There was a time in History when a corporation-owned factory could cause black clouds of toxic smoke in the air and dump tonnes of toxic waste into a nearby water stream without facing any consequences. There was no legal body to regulate harm to the environment as no EPA, Clean Air Act, or Clean Water Act was in place. However, things changed drastically in 1970 when US Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day to make environmental issues a national agenda and eventually an international one.
Over 50 years down the line, Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and holds great significance not just among environmentalists but also among the general public. Before we go on to the theme of Earth Day 2023. Here is a brief history of the day which celebrated Mother Earth –
History of Earth Day
Gaylord Nelson was a junior senator from Wisconsin who had grave concerns surrounding the deteriorating environment in the United States. It was back in January 1969 when he witnessed the horrors of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Nelson was inspired by the student anti-war movement and wanted to bring the same enthusiasm to issues like water and air pollution. He announced the idea of a teach-in on college campuses to US media and chose Pete McCloskey as his co-chair. The campus teach-ins were organized by Denis Hayes, a 22-year-old activist on April 22.
Denis Hayes understood the movement’s potential to inspire all Americans leading him to build a national staff consisting of 85 people to promote events across the country. Soon, other faith groups and organizations latched on to the cause leading to ‘Earth Day’ as we know it today. The name change to Earth Day quickly sparked interest among the media eventually inspiring 20 million Americans to show their support.
Groups already in place fighting individually against oil spills, raw sewage, toxic dumps, and other environmental causes united on Earth Day as they shared common values. In a rare political alignment, both the Democratic and Republican parties pledged their support to Earth Day in 1970. The end of Earth Day in 1970 led to the formation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency which introduced a number of environment-centric acts. It was back in 1990 when Denis Hayes took Earth Day on a global scale. Senator Nelson also earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role in the formation of Earth Day.
Current Significance
This will be the first time an Earth Day theme is being continued into the next year. Last year’s ‘Invest in Our Planet’ theme will be acting as the continuation of the 2023 theme which is focused on engaging businesses, governments, institutions, and more than a billion people who participate in Earth Day activities to their part. Kathleen Rogers, the President of EARTHDAY.Org previously shared the vision for 2023 saying, “In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous, and equitable future. We must join together in our fight for the green revolution and for the health of future generations. The time is now to Invest In Our Planet,”
An official press release by the Earth Day organization announcing 2023’s theme shared that investing in a green economy is the only path to a prosperous future. The statement adds furthermore that human influence is unequivocally to blame for the warming of the planet and some form of climate disruption will now be felt for centuries to come.
Not just governments, but businesses and humans all need to work together to bring about the revolutionary progress required to save the planet. Here’s how this is achievable –
1. Businesses including investors and financial markets need to drive value for their institutions and society through green innovations and practices. There have been multiple economic revolutions in the past powered by the private sector which now needs to emphasize the green revolution.
2. Governments need to incentivize their citizens, businesses and institutions to innovate sustainable practices. Additionally, educating the general public and advancing their interest in creating an equitable and sustainable global system is also required.
3. Citizens at an individual level need to push for sustainable solutions across the board as both voters and consumers. A push from the citizens can motivate governments to take proactive steps in conserving the environment while moving towards green development. The voice of the people holds great significance in making the changes the planet needs right now.
Earth Day Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
1. April 22 was chosen as the date for Earth Day because it fell between Spring Break and final exams leading to maximum student involvement
2. About 10 per cent of the US population took part in the first Earth Day demonstration
3. The passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts was inspired by the first Earth Day in 1970
4. Nearly 1 billion people across the globe take part in Earth Day activities
5. On Earth Day 2022, 28 million trees were planted in Afghanistan under the ‘Planet Trees Not Bombs’ campaign
6. Humans today use 50 per cent more natural resources than we did 30 years ago
7. An average American today produces 4.5 pounds of trash every day
8.Nearly 80 per cent of all plastic waste ever created by humans is still in the environment
When the pandemic hit the world, and we were forced to stay inside, the earth flourished like a heavenly flower. The worldwide lockdown reduced transport activities, resulting in less energy consumption and lower oil demand. Films and documentaries have always played an important role in shaping society as they are powerful tools for inspiring awareness, action, and change. As the world becomes more aware of the impact of human activity on the environment, films and documentaries that explore environmental issues have become insanely popular. With the new ways of filmmaking, we have access to some of the most thought-provoking and innovative ecological films and documentaries of all time. Here are ten of the best:
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet” is a documentary film that chronicles the remarkable career of naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough and his lifelong passion for the natural world. The film traces Attenborough’s journey from his early days as a young adventurer to his role as a global advocate for the environment. The film also warns about the devastating impact of human activity on the planet and the urgent need to address the climate crisis. Attenborough’s message is one of hope, however, as he outlines a vision for a sustainable future that includes a shift towards renewable energy and a more harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world.
The Year Earth Changed (2021)
“The Year Earth Changed” is a nature documentary that explores the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. The documentary was filmed in 2020, during the global lockdown, the documentary reveals how the sudden absence of human activity has given nature an opportunity to flourish. From deserted city streets to empty beaches, we witness the return of wildlife to once-busy urban areas, the revitalisation of polluted rivers, and the resurgence of marine life in oceans. Through stunning footage captured by drones and cameras, the documentary offers a hopeful message about the resiliency of nature and the potential for positive change if we rethink our relationship with the planet.
The Story of Plastic (2020)
“The Story of Plastic” explores the impact of plastic on the environment, from its production to its disposal. The documentary delves into the global plastic pollution crisis and explores the origins of plastic and its production, as well as the environmental and social impacts caused by plastic waste. The documentary features interviews with activists, scientists, and individuals affected by plastic pollution, highlighting the urgency for systemic change to address the plastic pollution problem. The Story of Plastic aims to raise awareness and inspire individuals and communities to act towards a more sustainable future.
Kiss the Ground (2020)
“Kiss the Ground” is a 2020 documentary film that explores the potential of regenerative agriculture to combat climate change and restore the Earth’s ecosystems. The film takes the viewer through various landscapes worldwide, showcasing real-world examples of regenerative farming practices that have succeeded in improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Overall, “Kiss the Ground” offers a hopeful message about the power of individuals and communities to heal the Earth and create a more sustainable future.
2040 (2019)
“2040” is a documentary film directed by Damon Gameau that explores possible solutions to climate change and environmental issues in 2040. Gameau presents a hopeful vision of the future by showcasing innovative technologies and initiatives that could positively impact the planet, such as renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable urban design. The film also emphasises the importance of community engagement and individual action in creating a better future, along with encouraging viewers to take action and be part of the solution to climate change.
Seaspiracy (2021)
The documentary, directed by Ali Tabrizi, explores the impact of commercial fishing on marine life and the environment. The film follows Tabrizi as he travels the world interviewing scientists, activists, and fishermen about the fishing industry and its practices. The documentary highlights the devastating effects of overfishing, plastic pollution, and bycatch, as well as the industry’s corruption and lack of regulation.
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
My Octopus Teacher is a documentary film that tells the story of filmmaker Craig Foster’s relationship with an octopus in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa. After feeling burnt out from his career, Foster starts freediving in the kelp forest and encounters an octopus. He becomes fascinated by the creature’s intelligence and develops a deep connection with her over a year. Through stunning underwater footage and Foster’s narration, the film explores themes of connection, wonder, and the relationship between humans and nature. The documentary won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2021.
Chasing Coral (2017)
Chasing Coral is a documentary film directed by Jeff Orlowski that explores the devastating effects of climate change on coral reefs worldwide. The film follows a team of scientists, divers, and photographers documenting the rapid decline of coral reefs due to rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. The film shows the bleaching and death of coral reefs in real time through stunning underwater footage and time-lapse photography. The documentary highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and protecting these vital ecosystems. Chasing Coral won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017.
The Ivory Game (2016)
“The Ivory Game” is a documentary that explores the illicit ivory trade, which has decimated the elephant population in Africa and fueled organised crime and terrorism. The film follows undercover investigators and activists as they work to expose the complex web of corruption and criminal activity behind the ivory trade, from African poachers to Chinese buyers. It sheds light on the devastating consequences of this trade on the elephants and the communities that rely on them while also highlighting the urgent need for action to save these magnificent animals from extinction.
Fantastic Fungi (2019)
“Fantastic Fungi” is a documentary that explores the fascinating world of mushrooms and their incredible potential to heal, sustain, and regenerate life on Earth. The film takes viewers on a journey through the underground network of mycelium, the vast and intricate web of life that supports the growth and reproduction of fungi. From the ancient traditions of using mushrooms for medicine and spiritual enlightenment to the cutting-edge research being done today on their potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social issues, “Fantastic Fungi” is a celebration of the incredible power of nature and the beauty and wonder of the fungal kingdom.
Bonus:
Sea of Shadows (2019)
“Sea of Shadows” is a 2019 documentary film that follows a group of activists, journalists, and scientists as they try to save the endangered vaquita porpoise, which is on the brink of extinction due to illegal fishing practices in the Sea of Cortez. The film focuses on the efforts of a small team of scientists and conservationists who risk their lives to track down and remove illegal fishing nets, known as totoaba nets, which are used to catch a rare fish called the totoaba, whose swim bladder is highly prized in Chinese medicine. The totoaba nets are responsible for trapping and killing vaquita porpoises, often caught in the nets and drowned. As the team races against time to save the vaquita, they confront corrupt officials, dangerous criminal syndicates, and the powerful forces of greed and indifference that threaten to drive the vaquita to extinction.
India has seen a surge in women-led businesses in recent years, with many entrepreneurs breaking barriers and making a mark in various industries. These businesses and women leaders are not only empowering women but also contributing to India’s economy and job creation. Thanks to startups being celebrated in the mainstream culture with shows like Shark Tand India, more and more women are testing the waters and entering the startup arena. These women-led businesses are not just successful but also break the sexist stereotypes that limit women’s reach in the world.
Nykaa
Nykaa is a Mumbai-based wellness brand founded by Falguni Nayar in 2012. It is an online beauty and wellness store that offers a range of products, including makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrances. Nykaa has raised over $100 million in funding and has more than 100 retail stores across the country. The startup has disrupted the beauty industry and has become a leading player in the market.
Zivame
Zivame is a Bangalore-based startup founded by Richa Kar in 2011. It is an online lingerie store that offers a wide range of products for women. Zivame has raised over $50 million in funding and has more than 30 retail stores across the country. The startup has disrupted the lingerie industry, which was traditionally dominated by male-led companies.
The Moms Co.
The Moms Co. is a Delhi-based startup founded by Malika Sadani in 2016. It is a natural and toxin-free skincare brand for moms and babies. The startup has raised over $5 million in funding and has a presence in over 10,000 stores across the country. The Moms Co. is a pioneer in the natural skincare industry and has made a mark with its innovative products.
Vahdam Teas
Vahdam Teas is a Delhi-based startup founded by Bala Sarda in 2015. It is an online tea store that offers a wide range of teas from different regions of India. Vahdam Teas has raised over $17 million in funding and has a presence in over 100 countries. The startup has disrupted the tea industry, which was traditionally dominated by established players.
SUGAR Cosmetics
SUGAR Cosmetics was founded by Vineeta Singh and Kaushik Mukherjee in 2015. It is a makeup brand that offers a range of products, including lipsticks, eyeliners, and foundations. SUGAR Cosmetics has raised over $20 million in funding and has a presence in over 10 countries. The startup has disrupted the makeup industry and has become a leading player in the market.
FabAlley
FabAlley is a Delhi-based startup founded by Shivani Poddar and Tanvi Malik in 2012. It is an online fashion store that offers a range of products, including clothes, accessories, and footwear. FabAlley has raised over $8 million in funding and has a presence in over 200 cities across the country. The startup has disrupted the fashion industry and has become a popular choice among young women.
YourStory
YourStory is a Bangalore-based startup founded by Shradha Sharma in 2008. It is a media platform that covers startups and entrepreneurs in India. YourStory has raised over $18 million in funding and has a reach of over 10 million readers. The startup has played a significant role in promoting and supporting the startup ecosystem in India. These are just a few examples of the many women-led businesses in India that are making a mark in various industries. These startups are breaking barriers and inspiring more women to become entrepreneurs. We’re in 2023 and it is definitely high time for people to stop underestimating what women can achieve in various fields across the globe!
I enjoy taking on new challenges, actively setting objectives for myself, and establishing new benchmarks as a leader for my team and the brand. Additionally, I practice discipline in my personal and professional lives to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I am also constantly seeking newer ways to do bigger and better things as an individual and as a member of society.
Q2. What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
In my opinion, dedication is the core value that aspiring leaders should instil in themselves. Dedication is the key to success, one must adhere to the rules that have been set for the growth of the business to achieve the company’s vision for the larger good of society.
Q3. One thing you believe is essential for sustained growth.
Consistency, rooted in business practices, can become a major growth driver and is the underlying secret ingredient to all your strategies and daily operations. It ensures success since entrepreneurs do what they enjoy. It will keep you motivated to work harder and push through everything necessary to achieve your daily goals.
Q4. One book that you love and the one you’ve bookmarked?
I love reading books, especially biographies and anthropology books. My current favourite book is Negotiating the non-negotiable, written by Daniel Shapiro. The book offers a useful framework for understanding identity through the five pillars (BRAVE) – beliefs, rituals, allegiances, values, and emotionally meaningful experiences – and how conflicts can arise when one of them is threatened.
Q5. Leadership quotes that inspire you
I truly believe in Dare to act and get inspired by your past mistakes, it’s a life hack; we must develop self-confidence in order to learn from our own mistakes. By overcoming our shortcomings, we become stronger as we know our strengths and weaknesses. It wouldn’t be as easy for us to understand ourselves without the mistakes we have made. More than quotes, it is people who inspire me. Thanks to my work, I keep coming across amazing personalities with something unique to offer and learn from.
Q6. What is your unique way of maintaining a work-life balance?
Make a plan and stick to it. In my opinion, maintaining a healthy balance in both areas is extremely important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. My life as an entrepreneur is tremendously demanding, and this stays consistent the entire year. Since most of my time is spent in the office, I make sure to take time out for my family, especially post work and during the weekends. Being a morning person, I wake up at 5 AM and stay strictly offline and focus on my morning ritual with my family, which includes practising Yoga and exercise, followed by a healthy breakfast and spending some quality and precious time with my children. After finishing my morning ritual, the next thing I do is to make daily goals and keep my to-do list handy, which assists me in focusing on specific goals that I must achieve before the end of the day. Knowing when and what to do makes me more comfortable at work.
Q7. Significant learning in the past couple of years?
Both personally and professionally, I’ve learned how important it is to be agile in all situations and stay positive to be able to lead a balanced life. Another key learning is that focusing on one goal at each stage allows us to plan for the future more effectively.
Q8. Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
I mainly use health monitoring and team collaboration apps to streamline my day. With just one swipe on my realme phone and smartwatch, I can easily navigate my daily health chart to any important meeting, even on the road. The applications I’m hooked to are: Whatsapp and Twitter are my top favourites. Twitter allows you to connect with your target audiences and express yourself freely. Whatsapp keeps me updated and stays connected with my family, friends, and work team.
Q9. What is your technology detox?
Technology detox for me is spending as much time as possible with my family and loved ones alongside my daily morning exercise routine.
Q10. If money was not a bar, what piece of tech and automobile would you own?
I think with hard work and perseverance, I have managed to achieve a decent lifestyle. Over the years, I have seen the power technology holds and how it can bring the best of citizen services to an entire population and provide the right tools to empower youth. I, along with my team at realme, are working towards making technology more accessible to the youth by making smartphones and the entire connected TechLife ecosystem, including hearables, smartwatches and smart appliances, available to them at relevant price points with a mission to help the youth Dare to Leap and achieve success in what they do.
I’m a Marwari, and there is a business in my blood. I believe in the equality of women and opportunities for all because I’m a Mumbaikar. Lastly, I’m an Indian, so I believe humanity and kindness are above money and power.
Q2. What is the one subject you think aspiring leaders should learn?
Sociology. You need to learn more about society and people to find opportunities for change and improvement.
Q3. One thing you believe is essential for sustained growth.
Good health and stable wealth.
Q4. One book that you love and the one you’ve bookmarked?
The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership by Steven Sample.
Q5. Leadership quotes that inspire you
“It is better to be feared than to be loved if one cannot be both.” – Niccolò Machiavelli
Q6. What is your unique way of maintaining a work-life balance?
Hang out with the people who expand your mind and your heart.
Q7. Significant learning in the past couple of years?
Being open-minded to reinventing yourself and being relevant to newer generations.
Q8. Some productivity apps and technologies you use in your daily life?
I want to try the Notion app for OKRs.
Q9. What is your technology detox?
Deleting social media apps from my phone from Monday to Friday.
Q10. If money was not a bar, what piece of tech and automobile would you own?
I believe in owning tech and automobile companies, not just the product.
If you’re anywhere in the PC gaming scene then you surely know about the Predator gaming laptop series by Acer. The Predator series is known to be one of if not the best gaming laptops around the world and we at Exhibit use a number of Predator machines as our daily driver’s thanks for their dependability. Our extensive testing of the Predator Helios 300 has only left us amazed with its gaming performance.
Being a car enthusiast and frequent traveller, a big chunk of my time I spent with cars, and sadly sitting in a car playing games is a hassle in itself. But what if I told you that a new car on the market allows you to play games right on its screen? That’s right!
The latest EV by Mercedes, the AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ is a one of its kind luxury offering that widens the horizons of what an electric car can provide its customers.
The Sedan EV has a height of 1515 mm and a width of 1926 mm. The exterior of the car is eye-catching, especially its front, which features a dual light band coupled with the front bonnet that beautifully overlaps the wings. The digital lamps are bright and feature 1.3 million pixels per headlamp which are enough to light up your way effectively.
The brightness of the digital lamps is furthermore enhanced and controlled by the Adaptive high beam assist plus, which features an anti-dazzle continuous high beam. The rear light band features a 3D helix design, and the tailgate opening features that classy Mercedes Star badge. The light game does not end here, as the car also features an illuminated aesthetic door handle that adds to the overall appeal of this sexy-looking car.
When I talked about gaming at the beginning, I told you that a new car in the market allows people to play games on its screen. Well, that’s none other than, the Mercedes AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ which offers MBUX Hyperscreen where you can play Tetris, Pairs, and Sudoku.
The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ offers a battery backup of up to 500 kms in one go, while the Predator Helios 300 offers a battery backup of up to 5 hours and 30 minutes. The interior of the car is designed with a sporty touch. It features an AMG performance steering wheel in crisp Nappa Leather that feels good to hold, it also features AMG sports pedals for your ease. The highlight of the interior is definitely the Hyperscreen, that’s 141 cm wide and has AI capabilities to learn driver behavior. It also features 7 co-driver profiles for content individualisation. Thus, you and your loved ones can all gain an individual experience while driving this car.
Another interesting factor is the profile log-in that can be accessed with fingerprint, face, or voice! It is an OLED screen that is backed by Gorilla Glass protection. Besides, the driver need not get overwhelmed by this screen itself as their attention can always be focused on the road. The Head Up Display allows you to locate all the information about your speed, range, and other important information on the front itself without having to look down at the display; that’s definitely something we’ve seen in sci-fi films!
What we have here is also an option to set your car’s interior lighting as per your mood with active ambient lighting. But it’s not the people in the front seat who have all the fun, as people sitting behind can also retain all the control with the help of the MBUX tablet.
Talking about the performance of this car – It features AMG Dynamic Select driving modes that can be set to Moderate, Comfort, balanced, Sport+, Powerful, Dynamic, and more. That’s enough driving modes to make the kid in you happy. It comes with fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive which means the system continuously distributes and drives torques between the front and rear axles depending on the driving situation.
The car’s torque is checked 10,000 times per minute and adjusted whenever necessary. It features over 350+ sensors like 12x ultrasonic sensors, moisture sensors, 4x module mode radar, LiDAR, multiple cameras, and much more. We are sure you’ve heard about fast charging on phones, but Mercedes offers it on a car with 30-minute fast charge in DC charging that can take the car from 10 to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. It can support 200 Kw of max charging with a range of over 500 kms.
The whole reason behind people going for EVs is because they’re good for the environment, and Mercedes has hit the ball out of the park with its new offering, as the majority of its elements have been sourced from recycled products ranging from steel to cable ducts and even the floor coverings.
When a brand like Mercedes brings its A-Game to the EV car market, the result is the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+. The car is designed to cater to both the adult and the kid inside you, which makes it a perfect package for EV enthusiasts.
The car is without a doubt, designed for tech enthusiasts who wish to own a luxury EV that is ahead of its curve. In contrast, the Acer Predator 300 is designed for working professionals who are into gaming on weekends. The car and the laptop bring a style statement to your life by offering features of the best of both worlds!
Artificial intelligence (AI) leapt forward in 2022, reaching the masses. It’s everywhere! In 2023, a wide variety of AI tools will be available for exploration, each with unique capabilities and applications. With the right approach, these AI tools are significant for businesses and individuals. This article will look at 17 AI tools worth exploring in the upcoming year.
TensorFlow: This open-source software library is one of the most popular tools for machine learning and deep learning. It’s widely used for image recognition, natural language processing, and other tasks.
Keras: Another popular open-source library, Keras, is a high-level neural networks API that can run on top of TensorFlow. It’s easy to use and is well-suited for prototyping and experimentation.
PyTorch: This open-source machine learning library is similar to TensorFlow but is more focused on research and experimentation. It’s often used for computer vision and natural language processing tasks.
Scikit-learn: This library is built on top of NumPy and SciPy and is one of the most popular tools for traditional machine-learning tasks. It’s well-suited for regression, classification, and clustering.
OpenCV: This library focuses on computer vision and is widely used for object detection, image classification, and video analysis.
NLTK: The Natural Language Toolkit is a library for natural language processing tasks such as tokenisation, stemming, and sentiment analysis.
Gensim: This library is designed explicitly for topic modelling and document similarity analysis. It’s widely used for natural language processing tasks.
spaCy: This library is similar to NLTK but is focused on speed and efficiency. It’s often used for natural language processing tasks such as named entity recognition and part-of-speech tagging.
Hugging Face: This company provides a wide variety of pre-trained models for natural language processing tasks such as sentiment analysis and question answering.
DeepMind: This company, now a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google), is one of the leading research organisations in AI. They are known for creating AlphaGo, the AI that defeated the world champion of the Go game.
OpenAI: This company is also a leading research organisation in AI, focused on developing and promoting friendly AI. They released Chat GPT-3, one of the most powerful language models.
IBM Watson: This suite of AI tools from IBM is focused on natural language processing, computer vision, and other cognitive computing tasks.
Microsoft Azure: This cloud-based platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.
Amazon SageMaker: This platform is specifically designed for machine learning and provides a wide variety of data preparation, model training, and deployment tools.
Google Cloud AI: This platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Alibaba Cloud AI: This platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and is especially popular in Asia.
Baidu AI: This one is for people from China. This platform provides a wide variety of AI services, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and is especially popular in China. China might not allow other AI tools, but Baidu AI is impressive. These are just a few of the many AI tools available today. As AI continues to evolve, it’s essential to stay up-to-date on the latest tools and technologies to take full advantage of AI opportunities. By exploring these tools and others, businesses and individuals can gain a competitive edge and stay at the forefront of the AI revolution.
Is blood glucose monitoring the newest craze among athletes? Customers can purchase intrusive sensors from Ultrahuman to be implanted into their arms, where they will use a smart app to continuously check their blood glucose levels. The ultimate result is real-time advice on how to improve one’s lifestyle, together with a vast ecosystem of knowledge relating to metabolic health. After testing the Ultrahuman M1 for two weeks, we’d like to talk about how our lives have changed.
Ultrahuman uses Abbott’s Freestyle Libre 2, which has been on the market since 2019, as its glucose sensor. Additionally, many diabetics use it to keep an eye on their blood glucose levels. There is nothing to worry about because the technology is tried and true, right? However, I find it unsettling to imagine a thin, flexible filament in my skin.
It goes without saying that I had mixed emotions before to the cyborg experiment, especially since I had already looked at too many images of the sensor. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that’s fortunate or not.
So I worked up the confidence to insert the chip into my arm after putting the sensor in the applicator. Just how did I feel? Absolutely nothing! I was a little concerned about the needle being trapped somewhere during the first two days, especially at night. But in daily life, neither when exercising nor while sleeping, I was unaware of the 0.4-millimetre thin filament in my skin. I only ever got caught on the couch once, giving me a brief feeling of being bitten by an insect. Overall, my fears were unjustified, and Ultrahuman also provides strong plasters to protect the sensor.
By tapping my new sticker with the phone, the sensor and app were first paired. The app cautioned me that the readings could be erroneous for the first 24 hours, but it held me in suspense for another two hours while waiting for the sensor to be fully calibrated. I encountered zero connectivity issues with the sensor and smartphone throughout the review period.
Using a chocolate bar in between meals to circumvent the calorie counter app is more difficult with Ultrahuman. Any food with a significant amount of sugar, even a few grapes or two figs, will cause the Ultrahuman app to send a push notification: “Your blood sugar is currently increasing. What did you consume?”
Now, the software assigns a score to each food item depending on how it affects blood sugar levels. The software uses your personal top lists of the greatest and worst foods to create the best food lists for you. The intriguing aspect of this is how various foods cause varied reactions in various bodies. For one person, what is healthy may induce blood sugar spikes and crashes in another.
Score and Metabolic Vectors
The Ultrahuman app assigns a score between 1 and 100 to each day based on measured data, tracked activities, and diet. Of course, the crucial factor in this situation is the percentage of the day that you spend within the desirable blood glucose range of 70 to 110 mg/dL. However, it’s also crucial to prevent peaks and valleys in the level; a smooth uphill and downward gradient is optimal.
How can this be done? The software continuously explains everything while in use and offers fresh suggestions. For instance, if there is a surge, the app suggests taking a walk after eating or taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar first.
The programme also contains metabolic vectors in addition to the daily score. This depiction of your performance in the three categories of focus, longevity, and athleticism. The less your blood sugar fluctuates, the more focused you are. Your longevity increases with the number of peaks and the amount of time your blood sugar is at its ideal level. And it’s obvious that consistent exercise and healthy blood sugar levels are beneficial for your athletic score.
Additionally, you’ll receive an estimate of your daily HbA1c level, which can help determine if you have diabetes, prediabetes, or neither. The app provides daily tests as well as long-term averages and a summary of your metabolic fitness.
Conclusion
Two weeks spent living as a cyborg
The sensor stopped functioning as expected and stopped producing results exactly two weeks later. I feel like I’ve been robbed of a sense since this shelf life is restricted for hygiene reasons. My body served as a laboratory for two weeks, and the results motivated me more than wearing any other fitness tracker before to be disciplined about exercise and especially food.
I consider the Ultrahuman M1 to be one of the most exciting technological advancements of the last 15 years, and I’m really interested in how blood glucose monitors will become more widely used and advance our understanding of nutrition and fitness in the next years. The utility of fitness wearables will advance dramatically at the latest when blood glucose testing operates with adequate optical precision and hence becomes slightly more accessible to the general public.
Mercedes has been a leader in the luxury car segment in India for a long time. Challengers like BMW and Audi have always been close seconds. Despite the sales chart buzz, the only 7-seater car in Mercedes-Benz India has been the Mercedes GLS. The GLS demands and commands a presence, but its sheer size and price could be intimidating. A glimpse of Mercedes-Benz’s positive sales figures in India comes from their immense pool of over 7000 pre-orders, including a sold-out GLC.
Not only is this company successful at making luxury cars, but it also commands one of the largest fleets of premium SUVs. Adding versatility, Mercedes has launched a new platform. Bringing back the B series cars, meet the new Mercedes-Benz EQB and GLB. For the first time in India, Mercedes offers a modular 7-seater platform in three fuel types and multiple SKUs.
Mini-GLS and Mini-EQS
Mercedes-Benz does not shy away from admitting the B segment launches are highly inspired by the S series. The GLB is also globally termed as the mini-GLS for the design elements, while the EQB looks similar to the global EQS SUV. What’s missing is the sheer size of their elder sibling inspirations. Both these cars are substantial in presence, almost as long as the best-selling GLC. The front fascia might look different on both cars, giving them a unique identity. The side panels on both vehicles are more or less the same, encompassing an overall length of 4,646mm, liberating a healthy 2,829mm wheelbase. The GLB also gets an optional AMG Kit accessory allowing 19-inch AMG rims with AMG steering wheel, Alcantara goodness, metal pedals and more. Thanks to the elder siblings, the GLB and EQB look friendly and welcoming without the domineer dimensions.
While the GLB follows the GLS split lamp design with neat-looking DRLs similar to the GLS, the EQB is unmistakably an EQ platform from Mercedes-Benz with a connected LED design front and rear. Sharing platforms, the EQB and GLB share the interior design with subtle changes based on the model. Our first drive cars were the top-of-the-line GLB 220d 4-Matic and EQB 300 4-Matic. Featuring AMG-styled flat-bottom steering wheels, turbine-styled AC vents, an ambient lighting package, Alcantara seats with lumbar-lateral support and more, these cars are loaded to the brim considering the segment. Based on the A-series limousine platform also featured on the GLA, the GLB and EQB stand longer than most of its competitors, including the Audi Q5!
Familiarly Merc on the inside
Mercedes-Benz uses different quality materials and textures with soft-touch leather, metal accents and LED elements on hard plastic, albeit in better quality. The centre console features a floating 10.25” touch infotainment system loaded with MBUX (connected car features and voice commands – Hey Mercedes) and a 4-Matic info-clad 10.25” MID. The functional centre column also brings rollable shutters to reveal a wireless charging pad, 12V connector, USB Type-C port, drive select metal knobs, HVAC controls in see-through design, a touch panel with wrist rest and a deep powered pocket that doubles as the arm-rest. There are multiple bottle holders, and the cabin feels functional yet sumptuous, thanks to the quality materials and ambient LED treatment. The GLB gets a matte aluminium finish on the AC vents, while the EQB features a body-coloured matte finish on the front AC vents.
The middle-row and third-row seats get USB Type-C charging ports with additional recline angles and adjustments for leg space on the middle row. The middle-row armrest also houses rollable cup holders in a 40,20,40 split-seat configuration. The 50-50 third-row seats are best suited for preteens and pets when required. With all the seats up, the powered tailgate liberates 130L boot space, 500L on folding the third row and up to 1055L on folding both rear rows. Limited by space, Mercedes includes a puncture repair kit instead of a spare wheel for emergencies. Breathing more space into the interiors is a two-way panoramic sunroof.
Impressive when steady and rolling
Safety first, the entire line-up gets seven airbags, with curtain extensions for the third-row passengers. Apart from a 5-star global NCAP rating, these cars also feature TPMS, HAC, lane keep, brake and driving assists with two high-resolution cameras. Mercedes offers the GLB in 200(P), 220d(D) and 220d 4-Matic(D) + AMG Kit. The EQB 300 receives the top-tier GLB treatments as standard for the electric powertrain. The 1332cc Petrol engine churns 163HP and 250Nm mated to a 6-Speed AT in front-wheel drive. The 2.0L Diesel variants 220d and 4-Matic bring healthy 400Nm and 190HP on tap for a livelier driving experience. The GLB 220d sprints 0-100Km/h in 7.6 secs while the EQB achieves the same in 8 secs despite the battery weight gains.
Drivers can choose from Eco, Sport, Comfort and Individual settings. We prefer the Individual settings as it allows versatile setup, like setting the engine and steering response to Sport mode, while the suspensions soak bad roads in Comfort mode. The seats are positioned in a commanding position, and the split A-pillar adds a good view of the road. While the GLB offers a round steering wheel, our top-tier unit featured the AMG flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, a standard on the EQB. Shifts are precise on the GLB 220d, while the exact change between various recuperation options on the EQB. The suspensions and ground clearance of 155mm make the drive comfortable and relatively carefree in normal driving conditions.
The GLB 220d like to be ringed around, and the satisfactory performance is on tap throughout the rev bands. There is some body roll movement, but the overall rigid architecture of the chassis allows for reasonable body control. Despite the additional weight of 469 kg batteries, the EQB with single-gear ASM on the front wheels and PSM driving the rear wheels churns a healthy 229HP and 390Nm of relatively instant torque compared to the GLB. Compare this figure with a better centre of gravity due to the batteries in the floor; the EQB feels nimble.
Mercedes-Benz has bought one of their B series best NVH levels on the market. The GLB gets audible when driven enthusiastically, but the engine and cabin are satisfactorily refined. The EQB gets additional motor insulation, cabin insulation and noise-reduction tyres to make the electric cabin feel silent enough to meditate. What also helps relax are the tonnes of advanced driver assistance features on both the GLB and EQB. From lane keep assist to emergency braking and more, the driving assist feature list can easily rival cars boasting an ADAS level 2 system. The EQB’s 66.5kWh battery is rated up to 423 Km (WLTP) range. Driving the EQB through twisties and highways, it has decent regenerative capabilities, and real-world figures will easily touch upwards of 350 km. This car also supports 100kW DC and 11kW AC charging. Mercedes provide the latter as a complementary accessory for initial buyers. Mercedes claims a 10-80% charge at 100kW in 32 mins. Expect our 50kW chargers to charge this car to the same levels in about an hour. An 11kW AC charger will charge the car from 10-100% in 6 hours and 25 mins. Not bad!
Verdict
Overall, the use of materials, utility options, insulation, and driving dynamics on the 7-seater Mercedes GLB and EQB make them a surprising addition to the already populated Mercedes SUV line-up. Mercedes-Benz India provides an eight-year warranty on the batteries of EQB and the engine + transmission of the GLB series. This warranty is also transferable, and this platform, offered in petrol, diesel and electric, seems like a good filler in the 7-seater luxury car segment. Indian units will be imported from Mexico and sold as CBU. We expect pricing for the GLB and EQB to start from 65L, and despite that price tag, the GLB and EQB are unique value luxury propositions.
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