🥶 Antarctic 'Death Star' Sea Star Hunts with 50 Arms

The Antarctic sun starfish, nicknamed the 'Death Star,' is a formidable predator in the Southern Ocean. Scientists found this remarkable echinoderm during a BBC Blue Planet expedition in the Antarctic. These sea stars can reach 60 centimetres in diameter and possess up to 50 flexible arms. These arms are lined with pedicellariae that act like snapping bear traps to ensnare prey. It hunts by climbing and then using these traps to secure anything from krill to small fish.

🏏 Labuschagne stays in squad for SA Tests

Marnus Labuschagne has retained his place in the Australian Test squad for the upcoming three-match tour of South Africa. The squad, based in Australia, includes Cooper Connolly, Michael Neser, and Matthew Kuhnemann for the series. These players are included alongside the 13 from the last Test, with the tour scheduled for South Africa. Despite his form slump, selectors kept him in the lineup for this important stepping stone. The team is set to prepare for South Africa's spinner, Keshav Maharaj. 🏏

🏚️ Delhi building collapse claims 6 lives; owner faces FIR

Six people died after a building collapsed in Satya Niketan, Delhi, during ongoing search and rescue operations. Teams from NDRF, Delhi Fire Service, and Delhi Police were at the site on the date of the incident. The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry and registered an FIR against the building owner. This incident raises serious questions about safety norms for PG accommodations in densely populated areas. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has ordered the immediate sealing of all illegal constructions over four floors.

🇮🇳 India-France ties level up at Paris temple launch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and France are forging a special global strategic partnership. This was stated virtually during the inauguration of the Swaminarayan temple in Paris, France. The partnership focuses on areas like technology, AI, and defence, with 2026 marked as the India-France Year of Innovation. The temple itself blends Indian craftsmanship with French engineering, symbolizing cooperation. Modi expressed confidence that the temple's values will enrich Europe's diversity for centuries to come. 🤝

🏺 3D printing speeds up ancient bronze casting by huge margin

Scientists successfully recreated the logic of ancient Chinese bronze-casting using digital modeling and 3D printing. This new method was tested on a Shang dynasty-style 'Ding' vessel in a lab setting. Traditionally, this complex process took one to two months, but the new technique reduced it to under 40 hours. The researchers used gypsum as a substitute material to bypass high-temperature requirements for testing mold designs. The resulting castings successfully retained key features characteristic of the original piece-mold production. 🏺

🥗 Keto vs Mediterranean: New Study Compares Diets

A recent study suggests that the Keto diet might have a surprising advantage over the Mediterranean diet. Researchers conducted this comparison involving participants across various demographics. The study data was collected between January 1st and March 31st of this year. This research aims to provide deeper insights into which dietary approach offers better health outcomes. Further analysis will determine the long-term implications for different health profiles.

✅ Thailand achieves big rubella milestone

The World Health Organization has officially recognized Thailand for eliminating rubella as a public health issue. This achievement was endorsed by Dr Nilesh Buddha, WHO Officer-in-Charge in the South-East Asia Region, after a review and a field visit in July. Thailand is now the seventh country in this region to successfully achieve rubella elimination. This milestone signifies major progress in public health efforts across Southeast Asia. Further surveillance will continue to maintain this important health status.

🎮 TCL drops new gaming monitors and 3D tech

TCL recently unveiled an expanded lineup of gaming monitors to the market. This new range was showcased at a recent industry event by TCL. The company presented various models, including a spectacular new glasses-free 3D prototype. This launch aims to capture a larger share of the competitive gaming segment. TCL plans to roll out these new products across global markets soon. 🎮

🔋 iQOO 16 set to drop with 8,400 mAh battery

The iQOO 16 is now tipped to feature an 8,400 mAh battery, a slight change from earlier rumors. This smartphone is expected to launch sometime this month, bringing a significant battery upgrade. The capacity is still larger than the iQOO 15's 7,000 mAh battery. It is also rumored to have a 6.85" 165Hz display and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 SoC. The phone is also expected to maintain the 100W wired charging speed of its predecessor.

🧊 Tropical warming gave Antarctica a huge ice boost

Antarctica temporarily gained a record 695 billion tons of ice due to intensified snowfall over East Antarctica. This event was linked to sustained warming in the tropical warm pool during 2021-23 near the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. This warming triggered a Rossby wave train, altering moisture movement and increasing regional snowfall. While this was a major gain, the study confirms Antarctica is still losing ice overall in the long term. The research highlights a new long-distance climate connection from the tropics to the continent. 😮

🛰️ BepiColombo nears Mercury after long space trip

The BepiColombo science mission has officially started its final approach to Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system. ESA and JAXA are leading this mission from Kourou, French Guiana. After a 7.2-year journey, the spacecraft will perform six flybys of Mercury before entering orbit. This mission is the first European one to Mercury and involves two complementary orbiters. Orbit insertion is set for November 21, 2026, with the science phase beginning in April 2027. 🚀