Category: Study

BUCHAREST: New cars registrations increased by 33.2 percent in Romania, in April 2024, compared to the same period last year, with the ‘electrified’ segment reporting a surge of 46.8% and a market share of 23.5% of the total market, reads data released by the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA) on Monday.

In general terms, new cars registrations increased by 38.3% y-o-y, and by 40.9%, respectively, compared to March 2024. By type of fuel, gasoline engine and mild hybrid eyed an increase of 29.9pct, in April this year, compared to the same month last year, reaching a share of 64,3pct in the total market.

Also, diesel plus mild hybrid engines recorded an increase of 27.4pct and a share of 12.2pct in the total market. On the other hand, ‘green’ vehicles, namely electrified ones (100pct and plug-in hybrids), as well as full hybrids held, in April, a market share of 23.5pct, which exceeds by 11.3pct the share held by diesel engines, which also includes mild hybrid diesel engines.

Source:
Emirates News Agency

XINJIANG: Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has made great strides in preserving its diverse flora and fauna by implementing a smart wildlife conservation system that utilises modern information technology such as satellite tracking systems, infrared cameras, drones, video surveillance devices, remote sensing equipment, and ranger patrol apps.

According to People’s Daily Online, Xinjiang, a region in China known for its rich biodiversity, is home to more than 700 species of wild vertebrates, with 178 considered key wild animals under national protection.

Infrared cameras have become essential for monitoring and researching wild animals without disturbing them, said Ma Ming, a research fellow of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In recent years, the once-elusive snow leopard, a wild animal species under national first-class protection in China, has been frequently captured in videos and images, as infrared cameras have been widely used to mon
itor wild animals, according to Ma.

In addition to technological means on the ground, satellites and drones have also become part of Xinjiang’s wildlife conservation system. The Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve has established a space-air-ground integrated monitoring system comprising satellites, drones, and ground monitoring facilities to track and monitor wild Bactrian camels, a species under China’s first-class national protection.

At Xinjiang’s Bosten Lake, an important habitat for migratory birds in China, experts from the National Bird Banding Centre of China have fitted birds with satellite tracking devices to better understand and study their migration patterns, distribution, seasonal movements, and population structures.

In the Kalamaili Nature Reserve of Xinjiang, information about the locations of the endangered Przewalski’s horse is displayed in real-time on large screens at the reserve’s command centre. Unmanned drones stationed deep within the reserve can autonomously take
off and track wild animals, monitor for fires, and assist with the emergency response after receiving instructions from the command centre.

Xinjiang has accelerated the construction of its smart wildlife conservation system in recent years. The region’s forestry and grassland bureau has signed strategic cooperation agreements with the Xinjiang branches of China Telecom and China Mobile to promote the application of advanced technologies in various areas.

As Xinjiang’s smart wildlife conservation system continues to evolve, the region’s ecological conservation efforts are shifting towards applying more advanced technologies such as cloud computing and big data analysis, making human-nature interactions more visible and tangible.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BEIJING: China completed the construction of its first interplanetary scintillation observation telescope — a device used for studying space weather, in Xilingol League, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday.

The telescope project, independently developed by China, is spearheaded by the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as reported by China Central Television. It comprises a primary station and two auxiliary stations.

The telescope will efficiently conduct the observation of interplanetary space weather on a daily basis to provide high-quality data for both China and international space weather forecasting.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) today announced the commencement of phase two of the second analog study under the UAE Analog Programme, with Emirati crew member Shareef AlRomaithi entering the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA at 2 AM (UAE time) on Saturday.

AlRomaithi was joined by his fellow primary crew members Jason Lee, Stephanie Navarro, and Piyumi Wijesekara, as they embarked on the 45-day mission within the HERA facility. The alternate crew members for this mission are Jose Baca and Brandon Kent. The unique three-story habitat simulates space-like conditions on Earth, designed to study how crew members adapt to isolation, confinement, and remote conditions similar to those they would face on long-duration space missions.

Throughout their simulated journey in HERA, the team will engage in scientific research and operational tasks. This mission on Earth includes a virtual reality ‘walk’ on Mars’s surface and mana
ging increasing communication delays with Mission Control Center as they simulate nearing Mars. The crew is scheduled to leave the facility on June 24.

Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC said, ‘The UAE Analog Programme is a cornerstone of our vision to integrate advanced scientific research with our strategic objectives, positioning the UAE as a leader in space technology both regionally and internationally. Through these detailed Earth-based simulations in collaboration with our partners at NASA, we are meticulously preparing our cadres for the vast challenges of deep space exploration, establishing the UAE and the broader Arab world as pivotal players in the international space community and inspiring generations to expand the horizons of human potential.’

The second analog study under the UAE Analog Programme is part of a comprehensive four-phase analog study, consisting of 18 human health studies on Earth. These studies are aimed at understanding the physiological, behavioural, and psychologi
cal responses of crew members under conditions similar to those expected on future lunar and Martian exploration missions. The UAE also plays a pivotal role in these ground-breaking research initiatives, with scientific experiments being provided by the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), and American University of Sharjah (AUS), across all four phases of the analog study.

Source: Emirates News Agency

WASHINGTON: An “extreme” G5 geomagnetic storm reached Earth on Friday, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said, after issuing a watch earlier in the day warning of the potential for a severe impact.

According to CBS News, the watch followed days of solar activity that sent several explosions of plasma and magnetic fields toward Earth.

G5 is the strongest level of geomagnetic storm, on a scale from G1 to G5.

“Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns. “Some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage.”

Radio transmissions and satellite navigation may also be disrupted.

The last G5 geomagnetic storm, in October 2003, caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.

Source: Emirates News Agency