Tech

A mysterious streak seen by NASA’s Perseverance rover over Mars may be comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object flying past the planet in early October. Though unconfirmed, the sighting aligns with its predicted path, raising excitement over a possible first observation of an interstellar comet from another world.

NASA’s Juno probe, orbiting Jupiter since 2016, may have stopped operating after its latest extension expired during the U.S. government shutdown. The mission, which unveiled Jupiter’s interior, polar storms, and moons, awaits confirmation—though NASA cannot verify its status until funding and communications resume.

Amazon’s Great Indian Festival Diwali Special Sale, running through the Diwali period, offers deals on a range of electronics, with lucrative offers particularly on all-in-one PCs. Buyers can maximise savings using eligible bank cards from Axis Bank, Bobcard, IDFC First Bank, and RBL Bank for a 10 percent instant discount of up to Rs. 65,000, valid until October 12. Additional benefits include exchange deals, EMI options, and exclusive coupons, providing multiple ways to save on all-in-one PCs during the sale.

Navi UPI has introduced biometric authentication and a simplified onboarding process in India, claiming to be the first UPI app to offer biometric payments at scale. Users can now authorise transactions via fingerprint or facial recognition, eliminating the need for a PIN. The system uses secure, OS-native technology, keeping data on-device and enhancing protection against phishing. The onboarding update reduces steps and improves auto-verification, enabling faster account setup. Both features are gradually rolling out on Android and iOS to all users.