newest Emerging Microbe Threat All Over the World 

These pathogens already kill 1.6 million people every year, and we have few defenses against them 

It was the fourth week of June in 2020, and the middle of the second wave of the COVID pandemic in the U.S. Cases had passed 2.4 million; deaths from the novel coronavirus were closing in on 125,000. In his home office in Atlanta, Tom Chiller looked up from his e-mails and scrubbed his hands over his face and shaved head.

Chiller is a physician and an epidemiologist and, in normal times, a branch chief at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in charge of the section that monitors health threats from fungi such as molds and yeasts. He had put that specialty aside in March when the U.S. began to recognize the size of the threat from the new virus, when New York City went into lockdown and the CDC told almost all of its thousands of employees to work from home. Ever since, Chiller had been part of the public health agency's frustrating, stymied effort against COVID. Its employees had been working with state health departments, keeping tabs on reports of cases and deaths and what jurisdictions needed to do to stay safe.

Shrugging off exhaustion, Chiller focused on his in-box again. Buried in it was a bulletin forwarded by one of his staff that made him sit up and grit his teeth. Hospitals near Los Angeles that were handling an onslaught of COVID were reporting a new problem: Some of their patients had developed additional infections, with a fungus called Candida auris. The state had gone on high alert. 

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries: Promising tech in the shift from fossil fuels

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries: Promising tech in the shift from fossil fuels 

Miklos Bolza

 MAY 19, 2021 

As the humanity moves towards the renewable energy and a more sustainable economy, storage solutions with high energy density and low cost will be required. A recent scientific review found that rechargeable zinc-air batteries with neutral instead of alkaline electrolytes are one option that holds plenty of promise in building greener energy solutions in future.

The review, written by researchers from the University of Sydney and published in journal EnergyChem, looked at the evolution of the zinc-air battery from when it was first patented in 1878 until now, noting that while these batteries were first made with neutral electrolytes, today’s versions switched to an alkaline solution which provided higher energy densities but which caused “critical obstacles” in reaching a long battery life.

As well as reviewing the evolution of this critical battery technology, the researchers, guided by the University of Sydney’s , Dr Zengxia Pei, also outlined the research topics they suggest should be examined in future studies in an effort to put rechargeable zinc-air batteries back into the mainstream.

“Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (R-ZABs) are attractive for many essential energy storage applications — from portable electronics, electric vehicles to incorporation of renewable energy due to their high energy storage density, abundant raw materials, and inherent safety. However, alkaline electrolytes cause critical obstacles in realising a long battery life. Thus, neutral electrolytes are attracting growing interest,” the researchers wrote. 

Drinking any amount of alcohol causes damage to the brain, study finds

 Drinking any amount of alcohol causes damage to the brain, study finds 

There is no such thing as a "safe" level of drinking, with increased consumption of alcohol associated with poorer brain health, according to a new study. 

In an observational study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers from the University of Oxford studied the relationship between the self-reported alcohol intake of some 25,000 people in the UK, and their brain scan

The researchers noted that drinking had an effect on the brain's gray matter -- regions in the brain that make up "important bits where information is processed," according to lead author Anya Topiwala, a senior clinical researcher at Oxford

"The more people drank, the less the volume of their gray matter," Topiwala said via email

"Brain volume reduces with age and more severely with dementia. Smaller brain volume also predicts worse performance on memory testing," she explained. 

 

Does alcohol cause damage to the brain?

Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can damage both the brain and liver, causing lasting damage. Excessive alcohol consumption can have long-lasting effects on neurotransmitters in the brain, decreasing their effectiveness or even mimicking them. Alcohol also destroys brain cells and contracts brain tissue.

Does alcohol kill brain cells every time you drink?

Reality: Even in heavy drinkers, alcohol consumption doesn't kill brain cells. It does, however, damage the ends of neurons, called dendrites, which makes it difficult for neurons to relay messages to one another .

What happens to the brain when you stop drinking?

When you stop drinking, your brain no longer has to block GABA functions. So, your brain begins to return to its normal state. The second biological event is the level of neurotransmitter glutamate goes down. It may be a slight amount, but it does go down.

What are the first signs of liver damage from alcohol? 

• swelling of your liver, which may lead to discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen.

• fatigue.

• unexplained weight loss.

• loss of appetite.

• nausea and vomiting.

Firefox security update looks to make getting online safer than ever In addition to enhancing security, Site Isolation will make Firefox faster and stable as well

 Firefox security update looks to make getting online safer than ever

In addition to enhancing security, Site Isolation will make Firefox faster and stable as well

May 19, 2021 by Mayank Sharma 

Mozilla is currently testing a major new security feature for its Firefox browser which will separate every website into its own process. 

Site Isolation is designed to prevent Spectre-like side-channel attacks in the popular open source browser. 

In a blog post, Anny Gakhokidze, a Senior Platform Engineer at Mozilla working on Site Isolation, explains that it builds upon a new security architecture that extends current protection mechanisms of the browser by making it load each site in its own operating system process.

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“To fully protect your private information, a modern web browser not only needs to provide protections on the application layer but also needs to entirely separate the memory space of different sites—the new Site Isolation security architecture in Firefox provides those security guarantees,” writes Gakhokidze.

Shared processes

In the current scheme of things, upon launch Firefox starts a privileged parent process, which further spawns eight processes for web content, and a maximum of two additional semi-privileged web content processes, along with four utility processes for web extensions, GPU operations, networking, and media decoding. 

Gakhokidze explains that while separating the content into eight processes is pretty secure in itself, this arrangement still makes it possible for a malicious site to be placed in the same process as another trusted site. 

Since all websites inside a process share the same memory, the untrusted site will be able to read the contents of the shared memory. This gets particularly dangerous when you consider the fact that all online ads, and embedded pages are placed into the same process as the parent page.

Isolated silos

However, with Site Isolation, not only will all websites exist in their own process, each of the embedded elements that are not part of the same site will also be allocated their own processes. 

Besides the security benefits of such an arrangement, Gakhokidze also lists a few other advantages as well.

For starters, using more processes to load websites will enable Firefox to efficiently use available resources by spreading work across different CPU cores. Also, thanks to the siloed approach, tab crashes will not have any impact on websites loaded in different processes.

The Site Isolation feature is currently being tested in nightly and beta builds of the browser, and will make its way into the stable release when the developers consider it to be stable.

Protect your devices with these best antivirus software. 

Bitcoin falls further as China cracks down on crypto-currencies

 Bitcoin falls further as China cracks down on crypto-currencies 

The price of Bitcoin fell below $34,000 (£24,030) for the first time in three months on Wednesday, after China imposed fresh curbs on crypto-currencies. 

Beijing banned banks and payment firms from providing services related to crypto-currency transactions.

It also warned investors against speculative crypto trading on Tuesday.

It follows falls in Bitcoin of more than 10% last week after Tesla said it would no longer accept the currency. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Bitcoin recovered some ground, although it was still down -10.4% at $38,131.

Meanwhile, other digital currencies such as Ether, which acts as the fuel for the Ethereum blockchain network, and Dogecoin lost as much as 22% and 24% respectively.

Another big US bank to start trading in Bitcoin

Tesla will no longer accept Bitcoin, says Elon Musk

Elon Musk scammers make millions in crypto-fraud

At the same time, Tesla shares fell more than 3% on Wall Street, possibly because of the electric carmaker's exposure to Bitcoin.

The firm, owned by Elon Musk, still holds around $1.5 Billion worth of the crypto-currency.

Beijing cracks down

Crypto-currency trading has been illegal in China since 2019 in order to curb money-laundering. But people are still able to trade in currencies such as Bitcoin online, which has concerned Beijing.

On Tuesday, three state-backed organisations, including the National Internet Finance Association of China, the China Banking Association and the Payment and Clearing Association of China issued a warning on social media.

They said consumers would have no protection if they were to incur any losses from crypto-currency investment transactions.

They added that recent wild swings in crypto-currency prices "seriously violate people's asset safety" and are disrupting the "normal economic and financial order".

Neil Wilson of Markets.com said:

"China has for some time been putting pressure on the crypto space, but this marks an intensification - other countries might follow now as central banks make strides towards their own digital currencies.

"Until now, Western regulators have been pretty relaxed about Bitcoin, but this might change soon."

Tesla snub

In March, Tesla boss Elon Musk announced unexpectedly that the electric carmaker would allow customers to buy cars using Bitcoin.

But last week, he did a U-turn and suspended vehicle purchases using Bitcoin because of environmental concerns.

His fears centre on Bitcoin mining - the energy-intensive process through which the digital currency is generated, using high-powered computers. It often relies on electricity generated with fossil fuels, particularly coal.

"We are concerned about rapidly increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and transactions, especially coal, which has the worst emissions of any fuel," Mr Musk wrote.

"Cryptocurrency is a good idea. but this cannot come at great cost to the environment."

He said the electric carmaker did not intend to sell any of its Bitcoin and intended to reinstate crypto-currency transactions once mining shifted to using more sustainable energy sources.

Although the digital currency cannot be traded in China, more than 75% of Bitcoin mining around the world is done in China.

For anyone who has followed the crypto-currency scene for a while, the events of recent weeks are a familiar story.

Some random event - say, a tweet from Elon Musk announcing Tesla will accept crypto-currency payments - sends Bitcoin to new highs, and people begin to say it's winning mainstream acceptance.

Then another random event happens, perhaps a change of course from the Tesla tycoon. It comes tumbling down again, and talk of it going mainstream fades into the background.

Last month, in a chatroom on Clubhouse (another phenomenon that seems to be swinging from boom to bust) I expressed some scepticism about crypto-currencies.

Up popped a senior figure from London's thriving fintech scene: "Rory, Rory," he chided me, "crypto is becoming an accepted asset class."

With big City institutions taking an interest, that had a ring of truth - back in April, at least.

But this week, the weather had changed, with the Financial Times reporting "new doubts among institutional fund managers over the future of crypto-currencies as an asset class".

Authorities say Tesla driver was asleep as car traveled at over 80 mph

 Authorities say Tesla driver was asleep as car traveled at over 80 mph

May 19, 2021 by Olafimihan Oshin 

Wisconsin authorities say they pulled over a driver on Sunday who appeared to be asleep while his 2019 Tesla was traveling at 82 mph in Autopilot mode. 

The driver, who denied he had fallen asleep, was given a ticket for inattentive driving.

Kenosha County issued a statement from its sheriff announcing the incident on Tuesday. 

It said an officer pulled over a driver heading north on Interstate I-94 after pulling alongside the vehicle. The officer reported that the driver appeared to be asleep, as the driver's head was down and he was not paying attention to the road.

The police officer then sought to pull the driver over, putting on his lights and sirens. But the driver did not initially stop, and instead the police officer followed him at a speed of 82 miles per hour for two miles before the driver did pull over. The police officer said the driver did not notice he was being pulled over until the officer drove alongside the Tesla for a second time.

The driver was identified as a 38-year-old man from Palatine, Ill.

The driver didn’t show any signs of impairment, the police report said, but told the officers he was tired. According to the release, he denied falling asleep in the vehicle. 

This is the latest report of someone not being in control of a Tesla that was in Autopilot mode. 

California police arrested a man last week who was sitting in the backseat of his Tesla vehicle while it was in Autopilot mode.  

Top 10 richest people in the world, top Billionaires

 Top 10 richest people in the world, top Billionaires 

The list of the world's richest persons can vary from year to year, depending on their latest net worth and financial performance. 

 Here is the latest list of the world's top 10 richest persons, based on the real-time Forbes list of April 7, 2021 and some interesting facts about each of them.

1. Jeff Bezos - $188.5 billion 

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has a net worth of $188.5 billion and ranks as the first richest person on the earth today. His position remains the same even after divorcing his wife MacKenzie in 2019 and transferring a quarter of his stake in Amazon to her. Bezos founded the behemoth Amazon in 1994 out of his garage in Seattle. The e-commerce giant has reaped the benefits of this coronavirus pandemic, with more number of people shopping online. 

 

2. Elon Musk - $169.9 billion 

Elon Musk is working to revolutionize transportation both on Earth, through electric car maker Tesla - and in space, via rocket producer SpaceX. Elon Musk's rocket company is now valued at nearly $100 billion, currently, his net worth is $169.9 billion. Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX is now valued at nearly $100 billion. Tesla has become the world’s most valuable automaker with a market capitalisation of $342 billion in Feb 2021. 

3. Bernard Arnault & Family - $163.7 billion  

LVMH – France Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault rank third in the world in terms of riches. His net worth is $163.7 billion ensuing from his business across an empire of more than 70 brands including Louis Vuitton and Sephora. French businessman and Europe’s richest man Bernard Arnault earned the $100 billion fortune last year in December.

4. Bill Gates - $129.2 billion 

The co-founder of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates has a net worth of $129.2 billion. Having founded the software giant Microsoft along with Paul Allen, Bill Gates eventually sold away much of his stakes in the company retaining just 1% of the shares and investing the rest in stocks and other assets. Bill Gates entered the $100 billion club last year in April when Microsoft share price surged post-earnings. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the world’s largest private charitable foundation.

5. Mark Zuckerberg - $111.6 billion 

The co-founder, CEO and chairman of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg champions the social network that has become a go-to communications avenue today. His net worth is $111.6 billion and today he owns about 15% stakes in Facebook after the firm went public in May 2012. Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire. His net worth zoomed past the $100 billion mark — all thanks to Instagram Reels — the alternative to TikTok which was banned in India earlier this year and is facing troubles in the US as well.

6. Warren Buffet - $99.8 billion 

Popularly known as the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffet is seen as one of the most successful investors of all times. He runs Berkshire Hathaway that owns over 60 companies including the famous ones Geico insurance, Duracell, Dairy Queen Restaurant. His net worth is $99.8 billion. The son of a US congressman, he bought his first stock at the age of 11. 

7. Larry Ellison - $98.5 billion 

Larry Ellison has a net worth of $98.5 billion which he earned from Oracle, the software firm he cofounded in 1977. He quit as the CEO of the company in 2014 and since then he functions as the chairman of the board and chief technology advisor of the company. Ellison has also been on the board of Tesla since December 2018 after he purchased 3 million shares earlier that year. He owns nearly all of Hawaiian island Lanai. 

8. Larry Page - $96.1 billion 

Larry Page, the co-founder of Google has a net worth of $96.1 billion and ranks in the ninth position among the world’s richest persons. He has also invested in Planetary Resources, the famed space exploration company, and is also funding “Flying Car”, startup companies Kitty Hawk and Opener.

9. Sergey Brin - $93.2 billion 

The co-founder and board member of Alphabet, Sergey Brin has a net worth of $93.2 billion which ranks him in the tenth position among the world’s richest persons. He co-founded Google along with Larry Page in 1998 which went public in 2004 and became Alphabet in 2015.

10. Mukesh Ambani - 77.3 billion 

The founder chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani has a net worth of $ 77.3 billion. He runs the biggest oil and gas companies in India in addition to a very popular and influential telecom network in India. 

References :- 

Investopedia

Business Insider India

Forbes

Scientists have found a new way to convert the world's most popular plastic, polyethylene, into jet fuel

 Scientists have found a new way to convert the world's most popular plastic, polyethylene, into jet fuel and other liquid hydrocarbon products, introducing a new process that is more energy-efficient than existing methods and takes about an hour to complete. 

Plastic waste can now be turned into jet fuel in one hour 

Washington State University researchers have developed an innovative way to convert plastics to ingredients for jet fuel and other valuable products, making it easier and more cost effective to reuse plastics. 

 

The researchers in their reaction were able to convert 90% of plastic to jet fuel and other valuable hydrocarbon products within an hour at moderate temperatures and to easily fine-tune the process to create the products that they want. Led by graduate student Chuhua Jia and Hongfei Lin, associate professor in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, they report on their work in the journal, Chem Catalysis.

“In the recycling industry, the cost of recycling is key,” Lin said. “This work is a milestone for us to advance this new technology to commercialization.”

In recent decades, the accumulation of waste plastics has caused an environmental crisis, polluting oceans and pristine environments around the world. As they degrade, tiny pieces of microplastics have been found to enter the food chain and become a potential, if unknown, threat to human health.

Plastics recycling, however, has been problematic. The most common mechanical recycling methods melt the plastic and re-mold it, but that lowers its economic value and quality for use in other products. Chemical recycling can produce higher quality products, but it has required high reaction temperatures and a long processing time, making it too expensive and cumbersome for industries to adopt. Because of its limitations, only about 9% of plastic in the U.S. is recycled every year.

In their work, the WSU researchers developed a catalytic process to efficiently convert polyethylene to jet fuel and high-value lubricants. Polyethylene, one of the most commonly used plastics, is utilized in a huge variety of products from plastics bags, plastic milk jugs and shampoo bottles to corrosion-resistant piping, wood-plastic composite lumber and plastic furniture.

For the process, the researchers used a ruthenium on carbon catalyst and a commonly used solvent. They were able to convert about 90% of the plastic to jet fuel components or other hydrocarbon products within an hour at a temperature of 220 degrees Celsius (428 degrees Fahrenheit), which is more efficient and lower than temperatures that would be typically used.

Jia was surprised to see just how well the solvent and catalyst worked.

“Before the experiment, we only speculated but didn’t know if it would work,” he said. “The result was so good.”

Adjusting processing conditions, such as the temperature, time or amount of catalyst used, provided the critically important step of being able to fine-tune the process to create desirable products, Lin said.

“Depending on the market, they can tune to what product they want to generate,” he said. “They have flexibility. The application of this efficient process may provide a promising approach for selectively producing high-value products from waste polyethylene.”

With support from the Washington Research Foundation, the researchers are working to scale up the process for future commercialization. They also believe their process could work effectively with other types of plastics.

References :- 

Jia C et al. Deconstruction of high-density polyethylene into liquid hydrocarbon fuels and lubricants by hydrogenolysis over Ru catalyst. Chem Catalysis, online 17 May 2021.

The Academic Times

Technology Networks 

8 career opportunities for Aeronautical engineering graduates

8 career opportunities for Aeronautical engineering graduates 

Aeronautical Engineering is a specialised course for undergraduate studies that involves the design and manufacturing of aircrafts, helicopters, UAVs, rockets, airships, and missiles for applications within earth's atmosphere.

If aircrafts spaceships and planes fascinate you are intrigued to know the since behind it, career in aeronautical engineering might be of your interest. Here are the things you need to know about what career opportunities one can expect as an aeronautical engineer. Aeronautical engineering is one of the most popular career choices among students currently.

Aeronautical Engineering is a specialised course for undergraduate studies that involves the design and manufacturing of aircrafts, helicopters, UAVs, rockets, airships, and missiles for applications within earth's atmosphere.

The 4 major areas of study that covers the field of aeronautical engineering are : 

• aerodynamics,

• propulsion,

• structures, and

• controls & dynamics.

The aerodynamics deals with study of flow characteristics over the external surface of aerospace vehicles, such as, aircraft wings, rockets and missiles etc. and aerodynamic design of such vehicles that provides maximum lift and minimum drag force. The propulsion covers design of engines that propels the aerospace vehicles. A conventional turbojet engine comprises of multistage axial flow compressor, combustion chamber, turbine and nozzle. Students will learn the ideal and real gas turbine cycles and design of above-mentioned components during their undergraduate studies.

The structure field deals with structural design of aerospace vehicles, such as, computation of stress and strain, analysis with static and dynamic loading, selection of appropriate materials to reduce the weight of the vehicle etc.

The controls and dynamics field focuses on stability, guidance and control of aerospace vehicles. It also covers the optimization of flight trajectory to reduce the aerial distance and hence the fuel consumption.

Let's know more in-depth details about Aeronautical engineering : 

The curriculum of the Aeronautical Engineering is designed such that it includes

 the aerodynamic design (courses: Aerodynamics, high-speed aerodynamics, gas dynamics, aerodynamics of rockets and missiles etc.),

  structural design (courses: aircraft design, theory of vibrations, aircraft structures, finite element method etc.),

  propulsion (courses: aircraft propulsion, turbomachinery aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, thermodynamics etc.) and 

 navigation & control (courses: avionics and navigation systems, flight dynamics, spacecraft dynamics and control etc.).

By studying these courses and completing the laboratories, student can obtain theoretical knowledge and go ahead to actually design and build their own small-scale UAVs and airships. During undergraduate studies, students have to undergo an industrial training for minimum three weeks period. This provides them industrial exposure and also help understand the cutting-edge research that is happening in the field of aeronautical engineering. In the final semester of the undergraduate studies, students have to work on either an in-house project or pursue internship in an industry for an equivalent period (called as practice school). The project may be based on either experimental, computational or theoretical approaches or combination of them.

This project work/practice school provides an opportunity to the students to critically think on their idea, incorporate innovation and apply their engineering knowledge to solve the practical problems in the field of aeronautical engineering. Sincere efforts from students may lead to publications in refereed international journals and conferences or filing of patents. These accomplishments help them in pursuing higher studies in reputed institutes in India and abroad. The research in Aeronautical Engineering is very advanced.

The recent thrust towards small scale flights, drones, solar powered aircrafts, electric propulsion, and advanced materials are driving new avenues of research and development.

Career options for Aeronautical engineering graduates:

 

The Government of India has envisioned to develop India-centric manufacturing ecosystem catering to the ever-growing defence and commercial needs of aerospace engineering. There is huge scope for job opportunities in aerospace sector in India. For the graduates of the Aeronautical Engineering, opportunities are abundant in areas such as:

1. Defense Services

2. Govt. Research Labs - Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) etc.

3. Commercial Airlines - Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, GoAir etc.

4. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)

5. Private Industries: General Electric, Boeing, Airbus, Pratt & Whitney, TATA Aerospace & Defense, QuEST Global, Mahindra Aerospace, Taneja Aerospace etc.

6. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

7. Airport Design and Administration

8. Drone Design and its Manufacturing.

Aeronautical Engineering requires for a huge demand for a skilled aeronautical engineer and both private and government organisations and unlike any profession it is an intellectually challenging job and can be very demanding and if you believe that you can rise above these challenges and aims to take the flight of your aspirations, then reaching the sky is not you only limit, flying in it is.

By Professor Pramod Balwantrao Salunkhe, Associate Professor Aeronautical & Automobile Engineering Manipal Institute of Technology , Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

References :- 

India Today

PENN STATE NEWS