Category: Technologies

Three leading research groups predict a 1.5°C rise in global temperatures in 2024. Experts recognize the impossibility of achieving the climate goal due to prolonged inaction.

Three of the five leading research groups that monitor global temperatures believe that 2024 will be at least 1.5C (2.7F) hotter. This is because the internationally agreed goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5C has been "deader than a nail in the door" for some time.

Writes UNN with reference to The Guardian.

2024 will once again be the hottest year on record, with temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time.

The goal of avoiding exceeding 1.5C is dead on. It is almost impossible to avoid it now because we have waited too long to act

– said Zeke Housfather, head of climate research at Stripe and a researcher at Berkeley Earth.

Moreover, the expert noted that "we are crossing the 1.5°C threshold at an accelerated pace, and this will continue until global emissions stop rising." The conclusions were confirmed by three of the five leading research groups that monitor global temperatures.

At the same time, diplomats and experts at COP29 keep talking about 1.5°C.

Obviously, 1.5°C is getting harder and harder. Regardless of how difficult it is, I don't want to give up on this goal, knowing full well what harm lies on the other side of that 1.5°C

– said Wopke Hoekstra, European Union Commissioner for Climate Action.

However, the 1.5°C goal now seems more rhetorical than scientifically achievable, unless we take into account the huge amounts of carbon sequestration in the future with the help of yet untested technologies, the Guardian writes.

A new record of CO₂ emissions is expected in 2024: why it matters for the planetNov 13 2024, 08:12 AM • 16320 views

"I never thought that 1.5C was a conceivable goal. I thought it was a ridiculous thing. I'm not surprised at all, like almost all climate scientists, that we're slipping past it at this rate," said Gavin Schmidt, a climate scientist at NASA.

The big problem, climate and policy experts say, is that no one knows what target to adopt next. Should it be 1.6°C, or 1.7°C, or even more? What is realistic but also motivating? Should the new target be a different target temperature or something else?

Countries and companies ignore most of the UN reports on methane emissionsNov 17 2024, 02:49 PM • 20157 views

"If we can't reach 1.5C, it's better to get 1.6C than 1.7C, which would be better than getting 2C or more," experts say.

"In any case, we are not going to have a good result. It is difficult. But every tenth of a degree matters," added Hausfather.

Augmentation

All countries must submit their new climate targets by February. To keep global climate goals ‘alive,’ ‘every country must submit economy-wide National Climate Action Plans (NDCs) that meet the degree limit,’ UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a speech to SOR29. ‘The G20, as the largest source of emissions, should lead the phase-out of fossil fuels.

Recall

Earlier, UNN reported that climate change has made it possible to grow new crops in regions of Ukrainewhere they were not previously grown, creating opportunities for the development of the agricultural sector. This was stated by Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, at the conference "Climate Change: Challenges for Agricultural Education and Science".

Temperature likely to exceed 1.5 degrees in 2024 – World Meteorological OrganizationNov 6 2024, 04:52 PM • 17799 views

A group of people who created an artificial shortage of railway tickets to Europe through unauthorized access to accounts was exposed in Kyiv. The criminals resold tickets at three times the price via social media.

A group of people reselling international railway tickets at triple the price was exposed in Kyiv. The offenders gained unauthorized access to accounts and created an artificial shortage. And then resold the tickets through social media. This was reported by the Cyberpolice, UNN reports .

Details

According to the Cyberpolice, the high demand for rail travel has provoked the emergence of a black market and those wishing to make money by reselling tickets for the most popular flights.

The investigation found that the criminals, gaining unauthorized access to third-party accounts, bought tickets to popular European rail destinations, creating an artificial shortage for other passengers. The criminals then resold the tickets at a price three times higher than their real value on various Internet platforms, including in Telegram groups.

The police identified at least five people who sold "trips" under this scheme and conducted a series of searches at their residences in Kyiv and Kyiv region, from where they seized computers and gadgets containing third-party accounts, bank cards and a large number of purchased tickets to different destinations.

Criminal proceedings were initiated under Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud) and Part 5 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized interference with the operation of information (automated), electronic communication, information and communication systems, electronic communication networks committed during martial law). They face up to fifteen years in prison.

The UN has reported more than 1,200 methane leaks in the oil and gas sector, but only 15 cases have been responded to. Satellite data show that actual emissions are 10 times higher than previous estimates.

While the UN summit is trying to reach an agreement on financing climate projects, hydrocarbon producers are hiding their emissions.

Written by UNN with reference to Rai, France24 and MethaneSAT.

Companies and governments ignore almost all UN reports on methane leaks. This is the result of a new UN report. According to MethaneSAT (a satellite that will monitor methane sources around the Earth), emissions from oil and gas plants are much higher than estimated.

Losses from some large oil and gas fields are 10 times higher than previously thought

The United Nations Environment Program has notified governments and companies of more than 1,200 methane leaks in the oil and gas sector detected using satellite data. However, governments and oil and gas companies have taken action to fix the leaks in only 15 of these cases or have promised the UN that they will take action.

Context

At the COP28 in Dubai in 2023, more than 150 countries committed to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.

For reference

A few tens of kilometers south of Baku, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, an invisible climate-changing gas is leaking into the atmosphere with impunity. In April and June, a sensor mounted on the International Space Station detected six separate plumes of methane (CH4) coming from oil and gas fields on the outskirts of the Azerbaijani capital, where world leaders, negotiators and lobbyists are meeting to agree on funding to fight global warming at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29).

A new record of CO₂ emissions is expected in 2024: why it matters for the planetNov 13 2024, 08:12 AM • 16235 views

In Europe, Romania is the country with the largest oil reserves and the largest number of methane leaks, in part due to the deterioration of its infrastructure. Romania was the first country to start oil production in 1857.

If the new European rules come into force in May 2025, it is not yet clear how Romania, like all other oil-producing countries in the world, will be ready to take actions that are crucial for the climate, according to the article by france24.

Azerbaijani President Links Climate Change to 'Neocolonialism', France Boycotts COP29Nov 14 2024, 08:59 AM • 14997 views

China has unveiled its new stealth fighter, the J-35A, at the Zhuhai Air Show. Experts note that the real capabilities of the aircraft remain a black box, despite the stated advantages of the design.

It is noted that the J-35A is designed as a multi-purpose aircraft that can conduct combat operations both in the air and against ground targets. But in reality, experts say, little is known about its actual capabilities.

Written by UNN with reference to Reuters and La Razón.

Details

The J-35A stealth aircraft, which is the centerpiece of this year's Zhuhai Airshow, has been under development for more than a decade, but experts say it is still a black box, as little is known about its capabilities.

“Because of the 'black box' that typically surrounds PLA military developments, we can't be too sure about the J-35's performance,” said Colin Koch of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

The first public display of the J-35A ground-based variant will take place on Tuesday, the day after the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. A flight demonstration is expected.

HelpHelp

The article by La Razón compares the J-35A to the American F-35.

The F-35 is often described as “a high-performance computer that can also fly,” while the J-35A has yet to demonstrate whether it adheres to a similar philosophy of advanced technology

– the publication writes.

Experts suspected that the American design might be copied. However, copying the functions of an aircraft such as the F-35 is not an easy task, experts say, as an aircraft of this class has complex subsystems integrated into its structure.

The J-35A is claimed to have fewer visible seams and a more unified structure, as well as a more compact landing gear design with fewer visible elements. In contrast, the F-35's landing gear is more complex and has additional components to help reduce radar visibility.

AddendumAddendum

Analysts believe that the J-35A may initially be intended for Beijing's aircraft carrier fleet, “complementing China's air power at sea”

The United States wants to replace its best fighter jet with an economy class plane – The TelegraphAug 30 2024, 02:35 AM • 23196 views

Social network Bluesky has recorded a significant increase in new users. This happened against the backdrop of an outflow of users from platform X (formerly Twitter) after the US presidential election. The platform has reached 14.5 million users.

Social network Bluesky has attracted more than 700 ,000 new users in the week after the US election, as users seek to avoid misinformation and offensive messages on X, The Guardian reports, according to UNN.

Details

The influx of new users, mainly from North America and the UK, helped Bluesky reach 14.5 million users worldwide, up from 9 million in September, the company said.

Social media researcher Axel Bruns said the platform offers an alternative to X, formerly Twitter, including a more effective system for blocking or suspending problem accounts and controlling harmful behavior.

"It's become a haven for people who want to have the same social media experience that Twitter used to provide, but without all the far-right activism, disinformation, hate speech, bots, and all the rest of it," he said.

"The more liberal Twitter community has now really fled from there and seems to have moved en masse to Bluesky," the researcher noted.

Addendum

Bluesky started as a project within Twitter but became an independent company in 2022 and is now largely owned by CEO Jay Graeber.

Previously, the platform benefited from the discontent with X and its billionaire owner Elon Musk, who is closely associated with the successful election campaign of US President-elect Donald Trump. Twitter has lost millions of users since rebranding to X, and US usage has fallen by more than one-fifth in seven months.

Bluesky reported attracting 3 million new users in the week after X was blocked in Brazil in September, and another 1.2 million in the two days after X announced that it would allow users to view messages from people who had blocked them.

"We're excited to welcome all these new people, from Swifties to wrestlers to city planners," said Bluesky spokesperson Emily Liu.

Bluesky is still second to Threads in the social networking category in Apple's US App Store, which reported reaching 275 million monthly active users in November, up from 200 million in August.

The independent platform is said to have recently added features including direct messaging and video compatibility to be more like X and differentiate itself from its Meta-owned competitor.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has signed a contract with Rheinmetall and ICEYE to use SAR satellite data. The military will have access to high-precision satellite imagery regardless of weather conditions and time of day.

Defense forces will receive more detailed photos of the battlefield from SAR satellites – the Defense Ministry has signed a contract with Rheinmetall and ICEYE, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, UNN reports.

Details

"This year, Ukraine will receive much more high resolution satellite imagery from SAR satellites. The military command will be able to determine the areas to be imaged depending on the intensity of hostilities," the Defense Ministry said.

As indicated, this was made possible with the support of the German government. As part of the cooperation, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, German industrial giant Rheinmetall and international SAR satellite company ICEYE have reportedly signed a contract to use satellite data for Ukraine's defense.

SAR satellites are said to be able to generate images with ultra-high detail regardless of weather conditions or time of day. "This will help the Ukrainian Defense Forces improve situational awareness on the battlefield and make effective management decisions. The military will have access to the information resource of the entire ICEYE satellite constellation," the statement said.

"We are expanding our intelligence capabilities through cooperation with international partners. Thanks to this contract, our military will have access to high-precision satellite imagery with full coverage of the combat zone. The command will be able to independently determine the priority areas of observation and quickly receive up-to-date data through the ICEYE satellite system. By introducing advanced space reconnaissance technologies, we are creating a technological advantage that increases combat capability and protects our military," commented Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Ukraine signs agreement on space exploration with Finnish satellite company ICEYEJul 9 2024, 04:04 AM • 22678 views

SpaceX is preparing to launch a tender offer for the sale of shares in December at a price of $135 per share. The company could be valued at more than $250 billion and expects a favorable government attitude after Trump's possible victory.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to launch a tender offer in December to sell shares at $135 per share, citing two sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reports, UNN writes.

Details

According to sources, the tender offer values SpaceX at more than $250 billion.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Musk, the richest man in the world, is expected to have significant influence in Washington to ensure that the government's attitude toward his companies, including SpaceX, is favorable after Donald Trump's victory for a second presidential term, the publication points out.

Musk's dream of bringing humans to Mars may also become a more important national priority under Trump, Reuters reported earlier this month.

NASA's Artemis program, which aims to use SpaceX's Starship rocket to bring humans to the moon as a testing ground for subsequent missions to Mars, is expected to focus on the Red Planet under Trump and aim for unmanned missions there this decade.

Under Trump, SpaceX is also expected to insist on even more lenient rules for employee safety and the safety of private spaceflight participants in orbit.

A Reuters investigation last year documented at least 600 injuries to workers at SpaceX facilities across the United States, as well as how SpaceX ignored safety rules and standard practices.

For reference

A tender offer is reportedly an offer made by an investor to the shareholders of a public company. The offer consists of a tender or sale of their shares at a certain price at a predetermined time.

An exhibition of Western components used by Russia in its weapons against Ukraine was held in Berlin. The exhibition showed that Russia imported chips worth $4 billion despite the sanctions.

An exhibition illustrating Western parts used in Russian weapons against Ukraine was held in Berlin, Germany. The exhibition demonstrated the extent to which Western electronics are used in Russian missiles and drones. This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, UNN reports.

It is noted that since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, no restrictions have prevented Russia from importing $4 billion worth of chips and microchips.

At the same time, more than half of the semiconductors and integrated circuits imported by Russia in 2023 were produced by American and European companies.

"Even the missile used by the Russians to hit the Okhmatdyt hospital on July 8 was based on Western components," the report said.

The committee also added that in October alone, more than 2,000 "shaheds" were launched against Ukraine, with more than 170,000 components that should be blocked from being delivered to the aggressor country.

"This reminds us once again that sanctions must be strengthened and made even more effective. I am grateful to the drone manufacturer Quantum Systems for hosting the event and providing practical military and technical support to Ukraine. I hope the exhibition was useful for our fellow Bundestag members. We hope to hold it in the German parliament as well!" – said Yevheniia Kravchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Committee.

During the exhibition, the MP also turned on the sound of a shahed for greater realism.

Add

The Russians are constantly trying to modify and modernize all types of missiles and drones they have, which they use to attack Ukraine. Experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise) in a commentary to UNN toldwhat features are involved and what role Western components play in the changes of enemy weapons.

For example, experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise foundthat the Russian X-69 missiles used by the occupiers to hit Ukraine are made of several types of weapons and have foreign components.

President Zelenskiy announces the testing of four types of new Ukrainian missiles. UAH 775 billion is allocated from the state budget for the production of drones in 2025.

Ukraine has four types of missiles, and they are currently being tested. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with Suspilne on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian Radio, UNN reports.

For almost three years, changes in the private and public sectors have led to the fact that we are definitely the most technologically advanced in Europe. When it comes to drones and electronic warfare systems, we have not yet achieved great results. But, nevertheless, we have them. We have four types of missiles and are currently testing them. Then there are naval drones, which have destroyed a large number of the Russian Black Sea Fleet

– Zelensky said.

The President believes that Ukraine is doing a good job in terms of technology and weapons.

"We have raised a lot of money from outside. And our budget, for example, includes UAH 775 billion for our drones and internal orders in 2025 alone. We already have this money. And this is only our money. And plus all other guaranteed finances from partners," Zelensky said.

Budget 2025: UAH 55 billion will be allocated for arms production more than last yearNov 12 2024, 10:31 AM • 29112 views

Addendum

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has crossed the mark of the first hundred missile weapons this year, and that this area is planned to be increased.

In October, Zelenskyy announced the successful flight test of a new Ukrainian ballistic missile.

Apple has updated its professional audio editor Logic Pro for Mac and iPad with new features for mixing and recording. Mastering Assistant, new sound packs, and 32-bit recording capabilities have been added.

Apple has released an updated version of its software for musicians and producers. The Mac and iPad versions of Logic Pro get several new features.

Reported by UNN with reference to The Verge and Teknavi.

Details

Apple on Wednesday released a major update to Logic Pro, its professional audio workstation software. New features will help improve the process of writing, producing, and mixing tracks.

For example, in Logic Pro for Mac 11.1 and Logic Pro for iPad 2.1, you can now reorder channel and plug-in bands in the Mixer and Plug-In windows to help you organize your audio mix.

Changes in Logic Pro 1.1 for iPad, according to Apple:

• The new Mastering Assistant feature allows you to add a professional finishing touch to your recordings with tools for analyzing and adjusting sound.
• Apple has added a library of analog synthesizer samples called Modular Melodies, similar to the Modular Rhythms package. It includes hundreds of loops recorded using hardware synthesizers, and a collection of Alchemy synthesizer patches has been added.
• New versions of Logic Pro for Mac and iPad include the free Hybrid Textures Sample Alchemy sound pack.
• More convenient browsing of samples, loops, and instruments in the browser – you can do this by swiping up or down.
• Support for split view and organizer has been added, which will help you use other programs (such as Sanelinta) without any problems.
• Quick Sampler features live recording with the built-in microphone or any connected audio device, and then the ability to create instruments and drum kits.
• Mix audio with Beat Breaker, a sophisticated time and pitch conversion tool.
• With the new Slip and Rotate tools, you can move content within an area regardless of its position on the timeline.

Also, the ability to record with 32-bit floating point numbers is now available when using supported audio devices.

OpenAI challenges Google: ChatGPT will now also be able to search the webNov 1 2024, 11:08 AM • 13445 views

Logic Pro currently allows you to transfer projects between Mac and iPad and vice versa. You can also transfer audio tracks from Logic Pro to Final Cut Pro on iPad.

Microsoft detects large-scale phishing attack from Russian hackers Midnight BlizzardOct 30 2024, 08:00 AM • 14899 views