Evidence of Martian Microbes May Have Been Accidentally Killed in 1976 Viking Experiments
A scientist hypothesized that NASA's Viking landers in 1976 may have unknowingly discovered and killed microbes living inside Martian rocks during experiments, skewing the results.
Key Facts & Points
- Viking's labeled release and pyrolytic release experiments hinted at metabolic processes, suggesting life.
- But the gas exchange experiment found no clear evidence, so Viking results were deemed inconclusive.
- Adding water may have overwhelmed any extreme, dry-resistant microbes like those in Atacama Desert.
- This could explain the gas traces in some experiments but not in gas exchange.
- Some scientists disagree that new life forms are needed to explain Viking results.
Medieval Wells Named Top UK Tourist Destination
The city of Wells in Somerset was named the top inland destination in the UK in a Which? survey. It scored highly for its medieval cathedral, attractions, scenic beauty, and role in TV/films.
Key Facts & Points
- Wells scored 5 stars for attractiveness and tourist attractions like its medieval cathedral.
- It has featured in TV shows and films like Hot Fuzz, Dungeons & Dragons, and Wolf Hall.
- Avebury, with its 5,000 year old stone circle, came in second place.
- Corfe Castle's ruins and Dorset views placed it joint third.
- Port Sunlight in Merseyside also ranked third, noted for its architecture and quiet charm.
Google Launches New Travel Features to Save Money and Simplify Trip Planning
Google introduced price guarantees, easier hotel search, and attraction booking to help travelers save money and better plan trips.
Key Facts & Points
- Google Flights will now refund travelers if flight prices drop after booking.
- Searching for hotels on mobile is improved with full-screen previews, reviews, maps.
- Google Maps makes booking activities and attractions easier with direct ticket links.
Massive Tonga volcanic eruption caused fastest ocean currents ever recorded
The massive Tonga volcanic eruption in 2022 triggered unprecedentedly fast underwater currents, hitting speeds over 120 km/hr, according to a new study.
Key Facts & Points
- The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted violently, sending rocks, ash and gas racing across the seafloor.
- The flows were faster than those from earthquakes, floods or storms.
- The currents damaged underwater cables connecting Tonga to the world.
- Scientists calculated the speed using the cable damage locations and timings.
Apple Invests Heavily in AI Development
Apple is spending millions per day training advanced AI models like Ajax, which it believes is more powerful than ChatGPT. Multiple teams work on conversational AI, visual AI, and multimodal AI.
Key Facts & Points
- Apple's most advanced AI model is called Ajax, trained on over 200 billion parameters.
- Apple believes Ajax is more advanced than GPT-3.5 that powers ChatGPT.
- Apple has multiple teams working on conversational, visual, and multimodal AI.
- Possible applications include automating AppleCare, improving Siri, and multistep task automation.
- Apple's head of AI, John Giannandrea, has been skeptical of chatbots.
