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MOSCOW, September 3- In this digest, we will look at the secrets of the Shumshu island, the use of artificial intelligence in space, and a plan to help bookstores. According to the minister, nearby Japan has not figured out the island’s secrets either. Participants in the past expeditions told Sputnik that some old Japanese military equipment could be seen on the…
MOSCOW, September 3 (Sputnik) – In this digest, we will look at the secrets of the Shumshu island, the use of artificial intelligence in space, and a plan to help bookstores.
SHUMSHU SECRETS
Russian Defense Minister and head of the Russian Geographic Society Sergei Shoigu told Sputnik about the secrets of the northernmost island of the Kuril archipelago — Shumshu.
“Shumshu holds a lot of mysteries. There were some labs there because there is a lot of crashed lab containers, cables, the remains of some serious energy,” Shoigu told Sputnik and Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.
According to the minister, nearby Japan has not figured out the island’s secrets either.
“God knows what used to be there. So far, even more mysteries and questions than answers appear after all the tours,” Shoigu said.
A big expedition will go to the Kuril islands in 2021, the head of the geographic society said.
Participants in the past expeditions told Sputnik that some old Japanese military equipment could be seen on the Shumshu island, where, in 1945, the Red Army had its only battle with the forces of the militarist Japan.
AI FOR SATELLITES
The Russian space agency wants to use artificial intelligence for controlling satellites, according to a report in a scientific journal of the Roscosmos head institute.
According to the scientists, the use of AI could help increase the independence of spacecraft and, as a result, their resistance. It would also help streamline controls on Earth.
AI could be particularly useful with large groups of satellites that count hundreds and thousands of spacecraft, such as Starlink or OneWeb. Russia is planning to launch its own satellite group Sfera with more than 500 spacecraft for navigation, data traffic, Earth survey, and other tasks.
Another benefit of AI control is better adaptability to the increasing masses of space waste.
BOOK PHOTOS
The Russian Trade Ministry has rolled out several proposals that are supposed to lift excessive regulations off businesses. One of the ideas, however, has raised some questions in the very industry it aims to help. The idea in question is to ban customers from taking any pictures of books or copying them in bookstores before purchase.
The draft law needs clarification, the press service of bookstore chain Respublika told Sputnik.
“We have never seen any attempt to illegally copy information from the books in stores. Reading off a photo is simply not very convenient and makes no sense because, unfortunately, many books can still be pirated,” the press service said.
In fact, most customers post their photos on social networks, which gives exposure to the books and the stores, Respublika said.
“Not only are we OK with people taking photos and recording video in the store, but we actually encourage it and are always grateful to visitors who share their photos on social networks,” the press service said.
