August 21, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

🌚 Lunar rover explores deep below moon's surface

🚘 Lamborghini unveils concept of its first fully electric vehicle

🆇 Elon Musk says Twitter will lose blocking feature

🤖 Robotaxi firm Cruise told to halve its fleet following incidents

UP FIRST

Lunar rover explores deep below moon's surface

The research reveals billions of years of lunar history

A Chinese space mission has peered further beneath the moon’s surface than ever before.

The Chang'e-4 mission became the first to land on the far side of the moon in 2018, and now it's used its Lunar Penetrating Radar technology to capture data that's allowed scientists to visualize hidden structures 1,000 feet (300 meters) below the lunar surface in fine detail.

The results were published recently in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, and reveal billions of years of previously hidden lunar history, Space.com reported.

According to the data, the top 130 feet of the lunar surface is made up of multiple layers of dust, soil, and broken rocks. Among these materials, the team discovered a crater that formed when a large object crashed into the moon long ago.

Discovered even deeper were "five distinct layers of lunar lava that seeped across the landscape billions of years ago."

The team hopes that future data will offer evidence of various, unexpected geological formations deep below the moon's surface.

ELECTRIC CARS

Lamborghini unveils concept of its first fully electric vehicle

The automaker said its first EV will offer 'a new and unparalleled driving experience ... that's quintessentially Lamborghini'

Lamborghini has unveiled a concept of its very first fully electric vehicle, the Lanzador.

The striking design, a version of which is expected to go into production in 2028, was unveiled at Monterey Car Week in California on Friday.

Electrek described it as “a blend of design styles between the Lamborghini Urus and Estoque sedan concept from 2008 that never made it to production.”

CNN noted that although the vehicle's overall low-profile shape is similar to that of a Lamborghini sports car, the 1300 horsepower Lanzador appears higher off the ground so that it can better handle rough terrain. Still, to create the familiar feeling of a Lamborghini sports car, the driver and front passenger seats have been placed low down.

The Lanzador's interior is described by the automaker as "a truly futuristic space, incorporating Lamborghini’s 'feel like a pilot' approach."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Elon Musk says Twitter will lose its blocking function

It's not currently clear when the feature will disappear

X, formerly known as Twitter, will soon remove the ability to block users – except for direct messages – because the feature "makes no sense,” according to the company’s owner, Elon Musk.

The option to mute others on the platform looks set to remain in place.

A blocked account is unable to send messages to the blocker and is also prevented from viewing their posts.

Anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky called on X to retain the feature, describing it as a “critical tool to keep people safe online."

Responding to Lewinsky, X CEO Linda Yaccarino said: “Our users’ safety on X is our number one priority. And we’re building something better than the current state of block and mute. Please keep the feedback coming.”

Several reports have noted that removing a blocking feature could result in X violating the terms and conditions of app stores operated by Apple and Google, so let's wait to see how it all plays out.

ROBOTAXIS

Robotaxi firm Cruise ordered to halve its fleet in San Francisco

It follows a number of 'concerning incidents' involving Cruise's driverless taxis

Autonomous-car company Cruise has been told by regulators to halve its robotaxi fleet in San Francisco following a recent crash with a fire truck in which the driverless car's passenger suffered minor injuries.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) said that it’s looking into “recent concerning incidents” involving self-driving Cruise cars operating on the city’s public roads.

The decision comes just days after California’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which oversees commercial passenger services, made a landmark decision when it voted to allow Cruise and another leading operator of driverless cars -- Waymo -- to expand their paid ridesharing services in the city to all hours of the day instead of just quieter periods.

The DMV's request means General Motors-backed Cruise will now operate no more than 50 autonomous vehicles during the day and 150 at night until further notice.

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