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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
This is the first ever picture clicked on a cell-phone!
Taking a photo today is second nature—you pull out your phone, tap the screen, and capture the moment in an instant. It's casual, seamless, and deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We don't think twice before sending a selfie, sharing a sunset, or preserving memories with a single click. But what we now take for granted is the result of years of innovation, experimentation, and a dash of tech magic. B efore smartphones and cloud storage, before Instagram and camera rolls, there was one moment—one photograph—that started it all. And it happened on June 11, 1997, in a hospital room in California. How did the first ever picture come to be? On June 11, 1997, engineer and tech entrepreneur Philippe Kahn sat in the maternity ward of Sutter Maternity Center in Santa Cruz, California. His wife was in labor, and as he waited for their daughter to arrive, Kahn decided he didn't just want to take a photo—he wanted to share it instantly. But there were no smartphones then. No Instagram. No instant sharing. So Kahn improvised. Using a Motorola StarTAC flip phone, a Casio QV digital camera that shot low-res 320x240 pixel images, and a Toshiba 430CDT laptop, he built a system from scratch right there in the hospital. The setup was wired so that when he took a photo, it would automatically upload the image to his web server, then send out email alerts to friends and family with a link to view it online. This wasn't just a photo—it was the first time an image was captured and sent directly from a mobile phone. Kahn had already been working on a concept called 'Picture Mail', a vision for sending photos instantly via a server-based system. As he told IEEE Spectrum, he wanted to be the 'Polaroid of the 21st century,' bringing to life a digital version of the instant camera. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Still, he hadn't developed consumer-ready hardware to make the system easy to use. But time—and necessity—sparked invention. 'I had always wanted to have this all working in time to share my daughter's birth photo,' Kahn said. 'But I wasn't sure I was going to make it.' Luckily for Kahn (and not so luckily for his wife), she was in labor for 18 hours—long enough for him to put his Frankenstein rig together. He had most of the tech on hand, and what he didn't have, an assistant quickly grabbed from a local Radio Shack. As Kahn put it, 'It's always the case that if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.' A single photo that sparked a revolution That day, the first photo ever sent from a mobile phone was shared with the world—and though it was a humble 320x240-pixel image of a newborn, it marked the beginning of a technological revolution. We've come a long way since then. Today, more than 1.8 trillion photos are taken each year, mostly from phones that are thinner than a paperback but smarter than computers from the '90s. And it all began with a father, a hospital room, and a dream to share a moment instantly. We've never looked back since.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Richard Garwin, a designer of the first hydrogen bomb, dies at 97
Richard L. Garwin, a designer of the first hydrogen bomb, died Tuesday, his daughter-in-law, Tabatha Garwin confirmed to CBS News. The renowned scientist was 97 years old. A prominent scientist who advised several U.S. presidents, Garwin made contributions in nuclear weapons, physics, and in military technology, among many other areas. He published more than 500 papers and was granted 47 U.S. patents, according to The Garwin Archive maintained by the Federation of American Scientists. He was just 23 years old when he designed the first working hydrogen bomb, according to a profile written in IEEE Spectrum magazine. It was detonated in a test codenamed Ivy Mike at Enewetak Atoll in November 1952, yielding 10.4 megatons of TNT, the measurement that quantifies the force of nuclear weapons. Garwin's role had been largely unknown outside of a small circle of physicists, mathematicians, and engineers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, who were involved with the project until 2001, the profile said. In 2016, former President Obama awarded Garwin the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his scientific work. In the citation, Mr. Obama said Garwin,"made pioneering contributions to U.S. defense and intelligence technologies." Garwin was honored with the National Medal of Science in 2002 and was awarded the Vannevar Bush Award in 2023, which honors exceptional lifelong leaders in science and technology. "Richard Garwin is truly remarkable," Dario Gil, Chair of the Board's External Engagement Committee, said in a statement. "His continuing contributions to society, both as a scientific researcher and presidential advisor, help bolster national security and improve international collaboration." Garwin was born in Cleveland in 1928 and lived in Scarsdale, New York. His wife, Lois, of 70 years, predeceased him. The couple had three children. Sneak peek: Fatal First Date Trump teases "good news" on Russia-Ukraine war Preview: "Sunday Morning: By Design" - A Weekend in New Orleans (May 18)
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Richard L. Garwin, a designer of the first hydrogen bomb, dies at 97
Richard L. Garwin, a designer of the first hydrogen bomb, died Tuesday, his daughter-in-law, Tabatha Garwin confirmed to CBS News. The renowned scientist was 97 years old. A prominent scientist who advised several U.S. presidents, Garwin made contributions in nuclear weapons, physics, and in military technology, among many other areas. He published more than 500 papers and was granted 47 U.S. patents, according to The Garwin Archive maintained by the Federation of American Scientists. He was just 23 years old when he designed the first working hydrogen bomb, according to a profile written in IEEE Spectrum magazine. It was detonated in a test codenamed Ivy Mike at Enewetak Atoll in November 1952, yielding 10.4 megatons of TNT, the measurement that quantifies the force of nuclear weapons. Garwin's role had been largely unknown outside of a small circle of physicists, mathematicians, and engineers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, who were involved with the project until 2001, the profile said. U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to physicist Richard Garwin during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. Alex Wong / Getty Images In 2016, former President Obama awarded Garwin the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his scientific work. In the citation, Mr. Obama said Garwin,"made pioneering contributions to U.S. defense and intelligence technologies." Garwin was honored with the National Medal of Science in 2002 and was awarded the Vannevar Bush Award in 2023, which honors exceptional lifelong leaders in science and technology. "Richard Garwin is truly remarkable," Dario Gil, Chair of the Board's External Engagement Committee, said in a statement. "His continuing contributions to society, both as a scientific researcher and presidential advisor, help bolster national security and improve international collaboration." Garwin was born in Cleveland in 1928 and lived in Scarsdale, New York. His wife, Lois, of 70 years, predeceased him. The couple had three children.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unhackable quantum messages travel 158 miles without cryogenics for first time
Cybersecurity experts often warn that a moment known as Q-Day is nearby—a day when quantum computers will become powerful enough to break all the encryption methods we currently rely on to keep our information secure. Q-Day is not some imaginary situation but a real-world threat that could disrupt the internet and global digital infrastructure. Various government agencies and private organizations are already taking measures to withstand attacks from powerful quantum computers. These measures include the development of new encryption methods designed to resist quantum attacks, as well as exploring techniques like quantum key distribution (QKD) to secure communications at a fundamental level. Recently, a team of researchers from Toshiba Europe successfully transmitted messages over a 254-kilometer (~158 miles) stretch of existing fiber-optic infrastructure using QKD cryptography. Such a feat has been achieved for the first time. Moreover, unlike typical quantum communication setups, this method didn't require a cryogenic system or an advanced, high-tech laser. 'This work opens the door to practical quantum networks without needing exotic hardware,' Mirko Pittaluga, one of the researchers, said in an interview with IEEE Spectrum. To achieve long-distance quantum messaging, the researchers set up a network across 254 kilometers of commercial optical fiber in Germany, linking data centers in Frankfurt and Kehl, with a central relay node in Kirchfeld. In most quantum communication systems, keeping the light waves precisely synchronized over long distances requires stable lasers. However, instead of using expensive ultrastable lasers, the researchers used a simpler method. The central node in Kirchfeld sent laser beams to both Frankfurt and Kehl, providing a common reference. This allowed the researchers to synchronize the light phases effectively without needing highly specialized equipment. For detecting weak quantum signals, traditional systems usually rely on superconducting nanowire detectors, which are very sensitive but require costly and bulky cryogenic cooling units. The team instead used avalanche photodiodes, semiconductor devices capable of detecting single photons. Avalanche photodiodes are much cheaper and operate at room temperature, but they are less efficient and more prone to false detections. To overcome these limitations, the researchers sent a reference laser pulse along with the quantum data and installed two sets of avalanche photodiodes at each receiving station. One set dealt with quantum communication, while the other set monitored the reference signals. This setup helped correct errors caused by vibrations, temperature changes, and other disturbances in the optical fiber cables. All these clever techniques allowed the researchers to successfully demonstrate QKD over a 254 km optical fiber network, which is double the distance achieved during previous experiments. Although, for now, the system is capable of transmitting data at only 110 bits per second, it still marks a significant breakthrough for something that was once thought to be impossible. The researchers suggest that boosting the data rate beyond 110 bits per second is the next big goal. One simple way to do this is by making the system encode faster. For instance, currently, it runs at 500 megahertz. Using existing technology, it could be scaled up to a few gigahertz. This alone could boost the data transmission rate by nearly ten times. Moreover, they are also working on building quantum repeaters, special devices that could prevent signal losses and further increase the distance and speed of quantum messaging. Hopefully, further research will help scientists realize all these goals soon, helping to build a more secure digital world before Q-Day arrives. The study is published in the journal Nature.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
General Motors hints at major tech innovation that could completely transform future vehicles: 'The momentum is really there'
A General Motors battery research and development official has revealed an interesting nugget of information in regard to the automaker's power pack future. Within the decade, GM intends to use promising silicon anodes for some of its electric vehicles, according to InsideEVs. "The evolution toward silicon anodes is now starting," George Cintra, the GM battery R&D director, told the publication. "You're going to see more silicon incorporated into EV batteries because it provides added range and also helps fast-charge." Silicon, one of Earth's most abundant elements, can hold 10 times the lithium ions per pound than common graphite anodes, helping it achieve better performance with less weight, according to IEEE Spectrum. Ions move between the anode and cathode, through the electrolyte, while operating. But silicon bloats during charge/discharge cycles, hindering performance and wide-scale use, IEEE noted. In response, innovations, including special coatings to limit expansion and improve performance, are in development. Cintra didn't provide InsideEVs with a lot of details on GM's battery tech — or sourcing — outside of the intent to beef up silicon use. But the optimism surrounding the element is warranted. California's Amprius said the silicon anode it's working on provides a 90% charge in 15 minutes. Late last year, Taiwan's ProLogium showcased a pack that can provide nearly 200 miles on only five minutes of charging. Panasonic is also among the companies investing in silicon anodes. The GM news arrives amid a strong U.S. EV market, as nearly 130,000 new and used cleaner rides were sold in January, beating year-over-year marks in both categories, per Cox Automotive. GM brand Cadillac expects one in every three vehicles it sells this year will be battery powered, as CNBC News reported. "The momentum is really there," brand marketing director Brad Franz said, per CNBC. Sales stateside continue to be aided by tax breaks worth up to $7,500 and $4,000 for new and used EVs, respectively. That's in addition to the $1,500 that motorists can expect to save on gas and maintenance costs. Furthermore, each EV that replaces a gas guzzler prevents thousands of pounds of harmful, heat-trapping air pollution from being released into the atmosphere annually, according to government emissions data. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. There are further benefits, as tailpipe exhaust from internal combustion engine-powered cars is linked by medical experts to increased cancer risks, as well as lung, heart, and other health problems. EVs, on the other hand, don't even have a tailpipe. While battery tech continues to improve EV performance, the rides have already crushed range fears and can charge in less than 20 minutes. The median range for model-year 2023 EVs is 270 miles, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Fast-chargers, like Tesla's 60,000-plus global network of Superchargers, can provide most EVs with a power up worth hundreds of miles in about 15 minutes. What's more, GM is among a group of eight automakers invested in Ionna, a company planning to add 30,000 fast-charging stalls within five years. It all comes as battery prices are projected to fall by nearly 50% by next year, according to Goldman Sachs. The investment banking company cited better tech and lower component costs as the reasons for this reduction. For GM's part, increased use of silicon could soon be part of its next-generation packs by 2030. "We would certainly like to see that," Cintra told InsideEVs. "We have a lot of other technologies we're trying to implement, and silicon is one of those." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
