It’s been a good few weeks for spotting distant objects in the universe. As Forbesnotes, Japanese researchers have detected what might be the most distant galaxy known to date. HD1 is far enough that its light is estimated to be 13.5 billion years old, or just 300 million years after the Big Bang. That makes it 100 million years older than the previous record-setter, GN-z11, and suggests it might have some of the very first (Population III) stars that emerged in the reionization following the universe’s “dark ages.”
The team spotted HD1 using about 1,200 hours of observations between the Spitzer Space Telescope, Subaru Telescope, UK Infrared Telescope and VISTA Telescope. They verified the distance using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and the red hue was indicative of the extreme redshift you’d expect from a very distant galaxy.
Astronomers still want to double-check their results. The signal from HD1 has a 99.9 percent significance, but observers won’t be sure until they have a significance of 99.999 percent or better. The researchers may get that opportunity when the James Webb Space Telescope takes a look at the galaxy using its infrared-focused sensors.
If scientists can confirm HD1’s existence, that will raise numerous questions. HD1 doesn’t fit easily into existing models of galaxy formation, and suggests there were already extremely bright objects in the early universe. Not that the astronomy community would mind — this would help refine their cosmological models.
Solid-state batteries promise to shake up the electric car world by reducing prices and improving performance, and Nissan wants to be one of the earliest adopters. The automaker now plans to release its first EV with completely solid-state batteries by the company’s fiscal 2028. To that end, it just unveiled a prototype production facility for these batteries at a Japanese research center and will open a pilot manufacturing line in Yokohama in fiscal 2024.
The shift away from conventional batteries is already expected to make EVs considerably more affordable thanks to the use of less expensive materials. Nissan aims to reduce the cost of solid-state batteries to $75 per kilowatt-hour in 2028, and $65 afterward. EVs would cost roughly as much as gas-based cars at those prices, Nissan said.
The technology has other benefits. Solid-state batteries charge faster and offer roughly twice the energy density of existing lithium-ion batteries, potentially delivering greater range, reduced weight and shorter recharging times. Those, in turn, could make EVs practical for would-be owners
Nissan isn’t the only brand racing to introduce solid-state batteries. Toyota, for instance, expects to use the technology in hybrid vehicles by 2025. However, this is one of the clearest and more ambitious strategies for the tech. It also suggests that Nissan’s still-small EV range will expand significantly in the next few years as electrification becomes practical for more of its lineup.
Puerto Rico is gradually recovering from an island-wide power outage that started on Wednesday evening. However, hundreds of thousands of people still lack electricity as the territory continues to struggle with its fragile power grid.
The outage was the result of a failed circuit breaker at Costa Sur power plant. According to The New York Times, the plant produces more electricity than any other facility on the island. Luma, a private Canadian-American entity that took over management of the power grid from a public utility last year, said there was “extensive damage” to the plant. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause, though it appears there was a fire.
According to poweroutage.us, a site that tracks power interruptions, more than 429,000 customers out of 1.47 million were without power as of 1:25PM Eastern time on Friday. As of Friday morning, Luma said it couldn’t provide an estimate on how long it would take to fully restore power.
Critical facilities such as hospitals are up and running, though public school service was canceled on Friday. Around 182,000 or 10 percent of water and sewer customers didn’t have water on Thursday.
When it started running the island’s power transmission and distribution, Luma said it would make blackouts less frequent. However, according to reports, outages have persisted and lasted longer than when the public utility was managing the grid.
It was a great week for Apple lovers as many of the company’s most popular gadgets went on sale. Amazon discounted both the Apple Watch Series 7 and the Apple Watch SE to near record-low prices, plus the AirPods Pro are back on sale for $174. Also, you can save hundreds on 2021 LG OLED smart TVs and pick up one of many Eufy robot vacuums at a discount. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Apple Watch Series 7
Engadget
Many color options of the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 are down to $330, or $70 off their normal price. If you want the larger model, you can pick up the 45mm version for $360. We gave the wearable a score of 90 for its bigger screen, faster charging and handy watchOS 8 features.
Apple’s AirPods Pro are back on sale for $174, which is 30 percent off their normal price. We gave the company’s best sounding earbuds a score of 87 for their improved fit, good sound quality and strong ANC.
The original AirPods are 38 percent off and down to only $99. That’s not their all-time-low price, but it’s close to it. We gave them a score of 84 when they first came out for their improved wireless performance, wireless charging capabilities (if you have the right case) and solid battery life.
The more affordable Apple Watch SE is cheaper than usual right now and down to $229. It’s a parred-down version of the Series 7, but it supports all of the standard features you’d expect from an Apple Watch including onboard GPS, Apple Pay, daily activity and workout tracking and more.
The space gray, 256GB iPad is down to a record low of $429. We gave the updated tablet a score of 86 for its improved performance, excellent battery life and Center Stage-capable front cameras.
All of LG’s 2021 C1 OLED smart TVs are on sale right now, with most of them down to all-time-low prices. You can pick one up for less than $1,000, but the best deal of the bunch is on the 65-inch model, which is 32 percent of and down to $1,697. And if you go for that one, you can also save $150 on LG’s SP9YA soundbar if you’re looking to upgrade your sound system along with your TV.
If you buy the Beats Fit Pro earbuds from Amazon, you’ll get a free $25 gift card to use on future purchases. We gave these buds a score of 87 for their comfortable fit, punchy bass and solid ANC.
Amazon knocked $70 off Anker’s budget-friendly Eufy RoboVac 11S, bringing it down to $160. This is a solid option if you want a robot vacuum without dropping too much money. While this model doesn’t have WiFi, you can use the included remote to set schedules and change cleaning modes.
Nintendo’s $50 eShop gift card is $5 cheaper than usual on Amazon, so you can get it for $45. It’s a good card to pick up if you have a bunch of Switch games on your wish list and plan on stocking up soon.
B&H Photo has a bundle that includes the second-generation Nest Hub and the wired Nest Cam for $150, which is $50 less than usual. These two devices are designed to work together, with the Nest Hub showing you the feed from the Nest Cam, which you can position anywhere around your home.
You can pick up the August WiFi smart lock for $40 less than usual when you use the code EGDTLOCK when checking out at Wellbots. The IoT device earned a score of 80 from us for its easy installation process, WiFi connectivity and extra security with required two-factor authentication.
Native Instrument’s latest sale knocks up to $200 off its Maschine hardware and throws in some free expansions on top of that. The best deal is on the Maschine+, which is $200 off and down to $1,199. And if you’re an existing customer, you might qualify for a bigger discount. You’ll find that out once you log in.
Beats’ Studio Buds are back on sale for $120, which isn’t an all-time low, but is only $20 more than that. We gave the true wireless earbuds a score of 84 for their balanced sound, comfortable design and quick pairing on both Android and iOS.
All of Zwift’s cycling gear is 25 percent off right now, including the Wahoo Kickr smart power trainer, which is down to $900. The Tacx Neo Bike is down to $2,400 in this sale, and you can pick up Wahoo’s heart rate arm band for only $60.
PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox is 32 percent off and down to only $26. It’s a good option if you want another controller for your console but don’t want to pay the premium attached to the first-party options. This one has a familiar, ergonomic design, dual rumble motors and mappable buttons.
Xbox Stereo Headset 20th Anniversary Special Edition
You can pick up this special edition Xbox headset for $50, which is 29 percent off its normal price and a record low. This is a wired headset that has green accents and support for Windows Sonic spatial sound.
Axiom Space has successfully launched its AX-1 mission, which is taking the first fully private crew of astronauts to the International Space Station. The quartet departed from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which was propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket. Both the first stage and the Dragon separated without issue.
The spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS on April 9th at around 6:45AM ET. The hatch opening is scheduled for approximately 9:30AM and, all going well, the welcoming ceremony will happen at around 10:05AM.
The crew members are commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría and three businessmen: Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. The foursome are due to spend eight days on the ISS, during which they’ll take part in scientific research, outreach and commercial activities. They will also retrieve some scientific samples for NASA.
Axiom plans to conduct further private missions to the ISS over the next several years. The company has a contract with NASA to build the first commercial module for the space station. It’s also expected to construct a module (SEE-1) containing a film studio and sports arena, which could be attached to the ISS as soon as December 2024. Axiom Station (with SEE-1 still connected) is scheduled to split from the ISS in 2028 and operate independently.
Google is joining Apple and Samsung in giving you the resources needed to fix phones yourself. The tech firm is partnering with iFixit to provide official parts for Pixel phones later this year. The initiative will cover models ranging from the Pixel 2 through to the Pixel 6 Pro and beyond. You’ll have access to a “full range” of components like batteries, cameras and displays, whether you buy them by themselves or alongside tools in iFixit Fix Kits.
The initiative will be available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and those EU countries where Pixel phones are sold. Google also said it’s “expanding” authorized repair shops’ access to parts, tools, documentation and training if you’d rather have someone else fix your handset.
The company characterized the move as one step in a broader sustainability push. All Google hardware will include at least some recycled material in 2022, and the firm pointed to other longevity-related features like five years of Pixel security updates and tools to turn old laptops into Chromebooks. Ideally, these efforts will help you use devices for longer and keep them from becoming e-waste.
There’s also a likely pragmatic motivation. Like Apple and Samsung, Google is facing pressure from regulators and the public to remove limitations on do-it-yourself repairs. The iFixit partnership isn’t guaranteed to help Google fend off criticism, but it might show that the company is willing to bend to avoid or accommodate new Right to Repair rules.
Microsoft and 343 Industries have revealed that season two of Halo Infinite will get underway on May 3rd. The season, which is called Lone Wolves, will herald the arrival of fresh arena and Big Team Battle maps, more modes (including Land Grab and free-for-all elimination in Last Spartan Standing) and limited-time events. There’ll also be a new battle pass that won’t expire and a slew of other updates.
What’s more, fans will need to be a bit more patient for the arrival of the long-awaited campaign co-op mode. That was originally supposed to be available at the start of season two. It will emerge sometime later in the season. Forge mode, which allows players to create custom games with map modifiers and unique rules, is still slated to arrive in season three. At least players will have new maps to learn and more game modes to master in the meantime.
The Hummer has always been ostentatious. So it should have been a surprise to no one that the Hummer EV is not only large, but also heavy, and really not all that efficient as an EV. But what it lacks in miles per kilowatt, it makes up for in over-the-top fun.
We had the opportunity to drive the larger-than-life SUV from GMC in the Arizona desert. It proved to be a capable off-roader that’s being used to showcase GM’s Ultium platform. It’s more Halo car than a daily driver, but it’s still a Hummer.
Spotify’s TikTok-style music discovery feed is official. The streaming service has formally launched a beta test that helps you find new tunes through a vertical, customized feed of Canvas visual loops. The test is limited to Android and iOS users in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK, but promises a relatively easy way to find new artists and songs.
The new discovery tool is available from the home screen and, like TikTok, lets you scroll when you’re done with a given track. If you like what you hear, you can follow the artist, add the song to a playlist or share it with your social networks. Spotify will offer up to 15 new recommendations per day — you won’t have to listen to old material, but you also won’t be scrolling for long.
The company didn’t say if or when the beta might expand to the US. Having said this, it wouldn’t be shocking to see an expansion. The TikTok-like vertical feed could help Spotify court younger listeners by giving them both a familiar experience and a reason to keep coming back.
After several delays, Axiom Space is set to launch its first private crew to the International Space Station (ISS) today. Three paying passengers and a NASA astronaut will launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, saying they’ll perform research and not be passive space tourists.
Axiom’s passengers include Axiom Space VP and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; entrepreneur and non-profit activist investor Larry Connor; impact investor and philanthropist Eytan Stibbe; and entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy. The latter three reportedly paid $55 million for the voyage.
The 10-day mission goes far beyond the relatively quick, non-orbital flights space tourists can take aboard Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin flights. It’s also more elaborate than SpaceX’s own Inspiration 4 mission that launched a civilian crew into low-Earth orbit for three days. NASA and its international partner agencies had final approval over Axiom’s proposed crew, which trained for the mission last summer.
The mission was originally schedule to launch on March 30th, but it was pushed forward to April 3rd and then April 6th. The launch moved to today at 11:17 AM EST, and you’ll be able to catch the livestream at Axiom’s website.
