At the Supercomputing Conference or SC2024, NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Nicola Fox, detailed new computational tools intended to advance space science. NASA plans to employ a large language model across its science divisions, bolstered by foundation models tailored to Earth science, heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary science, and biological and physical sciences. This strategy was illustrated through a heliophysics foundation model, which applies extensive data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory to forecast solar wind events and track sunspot activity.

Evolution of Space Computing and the Voyager Missions

Fox recounted how NASA’s Voyager missions, launched in the 1970s, served as milestones in computing for space exploration. Operating with early semiconductor memory, these spacecraft provided unique insights, including discoveries of Jupiter’s faint ring and Saturn’s additional moons.

Although far surpassed by modern technology, the Voyager missions revealed the possibilities for future computational breakthroughs in space science. Since then, NASA’s computational requirements have expanded, with over 140 petabytes of data now stored and shared under open science policies, allowing global scientists to access and benefit from NASA’s research.

Real-Time Data and Earth Observation Advances

NASA’s Earth Information Center was presented as a prime example of federal collaboration. It integrated data on environmental changes with insights from agencies such as NOAA and the EPA.

Using data from satellite missions, Fox showcased NASA’s ability to observe natural events like wildfires in near real-time. She also noted advancements in wildfire detection from polar-orbiting satellites, allowing precise tracking of hot spots. She said that data-driven efforts like these are critical as NASA continues to enhance the monitoring of natural phenomena on Earth.

Searching for Life Beyond Earth

Towards the end, she addressed NASA’s ongoing investigations into extraterrestrial life. Recent studies of exoplanets, such as LP 791-18d, underscore this pursuit. NASA’s observatories, including the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It has facilitated the detection of thousands of exoplanets, aiding in the search for conditions that might support life beyond Earth.

Fox concluded by highlighting the powerful role that AI and computing now play in analysing the massive datasets produced by NASA’s missions, making it possible to explore questions that were previously out of reach.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle received a gameplay deep dive Monday that detailed more of the game’s combat, exploration and puzzles. Publisher Bethesda also shed more light on the premise of the story that sees Indy join the chase for a priceless stolen relic. The action-adventure title, that tells an original Indiana Jones story inspired by the films, is set to release on PC, Xbox Series S/X and Game Pass on December 9.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

The nearly 15-minute-long gameplay deep dive video begins with Indy finding a relic inside a crypt. In typical Indiana Jones fashion, removing the relic from its pedestal triggers a collapse as the crypt begins to cave in. With the help of his trusted whip, Indiana Jones escapes the crumbling cavern.

The game’ story kicks off with a break in that alerts Indy of a stolen relic, Pete Ward, audio director at developer MachineGames, said in the deep dive video. We’re also introduced to other characters part of the adventure — Gina, an Italian journalist who’s looking for her missing sister, and Indy’s rival Emmerich Voss, who has been relentlessly hunting down mysterious artefacts across the globe.

While there’s plenty of action, Indy will have to look for clues and trinkets that guide his way on the adventure. We see the titular archaeologist walking across snowy mountains, exploring ancient crypts and jumping across platforming sections. Solving environmental puzzles will be key to moving forward or finding optional hidden secrets, the developer said.

Indy’s Trusted Tools

The deep dive also details the versatile tools that will be at Indy’s disposal, from the multipurpose whip to a torch that aids exploration and lights up new paths. Indiana Jones’ camera can take photos to reveal insights into historical sites and uncover crucial clues. It can also provide puzzle hints. Indy is also aided by his journal, that starts with a blank page and fills up with clues, photographs, maps and notes as you progress through the story.

In certain story sections where Indiana Jones must access restricted areas, he can don a disguise and walk around unnoticed — very reminiscent of Hitman games. Aside from smaller environmental puzzles, the game will also feature grander, more elaborate puzzles.

Finding clues will be key
Photo Credit: Bethesda/ MachineGames

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Combat

The gameplay deep dive also showcases the combat in the game — players can decide on their approach to either outsmart their enemies or overpower them with brute force. Aside from their whip and gun, players will have access to environmental weapons that can help quickly end an encounter before it gets ugly. And if there’s nothing lying around, you can always get into a fistfight. In a close-quarters brawl, Indiana Jones can execute power combos, block incoming punches and parry attacks to get an opening.

Stealth, too, is a big part of combat. Indy can sneak up behind an enemy, take them down and hide their body to avoid alerting other guards. Players can also unlock new skills and moves by spending Adventure Points accumulated by completing missions.

As expected, the game heavily emphasises exploration. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will come with several open areas, where players can tread off the main path and uncover side quests and mysteries. The game also features an underground fight club, where players can test their brawling skills.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle comes out December 9 on PC and Xbox Series S/X. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. The game will be released on PS5 in Spring 2025.

Motorola is expected to unveil the Moto G05 and Moto G15 as successors to the Moto G04 and Moto G14, respectively. The company has yet to confirm the handsets but details about the purported phones have started doing rounds of the rumour mill. An earlier report suggested the probable prices of the anticipated smartphones and their expected launch timeline. Now, the possible designs of the Moto G05 and Moto G15 have surfaced online alongside some key features of the handsets including RAM, storage configurations and camera details.

Moto G05, Moto G15 Design, Colour Options, Features (Expected)

YTechB has published renders of the purported Moto G05 and Moto G15. Both models are shown to feature in a vegan leather finish with a slightly raised rectangular camera module placed in the top left corner. The report claims that the back panels with lychee-like leather finish could actually be made out of plastic.

Moto G15 (left) and Moto G05 (right) leaked renders
Photo Credit: YTechB

The Moto G05 and Moto G15 are shown to feature identical designs. The displays have centre-aligned hole-punch slots to hold the front camera sensors. The volume and power buttons are placed on the right edge of the handsets. The power buttons will double as side-mounted fingerprint sensors. The left edge will hold the SIM tray slots on both phones.

According to the report, the Moto G15 will be offered in Green and Grey colour options, while the Moto G05 is tipped to come in an additional Orange shade. The Moto G15 will likely be available in 4GB and 8GB RAM variants alongside 256GB onboard storage support. Meanwhile, the Moto G05 is expected to support 4GB of RAM as well as 128GB and 256GB storage. Like the preceding Moto G04, it may be available an 8GB RAM option.

The report adds that both Moto G05 and Moto G15 will likely get dual rear camera units including 50-megapixel primary sensors. They will carry rear LED flash panels too. These purported handsets are tipped to be the first from the company to ship with Android 15-based Hello UI on top.

Moto G05, Moto G15 Launch Timeline, Price (Expected)

The Moto G05 will unveiled in late November or early December, according to the report. Previously the phones were tipped to launch in Europe in November. The Moto G05 could be priced at EUR 140 (roughly Rs. 12,400) and EUR 170 (roughly Rs. 15,500) for the 4GB + 128GB and 4GB + 256GB variants, respectively. The Moto G15, on the other hand, is expected to be listed at EUR 200 (roughly Rs. 18,200) for the 8GB + 256GB option.

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