📱 Samsung displaces Apple, Billion-dollar gaming island, Pay to 'tweet'

Samsung has dethroned Apple as the world's leading smartphone manufacturer. This shift occurred as Apple faced a significant setback with a nearly 10 percent drop in shipments during the first quarter of 2024, while Samsung remained strong.

Adding to Apple's woes, various businesses and government entities in China imposed bans on its products, leading to a dip in sales. This is similar to the challenges faced by Chinese brands due to security concerns. For more on where the biggest tech giants are, have a look at today’s Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior Software Engineer, Backend ($100,000 - $200,000)
> DevSecOps Automation Engineer

🎙 New podcast Sci-fi to reality: the quest to harness solar power from space

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MUST READ

📱 Samsung displaces Apple as the world’s top smartphone maker

Several businesses and government organizations imposed a ban on Apple products in China, resulting in a dip in sales for Apple. This is similar to the blow dealt to Chinese brands over security concerns.

But the Cupertino-based company’s problems do not stop there. After being displaced from its top perch last year, Samsung sold 19.69 million phones in February alone. In comparison, Apple sold 17.41 million units of its iPhones.

Interestingly, Samsung’s stronger sales are coming from the US and European markets, eating into Apple’s market shares in these regions, too. IE recently reported that Apple’s Mac sales remained largely flat during the last year, forcing it to unveil a fresh lineup with its latest AI-enabled M4 chips.

☢️ The world’s biggest nuclear plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, to reawaken with new fuel

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is gearing up to load fuel into what is commonly believed to be the world’s biggest nuclear power plant — the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.

Mothballed in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, this is the first step in awakening the power generation giant. The move comes months after the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) gave the plant the “green light” to reactivate. 

The NRA has also given the plant permission to begin refueling. TEPCO will now insert fuel rods into reactor No. 7. However, the power plant still has some other hurdles to jump before going live.

🕹️ World’s first esports island gets Abu Dhabi’s billion-dollar backing

Abu Dhabi is set to emerge as a leading esports destination, thanks to an international gaming operator entering UAE’s capital city with a megaproject. True Gamers has announced it will build a gaming island in Abu Dhabi.

According to True Gamers’ official announcement, the company will invest over $280 million in this larger-than-life project, whose total worth could potentially exceed $1 billion shortly.

It is worth noting that the development of the esports island is about more than just gaming or entertainment. Instead, it aligns with the “Abu Dhabi Vision 2030” plan. The government plans to build an economy that is less reliant on oil revenues and more based on knowledge and tourism. 

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Researchers have determined that the Winchcombe meteorite was affected by water. Additionally, it repeatedly smashed apart and reassembled on its journey through the solar system. (More)

> An annual meteor shower event famously known as Lyrid, which can be seen across the globe, is set to peak on April 22. First recorded in 687 BCE, it is the oldest recorded meteor shower still visible today. (More)

> Scientists just tapped into the neural circuitry in the spinal cord that acts independently of the brain. Think when legs function without a brain —as is the case with chickens that can run with their heads cut off. (More)

ENERGY

> A team led by researchers from West Virginia University has found that organic-rich shale (in fool’s gold) might hold promise for increased lithium recovery. This is due to the intriguing interplay between lithium and pyrite. (More)

> Researchers have created a paper-based magnesium-air battery that can be used in GPS or pulse oximeter sensors. Drawing inspiration from the way plants breathe, they took advantage of paper’s recyclability and lightweight nature. (More)

> In a major clean energy benchmark, wind, solar, and hydro exceeded 100 percent of demand on California’s main grid for 30 of the past 38 days. A Stanford University professor tracks the city’s performance and posted his findings on X (formerly Twitter). (More)

INNOVATION

> Owner Elon Musk has hinted that X (formerly Twitter) will likely ask new users to pay a small fee to access all its features. As per Musk, this small fee is necessary to control the menace of bots on the platform. (More)

> For the first time, scientists have successfully engineered gold sheets that measure only one atom in thickness. Named ‘goldene,’ it has given gold new qualities that make it appropriate for semiconductors. (More)

> China’s 130-ton reusable rocket engine breaks records during tests. CASC completed 15 repeated tests and 30 ignition starts on its new engine, with the total test duration exceeding 3,900 seconds. (More)

VIDEO

> New research proposes a method by which drones could charge themselves from overhead power lines. If it works, it could solve a fundamental problem that has held back drone development. (More)

> A new AI application is helping long-term non-vocal patients speak again. A brain sensor picks up electrical impulses from the patient's brain. Then, the AI translates the impulses into speech from an on-screen avatar. (More)

> A team at MIT is investigating the potential of hydrogen-powered motorcycles. With a history of converting gasoline vehicles to electric, they hope hydrogen could deliver a greener - and faster - option for the future. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we challenged you to unlock this mystery. So, what is the code?

The answer is: 042

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