Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

Reuters

‘Climate leadership’ ahead of COP29

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch the Earth Observation Satellite-08 (EOS-08) on Friday at 9:17 am using the third developmental, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3. The launch is planned to occur at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

This is the third developmental flight (SSLV-D3), the first one being the SSLV-D1 which was launched on August 7, 2022, carrying the Microsat 2A and AzaadiSAT satellites. Unfortunately, it did not achieve its goal of placing the satellites in their intended circular orbit due to a sensor failure that the ground control teams did not detect.

The second SSLV development flight, SSLV-D2, took place on February 10, 2023. This mission successfully launched the EOS-07 (Earth Observation Satellite-07), Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into an orbit 450 kilometres above Earth.

Why is this launch special?

Space experts say that the SSLV is a three-stage rocket, with the first three stages powered by solid propellant. The final stage, known as the terminal stage, features a liquid propulsion system called the Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) and a payload adapter. The VTM is used to adjust the rocket’s speed when needed, while the payload adapter securely attaches the payloads to the top of the rocket, ensuring their safe delivery into space.

The VTM makes adjustments by releasing small amounts of liquid fuel to create thrust. This thrust can either increase or decrease the rocket’s speed, allowing precise control over its velocity. By carefully managing these bursts of thrust, the VTM helps guide the rocket into its intended orbit.

The rocket is 2.1 meters wide and 34 meters long, with a liftoff weight of about 120 tonnes. It offers different options for mounting various types of satellites, including nanosatellites (1 to 10 kilograms), microsatellites (10 to 100 kilograms), and mini-satellites (100 to 500 kilograms).

“The SSLV can be launched quickly when needed, allowing ISRO to serve the growing market for small satellite launch services efficiently. This launch vehicle can send one satellite weighing up to 500 kg into a planar orbit, 500 km above the Earth and is capable of conducting six to eight missions each year,” said space expert Girish Linganna.

Additionally, it can carry up to three different satellites, with weights ranging from 10 to 300 kg, to the same 500-km orbit, he added.

A planar orbit is a flat, horizontal path around the Earth, allowing satellites to maintain a consistent altitude and position relative to the Earth’s surface. The rocket can transport payloads of up to 500 kg to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and up to 300 kg to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

Low Earth Orbit (LEO), ranging from 160 to 2,000 km, hosts Earth observation, communication, scientific satellites, and space stations like the ISS. Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), typically 600 to 800 km high, is ideal for satellites needing consistent lighting, such as Earth observation, remote sensing, and weather satellites.

“The SSLV is designed to be a cost-effective choice for launching into space. It offers the flexibility to carry multiple satellites and can be ready to launch quickly. The SSLV requires minimal infrastructure, has a short turnaround time, and can be built faster by industries. It also requires very little time at the launch pad, allowing integration and launch within 24 hours,” remarked Linganna.

The EOS-08 satellite is created to improve monitoring of the environment, aid in managing natural disasters, and support the Gaganyaan mission. The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) development project by ISRO has been completed with SSLV-D3. Designed to launch small satellites, SSLV will now move to regular missions managed by Indian companies and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). This shift enhances private sector involvement in India’s space industry and boosts satellite launch capabilities.

The satellite carries three payloads namely the Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload, and the SiC UV Dosimeter.

EOIR is a device that captures images using infrared light, specifically in the Mid-Wave Infrared (MIR) range of 3-5 micrometres and the Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) range of 8-14 micrometres, making it useful for surveillance, disaster monitoring, fur detection, volcanic activity and environmental studies both during the day and at night.

On the other hand, the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is an instrument that uses signals from satellites to study various environmental factors, such as ocean winds, soil moisture, floods and inland waterbody detection. Then there is the SiC UV Dosimeter which is a sensor that detects ultraviolet radiation and alerts for high levels of gamma radiation, helping to keep astronauts safe.

“EOS-08 is built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, which is a compact and efficient satellite platform designed for small satellites. It operates in a circular low Earth orbit at an altitude of 475 kilometres and an inclination of 37.4 degrees. The satellite weighs about 175.5 kilograms, generates around 420 watts of power, and is designed to function for one year,” said Linganna.

“EOS-08 marks a major step forward in satellite technology by featuring an Integrated Avionics system. This system, called the Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package, combines essential functions like communication, data processing, storage, and positioning into one unit. This integration improves efficiency and performance, making the satellite more capable and reliable,” he pointed out. 

Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.

Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.

How to play Strands

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strand answers

Today’s spanagram

We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own:

Today’s Strands answers

• ARIA
• BALLAD
• SHANTY
• JINGLE
• LULLABY
• SPIRITUAL

Google could introduce “Rich Ongoing Notifications” in Android 16. Apps with access to this feature could show notifications similar to Apple’s Dynamic Island.

Android 16 may allow apps access to dynamic notifications

Be it Apple’s iOS for iPhones or Google’s Android, both operating systems optimize notifications. Properly managed, notifications can significantly impact the usage of the device and the installed apps.

Android allows apps to be closed. Unlike in iOS, most Android apps aren’t always running. Hence, Google keeps tweaking notifications to make the notifications intuitive, useful, and at the same time, less distracting.

Google has so far made every notification dismissible. Android minimizes heads-up notifications while displaying videos. Moreover, recent Android updates block old notifications. Moving forward, the Android OS could allow apps to create “Rich Ongoing Notifications”.

What are Rich Ongoing Notifications and how will they work?

Notifications have improved vastly in the Android OS. However, the Status Bar still shows app icons. In other words, apps are limited to merely conveying to the user that they have a notification.

According to Android Authority, the latest Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 release has a new API called Rich Ongoing Notifications. It lets Android apps show more than just an icon in the status bar.

The API could allow apps to create dynamic “chips”. These notifications could have their own text and background color. They would appear on the Status Bar.

Currently, Rich Ongoing Notifications aren’t active even in the latest Android 15 QPR1 beta 3 release. Moreover, it is not available to Android apps. Hence, it is not clear how Google would tweak notifications on the Status Bar. However, tapping on the chips may unfurl the notification or offer some more information about the ongoing notification.

Although dynamic notifications cannot be experienced yet, it would be safe to presume that Google is experimenting with notifications on the Status Bar. As the stable version of Android 15 is already out, Google may introduce Rich Ongoing Notifications in Android 16.

Apple’s beta testing service Testflight just got a fairly substantial update, according to a report by TechCrunch. The software refresh gives developers much more control over who can join a beta and how new features are shared. It also allows beta testers to get more information about an app before they dive in.

Developers will be able to set all kinds of criteria as to who can or cannot access the beta. This should help devs narrow the test groups to specific audiences, like those using a particular device or OS version. Testflight offers a maximum of 10,000 invitations by default, so this should help reserve spots for an intended audience. The developers can also now decrease this maximum number to whatever they want.

The update allows for more control over the beta invites, as they can highlight new features and content. Apple says that beta builds of apps that have already been approved for publication can now include screenshots and the app category along with the invite.

App creators will also be able to view metrics regarding the success of a beta invite, which includes information as to how many people viewed the invite, who opted in and why folks declined.

As for users, beta invites can include a feedback field. This is for people to let the developer know why they chose not to download an app.

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