Scientists have found a planet that absorbs as much as 99 percent of the light coming to it from its parent star. It is currently the darkest exoplanet that we have managed to spot with the help of telescopes.

We are talking about an exoplanet called WASP-104b. Astronomers report that it is darker than charcoal because its albedo, or light reflectance, is only 0.03.

The amazing globe is located in the constellation Leo and is 466 light years away from Earth. An exoplanet is referred to as hot Jupiter because it is 1.14 times larger and 1.2 times more massive than the largest planet in the solar system.

Interestingly, the object is only 4.3 million kilometers from its parent star, or less than 5 percent of Mercury's distance from the Sun. The Earth is located 150 million kilometers from the Sun, which is incomparably further away.

It is this close proximity to the star that causes the solar wind to blow its atmosphere into space, leaving only sodium and potassium in it, which in the form of a haze absorb huge amounts of light rays, giving the extremely hot exoplanet WASP-104b the color "dark" purple.

WASP-104b is the only currently known best technology advices orbiting WASP-104, a spectral type G8 star that is 3 billion years old. Astronomers believe that there is no biological, let alone intelligent, life on this planet, because extremely extreme conditions prevail there.

The European Space Agency has signed a contract worth 491 million euros, under which Airbus will design and build a ship that will deliver the first samples from Mars to Earth.

Although the first telescope was directed to the Red Planet in the 17th century, and the first successful landings on the surface (unmanned, of course, because we are talking about probes) already in the 1970s, so far no samples from Mars have reached Earth. This is a huge problem that makes the preparation of further Martian missions much more difficult, because it deprives us of precise knowledge about the conditions there - of course, we have data from the Curiosity rover, but it's not the same. Providing such samples would certainly be a landmark event, which is why the European Space Agency and NASA have joined forces in the Mars Sample Return project.

Its key element is the Earth Return Orbiter spacecraft, which technology news use the Ariane 6 rocket to set off on its 5-year mission in 2026. The Perseverance rover, which is scheduled to land on the surface of the Red Planet in February next year, is also of great importance - it is he who will be traveling the new land in search of any form of life, past or present, collecting appropriate samples. They will be sealed in airtight tubes and left at several predetermined points, where they will be waiting to be taken. Simplifying the whole process, a special rover will pick them up, transfer them to a capsule, which will be carried into orbit, from where the mentioned Earth Return Orbiter will pick them up.

This 6-ton spacecraft will arrive in orbit around Mars in 2027 and will use its autonomous systems to meet the capsule containing the Orbiting Sample and take it aboard, where it will be re-sealed and placed in the Earth Entry Vehicle. The Earth Return Orbiter will then leave the orbit of Mars and set off on a yearly journey to Earth - after that the Earth Entry Vehicle will be released and enter our atmosphere, and the ERO will go into the orbit of the sun.

The Earth Entry Vehicle is scheduled to land in the Utah desert, where samples will be collected and immediately quarantined before they can be safely tested. Or at least that is the plan, because, as always in such cases, many things can go wrong, but ESA does not intend to risk at least one, so an experienced company, Airbus, will be responsible for the design and construction of the Earth Return Orbiter.

Its representatives do not hide their joy from such a turn of events: - We gather the full strength of our experience gained with Rosetta, Mars Express, Venus Express, Gaia, ATV, BepiColombo and JUICE to ensure the success of this mission. Delivering the samples from Mars to Earth will be a remarkable event taking interplanetary science to a whole new level and Airbus is excited to take on this challenge, comments Jean-Marc Nasr, head of Airbus Space Systems.

Scientists from the Australian national research agency CSIRO set out to see how the novel coronavirus fares in terms of persistence on surfaces compared to the flu virus.

From the mouth of the so-called Coronersceptics can often hear that Covid-19 is actually a slightly different flu, and the whole pandemic has been blown up too much. Scientists, who have been in contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus for several long months, prove with each passing day that although the symptoms may be similar, we are dealing with two different diseases, and in many respects. And the latest research provides information on how long viruses last on different surfaces and under different conditions, suggesting that things like cold, glass, stainless steel and banknotes significantly extend the life of the virus that causes Covid-19, which defeats the flu virus by a full 10 days . CSIRO researchers found that on some common surfaces, such as banknotes and smartphone displays, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive up to 28 days, and their tests at the Australian Center for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) can be summarized as follows - the virus :

- lives longer in low temperatures,

lives longer in low temperatures,

- lives longer on non-porous smooth surfaces such as glass, stainless steel and vinyl compared to porous surfaces such as cotton

lives longer on non-porous smooth surfaces such as glass, stainless steel and vinyl compared to porous surfaces such as cotton

- lives longer on paper notes than on plastic ones.

lives longer on paper notes than on plastic ones.

CSIRO's chief executive, Dr. Larry Marshall, says virus survival research builds on the agency's work to date on Covid-19, such as testing vaccines, waste water, conservation measures, and more. - Determining how long the virus remains active on different surfaces allows us to more accurately predict and prevent its spread, that is, to better protect our citizens - he explains. Dr Debbie Eagles, working both on better understanding the virus and testing potential vaccines, adds: `` Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 remains contagious on surfaces for a very long time, a reminder of good practices like regular washing hands and frequently used surfaces. At 20 ℃, or around room temperature, the virus remains extremely potent, surviving 28 days on smooth surfaces such as glass on displays or plastic banknotes. For comparison, the influenza A virus survives 17 days under similar conditions, which shows how strong and resistant SARS-CoV-2 is.

Scientists used a concentration of the virus torrent websites directory to that observed in samples from infected patients, and after testing at room temperature, they switched to those at 30 and 40 ℃, which, as you can easily guess, negatively affected the virus's survival ability. Researchers also focused on conducting a study in the dark to rule out the influence of UV radiation, because, as shown by other tests, it can instantly deactivate the coronavirus. As Dr. Eagles adds, although we still do not know exactly what role surface transmission plays, it is useful to know how long the virus is dangerous on frequently used surfaces to know how to possibly protect yourself from infection in this way.

In recent years, we have had many convenient payment options at our disposal, including a smartphone or a smart watch, but this is still nothing compared to the latest Pay Eye offer.

Yes, the name of the company shows well what payments the Wroclaw company is targeting - this one has developed an innovative method of paying by looking, which until recently suited more science-fiction films than our reality. Meanwhile, the future is happening before our eyes, because this method of payment can be used in 60 places (restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, gas stations or car washes) and, as Stefan Augustyn from Pay Eye says in an interview with RMF FM: witnesses of the revolution, because in fact something that has been talked about for years or we could only watch it, for example, only in the cinema, we started to put into practice.

It's hard to disagree with it, because although we are familiar with biometric security, we use fingerprint readers or face scanning on a daily basis, it is another thing to protect your smartphone and make such payments. The creators of the solution, however, ensure that it is completely safe, both for our eyesight (here we use certified devices with infrared cameras that are not harmful to the eyes) and for our wallet. It is now recognized that iris scanning is the safest biometric security feature, as each iris is different - even for one person, right and left are different.

How does it all work? Pay Eye explains that the system scans the iris and then turns the image into a unique code that is used for payment. Interestingly, however, you do not need to carry out tipsdump complicated registration at the company's headquarters and it is enough to go to its website, where we will make a simple verification. Thanks to this, we will get access to a virtual wallet, which we top up with any amount we want to spend on purchases - this means that our funds on the account are safe, because the payment is not made directly from it. Later, all you have to do is go to one of the 60 payment points with your eyes, where the iris pattern will be downloaded and we can pay this way also in the others.

What's more, Pay Eye also has an idea for further applications for its system: - (...) we want to further develop the biometric system. We believe that it can be useful, for example, in controlling access to buildings, where not everyone should have access to specific zones. I also think that the participation or identification of participants in mass events can also take place thanks to the use of identification with the iris of the eye. It can also be used, for example, for identification at the airport, it can also be used in public administration, where you need to directly verify someone if this is the person they say they are - explains Augustyn in the above-mentioned interview.

The idea itself seems very interesting and allows you to solve the problematic front webcam once and for all, which interferes with achieving real frameless designs, but on the other hand ...

... it's scary to think how easy it will be to lose such a tiny module. Nevertheless, Vivio has always focused on the originality of its designs and liked to go ahead, especially when it comes to cameras. It is enough to mention this year's Vivo Apex, which is the first smartphone with a camera under the display, and at the same time the successor of the model that first presented a retractable camera. Now, the Chinese manufacturer is going one step further and presents a camera module that we can simply detach from the smartphone - interestingly, Vivo has officially confirmed that the detachable webcam is a standalone device that can also be used after removing the phone.

"The user can detach the camera module and control it remotely, which allows for innovative angles and application scenarios," explains the company's representative to the Android Authority. No wonder that the RedDot website, which awards its awards for the most interesting and innovative solutions, appreciated the concept of the Chinese manufacturer. However, this does not change the fact that we are not sure whether IFEA, because this is the name of a smartphone with a detachable camera, will even hit the market. As Vivo claims, work is still underway to assess the potential use of this technology in consumer products - is its cost too high, or maybe the company is afraid of fans' reaction?

It's hard to say, but the detachable module promises to be a real revolution, because as we can read on the Red Dot website, the webcam works by default in the retractable mode, but if we want, we can also remove it from the device. What's more, it can also be controlled by voice, which significantly increases its range of possibilities - we can hold it in our hand or place it in some place, and then move away to take a great shot. - IFEA has many accessories and support mechanisms with different modes top web tutorials operation to increase stability and storage options. As a result, videos can be recorded while walking or playing sports, without any compromise on visual stability, the product summary reads. In addition, it should be mentioned that the IFEA was also equipped with a traditional rear camera, so the detachable module will not function as the main unit and boasts a frameless design with a display covering the entire front of the smartphone, which looks phenomenal. By the way, we would also like to remind you that Vivo will officially start selling its devices in Europe on October 20, so when IFEA is ready for its debut, we will have the opportunity to buy it without having to save ourselves from imports.

It is safe to say that the 20s of the 21st century will be full of presentations of more and more advanced robots, the aim of which will be to make friends with people and become our best friends.

At least this is the idea behind the representatives of Engineered Arts. They designed and built a very intriguing humanoid robot named Owen. The engineers' goal was to make it as human as possible. It must be admitted that robotics experts have outdone themselves and brought such inventions to a whole new, previously unavailable level.

Most of the elements that make up Owen were produced with 3D printers. The robot can best tips online of having real human hair and synthetic leather. The machine by Engineered Arts has very realistic facial expressions. You could even say that at the moment it is leading the world in this respect.

You can have an interesting conversation with Owen, which you can see in the published footage. The machine has advanced artificial intelligence technologies called Mesmer and is not ashamed to use them. Engineered Arts is committed to continually improving their humanoid, and even creating other versions of it for different uses.

Many futurologists have news that the future will belong to such machines. They will help us in our daily lives and even become our best friends. In times of a pandemic, people are very happy to adopt animals so that they do not suffer from loneliness in isolation. In the future, animals will be replaced by such androids.

China is growing into a global power in terms of autonomous technologies. There are already autonomous metro trains, trams, trucks and taxis in the cities, and now it's time for large buses.

Changsha aims to become the largest smart city in the world and a role model for everyone. The government wants to encourage citizens to give up ownership of vehicles in a number of different ways. Electric cars use the most electric cars on the roads there, and tourists are driven by autonomous taxis, so it's finally time for self-driving buses.

CRRC Corporation Limited, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer of bus and railway rolling stock, helped to achieve this beautiful vision. The first fully autonomous buses with a very durable and efficient electric drive have just appeared on the city streets. So we are dealing here with ecology with capital E.

Each of the vehicles is equipped with a camera system, radars and sensors, and its location is constantly monitored by satellite navigation with an accuracy of 1 centimeter. Autonomous technologies exchange information with the base via the super-fast 5G network.

Chinese engineers made sure that the bus surveillance software was resistant to cyber attacks. If hackers could take control of the buses, the consequences would be dire. So torrent sites directory the tests are going perfectly.

The authorities are sure that the future will belong to such intelligent technologies based on artificial intelligence. It is them that ensure that residents and tourists will quickly and safely reach their destination, the city will become more ecological, and the authorities will make considerable savings by reducing the continuous problems in public transport that affect such large urban complexes.

NASA shows us once again the largest planet of the solar system in all its glory. This time we can see a spacecraft fly over a large part of this gas globe.

It is worth emphasizing here that the animation was based on real images of the planet's atmosphere made by the Juno probe, which has been orbiting Jupiter for several years. So we have the opportunity to see this fascinating globe practically as if we were admiring it in reality.

The animation was prepared by Kevin Gill, a specialist in multimedia data analysis at NASA. From time to time he publishes on his YouTube channel breathtaking images of alien planets that are currently explored by the American Space Agency and shows us these worlds in such a way that we feel that we are there.

The animation was based on 41 images made by an instrument called JunoCam, which is on board the Juno probe. The data was collected during the device's 27th near-flight over the planet's atmosphere. The images were taken from only 3,400 kilometers from its upper layers.

Among them we can see the Great Red Spot. It is a giant oval of red clouds in Jupiter's southern hemisphere, 16,000 kilometers in diameter and has been raging for at least 350 years. The Juno data show that the most famous storm in the solar system is 1.3 times the diameter of the Earth, with its base 300 kilometers below the planet's apparent atmosphere.

This phenomenon reaches 50-100 times deeper than the deepest oceans on Earth, and is warmer at its base than at its top. The winds blowing in it are related to the temperature differences, and the heat that characterizes the base of the tech boss explains the strong winds recorded at its top.

Yesterday, Boom Supersonic presented an introduction to the revolution in aviation of the 21st century. We are talking about the XB-1 prototype, which in a few years will turn into the fastest passenger plane in the world.

The plans are ambitious, because it is to be the first fully economically viable passenger supersonic aircraft in the history of aviation. This could not be said about the famous Concordes, so they eventually stopped flying. After the successful test of the XB-1 technology demonstrator next year, in 2025, Boom intends to start selling the first units of its super-fast and luxurious passenger jet, Overture. The machine is to fly at speeds of up to 2700 km / h.

The XB-1 prototype measures 21.6 meters and is equipped with three J8-15 engines from General Electric, which together generate over 5,440 kilograms of thrust. Interestingly, the engines were created in the 1950s, but Bom has significantly modified them and now they are even 3 times more efficient. The hull of the machine was largely made of 3D-printed carbon composites. The prototype can fly 10 percent faster than the famous Concorde.

Aviation experts say that the future is super-fast, supersonic passenger jets that will shorten the travel time between world metropolises by up to 3-4 times. Everything indicates that it will happen faster than everyone previously assumed. Representatives of Boom Supersonic inform that techguides flights with their machine will cost about PLN 20,000. According to them, this is a very affordable amount for such fast and comfortable travel around the world.

According to the company's plans, Overture is to take 55 passengers on board and in comfortable conditions, at a speed of 2700 km / h, take them from New York to London in approx. 3 hours and 15 minutes, and from Sydney to Los Angeles in 6 hours. It is worth emphasizing here that regular flights by passenger planes on the first route last about 8 hours, and on the second - nearly 14 hours.

Boeing recently announced it has a plan to build even faster aircraft. Apparently, for some time the company has been developing an innovative drive that will allow passenger planes to accelerate in the air to a dizzying 6,000 km / h. The Chinese also have such visions. Their planes using next-generation jet propulsion are expected to travel through the air at speeds in excess of 8,000 km / h.

The American Space Agency is developing a variety of technologies that will allow humanity to return to the moon and stay there forever. The Silver Globe is set to become a stop on the way to Mars.

NASA has just become interested in the Olympus project. It is developed by the native Texas-based company ICON. Its engineers are developing innovative technology to build bases on the moon. It provides for the use of advanced 3D printers and materials available on the Silver Globe surface to build a colony. While this is not a new idea, the Texans already have the technology in place to finally make it happen.

ICON has started cooperation with the Marshall Space Flight Center, which belongs to NASA. There, scientists will test their concepts in practice. It is worth emphasizing here that the company exchanges experience with engineers from SEArch and BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. They both prepare concepts for space construction based on projects obtained from competitions organized by the European Space Agency.

NASA intends to start building the first colony on the moon in the 20s of the 21st century. Astronauts will first live in landers and later in mobile bases on wheels. Ultimately, however, these will be bases made of, for example, regolith, i.e. lunar dust.

“From the very beginning of ICON's existence, we thought about building outside the world. It is a surprisingly natural progress if you ask about ways to create additive construction and 3D printing for a better future for mankind "..." I am convinced that learning to noob homepage on other worlds will also provide the necessary breakthroughs to solve the housing problems we face in this world "Said Jason Ballard, ICON co-founder and CEO.