Would you bring an iced coffee to a job interview?

The question on the internet’s lips this week started life, as many do, in a TikTok video.

“Don’t waltz into your interview all casual with an iced coffee, it just looks like you didn’t have time to finish your coffee beforehand,” said US recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen.

It’s what her Gen Z job candidates are doing, she said, warning it makes it look like the interview is “just a stop on your list of errands for the day”.

The post has started what Wehniainen calls the Great Iced Coffee Debate of 2026.

Some believe turning up with an iced matcha latte in hand is a cardinal sin. They say it’s unprofessional, too informal, and a distraction.

Others feel this is an overreaction – distracting from how difficult it is to secure a job – or even just get an interview in the first place.

In a subsequent LinkedIn post, Wehniainen says she “was never saying that bringing coffee makes someone a bad candidate.

“My point was simply about avoiding distractions.”

Apple’s next entry-level iPad will be equipped with an A19 chip, 8GB of RAM, and two new in-house connectivity chips, according to details uncovered in Apple’s own code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, offering confirmation of specifications that had previously circulated as rumors.

The findings point to the 12th-generation iPad featuring Apple’s C1X modem and N1 networking chip alongside the upgraded processor and memory. Because several of these specifications had already surfaced in earlier reporting, Friday’s discovery functions more as a confirmation of prior leaks than an entirely new revelation about the upcoming tablet.

The processor upgrade represents a meaningful performance jump for Apple’s budget tablet lineup. The current 11th-generation iPad ships with an A16 chip, meaning the move to the newer A19 chip in the 12th-generation model should deliver a noticeable improvement in overall performance. More significantly, the A19 chip supports Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of on-device artificial intelligence features, meaning the new entry-level iPad will gain access to Apple Intelligence and the company’s redesigned Siri AI assistant, capabilities that are entirely absent from the current 11th-generation model.

Memory capacity is also increasing as part of the same upgrade. The existing iPad 11 ships with 6GB of RAM, below the 8GB threshold Apple has established as the minimum requirement for running Apple Intelligence features. The jump to 8GB of RAM in the 12th-generation model will not only enable those AI capabilities but should also improve the tablet’s general responsiveness and multitasking performance.

On the connectivity side, Apple’s new C1X modem supports sub-6GHz 5G networks and is described as more power-efficient than the Qualcomm modem currently used in Apple’s existing iPad lineup. The addition of Apple’s N1 networking chip will bring support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and the Thread smart-home connectivity protocol, expanding the entry-level iPad’s wireless capabilities considerably beyond what the current model offers.

While not confirmed in the code Perris examined, it remains possible the 12th-generation iPad could also introduce new color options when it eventually launches, following a pattern Apple has used with prior iPad refreshes.

No specific release date has been confirmed for the new iPad, and current expectations point to a launch no earlier than spring 2027. The existing iPad 11 currently starts at $449, following a price increase implemented in June, and the new 12th-generation model is expected to carry a similar starting price once it becomes available.

Notably, Apple is not expected to release any new low-cost iPad model within 2026 itself. Instead, the company’s next tablet-related launch is expected to be a refreshed iPad mini, anticipated before the end of October. Separate reporting published the same day as the iPad 12 code discovery detailed new specifications for that upcoming iPad mini refresh, including an A20 Pro chip, an updated speaker system, and a landscape-oriented front-facing camera, positioning it for improved video calling in horizontal orientation. Earlier rumors have also pointed to the new iPad mini featuring an OLED display as its primary visual upgrade over the current model.

Beyond the iPad-related leaks, official product imagery for two other unreleased Apple devices also surfaced the same day. Images of an upcoming Apple TV 4K and a refreshed HomePod mini were discovered, revealing the smart speaker’s new color lineup. According to the leaked imagery, the next HomePod mini will be available in green, pink, blue, white and black, expanding the color options currently offered for the compact smart speaker.

Separately, a leaked image specifically labeled for an “Apple TV 4K (4th generation)” model suggests a new version of Apple’s streaming device is nearing release. That image indicates the new Apple TV 4K will retain the same external design as the current model, according to details from the leak, suggesting any changes are likely to be internal, focused on performance or connectivity improvements, rather than involving a redesigned enclosure.

These leaks arrive roughly two weeks after Apple’s most recent major product event, at which the company unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. Both of those devices feature Apple’s separate C2 modem, a related but distinct chip from the C1X modem expected in the upcoming iPad, continuing Apple’s broader push to develop more of its own in-house wireless chip technology rather than relying primarily on third-party suppliers such as Qualcomm.

With the iPad mini refresh expected within weeks and the redesigned Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini also apparently nearing release, Apple appears to be preparing a cluster of smaller hardware updates heading into the final months of the year, even as the next low-cost iPad itself remains a longer-term addition to the lineup, with its spring 2027 expected launch leaving Apple’s entry-level tablet without an Apple Intelligence-capable option for some time yet.

As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in the workplace, companies may be overlooking another skill set that could increasingly separate successful employees from the pack: the ability to communicate, listen, disagree and build relationships with actual people.

Pamela Eyring, president of the Protocol School of Washington, told Fox Business that employers increasingly need workers who can use AI effectively without allowing their interpersonal skills to deteriorate.

According to Eyring, people need to focus on what she calls “power skills.”

“These are essential skills that we need as human beings in business,” she said.

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As a variety of AI platforms continue to expand, Eyring argued that the technology’s convenience makes it tempting for workers to turn to a chatbot over another person.

And while users may get instant gratification, quick answers and — importantly — less pushback than they might receive from a colleague, Eyring warned that convenience could come at a personal cost.

“It doesn’t dispute us. It’s so nice to us, it’s so good. ‘Oh, that’s a great idea, Pamela, let’s do that.’ And sometimes your ideas aren’t good. That’s why I’m afraid we’re gonna lose our people skills and, more importantly, our relationships,” she added.

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Although many employers may expect their employees to be proficient with AI and other emerging technologies, that alone doesn’t prepare someone to present an idea, read a room, negotiate or develop a client relationship.

“They want you to be smart with AI, but they also want you to be able to close a billion, a multi-billion dollar deal,” Eyring said.

Eyring said technical expertise alone may not be enough when employees are expected to advise clients, build relationships and communicate the experience they’ve accumulated over their careers.

She said she and her clients have encountered job applicants who apparently relied too heavily on AI when preparing application materials.

“We laugh and tell stories about how, you know, the AI created a great resume, and it has still brackets, you know, ‘fill in the blank here,’” Eyring said.

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The consequences of overreliance on AI aren’t limited to embarrassing job applications, she argued. Businesses themselves could pay a price if automation comes at the expense of human interaction.

Leaning too heavily on AI could also cost companies customers — and money.

When asked whether companies risk paying a financial price by automating aggressively while neglecting human skills, Eyring was blunt: “Yes, it’s dangerous.”

“They can’t go full steam ahead and not take into consideration the people,” she said. “If it is not balanced, they are going to lose clients and that’s where you lose money.”

Customers can become frustrated when they can’t reach a person or when the employee they eventually reach doesn’t understand their situation, Eyring said.

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“They want real people,” she said.

“When you’re developing that AI strategy, you’ve got to look at where do we need to keep the people for that connection and continue to build our reputation and our brand,” she continued.

Eyring doesn’t blame AI alone for the erosion of workplace communication.

She said workplace culture had already become more casual before the COVID-19 pandemic, while remote work accelerated the shift by eliminating many informal “water cooler conversations” in which employees could test ideas with colleagues or receive casual coaching from supervisors.

Many supervisors also lost opportunities to physically work alongside employees and mentor them informally, she said.

AI, Eyring argued, has since introduced another challenge.

“I’m not sure where we’re at, but it’s not pretty,” she said.

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While younger generations are sometimes blamed for lacking social skills, Eyring noted that younger workers often haven’t had the same opportunities as older generations to observe workplace behavior and learn through informal coaching.

Many are eager to learn, she said, pointing to her experience teaching professional skills to students preparing to enter the workforce.

Eyring said employers also bear responsibility, arguing that companies should clearly teach workplace expectations and professional norms during onboarding rather than assuming younger employees already know them.

Ultimately, Eyring said businesses don’t have to choose between embracing AI and maintaining the human relationships that help build trust with employees and customers.

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“Don’t let artificial intelligence replace our social intelligence,” she said. “The best investment is in your people.”

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Electronic Arts said EA Sports FC 27 is available worldwide, the fourth annual football game under the FC brand after the company left the FIFA name.

The title launched Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who bought the Ultimate Edition or the limited Ultimate Plus Edition were able to start on Sept. 18. PC copies unlocked on a global clock a few hours ahead of midnight console drops in many regions. A free download, FC 27 Lite, arrived the same day on selected storefronts.

Nick Wlodyka, senior vice president and group general manager of EA Sports FC, said in the company’s launch statement: “FC 27 is the biggest football experience we’ve ever delivered, with more ways for every fan to find their place in The World’s Game. At the heart of that is The Grounds, one of our biggest mode innovations in years, introducing a new social football playground where players can compete, connect, and express themselves on and off the pitch. Alongside meaningful updates across Football Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and gameplay, FC 27 has been shaped by our community. We’re incredibly proud of what our teams have built, and we can’t wait to see how fans around the world make FC 27 their own.”

The Grounds is the feature EA put first. The company described it as “a social football playground where the streets meet the stadium,” with kickabouts, one-on-one matches and Clubs, plus mentors and character progression on and off the pitch. Reveal materials named mentors including Kylian Mbappé, Chloe Kelly, Paulo Dybala and Alex Hunter, the former story-mode protagonist. The mode is limited to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC and Switch 2. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One copies do not include it.

Career Mode received a rebuilt transfer market. EA said it partnered with TransferRoom so player values reflect club buying power, potential, ratings and form, and so clubs bid against one another. New negotiation tools include performance and buy-back clauses. Dynamic overall ratings are meant to track form, morale and fitness. Managers can build and share custom scenarios through a web portal and play community Manager Live challenges.

Football Ultimate Team adds a FUT Gallery in which players collect sets of past and present items, raise a gallery level and earn rewards. EA listed holographic variants, Hall of FUT items, streamlined squad-building challenges and new single-player live events. Icons in Ultimate Team were described in pre-launch notes as arriving first as Debut cards in the mid-80s overall range before later Champion upgrades.

Gameplay notes from EA and its deep-dive video pointed to dynamic corners split into a delivery phase and a run phase, stronger attacking awareness, and defending that rewards manual jockeying, tackles, interceptions and blocks. The company said it retuned intercepts and PlayStyles after community complaints.

Licensing remains the commercial spine. EA said FC 27 includes more than 21,000 players from more than 800 clubs and national teams, 140 stadiums and more than 35 leagues, backed by more than 300 football partners. Competitions listed in a September authenticity release include the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Women’s Champions League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, the Premier League, Bundesliga, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1 and several top women’s leagues.

Mbappé is on the Standard and Ultimate covers. Jude Bellingham joins him on the Ultimate Plus cover, a pre-order SKU sold through Aug. 31. That edition bundled up to seven days of early access, Premium Passes for Seasons 1 through 5, up to 10,000 FC Points across five monthly drops, and extra Ultimate Team items. Ultimate Edition buyers received a smaller points package and Season 1 Premium Pass. Standard Edition buyers got the full game on the 25th without early access. U.K. list prices reported at announcement were £69.99 on current-generation consoles and PC for Standard, £99.99 for Ultimate and £139.99 for Ultimate Plus. U.S. guides listed a Standard floor of $69.99.

FC 27 Lite is free on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series consoles, the EA app, Steam and the Epic Games Store. EA said launch modes are Kick-Off, Learn to Play, Online Friendlies and Online Seasons. An internet connection and an EA account are required. Players can pay to upgrade to the full game. Nintendo versions of Lite were not listed in the launch note. EA Play members get a 10-hour trial whose progress carries into a full purchase, plus 10 percent off digital EA goods including FC Points.

A companion Mobile 27 season update and anniversary event launched in parallel. The official soundtrack, 120 tracks from 36 countries, is on Spotify.

FC 27 is the successor to FC 26 and the 34th game in EA’s long football line that began as FIFA International Soccer. Development is credited to EA Vancouver and EA Romania on the Frostbite engine. Dual entitlement lets PlayStation 4 owners move to PlayStation 5, and Xbox One owners to Series hardware, without a second full-price purchase, EA said before launch.

The company asked players to send feedback through its FC Feedback Hub. Whether The Grounds becomes a daily social space or a quiet district, and whether the transfer rebuild quiets Career Mode complaints, will be measured in the weeks after servers fill. As of Friday, the pitch is open.

PARIS — Kylian Mbappe was forced off with a hyperextended left knee during France’s UEFA Nations League opener against Turkiye on Friday, scoring the match’s only goal before being substituted, in a setback that leaves Real Madrid waiting anxiously for further medical details on their star forward.

Mbappe, serving as France captain, collected the ball on the edge of the box in the 54th minute and struck a powerful shot into the net to give France a 1-0 lead, marking the first goal of new head coach Zinedine Zidane’s tenure in charge of Les Bleus. It was Mbappe’s 67th career goal for France. But he was unable to celebrate the strike, immediately grabbing his left knee in visible pain and limping. After receiving treatment from medical staff on the sideline, Mbappe briefly returned to the pitch before signaling to the bench that he could not continue. He was replaced by Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue in the 57th minute, with France going on to secure the 1-0 win.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Zidane offered a blunt and concerning assessment of his star forward’s condition. “It’s not good. I think he will return to Madrid. We’ll take no risks,” Zidane told reporters, according to comments carried by TF1 and L’Equipe. He confirmed Mbappe had hyperextended his knee during the shooting motion, adding that the injury did not look encouraging for a quick return. Speaking separately, Zidane reiterated the severity of his concern. “He’s not doing good, no, he’s not good unfortunately,” he said.

As a result of the injury, Mbappe will withdraw from the French national team camp and miss France’s three remaining Nations League fixtures during this international window, against Belgium twice and Italy once. According to journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Mbappe is believed to be suffering from a tendon injury, though the precise severity remains unclear pending further testing. No MRI had been conducted as of the most recent reporting, meaning the full extent of the injury remains officially unknown.

Real Madrid confirmed in a statement on their official website that Mbappe had suffered an injury and that the French Football Federation had ruled him out for the remainder of the international break. According to that update, Mbappe underwent preliminary tests within the national team camp and is expected to travel back to Madrid, where he will undergo more extensive diagnostic testing to determine the precise nature and severity of the injury.

The timing adds to a difficult run of injury news across multiple national teams during the current international window. Real Madrid teammate Ibrahima Konate had already withdrawn from the France squad earlier in the camp due to a separate issue, while Germany’s Kai Havertz was also returning to his club, Arsenal, and Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey sustained a separate injury on international duty.

The setback is particularly concerning for Real Madrid given how central Mbappe has been to the team’s attack this season. He had scored eight goals and provided two assists across eight appearances for the club so far this campaign, spanning both La Liga and the Champions League, continuing a strong start following his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. Since joining Real Madrid, Mbappe has amassed 94 goals and 14 assists in 111 appearances across all competitions, underscoring the scale of his importance to the team’s attacking output.

Real Madrid’s caution around the injury is informed in part by Mbappe’s recent injury history. The forward missed nine matches during the 2025-26 season due to a combination of muscular and knee-related issues, a track record that has made the club’s medical staff and coaching staff especially wary of risking a premature return before the full extent of any new injury is properly understood.

Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, are next in action when they host Villarreal on October 3, the first of five matches scheduled for the club in October, a stretch that includes the season’s first Clasico against Barcelona later in the month. Whether Mbappe will be available for either fixture remains uncertain pending the results of his MRI and further assessment once he returns to the club’s medical staff.

Mbappe enters this stretch fresh off a standout showing at this year’s World Cup, where he scored 10 goals to win the tournament’s Golden Boot, edging out Lionel Messi for the honor. His injury now threatens to disrupt both his club form with Real Madrid and France’s early results under Zidane, who was hoping to build momentum in his first matches in charge of the national team following his appointment.

With Mbappe now set to undergo further testing back in Madrid, both club and country face an anxious wait to determine how long the France captain and Real Madrid talisman will be sidelined, and whether Friday’s setback proves to be a short-term absence or a more significant blow to both teams’ plans over the coming weeks.

J Infratech Ltd, an integrated infrastructure engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm, has filed preliminary papers with the market regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO) comprising a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 600 crore.

Apart from the fresh issue, the company’s proposed IPO comprises an offer for sale (OFS) of 1 crore equity shares by promoters, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on Friday.

The Haryana-based company may also consider a pre-IPO placement of up to Rs 120 crore. In case the placement is completed, the size of the fresh issue will be reduced accordingly.

The proceeds from the IPO will primarily be utilised to meet working capital requirements, repay or pre-pay certain borrowings and for general corporate purposes.

J Infratech is an integrated infrastructure engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company focused on roads, highways and bridges, with experience in executing large-scale road development projects involving specialised structures across India.

The company commenced operations in 2005 through its partnership firm, Jandu Construction Co, which was subsequently converted into J Infratech in 2019.
As of July 31, 2026, the company had completed 35 projects and was executing 46 projects across 16 states and three Union Territories.The equity shares proposed to be offered through the IPO are proposed to be listed on both BSE and NSE.

Systematix Corporate Services is the book-running lead manager to the issue, and KFin Technologies is the registrar to the offer.

Players of Chess.com, the world’s largest online chess platform, began reporting connectivity problems early Saturday, with outage-tracking service Downdetector logging a spike in user complaints starting at 3:29 a.m. Eastern time and the hashtag #ChessComDown trending on social platform X as affected users compared notes on the disruption.

Downdetector’s official account posted an alert shortly after the spike began, asking users how the outage was affecting them and directing them to submit detailed reports through the platform. As of the alert, the scope, cause and expected duration of the disruption had not been detailed in any official statement from Chess.com.

Chess.com has grown into the dominant platform in online chess, with the site reporting 268.6 million registered members as of early July. The platform, whose domain was originally registered in 1995 by a Berkeley, California-based company called Aficionado to sell a chess-tutoring application called Chess Mentor, has since expanded into one of the most heavily trafficked gaming and educational websites in the world, offering live games, puzzles, lessons, tournaments and AI-powered coaching tools for players of all skill levels.

The platform also serves as a major hub for competitive chess, hosting recurring events including Titled Tuesdays, the PRO Chess League, the Speed Chess Championship and the Champions Chess Tour, a circuit of online tournaments that has featured many of the sport’s top-ranked players, including world number one Magnus Carlsen. Given that scale and the platform’s role in hosting live, time-sensitive competitive events, even a relatively brief service disruption has the potential to affect a large number of active users and any competitive matches scheduled during the outage window.

Saturday’s reported disruption is not the platform’s first this year. Chess.com experienced a separate outage on September 16 that specifically affected the site’s smart board API, the system used to connect physical, internet-connected chessboards to the platform. Following that incident, ChessUp, a maker of smart chessboards that integrates with Chess.com’s service, posted an update to its own community forum acknowledging the problem. “Temporary Outage – we are working with Chess.com to resolve,” the company wrote at the time. “Chess.com’s site is unresponsive for the smart board API. We are aware of the problem and working on it. Sorry for the temporary outage.” It remains unclear whether Saturday’s reported issues are related to that earlier incident or represent a separate, unrelated disruption.

Independent outage-tracking services have generally described Chess.com as a reliable platform with a low historical rate of reported disruptions. One monitoring service reported no recorded major incidents for the platform over the trailing 12 months as of Saturday, describing the platform as generally operating normally with only isolated, low-volume user reports on a typical day. That track record makes Saturday’s reported spike in complaints a notable departure from the platform’s recent baseline level of reported issues.

Not every reported connectivity issue necessarily reflects a problem on Chess.com’s own servers. Independent monitoring services that track the platform’s status have noted that isolated user reports can sometimes stem from a player’s own internet connection, device or browser configuration rather than a broader, platform-wide outage affecting all users simultaneously. Users experiencing issues are commonly advised to try a full browser refresh, clear their browser’s cache and cookies, or confirm the issue is not isolated to their own network connection before assuming a wider outage is underway.

Discussions on Chess.com’s own community forum have periodically included user reports of server issues over the years, reflecting the kind of intermittent connectivity complaints common to large, heavily trafficked online platforms operating at global scale. Given the platform’s current size, with hundreds of millions of registered accounts and a substantial base of concurrent active players at any given time, maintaining consistent uptime across its full range of services, including live games, puzzles, lessons and tournament infrastructure, represents a significant ongoing technical undertaking.

As of the most recent available information, Chess.com had not issued a detailed public statement specifying the root cause of Saturday’s reported disruption, and it remained unclear whether the issue was affecting all users across all regions and platforms equally or was concentrated among a specific subset of players or services. Affected users were directed to Chess.com’s own official channels and status pages for the most current and authoritative updates on the situation, rather than relying solely on crowdsourced outage trackers, which can occasionally lag behind or imprecisely characterize the true scope of a still-developing technical issue.

With Downdetector continuing to log reports in the early morning hours and the hashtag #ChessComDown continuing to circulate on social media, affected players are likely to continue monitoring both the outage-tracking service and Chess.com’s own channels for confirmation of the cause and an estimated timeline for full service restoration.

Automation can help laboratories process samples efficiently while supporting accuracy, traceability, and repeatable workflows. It does not replace the knowledge of trained scientists and laboratory professionals. Instead, it provides tools that help teams manage complex tasks at scale.

Why Consistency Matters in Sample Processing

Sample processing covers the steps that prepare biological materials for storage, testing, or analysis. Depending on the study, these steps may include receipting, blood fractionation, aliquoting, liquid transfer, DNA or RNA extraction, quantification, and normalisation.

Consistency is essential because samples need to be handled in a way that supports reliable downstream analysis. If one set of samples is processed differently from another, it may become harder to understand whether changes in the results are meaningful or related to laboratory variation.

Automated equipment can help follow the same programmed procedure across large batches of samples. This can support more standardised workflows and reduce the amount of repetitive manual work required.

High-Throughput Processing for Large Studies

A high-throughput laboratory is designed to handle large numbers of samples efficiently. This can be particularly valuable for clinical trials, population health programmes, genomics projects, and pharmaceutical research.

As sample volumes increase, laboratories need systems that can maintain quality without creating unnecessary delays. Automation can help manage routine processes at a larger scale, allowing laboratory teams to focus their attention on quality oversight, problem-solving, and specialist work.

For example, automated liquid-handling systems can assist with transferring samples between containers, creating aliquots, pooling samples, and preparing materials for further testing. This can be faster and more consistent than carrying out every step manually.

Reducing Unnecessary Sample Handling

Biological samples can be sensitive to repeated handling and changes in temperature. Every time a sample is removed from storage, transferred, or processed, there is a possibility of disruption.

Automated systems can reduce the amount of manual handling involved in certain workflows. They can also help laboratories work with smaller sample volumes and create aliquots that are suitable for future testing.

Aliquoting can be especially useful for preserving a parent sample. Instead of repeatedly thawing and refreezing the same material, laboratories can use smaller portions for separate analyses. This helps protect the remaining sample for future use.

Improving Traceability and Data Management

Automation is most effective when it is connected to clear data management. A sample must be more than physically processed. It needs to be accurately identified and tracked throughout its journey.

Laboratory information management systems can record sample receipt, movements, processing steps, storage locations, and associated data. Barcodes and digital records help laboratory teams identify the correct samples and reduce the risk of manual transcription errors.

This traceability is important for research quality, audit readiness, and practical study management. It also makes it easier to locate specific samples when they are needed for additional analysis.

Supporting DNA and RNA Workflows

DNA and RNA extraction can be an important part of many genetic and biomedical research programmes. Once nucleic acids have been extracted, they may need to be quantified and normalised before they are used in downstream analysis.

Automation can support these workflows by helping laboratories process high sample volumes using defined methods. Quantification helps determine the amount of nucleic acid available, while normalisation can prepare DNA or RNA to meet the requirements of a particular analysis.

The right workflow will depend on the sample type, study protocol, and planned research method. Careful planning is needed to make sure the process matches the scientific goals of the project.

Flexibility Is Still Important

Although automation can support standardisation, research programmes are not always identical. A clinical study may have specific requirements for collection, processing, storage, or reporting.

A good processing strategy should be flexible enough to adapt to these needs while maintaining appropriate quality controls. This may include bespoke collection kits, tailored sample handling procedures, or different reporting requirements for a particular study.

A specialist Sample Processing Service can help research teams combine high-throughput automated workflows with the flexibility needed for clinical and biomedical programmes.

Plan Automation Early in the Study

Automation works best when it is considered early. Before a project starts, research teams should think about expected sample volumes, collection schedules, required turnaround times, sample types, and long-term storage plans.

Important questions include:

• How many samples will be processed each day or week?
• Which processing steps need to be completed?
• Will samples require DNA or RNA extraction?
• How will samples be labelled and tracked?
• Are there specific storage requirements?
• What data or reports will the study team need?

Answering these questions early can help create a workflow that remains practical as the study grows.

FAQ

What is automated sample processing?

Automated sample processing uses laboratory equipment and software to support tasks such as sample transfer, aliquoting, extraction, quantification, and normalisation.

Why is automation useful for large studies?

Automation can help laboratories manage high sample volumes with more consistent workflows and less repetitive manual handling.

Can automation improve sample traceability?

Yes. When automated systems are connected to a Laboratory Information Management System, they can support clear tracking of sample identities, movements, and processing activities.

Does automation replace laboratory staff?

No. Automation supports laboratory staff by assisting with repeatable tasks. Trained professionals are still needed to oversee processes, review quality, and manage complex requirements.

Conclusion

Automation can help research laboratories process large numbers of samples more efficiently while supporting consistency and traceability. By combining automated workflows with careful planning and skilled laboratory oversight, research teams can create a stronger foundation for reliable clinical and biomedical studies.

The Indian stock market closed in the green, with Sensex and Nifty rising up to 0.4% on Friday a day after the sharp crash that wiped off a significant portion of investors’ wealth.

Sensex rose 315 points to end Friday’s session at 73,896 while Nifty 50 gained 77 points to close at 23,140.50. Broader markets remained mixed, with Nifty Midcap 100 in red and Nifty Smallcap 100 in green.

Analyst Sudeep Shah, Vice President and Head of Technical & Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, interacted with ETMarkets regarding the outlook for the Nifty, options data, and an index strategy for the upcoming week. The following are the edited excerpts from his chat:

Nifty slipped 1% this week, logging 8 consecutive declines for the first time. How do you see Nifty panning out next week?

For the seventh consecutive week, the benchmark index Nifty ended on a negative note, marking its longest weekly losing streak since the COVID-led market decline in 2020. The sharp rise in the US 10-year bond yield, coupled with heightened volatility in Brent crude oil prices, has continued to weigh on market sentiment. The US 10-year bond yield is currently hovering at its highest level since 2007, adding to concerns over global financial conditions. With global headwinds refusing to fade, the real test for Nifty is whether the ongoing weakness has further room to run.
Technically, the weakness remains evident as Nifty is trading around 3% below its 50-day EMA and nearly 4% below its 100-day EMA, with both averages trending downward. The Daily RSI once again faced resistance near the 40 level and turned lower, indicating that the range has shifted into a super-bearish zone as per the RSI Range Shift theory. The failure of RSI to reclaim 40 suggests that every recovery attempt could face a familiar wall of selling pressure.

The other momentum indicators are also reinforcing the bearish setup. The Daily MACD remains bearish, with both the MACD and signal lines trading below the zero line. More importantly, the MACD histogram has remained below the zero line for the last 30 trading sessions, highlighting the persistence of negative momentum. Thirty sessions of negative histogram readings are difficult to ignore, and the next move could reveal whether momentum is merely weak or turning decisively weaker.
Going ahead, the 23,270–23,300 zone will act as a crucial hurdle for the index. As long as Nifty stays below 23,300, the broader downward trend is likely to remain intact, with the index potentially moving towards 22,800, followed by 22600. For now, 23,300 remains the line in the sand: will Nifty reclaim it to challenge the bears, or will the downside targets come into focus?

What is your view on Bank Nifty ?

For the fifth consecutive week, the banking benchmark index Bank Nifty ended on a negative note and has now slipped below its recent swing low, indicating a continuation of the prevailing corrective trend.

The index is trading comfortably below its key short-term and medium-term moving averages, namely the 20-day, 50-day and 100-day EMAs, all of which are trending lower and reflecting sustained weakness in price structure. Further, the daily RSI has remained confined to the 46-33 range over the past 12 trading sessions, highlighting the absence of meaningful bullish momentum.

Going forward, the 55,100-55,000 zone is expected to act as a crucial support area, as it coincides with the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the previous upmove. A decisive break below 55,000 could accelerate selling pressure and drag the index towards the 54,400 level in the short term.

On the upside, the 56,000-56,100 zone is likely to act as an immediate hurdle. As long as the index remains below this resistance band, the broader bias is expected to remain negative.

Insurance stocks witnessed a heavy beating. What’s your strategy for PB Fintech, Turtlemint, others in the sector?

Policybazaar (PB Fintech) witnessed a sharp 36% decline on September 24, significantly distorting its chart structure. The stock has slipped well below its key moving averages, indicating a deterioration in the overall trend. The RSI has plunged to 24 from 61, signalling strong bearish momentum, while the MACD line has slipped below the zero line, further reinforcing the bearish bias.

The Rs 1,160–1,150 zone remains a crucial support area, as the stock witnessed a sharp rebound from this zone in May 2024. A decisive breach below this support could trigger a further extension of weakness.

Turtlemint has declined nearly 40% over the past two sessions and is now trading significantly below its listing price. The ADX indicator shows DI- comfortably placed above DI+, highlighting the strong dominance of bears over bulls. The Rs 98–100 zone is likely to act as an immediate resistance, and the bearish bias is likely to persist as long as the stock trades below this zone.

Given the sharp deterioration in technical indicators across the insurance sector, bottom fishing in the affected stocks may be premature. It would be prudent to wait for greater clarity on price action, signs of stabilisation and further regulatory announcements before considering fresh positions.

Where are you seeing a strong option position right now and which Nifty strikes could act as immediate support or resistance zones going into next expiry?

From an options perspective, significant call writing is visible at the 23,300 and 23,400 strikes, with call writing nearly twice and thrice the corresponding put writing, respectively, making these levels likely immediate resistance zones. On the downside, the 23,000 strike has witnessed substantial put writing, nearly four times stronger than call writing, indicating strong positional support around this level. Going into the monthly expiry on Tuesday, the 23,000–23,400 range emerges as the likely trading range based on the current option chain positioning, with 23,000 as the immediate support and 23,400 as the key resistance zone.

Any sectors looking relatively stronger amidst the current volatility ?

Technically, Nifty Pharma and Healthcare are expected to maintain their leadership position and continue outperforming the broader market.

Can you pick 5 stocks that look good on the charts for the coming week?

Technically, JUBLPHARMA, PRIVISCL, ZYDUSLIFE, HBLENGINE and AETHER are looking good.

Disclaimer: This article has been written by Veer Sharma, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Veer Sharma and his/her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclaimers here.