United News of Bangladesh

While China’s national men’s football team continues to disappoint on the international stage, humanoid robots are capturing attention in Beijing — not for their athletic skills, but for the cutting-edge AI technology behind them. On Saturday night, four teams of humanoid robots competed in fully autonomous 3-on-3 football matches, powered entirely by artificial intelligence. The event, promoted as the first of its kind in China, also served as a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, scheduled to be held in Beijing. Organizers highlighted that the robots played the matches without any human control, relying solely on AI-based strategies and decision-making. Outfitted with sophisticated visual sensors, the robots could track the ball and maneuver around the field with surprising agility. They were even programmed to pick themselves up after falling. Still, in a display of realism, some robots had to be carried off on stretchers after toppling over during play. China launches powerful hydrogen generator to cut emissions China is ramping up efforts to advance AI-driven humanoid robots, using sports such as marathons, boxing, and football as testing grounds to refine their performance in real-world scenarios. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics—the company that provided the robot players—described sports competitions as ideal environments to develop the complex interaction between hardware, software, and AI algorithms. Cheng also underlined the importance of safety, especially with future plans for human-robot matches. “In the future, we might organize football games between robots and humans. For that to happen, we must guarantee absolute safety,” Cheng explained. “These matches wouldn’t focus on winning or losing but would allow for real offensive and defensive interactions. That’s how we can build public trust and show that robots are safe.” Booster Robotics supplied the hardware for all four university teams, while the universities themselves developed the AI algorithms for perception, game strategy, formations, and passing — considering variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final, Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University’s Mountain Sea team with a 5-3 scoreline to claim the championship. Tsinghua supporter Mr. Wu cheered his team’s victory but also praised the competition.“THU performed really well,” he said. “But the Mountain Sea team from Agricultural University also exceeded expectations. It was a thrilling match.” China’s men’s football team, meanwhile, has only qualified for the World Cup once and has already been eliminated from next year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

A homegrown hydrogen internal combustion engine generator set has been put into commercial operation in central China's Hubei Province, contributing to exhaust gas treatment and the reduction of carbon emissions, the China Science Daily reported Wednesday. The 300-kilowatt generator set -- the most powerful of its kind in China -- has been jointly developed by Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Yuchai Power and ONEST-POWER. It is designed to directly utilize hydrogen-rich industrial exhaust gas to generate electricity. Industrial exhaust gas requires purification before it can be used for power generation. However, this generator can directly use hydrogen-rich exhaust gas, cutting purification costs by approximately 40 percent. It also boasts a power generation efficiency of over 42 percent. During its trial operation in a chemical industrial park in Hubei, the generator set converted 500,000 standard cubic meters of waste hydrogen into 8 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 7,000 households. How ChatGPT and other AI tools are changing the teaching profession It is estimated that one such generator set operating 6,000 hours annually can consume 1.4 million standard cubic meters of hydrogen and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,362 tonnes per year -- equivalent to the carbon sequestration of 74,000 trees. According to the developer, chemical industrial parks across China can recycle up to 4.5 million tonnes of by-product hydrogen annually. Even if only a portion of this hydrogen is used for power generation, such generator sets could make a substantial contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

After years of ambitious promises and delays, Elon Musk’s long-touted vision of Tesla “robotaxis” is finally hitting the road — albeit modestly — with a small pilot program launched in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. Tesla began testing 10 to 12 self-driving taxis in a limited, geofenced area of Austin, with each ride costing a flat fee of \$4.20. The vehicles are being remotely monitored and have a person in the passenger seat to intervene if needed, as reported by AP.  Musk took to X to share the news, writing, “The @Tesla\_AI robotaxi launch begins in Austin this afternoon with customers paying a \$4.20 flat fee!” The test run marks a significant moment for Tesla, especially after repeated delays since Musk first promised autonomous taxis back in 2019. At the time, he said they would be operational “next year,” a promise he repeated annually without fulfillment. Most recently, in early 2023, Musk claimed Tesla would have “over a million robotaxis” on the road by 2024. While only a dozen vehicles are active now, Musk has vowed rapid expansion of the service, predicting “hundreds of thousands if not a million vehicles next year.” However, industry analysts remain skeptical. “How quickly can he expand the fleet?” asked Garrett Nelson, an analyst at CFRA. “We're talking maybe a dozen vehicles initially. It's very small." Tesla faces growing pressure from several fronts. Political backlash and boycotts linked to Musk’s statements have contributed to plunging sales. Competitors, including Waymo — which just celebrated its 10 millionth paid ride — have pulled ahead with more mature self-driving technology. Waymo uses a sensor suite combining cameras, radar, and lidar, in contrast to Tesla’s camera-only system. Despite recent turbulence, including a \$150 billion stock decline after Musk’s public clash with President Biden, Tesla’s stock has shown resilience, closing Friday at \$322, up from about \$18 a decade ago. Critics have long challenged Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system, arguing it’s misleadingly named and not truly autonomous. Federal safety regulators and the Department of Justice have investigated FSD following accidents and lawsuits, though some legal challenges have been dismissed. In one such case, a judge ruled plaintiffs failed to prove Musk “knowingly” made false claims. Space station leak concerns can delay astronaut visit from India, Poland, Hungary Nonetheless, Musk insists that the improved FSD will power Tesla’s robotaxis safely and allow for swift nationwide rollout. His strategy includes transforming existing Teslas on the road into robotaxis via an over-the-air software update. Owners would be able to earn money by adding their vehicles to the fleet while they’re at work or away, a model Musk compared to Airbnb. “Instead of having your car sit in the parking lot, your car could be earning money,” Musk said earlier this year. “You will be able to add or subtract your car to the fleet.” Musk also maintains that Tesla’s reliance on cameras rather than expensive sensors gives the company an edge in scaling operations quickly. “Tesla will have, I don’t know, 99% market share or something ridiculous,” he said during a recent investor call. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities remains optimistic: “This time Musk may actually pull it off because of Tesla's ability to scale up quickly.” And while analysts like Goldstein remain cautious, they admit Musk has defied expectations before. “Maybe his timelines aren’t realistic,” Goldstein said, “but he can develop futuristic technology products.”

A Chinese research team has developed a new remote-sensing satellite model, which has for the first time achieved the high-precision, dynamic calculation of CO2 emissions from large coal-fired power plants, providing a new solution for global carbon emissions monitoring. Coal-fired power plants account for nearly 50 per cent of the total carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion globally. They are a crucial component in the estimation of carbon emissions resulting from human activity. The precise, scientific calculation of carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants is of significant importance. However, established calculation methods depend heavily on the product of fuel consumption reported by power plants and carbon emissions factors, which makes estimations difficult to compare and verify. Current remote-sensing satellite technology can also result in inversion errors as high as 50 per cent due to background interference and atmospheric instability. SpaceX rocket explodes during test in Texas The research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Aerospace Information Research Institute optimized algorithms and constructed this new model to quantify the CO2 emissions of 14 large coal-fired power plants around the world based on satellite data, significantly improving inversion accuracy. According to the team's recent paper in the Journal of Cleaner Production, the new model provides an objective, effective means for the verification of carbon emissions from key global sources, and offers a scientific basis for carbon-trading auditing and the calibration of emissions reduction policies. 

A SpaceX rocket undergoing testing at the company’s Starbase facility in southern Texas exploded late Wednesday, lighting up the night sky with a large fireball. According to SpaceX, the Starship vehicle suffered a “major anomaly” around 11 p.m. while it was stationed on the test stand in preparation for its tenth flight trial. Space station leak concerns can delay astronaut visit from India, Poland, Hungary In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX confirmed that a safety perimeter was in place during the test and that all staff members were safe and accounted for. The company, led by CEO Elon Musk, assured that the explosion posed no risk to nearby communities and advised the public against approaching the area. SpaceX added that it is coordinating with local authorities in response to the incident.  

Imagine spending more than 50 days living and working hundreds of miles above the Earth. That has been the real-life experience of China’s Shenzhou-20 astronauts — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie — aboard the Tiangong Space Station. Far from a peaceful retreat, their mission has been a busy one. A short video released Monday by China’s state broadcaster CCTV offered a glimpse into their “space business trip,” highlighting a packed schedule filled with scientific experiments, routine health monitoring, and maintenance work — all essential tasks to support future space exploration efforts. According to a report by CCTV, the three astronauts are in good health, and the various space science experiments are progressing steadily. Led by experienced astronaut Chen Dong, the crew began their six-month mission after launching into orbit on April 24. Space station leak concerns can delay astronaut visit from India, Poland, Hungary Over the past week, they devoted substantial time to space medicine research. During their research, they have explored fundamental aspects of cognitive function in microgravity, focusing on teamwork dynamics, self-awareness in isolation and how astronauts perceive motion, depth, and relationships absent Earth's gravity. These studies are critical for ensuring safe operations during spacewalks and complex tasks. In addition, they also conducted routine vascular ultrasound scans tracked changes in cardiovascular function over time and used apparatus to capture subtle changes in control and coordination during precise tasks like equipment operation or sample handling, according to the report. On the front of life science, they focused on the "effects and mechanisms of space microgravity on microorganisms" experiment. The video showed that in Tiangong's specialized biotechnology experiment rack, the crew observed the growth, developmental patterns, and bioactive compound synthesis of Streptomyces bacteria in weightlessness. This research is expected to reveal new biological adaptations and potential applications for space-based pharmaceutical research. The crew carefully sampled liquid cultures, preserving the samples for their eventual journey back to Earth. Another highlight of their daily routine, in addition to the meticulous space station upkeep, is their rigorous exercise to counter the physical toll of microgravity. The video captures the astronauts running on a treadmill in the space module. Beyond exercise, the crew undergoes regular checkups like detailed heart monitoring and blood pressure tracking. They also participate in unique health assessments based on traditional Chinese medicine principles, according to the report. China's space station has now hosted over 200 scientific projects, with nearly 2 tonnes of scientific materials and applied equipment sent to orbit and nearly 100 experimental samples returned to Earth, according to the China Manned Space Agency.  

A chartered spaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary’s first astronauts in decades has been delayed indefinitely because of leak concerns at the International Space Station. NASA said Thursday that it wants to monitor the cabin pressure on the Russian side of the orbiting lab before accepting visitors. Officials stressed that the seven astronauts currently at the space station are safe and that other operations up there aren't affected. SpaceX was supposed to launch four private astronauts this week on a 14-day space station mission, but bad weather and SpaceX rocket trouble delayed the flight. Then the station leak issue cropped up. The Russian Space Agency has been dealing with a cabin pressure leak at the station, and recent repairs resulted in what NASA calls “a new pressure signature.” Additional details were not immediately available. The three Russians aboard the space station recently inspected the inside walls of the aging Zvezda service module, which was launched in 2000. They sealed some areas and measured the current leak rate. “Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure,” NASA said in an online update. Japan's private lunar lander crashes in second failed moon mission The private mission's delay provides extra time for NASA and the Russian Space Agency “to evaluate the situation” and determine whether more repairs are needed. The chartered flight was arranged by the Houston company Axiom Space, and was to be Axiom's fourth trip to the space station with paying customers since 2022. “This is the right thing to do,” Axiom Space's executive chairman Kam Ghaffarian said in a written statement. “We will continue to work with all of our partners to finalize a new launch date.”

A newly discovered carnivorous caterpillar on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has earned the nickname “bone collector” for its eerie habit of wearing the remains of its prey. This unique insect prowls along spiderwebs, feeding on insects caught in the web and using their body parts—like ant heads and fly wings—to decorate its silk case. While Hawaii is home to several caterpillars that build protective cases from natural materials like lichen and sand, this is the first known to use the body parts of other insects. “Carnivorous caterpillars already do some wild things, but this one really stands out,” said Dan Rubinoff, a researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Google's parent begins year with robust growth despite legal, competitive and economic threats Scientists believe the bizarre decoration may serve as camouflage, helping the caterpillar avoid detection by the spiders whose webs it raids. The research, published Thursday in Science, reveals that these caterpillars are extremely rare—only 62 have been spotted in over two decades of fieldwork. Not only do these caterpillars feed on other insects, but they are also cannibalistic, sometimes turning on each other. Their lineage dates back over 6 million years, predating the Hawaiian islands themselves. Today, they cling to survival in a remote mountain forest, threatened by invasive species and habitat loss. “This discovery highlights the urgent need for stronger conservation efforts,” Rubinoff emphasized.    

China was making final preparations for the launch on Thursday of a three-person replacement crew for its orbiting space station that will mark a further step toward a possible crewed mission to the Moon and exploration of Mars. The Shenzhou 20 mission is scheduled to blast off Thursday evening from a launch center in Jiuquan, on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China, reports AP. The Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” space station has made China a major contender in space, especially since it was entirely Chinese-built after the country was excluded from the International Space Station over US national security concerns. China's space program is controlled by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. The addition of mechanical arms to the three-module station has also raised concerns from some that China could use them to disable satellites or other space vehicles during a crisis. How to catch the shooting stars of spring’s first meteor shower, the Lyrids Since first launching a man into space in 2003 — becoming only the third country to do so — China's space program has advanced at a steady pace. The space agency has also landed an explorer on Mars and a rover on the less-explored far side of the Moon, and aims to put a person on the Moon before 2030. The Shenzhou, or “Celestial Vessel,” 20 mission will be commanded by Chen Dong, who is making his third flight. He will be accompanied by fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie, both making their maiden voyages, according to the China Manned Space Agency. They will replace three astronauts currently on the Chinese space station. Like those before them, they will stay on board for roughly six months. The space ship is due to be launched into space atop China's workhorse Long March 2F rocket at 5:17 pm local time (0917 GMT) and reach the Tiangong about 6.5 hours later. The three-person crew was sent in October last year and they have been in space for 175 days. They are due to return on April 29 after a brief overlap with their replacements. The Tiangong, fully assembled in October 2022, can accommodate up to six people at a time. While in space, the astronauts will conduct experiments in medical science and new technologies and perform space walks to carry out maintenance and install new equipment, the Manned Space Agency said.

Dhaka, April, 21 (AP/UNB)---When the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak, it will be spring’s first chance to see shooting stars. The Lyrids have surprised skygazers in the past with as many as 100 meteors per hour, but it’s not predicted to be as active this time around. Scientists claim discovery of 'new colour' never seen by humans During Tuesday morning’s peak, expect to see around six meteors per hour, said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota. The waning crescent moon will be 40% full, meaning a decent level of visibility under clear and dark conditions. Viewing lasts until April 26. Here’s what to know about the Lyrids and other meteor showers.   What is a meteor shower? As the Earth orbits the sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The source of the Lyrids is debris from the comet Thatcher. When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail — the end of a “shooting star.” You don’t need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights.   How to view a meteor shower The best time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours when the moon is low in the sky. Competing sources of light — such as a bright moon or artificial glow — are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities. And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren’t checking your phone. When is the next meteor shower? The next major meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids, peaks in early May. END/UNB/AP/MA