NASA has given Elon Musk’s SpaceX permission to destroy the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030.

The space station has been continually occupied since 2000 by astronauts doing more than 3,300 scientific experiments above our heads.

But the countries operating the ISS only agreed to run it until 2030 at the latest.

Since 1998, the US, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada have maintained different sections of the ISS. The agreements to jointly run the space station marked a new era of global cooperation after the Cold War.

But when those agreements run out, the space station will need to be brought out of orbit and Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been given the $843m (£666.4m) contract to do it.

The company will build a vehicle to tow the space station through the atmosphere where it will “destructively break up”, according to NASA.

Crash landing

It will then crash into the ocean, away from populated areas, along with the SpaceX vehicle.

“The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all,” said Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate.

While SpaceX will develop the deorbit spacecraft, NASA will take ownership after development and operate it throughout its mission.

Read more from Sky News:‘Miracle’ Parkinson’s treatment ends tremorsHuge streamer admits to ‘inappropriate’ messages to minorHow to opt out of your Instagram posts being fed into AI

But once the ISS is destroyed, low-orbit will not lie empty.

Private companies including SpaceX, Axiom, Blue Origin and Vast are developing commercial space stations that could launch as soon as next year.

“[Selecting the deorbit vehicle] supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” said Mr Bowersox.

The ISS costs the various space agencies €100bn (£84.6bn) to run, according to the European Space Agency, over 30 years.

NASA said the agency is transitioning to “commercially owned space destinations closer to home”.

Astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to take shelter last night after a Russian satellite broke into more than 100 pieces.

The nine astronauts living on the space station were told to shelter in their respective spacecraft, according to NASA, after the debris was spotted.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams boarded their Starliner spacecraft, the Boeing-built capsule that has been docked since June 6 in its first crewed test mission on the station.

Read more: Why two NASA astronauts are stuck in space

Three of the other US astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut went into SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule that flew them to the station in March.

The sixth US astronaut joined the two remaining cosmonauts in their Russian Soyuz capsule that ferried them there in September last year.

The astronauts emerged from their spacecraft roughly an hour later and resumed their normal work on the station, NASA said.

Russian missile theory

There were no immediate details on what caused the break-up of the Russian Earth observation satellite, which was declared dead in 2022.

Read more from Sky News:Famous streamer admits to ‘inappropriate’ messages to minorSpaceX given permission to destroy the International Space StationMicrobes cling to ISS – here’s why astronauts are trying to collect them

Experts thought it was unlikely Russia shot it down with a ground-based anti-satellite missile.

“I find it hard to believe they would use such a big satellite as an ASAT target,” said Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell. “But, with the Russians these days, who knows?”

Russia sparked strong criticism in 2021 when it struck one of its defunct satellites in orbit with a missile launched from its Plesetsk rocket site.

The blast, testing a weapon system ahead of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, created thousands of pieces of orbital debris.

Mr McDowell and other analysts speculated the break-up could have been caused by a problem with the satellite, such as leftover fuel on board causing an explosion.

US Space Command, tracking the debris swarm, said there was no immediate threat to other satellites.

The launch of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro will without a doubt have a heavy AI focus. Google just spent an entire Google I/O talking nothing but AI and the applications they believe will arrive in the near future. There’s just no way they wouldn’t follow that up with more AI chatter around their own flagship devices. The Pixel 9 launch will also be an AI launch.

A part of that launch could be the first arrival of “Google AI,” according to a new report. Google AI will essentially be the name for all of the AI magic a Pixel can do, because underneath Google AI is Gemini, the AI that so many Android phones already have access to.

A screenshot shared by Android Authority shows this Google AI with a set of features that includes Gemini, Circle to Search, Add Me, Screenshots, and Studio. Those final 3 in the list are what may be new when Google AI launches.

What do all of these new features do? To be honest, we don’t really know, but this is what the screenshot says:

Add Me: Make sure everyone’s included in a group photo
Screenshots: Find the info you need from screenshots
Studio: You imagine it. Pixel creates it.

Because we have no other info to go on, everyone is just guessing at what these could be. The “Add Me” feature sounds like Google might cook up a way to include people in a photo that may have been around an event, yet missed out on the big group photo. That’s odd and creepy, but maybe it’ll be great? As for “Screenshots,” this could be a feature where Google looks through all of the screenshots you’ve ever taken and finds data from them, as well as related data from the time you took the screenshot to return results. And finally, “Studio” could be a built-in image or video generation tool beyond just the wallpaper maker that Pixel phones have now.

I’m still processing these ideas while not trying to get too caught up in our guesses being correct. The general takeaway here should just be that the Pixel 9 is going to introduce a blanket AI term called “Google AI.” Google can do a lot with that.

Stay tuned for August 13.

// Android Authority

Google revealed in its 2024 Environmental Report released this week that the company’s greenhouse gas emissions jumped nearly 50 percent in the last five years. The culprit? Energy-hungry artificial intelligence (AI).

The annual report details Google’s progress (or, in this case, lack thereof) toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This year’s report revealed that Google released 14.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023. That’s up 48 percent from 2019 and 13 percent higher than 2022.

“This result is primarily due to increases in data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions. As we further integrate AI into our products, reducing emissions may be challenging due to increasing energy demands associated with the expected increases in our technical infrastructure investment,” the report said.

Of course, Google isn’t alone in this. Microsoft recently revealed that its greenhouse gas emissions had increased almost 30 percent since 2020 due to the construction of data centres. And other tech giants, including Apple, Meta and Amazon, are investing heavily in AI, which will likely see further emissions increases from those companies too. It’s not just training AI or operating data centres — using AI also consumes significant amounts of energy. As pointed out by Engadget, researchers at AI startup Hugging Face and Carnegie Mellon University found that generating a single image with AI could use as much power as charging a smartphone.

Water use is also of concern, with Google’s report highlighting that its data centres and offices used 24 billion litres of water in 2023, up 14 percent from 2022, “primarily due to water cooling needs at our data centres.”

All this raises some serious questions about the proliferation of AI. Is it really worth all this just so Google Search can tell people to put glue on their pizza or for Google’s Gemini to generate images of ethnically diverse Nazis?

Google’s report says the company expects emissions to rise (no surprise, given it plans to incorporate Google AI into the Pixel 9 series) “before dropping toward our absolute emissions reduction target.” But the company doesn’t explain why it will drop.

Distributed also on: Google Via: Engadget

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We have only a few months until September which has been officially booked by Apple to launch its iconic products, led by the iPhone lineup. I think if you are even a little bit interested in technology, you must already notice the buzz all over the internet and social media, filled with people’s predictions, guesses, early “confirmations” about Apple plans and leaks, a lot of leaks, from software updates to hardware wireframes. Yes, we love Apple but does it really love us back with such determination?

Okay, the figurative speech aside, there is a big group of people who don’t feel satisfied with what Apple does. Don’t get this wrong, they are still ready to pay more than a thousand dollars for a new iPhone, but the innovation they expect is coming very slowly, at least compared to Samsung, Apple’s biggest rival, which has already introduced its AI capabilities.

It’s important to consider the truth that Apple is not trying to impress with innovations but with safe and intuitive products, which require time to implement and then only pass to the customer. Meanwhile, someone is sitting in front of their Macbook and trying to play the latest game but gets more and more convinced that other PCs may perform way too well, for instance. So, let’s start with this part.

Let’s be real – Apple products excel in many areas, but hardcore gaming performance just isn’t one of their strong suits. I’m an Apple super-fan who loves their signature premium design and intuitive user experiences. But when it comes to running demanding game titles, even Apple’s top-tier hardware gets outpaced by custom gaming PCs.

If you wonder about the difference between Mac Vs. Windows gaming experiences, just look at the experience of playing a graphically intense open-world game like Cyberpunk 2077 on a maxed-out M1 Max MacBook Pro versus a high-end gaming device. While the $3,499 MacBook can handle the game at lower settings around 30 fps, a similarly priced $3,000 PC with an RTX 4090 GPU pumps out over 100 fps at ultra settings with raytracing enabled. You’re talking about the difference between choppy, compromised visuals and a completely immersive experience.

The reason is simple – gaming PCs are purpose-built systems optimized for these 3D workloads. They pack powerful discrete GPUs like Nvidia’s latest 40-series cards with up to 24GB of video memory, liquid cooling setups to sustain peak performance, and ultra-fast M.2 NVMe SSD storage to minimize load times. Apple’s all-in-one designs with integrated graphics simply can’t match that level of raw power.

I’m utterly obsessed with the Apple ecosystem, but there’s no denying Spotify’s streaming service seems to consistently out-innovate the music discovery experience versus Apple Music. While Apple has drastically improved their offering, Spotify’s cutting-edge data science and recommendation engines give them a decided advantage.

Take Spotify’s advanced ‘Audio AI’ features like their AI DJ or the all-new ‘AI Utterance’ voice models. These use machine learning to analyze your listening patterns, demographics, and taste profiles to craft incredibly personalized DJ commentary and seamless playlist transitions tailored just for you. It’s like having a knowledgeable music expert as your private curator.

By comparison, Apple Music’s recommendations still feel more rudimentary and standardized. Their approaches like grouping playlists by moods or genres just doesn’t achieve that hyper-personalized user experience Spotify nails so well.

The user numbers underline Spotify’s dominance too. As of Q3 2023, Spotify boasts over 236 million paying subscribers globally versus Apple Music’s estimated 93 million (as of 2024). That incredible scale means Spotify can ingest vastly more listening data to train their AI models. Industry data indicates Spotify tracks over 79 billion monthly plays across its platform versus Apple’s 35 billion.

So while both are excellent services, for music superfans craving that next-gen AI-curated experience, Spotify’s aggressive emphasis on personalization AI gives them the decided edge – at least for now.

We all saw that splashy Meta keynote video where Mark Zuckerberg threw unmistakable shade at Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro mixed reality headset. Calling the $3,499 device “expensive” while claiming Meta’s $1,499 Quest Pro offers a superior extended reality (XR) experience, Zuck was clearly attempting to get out in front of Apple’s invasion into his virtual territory.

In reality, both the Vision Pro and Quest Pro represent enormously expensive bets on an as-yet-unproven consumer XR market. While Meta enjoys a significant cost advantage thanks to their content-neutral, open ecosystem approach, Apple’s track record for premium industrial design and obsessive hardware optimization could give Vision Pro’s experience a serious edge.

Take the Vision Pro’s novel aluminum and curved glass design, for example. With an internal fan, vents, and over a dozen cameras and sensors, it represents a technical marvel of miniaturization and ergonomics – hallmarks of Apple’s renowned hardware chops. The Pro’s ultra high-res displays also output at a silky 120Hz refresh rate for life-like visual fidelity.

By contrast, Meta’s plastic Quest Pro headset looks comparatively toy-ish and low-rent, with LCD panels that max out at 90Hz and less than half the number of cameras. But as always with Apple products, that seamless user experience comes at a premium cost.

Telegram is implementing a new paywall feature for content creators, allowing them to place photos and videos behind a price tag. Snaps, Telegram, snaps!

There’s more than just getting that bag for creators, though. Telegram also announced the mini app bar, with users now able to collapse mini apps into a bar at the bottom of the screen. With this, you’ll be able to respond to messages or open other mini apps, then return to a mini app without waiting for it to load again. Extremely handy.

You can view how the paywall feature works in the short video below.

Other new features for the June update (yes, June) includes the ability to search through stories based on hashtags and location, plus a new Link Widget option for stories.

There’s a bunch of goodies in there. If you use Telegram for more than messaging, I recommend you check out the full blog post by following the link below.

// Telegram

CMF by Nothing is the Nothing company’s more affordable brand, which is now offering a smartphone. This handset, called the Phone 1, is supposed to provide a more customizable and functional experience.

The engineer’s aesthetic.

CMF Phone 1 celebrates technical craftsmanship with its uniquely adaptable nature. Customisable. Functional. Yours.

Learn everything at the next Nothing Community Update on 8 July 2024, 10:00 BST. pic.twitter.com/0fqYkaf4OX

— CMF by Nothing (@cmfbynothing) July 3, 2024

CMF will show off Phone 1 on July 8th, and you can watch the reveal on YouTube.

According to leaker Ishan Agarwal, the handset will offer four swappable back plates in Black, Light Green, Orange and Blue. The Orange and Blue backings also have a vegan leather layer and come with a lanyard.

Rumours indicate the CMF Phone 1 will feature a Dimensity 7300 chipset, a 50-megapixel primary shooter, a 6.7-inch 120Hz refresh rate AMOLED panel, a microSD card slot, a 5,000mAh battery and more.

CMF will introduce the Phone 1 on July 8th alongside the Buds Pro 2 and Watch Pro 2.

Distributed also on: CMF, Android Authority 

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Nintendo of Canada and Boston Pizza are partnering up again for a slew of video game centric promotions.

The strangest element of this crossover will only happen at select Boston Pizza locations in Ontario, B.C., Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec. On Sundays in September, some of these stores will allow patrons to order a Nintendo Switch from the menu that they can use while in the restaurant. The Boston Pizza press release doesn’t mention anything beyond the fact that this console will come pre-loaded with Mario games. I’d expect Mario Kart, Mario Party and maybe the new Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

At all Boston Pizza locations, there will be a new kids menu item featuring a pepperoni and mushroom pizza to celebrate Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom. Some locations will also have a draw that people can enter to win a Switch prize pack or some Nintendo merch.

Distributed also on: Boston Pizza

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Stock trading, from a long time now, has always been considered as one of the most complex and perhaps risky endeavors that are far better left to the large brokerage houses or… the moneyed people of the nation. This is true to an extent, but the world of digitization has opened a new way where equality is given in terms where everyone starts their financial freedom.

In today’s world, where one can decide to work remotely too, one can choose from thousands of applications and websites that provide ‘mainstream’ tools that help anyone who wants – a beginner or a large investor – make money properly, with appropriate knowledge, planning, and support from experts.

Let’s take a look at the top collaborative investment applications and websites, including their distinctive features, capabilities, and potential for both rookie and seasoned investors.

And if you’re seeking a structured pathway to unraveling the world of investments, look no further than Quantum AI website. This website is dedicated to bridging the gap between eager learners and investment education, without indulging in direct investing advice. Its primary goal is to connect those interested in investing with educational institutions that can lead them through their learning experience!

Now, on to the list!

1. Fidelity

Fidelity offers hundreds of stock, mutual fund, ETFs, bond selections and other investments; the favorite of customers due to an easy to navigate Website and many tools, including 15 calculators and real-time quotes. Another feature of Fidelity is the possibility to choose between many managed and self-managed medical expense accounts variable and fixed, recommended for investors independently or by the company on the basis of suitable for novices and experienced investors.

Although it also has many other enticing offers that are exclusively for its consumers, that particular company specifically specializes in the digital estate plan that assists in the protection and passing on of wealth to your loved ones. Besides, the trading commission which was not observed in the platform ensure the individual of another source through which they can make maximum profits The team of professional traders in the respective areas of stock trading also helps the individual in acquiring adequate knowledge on how to succeed in stock trading businesses from the teaming professional traders in the relevant fields of stock trading.

2. Robinhood

Robinhood has grown into a phenomenon in the realm of investment, reshaping upon its entrance the concept of wealth creation for millions of Americans. Since its aim is to bring Accessibility in the conventional investment, this app has erased the hoods in the nature common with monstrously expensive apps, where users can invest with as much as one dollar.

Because of the two funds’ collaborative design, users have access to more than 1,700 stocks researched extensively for easier decision making based on retrieved data and analyses. Besides, the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrencies also falls within the app’s framework, which opens the door to the vast world of digital assets in your investment arsenal.

3. Invstr

Should you be experiencing minimal capital investment for the first time or if you are new in investment, Invstr is that suitable investment app to mentor you. Through the user-friendly design and no-commission purchases, this tool eliminates the scary stuff, letting you try the possibilities without investing a lot of money.

The customized portfolios on Invstr are easy to create and constructed with the support of in-built professional advisers for one’s individual goals and level of risk. Whether you are targeting to trade U. S. stocks and ETFs or exploring to try fractional shares and cryptocurrencies, with Invstr you are going to enjoy your investing experience and witness your portfolios’ performance.

4. Betterment

If moving towards a collaborative investment app user environment is the way to go, then Betterment should be regarded as a pioneer of such an interface, featuring an utterly convenient investment solution enhanced by modern technologies. Betterment is well-known as one of the biggest percentiles of robo-advisors and controls your funds very efficiently, adjusting them for your level of risk and preferences in receiving income.

If you want to invest in climate change and socially responsible investments then you might want to give Betterment a shot. In representing the company’s and your ethical standpoint, it is good for both you and the potential generations as it contributes to the formation of a sustainable environment. Betterment currently provides a strong offering in cash management, combined with specialized features for goal setting; overall, this enables you to have a professionally-managed portfolio at a low cost.

5. Acorns

Acorns savings application has perfectly positioned itself as one of the most popular ones for a reason. This simplicity-free solution relieves the rather cumbersome process of saving and investing from the burden of being complicated; through this platform, users can automate the process of investment, do dividend reinvestment, meaning that, from this platform, you can be assured of your wealth increasing, through investments, consistently. 

They also provide round-up investment functionality where Acorns rounds up users’ purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the additional change into a portfolio of ETFs. What sets it apart from other more traditional types of investment is that this method is highly integrated into what you are already doing in your daily life and there is no initial hefty capital required. Also, Acorns has offered specific investment plans for the family where you can open an investment account for your children/ Stock-Back® for debit products to make sure that the whole family is on the right track to accumulating wealth.

6. Charles Schwab

This is an investment app that offers financial advice for mutual funds to new, moderate, and advance-level investors. It is most notable for their extensive database of research and education materials; they provide a wealth of actionable information for people wishing to improve their financial literacy on finance and investing.

With regards to the criteria that value different approaches to commission- and fee-based trading services, US low-cost brokerage firm Charles Schwab still provides such options as fractional shares as well as commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs that enables investors to invest every single dollar that he or she earned into the securities of one’s’ preference. Moreover, the account has a feature whereby the clients are offered a cash bonus on behalf of the platform provided that a certain minimum amount is funded on the account: an added incentive for anyone who wishes to commence their investment.

7. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

For those who are searching for the no-frills, yet quite satisfactory brokerage firm, the J. P. Morgan is a suitable choice. This investment platform is for users to invest with other people and in addition it offers a multitude of Morningstar and CFRA research tools and other researching materials.

With equal efficacy, Self-Directed Investing Portfolio Builder effectively contributes to construction of a powerful and efficient portfolio with no impediment. The no-commission model, the convenient opportunity to link all the Chase accounts enhancing spending and saving experience like the mentioned by W. L. Silvester option contributes to the demand for this service. Hence, both the new investors and the experienced ones may get benefits with the offers that J. P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers its consumers.

8. M1 Finance

M1 Finance is a feature-rich money management software that appeals to both self-directed traders and those looking for automated investing solutions. It offers a wide range of services. From fractional shares and commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, to user-friendly interfaces and expert-designed portfolios, M1 Finance has something for every investor.

One of the standout features of this collaborative investment platform is its ability to balance multiple financial needs. Whether you’re seeking hands-on trading experience or prefer to let the experts handle the heavy lifting, M1 Finance provides a seamless solution. With low minimum deposit requirements and no extra fees for standard accounts, this platform empowers you to take control of your financial future without breaking the bank.

9. Ellevest 

While Ellevest started with the mission of closing the gender gap in investing, it has since evolved into a platform that welcomes and empowers individuals of all backgrounds, including non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals. This collaborative investment app is a true game-changer for those seeking personalized plans for individual investment and retirement accounts. 

With automated IRA and 401(k)/403(b) rollovers, as well as one-on-one sessions with certified financial planners, Ellevest offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to your unique needs. Furthermore, the personalized suggestions provided by the platform, which are derived from longevity data and gender-specific wage curves, guarantee that your investments are geared towards long-term financial security and growth.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving world of investing, the best collaborative apps and websites have emerged as game-changers, democratizing access to wealth-building opportunities and fostering a supportive community of investors. From user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive educational resources to advanced trading tools and real-time market insights, these platforms cater to the diverse needs of investors at every level.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor seeking advanced trading tools or a newcomer looking to dip your toes into the waters, the collaborative investment landscape offers a wealth of opportunities to grow your wealth, learn from others, and stay ahead of the curve.

So, embrace the power of collaboration, engage with like-minded individuals, and let these best collaborative investment apps and websites be your trusted companions on the path to financial freedom.