Bit by Bit 1st Dec. || Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato unveiled || Scientists revived ancient 'Zombie Viruses' frozen for eons in Siberia & more

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MARKET UPDATE

• NIFTY 50 : ₹18,618.05 (+0.30%)

• BSE SENSEX : ₹62,681.84 (+0.28%)

• NIFTY BANK : ₹43,053.45 (+0.08%)

• USD/INR : ₹81.62 (-0.03%)

• BRENTOIL : $84.23 (+0.41%)

• MCXGOLD : ₹52,300 (+0.24%)

• FII Net Cashflow : + ₹1241 crores

• DII Net Cashflow : - ₹744 crores

(Market data as of 11:00 PM on 29/11/2022)

ECONOMY

The free trade agreement between India and Australia will take effect from December 29.

Key Facts

· The free trade agreement (ECTA: Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement) between India and Australia Will come into force from December 29

· This move will help in doubling bilateral commerce to USD 45-50 billion in around 5 years

· The Agreement was signed on April 2, 2022

The Story

According to the agreement, Australia will grant zero-duty access to India beginning on day one for roughly 96.4% of exports (by value). This applies to a wide range of goods that are now subject to a 4-5% customs charge in Australia. In 2021–2022, India's exports of goods to Australia totaled 8.3 billion USD, while its imports totaled 16.75 billion USD.

The agreement maintains opportunities for Indian students graduating in Australia to engage in post-study work, with a bonus year of stay for high-performing STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) graduates. ECTA will also support tourism and workforce needs in regional Australia by making 1,000 work and holiday programme places available to young Indians.

FMCG

FMCG index jumps nearly 2% as heavyweights like Dabur, HUL, and Britannia shine

The Story:

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) index jumped nearly 2 per cent on the NSE and BSE on Tuesday, November 29. The sector was supported by heavyweights such as Dabur India, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Britannia Industries, Godrej Consumers, Emami, and among others.

The surge in the overall FMCG counters can be attributed to the better volume growth expected by the Street during the October-December quarter of the financial year 2022-23.

FMCG majors like Dabur India gained most of all by 6 per cent, followed by Emami up over 5 per cent, while HUL was up over 3.5 per cent, Marico was up 2.5 per cent, and Britannia was up over 1.5 per cent.

Similarly, shares of broader market companies also joined the gaining party as BCL Industries, ADF Foods, surged most by 17 and 8 per cent, respectively on the BSE. Conversely, Varun Beverage and Procter & Gamble were among the losers, down between 0.1-3 per cent.

AUTOMOTIVE

Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato unveiled

Key Facts :

• The Huracan Sterrato was revealed by Lamborghini, an Italian manufacturer, at the Art Basel in Miami Beach. This supercar is regarded as the Huracan's rally edition. Compared to the ordinary Huracan, the beast has a number of modifications. Notably, there will only be 1.499 Huracan Sterrato models sold globally.

• The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrado's off-road prowess is its standout feature. This car's front underbody protection is made of aluminum thanks to Lamborghini. It gets thick wheel arches, a rear diffuser, and reinforced sills. On the hood are intakes that improve the engine's breathing.

The Story :

For the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato specifically, the Italian carmaker improved the LDVI (Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics) system. Additionally, a new Rally driving model has been developed for low-grip circumstances, along with updates to the Strada and Sport driving models.

The ground clearance and suspension travel of this supercar have both been enhanced, and it now sits 44 mm higher than the Huracan EVO. Its front and back track widths have both been expanded by 30 and 43 mm, respectively.

In terms of the drivetrain, the Huracan EVO's 5,2 liter, naturally aspirated V10 is shared by the Sterrato. It has a maximum power output of 610 horsepower at 8,000 revolutions per minute and a maximum torque production of 565 Nm at 6,500. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is in place.

he Sterrato is capable, with a top speed of 260 kmph. In just 3,4 seconds, it can accelerate to 100 kph, and in just 9.8 seconds, it can reach 200 kph. The car can stop from 100 kilometers per hour to zero in about 30 meters.

TECH

Spawns a cluster of brain computer startups

The Story

Although Elon Musk's brain-computer interface firm Neuralink Corp. doesn't yet have a product suitable for widespread human consumption, the project has already been successful in launching a number of spinoffs that are creating various technical methods for brain control.

Even though it will be some time before you can buy a computer to be implanted in your brain, Neuralink has already had a significant impact. The majority of the original team members from late 2016 and early 2017 have now left, and several are now engaged in the development of brand-new brain-computer interfaces.

Over the past five years, Neuralink has seen a lot of personnel turnover. Data from LinkedIn reveals nearly 200 previous workers. Many of them are currently engaged in initiatives that make use of their time spent at Neuralink, which aims to implant electrodes in people's brains in order to improve intelligence in even healthy people in the long run.

According to the data firm Pitchbook, 37 BCI startups have received venture investor support so far this year, up from 17 in 2016. They increased their investments from $175 million six years ago to $568 million last year and $263 million so far this year. Neuralink deserves some credit for the startup boomlet, but not all of it. Among others, Google and Meta Platforms Inc. of Alphabet Inc. do their own BCI research, and several of those employees have departed the company for startups. They tend to bring credibility to whatever projects they get involved with next. That makes it easier to recruit and raise funds.

Want a BIT More?

Scientists revived ancient 'Zombie Viruses' frozen for eons in Siberia.

As the world warms up, vast tranches of permafrost are melting, releasing material that's been trapped in its icy grip for years. This includes a slew of microbes that have lain dormant for hundreds of millennia in some cases.

To study the emerging microbes, scientists have now revived a number of these "zombie viruses" from Siberian permafrost, including one thought to be nearly 50,000 years old – a record age for a frozen virus returning to a state capable of infecting other organisms.

The team behind the work, led by microbiologist Jean-Marie Alempic from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, says these reanimating viruses are potentially a significant threat to public health, and further study needs to be done to assess the danger that these infectious agents could pose as they awake from their icy slumber.

While the record-breaking virus was found beneath a lake, other extraction locations included mammoth wool and the intestines of a Siberian wolf – all buried beneath permafrost. Using live single-cell amoeba cultures, the team proved that the viruses still had the potential to be infectious pathogens.