Almost the size of an American football field floating in the Indian Ocean, ‘Obaid’ is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden Arabic dhow.
DUBAI: Adorned with the colors of the flag of the United Arab Emirates, “Obaid”, which holds the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden Arabic dhow measuring 91.47-meter long and 20.42-meter wide, proudly sails in the Indian Ocean carrying loads of cargo.
Named after Obaid Jumaa bin Majid Al Falasi, an Emirati shipbuilder who began an apprenticeship at the age of nine in the mid-1940s, the dhow attests to the Emirati’s ingenious ability to build a sturdy a handmade boat made of wood despite their desert environment devoid of trees.
The length and almost half the width of a standard American football field, floating over the Indian Ocean, hypothetically speaking, balancing this huge structure on either its bow or stern vertically would make this dhow stand almost as tall as the Big Ben in London.
Decades on from the heyday of the Creek’s trading boats, a family-run yard still produces traditional hand-built vessels – and most importantly has just been recognized with the Guinness World Records title of the Largest wooden Arabic dhow.
Work on the majestic dhow started years ago, with no actual engineering vision or blueprints but was massively developed and scaled up. Local craftsmen say they own the experience, describing it as the ‘art of dhow building’.
According to Majid Obaid Al Falasi, aged 52, it is not for prestige that drove him to build the largest dhow, but for his late father, Obaid Jumaa bin Majid Al Falasi.
“Our forefathers were divers, our ancestors worked in the sea, and my own father perused this craftmanship for almost all his life. This is a gratitude to my father, and my country which always aims for the forefront positions,” said Majid Obaid.
“We tried to get the longest pieces of log available. We are born as dhow builders, and can build dhows using other material, but wood keeps its identity. This achievement is just the inevitable continuation for building dhows in the world,” he added.
A modern adaptation is adding steal to the wooden structure. The majestic dhow is larger and stronger than a traditional one, and will be able to carry four times more cargo in and out from Dubai’s docks.
“I see it in the eyes of my son. He is passionate about what I do, and what his grandfather used to do. This is what matters, for them to be able to continue the tradition and have it transferred to the next generation,” he elaborated.
The dhow stands at a height of 11.229 meters, and it weighs 2500 tonnes. It has been constructed from material sourced both locally and abroad and will have an estimated load capacity of up to 6,000 tonnes. There might be around 1700 tonnes of wood, and 800 tonnes of steel. The wood was brought from Africa, and it is mainly a jungle wood, as only nearly half of what you buy is usable.
Apart from the years of commitment and tens of dedicated skilful craftsmen, this iconic sailing vessel cost comes from the expenses of wood imports, and hundreds of thousands of nuts, bolts, screws and nails.
The dhow is powered by two 1850 horsepower engines and will used to transport cargo from the UAE to Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, India, and maybe Iraq. “At a speed of 14 knots, it will be enough for this dhow to operate and achieve its desired ROI. Who knows, you might see this dhow docking at different ports all across the world.”
DUBAI: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) marked with pride the first anniversary of the historic launch of the first Emirati to space and the first Arab to the International Space Station (ISS) as it looks ahead with the scheduled arrival on February 2021 in Mars of Hope Probe, the Arab world’s first mission to the Red Planet.
The Emirates Mars Mission, which has successfully cruised through the 100-million-km mark since its successful lift-off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center on July 20, 2020, is seen to create “a giant leap in the country’s space technologies and open new horizons towards other space missions.”
On September 25, 2019, Emirati astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori embarked on the 8-day mission onboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a realization of the UAE’s Father of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the vision of the leadership to make the country a leading player in shaping the world’s future.
During the mission, AlMansoori conducted 16 scientific experiments in cooperation with international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, and the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA).
He studied reactions of vital indicators of the human body, including brain function, osteology, haemodynamics, motor control, time perception in microgravity and fluid dynamics in space, among others.
AlMansoori also conducted experiments involving schools in the UAE as part of MBRSC’s Science in Space initiative. In a joint project between MBRSC and JAXA, he live streamed from the ISS explaining how JAXA’s “Int-Ball”, a camera robot, worked on board the Station. A video conference was also held in cooperation with the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, where students interacted with AlMansoori asking space related queries.
AlMansoori returned to Earth on October 3 after completing his eight-day mission on the ISS. Following the successful mission, MBRSC, through its Outreach Programme conducted events, workshops, conferences with various entities including academic institutions across the UAE with astronauts AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi.
Interacting with people from all walks of life, the Emirati astronauts talked in detail about the importance of STEM subjects, their historic achievements, experiences, as well as the scientific and mathematical aspects of life as an astronaut.
More than 120,000 people from 35 entities have taken part in these interactive sessions with the Emirati astronauts since Hazzaa AlMansoori’s return. AlMansoori and AlNeyadi are currently undergoing advanced training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, as part of the strategic partnership between NASA and MBRSC to train Emirati astronauts.
Meanwhile, Hope Probe will provide answers to long-standing questions about the Red Planet by becoming the first to study the Martian climate throughout daily and seasonal cycles. It will observe the weather phenomena in Mars such as the massive famous dust storms that have been known to engulf the Red Planet, as compared to the short and localized dust storms on earth.
Exploring connections between today’s Martian weather and the ancient climate of the Red Planet will give deeper insights into the past and future of Earth and the potential of life on Mars and other distant planets.
DUBAI: The largest mushroom farm in the UAE which produces about nearly 6 tons of mushrooms daily for local consumption and export relies on solar energy and technology to thrive in the region’s harsh weather condition.
Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, recently met with several local farm owners and discussed ways to enhance and support the emerging agri-tech ecosystem in the UAE, the Emirates news agency WAM reported.
The minister met farm owners, Dr. Ghanem Al Hajri and Ali Bujasim during a tour of the Themar Al Emarat hydroponic farm and the Alayas Farm, respectively.
Located in Sharjah, the 190,000 sqm Themar Al Emarat farm relies on solar energy for 50 percent of its power requirements— power for cooling equipment, water chilling, mushroom cultivation and other greenhouse processes.
It recycles 100 percent of its irrigation water. It also reuses the soil in its hydroponic system as an agricultural conditioner in traditional cultivation. The farm produces mushrooms, lettuce, and other crops used & consumed locally.
Meanwhile, Alayas Farm produces two tons of green fodder that are used as feed for its goats and poultry livestock. It also leverages hydroponics in cultivating vegetables.
The minister stressed that the UAE prioritises the use of agricultural technologies that increase crop production and quality and reduce the environmental footprint of farms across the country. He pointed out that MoCCAE endeavours to strengthen its partnership with major modern farms in the UAE to develop the sector and highlight these farms as successful examples of agri-tech at work.
DUBAI: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has reached out to Dell Technologies in a bid to find future digital solutions that will further enhance its services across the emirate.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, presided over a recently held teleconference with Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, a global leader in telecommunications and information technology.
Moro Hub, the Emirates news agency WAM reported, is working with Dell Technologies to develop and deliver highly-reliable enterprise cloud computing solutions, integrated infrastructure administration services and servers, secure data storage solutions, and innovative information technology applications.
“DEWA and its subsidiary Moro Hub work in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who has mandated the Dubai Government organizations to implement services 10 years ahead of other cities around the world through government innovation through Dubai 10X initiative,” said Al Tayer.
“Our collaboration with Dell Technologies will enable MORO to introduce innovative applications and accelerate the delivery of digital services out of Dubai, which supports the UAE’s vision to become a vibrant regional hub that can serve the region and the world through its advanced facilities and infrastructure,” he added.
Dell thanked Al Tayer for the fruitful discussions and noted that Dell Technologies will work closely with Moro Hub to strengthen cooperation and partnership supporting the digital transformation plans of Dubai and the UAE, especially in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and IT security to leverage strong capabilities and ecosystem.
The two organisation collaborate in many areas, such as the development of cloud computing, e-security, automated learning (Artificial Intelligence), big data and analytics, storage, backup and archiving services, as well as providing technical infrastructure for the public and private sectors and service providers.
The meeting was attended by Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman of Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions); Matar Al Mehairi, Board member of Moro Hub; Mohammad Bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub; Ahmed Al Ketbi Chief Information Security Officer of Moro Hub; Adrian McDonald, President of Dell Technologies EMEA; Fady Richmany General Manager- Dell Technologies, and Yahya Kassab Director of Sales at Dell Technologies.
RDI is developing an innovative irrigation system to transform water usage in UAE agriculture and conducting research trials to increase crop yields in sandy soils and non-arable land. While locally-based company RNZ will set up a state-of-the-art R&D centre to research, formulate and commercialize ‘agri-input’ solutions that will help to grow more with less.
ABU DHABI: With investment totaling AED367 million (USD100 million), four agri-technology (AgTech) pioneers will build new facilities in Abu Dhabi dedicated to developing next generation agriculture in arid and desert agriculture.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is providing the funding to AeroFarms, Madar Farms, RNZ and Responsive Drip Irrigation (RDI), to establish new R&D and production facilities in the emirate, turning sand into farmland, solving complex global agriculture challenges and expanding the profile of local food producers, the Emirates news agency WAM reported.
Under this partnership, each firm is tasked to solving regional and global food security challenges.
“Four global AgTech innovators are joining our mission to turn sand into farmland. In line with Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision to grow the sector, ADIO partners with companies that have innovation at the core to help ensure long-term success. Each of these companies will add to our already established agriculture ecosystem, and benefit from our plentiful land, natural heat, competitive energy prices and access to research universities and skilled talent,” said Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO.
AeroFarms will focus on next-generation genetic phenotyping and organoleptic research while also tackling the challenges of desert agriculture from its new 8,200-sqm R&D center in Abu Dhabi. The center will be the largest indoor vertical farm of its kind in the world and will employ a projected 60 plus highly skilled engineers, horticulturists and scientists.
Madar Farms, a home-grown UAE AgTech innovator, will build the world’s first commercial-scale indoor tomato farm using only LED lights in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, KIZAD. The company is also set to scale up the commercialization of microgreen growing to help provide a consistent and predictable local food supply that responsibly uses the region’s natural resources.
RDI is developing an innovative irrigation system to transform water usage in UAE agriculture and conducting research trials to increase crop yields in sandy soils and non-arable land. While locally-based company RNZ will set up a state-of-the-art R&D centre to research, formulate and commercialize ‘agri-input’ solutions that will help to grow more with less.
MANAMA: Bahrain’s legendary F1 circuit will produce hundreds of ventilators for COVID-19 patients – and vowed to share the blueprints free of charge worldwide.
Engineers from the track, which hosts the Grand Prix championship race each year, designed the breathing apparatus in just two weeks for non-ICU patients in need of respiratory assistance.
The device was then built from scratch in partnership with intensive care doctors from Salmaniya Medical Complex’s Respiratory Therapy Department and Medical Equipment Department.
Now an order has been placed for the first 100 machines following extensive testing and approval by Bahrain’s Ministry of Health.
Bahrain International Circuit says it is sharing the blueprints free of charge to organizations around the world amid global efforts to increase ventilator capacity.
Initially, two different machines were designed and both have been approved – the first by design team lead and BIC mechanical engineer Kamel Al-Taan and the other by Tareq AlTajer.
“At a time of global crisis, we have been seeking ways in which the BIC can support the fight against COVID-19,” said Fayez Ramzy Fayez, Chief Operating Officer at Bahrain International Circuit. “Our engineers have met that challenge by designing a ventilator system specifically to support those suffering from COVID-19. As this is a global effort, we are happy to make these designs available to other organizations around the world who are seeking to find similar solutions.”
Bahrain International Circuit has hosted the annual Formula One Championship since 2004, but this year the race was postponed as a precautionary measure.
Instead, a virtual Grand Prix was held featuring celebrities and F1 drivers including Lando Norris and One Direction star Liam Payne. The eventual winner was Formula 2 racer Guanyou Zhou who soared into the lead from third on the grid, finishing a full 11.392s over ex-McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
Apple & Google team-up to create Covid-19 tracking tool
SILICON VALLEY: Tech giants Apple & Google announced they are teaming up to create a Covid-19 tracking tool using Bluetooth technology which people can download on their smartphones.
The app, scheduled to be launched this May, is designed to help in contract tracing of people suspected to be infected with the Coronavirus. Worldwide, more than 3 million cases were confirmed and over 200,000 have died due to the virus.
The tech giants said their joint effort will help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design.
“Since COVID-19 can be transmitted through close proximity to affected individuals, public health officials have identified contact tracing as a valuable tool to help contain its spread. A number of leading public health authorities, universities, and NGOs around the world have been doing important work to develop opt-in contact tracing technology,” the tech firms said.
Apple and Google said a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing will be launched in two steps.
This month, both companies will release APIs that will enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores.
In the coming months, Apple and Google said they will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms, a more robust solution than an API and will allow more individuals to participate.
“All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life,” the tech giants said in a joint press statement.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) marked its 10th year in space in February 2020. The spacecraft has kept a constant eye on the Sun, studying how it creates solar activity and drives space weather, that impact the entire solar system, including Earth.
Here are a few highlights of SDO’s accomplishments since its launch on the outer space on February 11, 2010.
1. Fantastic Flares: SDO has witnessed countless astounding flares — giant outbursts of plasma released from the solar. In its first year and a half, SDO saw nearly 200 solar flares. Scientists said around 15% of the flares had a “late phase flare” that would follow minutes to hours after the initial flare. By studying this special class, scientists gained a better understanding of just how much energy is produced when the Sun erupts.
2. Solar Tornadoes: In February 2012, SDO captured images showing strange plasma tornados on the solar surface. These tornadoes were found to have been created by magnetic fields spinning the plasma. They could rotate at speeds up to 186,000 miles per hour whereas Earth tornadoes only reach speeds of 300 miles per hour.
3. Giant Waves: The churring sea of plasma on the solar surface can create giant waves that travel around the Sun at up to 3 million miles per hour. Scientists suspect these waves are driven by coronal mass ejections, which spew clouds of plasma off the surface of the Sun into the solar system.
4. Combustible Comets: Over the years, SDO has watched two comets fly by the Sun. In December 2011, scientist watched as Comet Lovejoy managed to survive the intense heating as it passed 516,000 miles above the solar surface. Comet ISON in 2013 didn’t survive its encounter. Through observations such as these, SDO has provided scientists with new information about how the Sun interacts with comets.
5. Global Circulation: Having no solid surface, the entire Sun is continually flowing due to the intense heat trying to escape and the rotation of the Sun. Moving about at the mid-latitudes are large-scale circulation patterns called Meridonial circulation. SDO’s observations revealed that these circulations are much more complex than scientists initially thought and are linked to sunspot production.
6. Predicting the Future: The Sun’s outpouring of material from coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, and the solar wind speed across the solar system. When they interact with Earth’s magnetic environment, they can induce space weather, which can be hazardous to spacecraft and astronauts.
7. Corona! Dimmings: The Sun’s wispy superheated outer atmosphere — the corona —sometimes dims. Scientists studying coronal dimming have found that they are linked to CMEs, the main drivers of severe space weather events that can damage satellites and harm astronauts. By linking coronal dimming to the size of CMEs, scientists hope to be able to study the space weather effects around other stars, which are too distant to directly measure their CMEs.
8. Death and Birth of a Solar Cycle: With a decade of observations, SDO has now seen nearly a
complete 11-year solar cycle. Starting near the beginning of Solar Cycle 24, SDO watched as the Sun’s activity ramped up to solar maximum and then faded to the current ongoing solar minimum. These multiyear observations help scientists understand signs that signal the decline of one solar cycle and the onset of the next.
9. Polar Corona! Holes: At times the Sun’s surface is marked by large dark patches called coronal holes where extreme ultraviolet emission is low. Linked to the Sun’s magnetic field, the holes follow the solar cycle, increasing at the solar maximum. When they form at the top and the bottom on the Sun they’re called polar coronal holes and SDO scientists were able to use their disappearance to determine when the Sun’s magnetic field reversed — a key indicator of when the Sun reaches solar maximum.
10. New Magnetic Explosions: At the end of the decade in December 2019, SDO observations enabled scientists to discover a whole new type of magnetic explosion. This special type — called spontaneous magnetic reconnection (versus previously observed more general forms of magnetic reconnection) — helped confirm a decades-old theory. It also may help scientists understand why the solar atmosphere is so hot, better predict space weather, and lead to breakthroughs in controlled fusion and lab plasma experiments. (Source: NASA)
DUBAI: Imagine a phone that can zoom 100x capturing even the minute details invisible to the naked eye with the function of a personal computer that can lasts for hours. Well, that’s now possible with the Samsung Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra equipped with the latest 5G and AI camera technologies.
At the launch of its new series of flagship line-up in the UAE, Samsung Gulf Electronics also debuted Galaxy Z Flip, a new foldable smartphone designed for those who see cutting-edge technology as a way to express themselves.
Using the 5G technology, Samsung says the new Galaxy S20 series offers a brand-new camera architecture that combines AI with Samsung’s largest image sensor that produces quality pictures.
Along with the camera, the Galaxy S20 makes the experience of everything we love to do with our phones, easier and better—enjoy personalized music for every moment of the day, watch videos the way they are meant to be seen and play console-style games on-the-go.
“The new Samsung Galaxy S20 Series raises the bar of next generation smartphone devices, giving consumers, a new and exciting ways to experience the world around them. Samsung has been committed to bringing cutting-edge technology and we are excited to stay true to that commitment with our Galaxy S20 lineup,” said Osman Albora, Head of Mobile Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics. “With the introduction of next-generation devices with 5G connectivity, Samsung will be able to transform people’s lives and enable them to connect more seamlessly.”
Here are the new features of the Galaxy S20 series:
Details in Stunning Clarity: With a larger image sensor available on the Galaxy S20 series, camera resolution is significantly increased, for more detailed images with added flexibility for editing, cropping, and zooming. Galaxy S20 and S20+ have a 64MP camera. Galaxy S20 Ultra has 108MP camera, which means you can now pinch in for details you’d never have seen before. Another benefit is that the larger sensors take in more light, so you get rich image quality even in low light situations.
Groundbreaking Zoom Capability: With the Galaxy S20’s Space Zoom technology that uses a combination of Hybrid Optic Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom, which includes AI-powered digital zoom, even when you are far away you can zoom in close. Use up to 30X zoom on the Galaxy S20 and S20+, or step-up to the revolutionary folded lenses on the S20 Ultra, which uses AI powered, multi-image processing to reduce quality loss at high zoom levels so that users can experience Super Resolution Zoom up to 100X Space Zoom with a clearer view ever than before.
Single Take, Multiple Possibilities: Single Take lets you stay in the moment, while you capture the moment. Thanks to its AI camera technologies, the Galaxy S20 can capture a number of photos and videos in one click, such as Live focus, cropped, Ultra-wide and more that captures your moment the best and recommend the best shot
Pro-Grade Filming Capability: The Galaxy S20 offers stunning 8K video shooting, so users can capture their world in true-to-life color and quality. When you are done shooting, stream your video to a Samsung QLED 8K TV and enjoy its best-in-class viewing experience or grab a still from an 8K video and turn it into a high-res photo. And, even the bumpiest videos look like they were shot using an action cam, thanks to Super Steady and its anti-rolling stabilization and AI motion analysis.
The most secure device Samsung has ever made, the Galaxy S20 is protected by Knox—the industry-leading mobile security platform that protects the device from the chip level through to the software level. The Galaxy S20 also features a new, secure processor which protects against hardware-based attacks.
Powered by a big, intelligent battery, the Galaxy S20 series comes with a 25W fast charger, while the S20 Ultra supports 45W Super Fast charging as well. The entire series is equipped with massive storage as standard (128GB for S20; 128GB and 512GB for Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra).
If you’re stressed out most of the time, chances are your hair could turn white ahead of their genetic time.
A group of scientists from the Universities of Sao Paulo and Harvard doing experiments on mice found out stem cells that control skin and hair color were damaged when the mice were exposed to pain. Their dark hair turned white in just a few weeks, according to the group’s scientific findings published in the magazine Nature.
The group said the pain inflicted on the mice triggered the release of adrenaline and cortisol making their hearts beat faster, blood pressure to rise, impacting their nervous system and causing acute stress. This led to the fast depletion of stem cells that produced melanin in hair follicles.
The project is likely to be explored further to develop a drug that will prevent hair color loss from aging.
DUBAI: Blending technology to create a sustainable environment for tomorrow’s world, Malaysia is creating a “Rainforest Canopy Pavilion” for Expo 2020 Dubai highlighting how those elements can be harmonized and utilized effectively to benefit communities.
The oil-rich Malaysia is one of 192 countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai, the first to be held in the Middle East and North Africa region (October 20, 2019 thru April 21, 2020).
Designed by Hijjas Architects + Planners, a Kuala Lumpur-based and award-winning firm, ‘The Rainforest Canopy’ was inspired by Malaysia’s oldest rainforests which include the prehistoric rainforest Taman Negara, in Pahang, believed to be 130 million years old.
With the theme “Energising Sustainability”, Malaysia will highlight at the event how agri-commodities have shaped its socio-economic development and commitment to becoming a high-income nation while reducing carbon emissions as well as how the country’s diverse cultures, traditions and races are working together towards Malaysia’s progress with the help of a unified private and government sectors promoting sustainable development across all industries.
The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change officially unveiled the Malaysian pavilion at the Expo’s Sustainability District under the guidance of Tun Dr.
Mahathir Mohamad who advocated for a building that will be sustainable in the long term.
Malaysia’s current forest cover is at 55.3 percent, or 18.3 million hectares of its total land area, exceeding Malaysia’s initial commitment to the Rio Earth Summit, which was 50%.
“Malaysia aims to attract USD2.5 billion in potential trade and investments, capturing 1,000 business leads with 20 memorandums of understanding or partnership agreements signed in our six-month long participation at Expo 2020 Dubai,” said said Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Hassan, Deputy Commissioner-General for Malaysia in Expo 2020 Dubai and Deputy Secretary General, Science, Technology & Innovation.
“Malaysia Pavilion provides excellent opportunities for world business communities and calls for business partnerships with our 200 organizations/businesses ranging from Sustainable Agriculture and Agricommodity to energy, STI, environment and climate change, culture, tourism and youth, e-commerce and ICT, trade and 4IR, women and community development,” he added.
Set to be a sustainable architecture, Malaysia’s pavilion will use energy efficient features including heli-fans to enhance airflow, self-shading and green landscaping with vertical gardens, solar panels and water harvesting. Materials used in building the structure will also be reused, once the pavilion is dismantled.
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
