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Scientists reveal what came first, chicken or egg

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People have often debated the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg. This is a topic which everyone of all ages discusses but none of them could find the simple answer about this. But scientists appear to have answered the paradox.

The researchers from a study published in the Journal Nature Ecology and Evolution put forth an idea that the ancestors of the current birds and reptiles gave birth to live young.

Giving birth to living young allows the female to better protect her developing embryo until it’s ready to be born.

Researchers from Nanjing and Bristol University challenged the belief that hard-shelled eggs were the key to the success of amniotes — animals whose foetuses develop inside an amnion inside the egg.

The study noted that “the amniotic egg is very different from the anamniotic egg of extant amphibians, which lacks an eggshell and extraembryonic membranes”.

“The amniotic egg consists of a suite of fetal membranes, including the amnion, chorion and allantois, as well as an external shell that can be either strongly mineralized (as in rigid-shelled eggs) or weakly mineralized (as in parchment-shelled eggs),” the study said.

University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences led the study in which 51 fossil species and 29 living species categorised as oviparous, that lay hard or soft-shelled eggs, or viviparous, that give birth to live young, according to the Times.

“All the branches of Amniota, including mammals, show signs of retaining embryos within their bodies for extended periods of time,” found the study.

Professor Michael Benton, from the University of Bristol, said: “Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic ‘reptile egg’ model of the textbooks to the waste basket.” 

“The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favourable.”

“Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed,” project leader Professor Baoyu Jiang added.

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Instagram releases a kid-focused feature.

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With the help of this new Instagram function, parents will have more control over what their kids do online.

New users between the ages of 13 and 15 will have their Teen Accounts enabled immediately, while current users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia will be gradually transferred to the new accounts over the course of the following 60 days.

Important characteristics of teen accounts

Teen accounts are by default set to private, which limits the display of their posts to authorized followers and keeps non-followers from getting in touch with them.

Restrictions on Teen Messaging: To minimize unwanted encounters, teens are only able to message people they follow or already have a connection with.

Control of Sensitive Content: Tight settings will prevent exposure to potentially dangerous content, like advertisements for cosmetic procedures or violent content.

Parental Control: Guardians can keep an eye on their offspring’s internet behavior, such as direct messaging and content intake.

Positive Content: By allowing teenagers to research interests, like sports, music, or the arts, they can enhance their online experience.

Extra protection

Reminding teenagers to take breaks after 60 minutes of app use is part of the daily limit.

Sleep mode: To encourage sound sleep habits, automatically mute notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Using artificial intelligence to power age verification, underage individuals can be identified and moved to teen accounts.

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Microsoft and BlackRock are set to establish a $30 billion fund for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

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AI models, particularly those employed in deep learning and extensive data processing, necessitate considerable computer power, resulting in increased energy usage.

The computational demands of AI have compelled technology firms to interconnect thousands of chips in clusters to attain the requisite data processing capacity, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for specialized data centers.

The investment entity, termed Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, seeks to improve AI supply chains and energy procurement, according to BlackRock and Microsoft.

MGX, the investment firm supported by Abu Dhabi, will serve as a general partner in the fund, while Nvidia (NVDA.O), a manufacturer of AI chips, will provide its expertise.

The collaboration is expected to generate a total investment potential of up to $100 billion, inclusive of loan funding, according to the corporations.

The investments will primarily be in the United States, with the remainder allocated to partner countries, as stated by the firms.

The Financial Times initially reported on the development.

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Pakistan ascends 14 positions in the UN E-Government Index 2024.

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This significant breakthrough signifies Pakistan’s shift from the “Middle EGDI category” to the “High EGDI category” for the first time, indicating considerable improvements in digital government capabilities.

The nation’s E-Government Development Index has risen to 0.5095, an increase from 0.42380 in 2022. Although Pakistan remains behind global leaders such as Denmark (0.9847) and regional leaders like Singapore (0.969) and the Maldives (0.6745), this enhancement is a significant accomplishment.

Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has reaffirmed the government’s dedication to establishing a digital Pakistan.

During an event in Islamabad on Wednesday, she underscored the necessity for collaborative endeavors to promote innovation among the youth.

She asserted that the private sector ought to have a pivotal role in realizing a digital Pakistan. Shaza Fatima said that the administration is endeavoring to deliver exceptional stable and rapid internet connectivity.

She emphasized that Pakistan’s position in the UN’s e-governance development index had ascended by fourteen points. She stated that we are one of two Asian countries that have advanced from the medium tier to the top tier of digital e-governance, characterizing this as a notable accomplishment.

The Minister of State further asserted that Pakistan has made significant advancements in cyber security, attaining a premier rank in this field.

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