Uzbek schoolgirl Ezosa Beshimjanova participated in the seventh international scientific and educational expedition 'Icebreaker of Knowledge' to the North Pole. The expedition departed from Murmansk aboard the nuclear icebreaker '50 Years of Victory.'
The participants' route will cover the Murmansk — North Pole — Franz Josef Land — Murmansk track, and the entire trip will last ten days.
For Beshimjanova, this journey offers the opportunity to visit one of the most remote parts of the planet, study modern scientific and technological achievements, and exchange experiences with peers from different countries.
Beshimjanova noted that she believes everyone should take at least one trip that changes their usual perception of the world's scale, and for her, this is a trip to the North Pole.
Beshimjanova's place in the expedition was won through an international selection process that attracted about 5000 schoolchildren from 22 countries. Participating countries included Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, India, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey, and Vietnam.
The selection process consisted of three stages. Participants demonstrated their knowledge in natural sciences, advanced technologies, nuclear energy, and Arctic research. They also took part in educational webinars with experts and presented creative projects on the topic 'How Nuclear Technologies Are Changing the World Today' at the final stage.
Beshimjanova's participation was the result of successfully passing the selection, which allowed Uzbekistan to be represented among the young participants of this international project.
During the expedition, Beshimjanova and other schoolchildren will participate in lectures, master classes, scientific experiments, discussions, and career consultations with specialists in science, technology, energy, medicine, and marine biology.
The program will also focus on the Arctic and modern technologies. Participants will be able to observe the operation of the nuclear icebreaker, learn about technologies used in Arctic shipping, and explore the natural environment of the Far North.
One of the key events will be the expedition's arrival at the geographical North Pole, located at 90 degrees north latitude. Participants will solemnly carry the flags of their countries to the North Pole.
For the representative of Uzbekistan, the expedition will provide a chance to tell participants from other countries about Uzbekistan, its youth, and their interest in science and modern technologies.
Schoolchildren from Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Hungary, Vietnam, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Rwanda, Serbia, Tanzania, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and South Africa passed the international selection.
The 'Icebreaker of Knowledge' project serves not only as a scientific and educational mission but also as an international platform for young people interested in research, innovation, and the future.
For Uzbekistan, Beshimjanova's participation provides an opportunity to showcase the country's young talents on the international educational and scientific stage. This experience will also help participants broaden their horizons, develop research skills, and establish professional and personal connections with peers from other countries.
Over the previous six seasons, more than 400 talented schoolchildren from various countries have participated in Arctic expeditions to the North Pole. The seventh expedition continues this initiative, bringing together a new generation of youth around the themes of science, technology, and planetary conservation.
Google is implementing tests on a modified version of its homepage, with a significant focus on artificial intelligence features. In this new configuration, the traditional 'Google Search' button would be replaced by shortcuts dedicated to image creation, requesting information about documents, and conducting AI-assisted brainstorming sessions. The existing 'I'm lucky' button remains unchanged.
The portal Search Engine Watch identified this new design on the Google homepage when accessing it without being authenticated in Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Perplexity Comet. However, upon logging into the Google account, the interface reverted to the previous format.
Tests conducted by the author in Vivaldi browsers (logged in) and Firefox (not logged in) did not show the new buttons, suggesting that the test is still in a more restricted implementation phase.
According to Search Engine Watch, the file querying and brainstorming functions are operational even when the user is not logged in. Conversely, the image generator strictly requires a Google account to be used.
For the file query tool, the user can upload various types of media, including spreadsheets, documents, or images, and enter a specific command (prompt) to extract data from the content, such as requesting a summary or identifying key points. In the current homepage version, this feature can be activated via the '+' icon located to the left of the search bar.
Regarding the brainstorming functionality, it offers prompt templates designed to aid in idea generation with AI support. Although there is currently no direct shortcut for this function, Google's AI Mode has the capability to interpret commands signaling the user's desire for suggestions and opinions.
Finally, the image generator only works if the user is logged in. In the current homepage version, this feature also has a shortcut accessible via the '+' button.
In a previous event, Google I/O, held in May 2026, brought important announcements about search evolutions. The search bar was enhanced to accept substantially longer texts, in addition to allowing the submission of images, files, videos, and even Chrome tabs.
The company attributes these changes to the usage patterns of users themselves, who have been presenting increasingly elaborate queries containing contexts, conditions, and detailed questions.
AI Mode has also gained easier access, being made available through a button adjacent to the text field. An alternative way to use it is to formulate an additional question in the field located below the overview generated by the AI (or AI Overview, in English).
Artificial intelligence-based innovations will continue to be introduced. The search engine will feature agents capable of performing continuous background searches, monitoring information, and alerting the user to new findings. This service will be exclusive to subscribers of the AI Pro and Ultra plans.
Additionally, the Antigravity tool will be integrated directly into the search function. It will allow the user to view graphical tools and simulations to better understand the answers provided by the AI. Another benefit of this tool is the ability to create reusable dashboards and monitors, grouping various necessary information, such as weather forecasts and maps for specific routes.
Ford has begun making available a new artificial intelligence (AI) based assistant designed to answer specific questions related to its own brand's and Lincoln vehicles. This tool has the capability to provide practical data, such as fuel consumption estimates for trips or a vehicle's suitability for towing boats.
Initially, this assistant is accessible through the Ford and Lincoln mobile applications. Currently, it operates as a chatbot, assisting users with questions about the car's functionalities and predicting future maintenance needs.
Due to its direct link to the customer's vehicle, the assistant has access to detailed and exclusive information about that model, ranging from fuel level to load and towing capacity.
Ford plans to expand this technology into the vehicles themselves. The expectation is that a voice-controlled version will be integrated into cars starting in 2027. Until then, owners must use the version available in the applications.
The automaker did not disclose which AI developers participated in the project. However, the company stated that it developed the assistant autonomously from a specific chatbot, enabling its compatibility with various large language models (LLMs).
While the full implementation of this strategy is not complete, Ford will opt to integrate Gemini into its vehicles as an alternative option to Google Assistant. This collaboration was previously announced by the company earlier this year.
According to Ford, starting with the application allows the assistant to reach a larger number of customers than would be possible only through a vehicle software update. The release of the tool is happening progressively, in phases, aiming to reach eight million Ford and Lincoln vehicle owners.
Mike Aragon, President of Integrated Services at Ford, highlighted in a post on the company's blog that choosing to prioritize the application brings the future of Ford's intelligence to customers immediately. He emphasized that there is no need to wait for the purchase of a new vehicle, as the ownership experience is being improved from the start.
Aragon stressed that the real advancement will occur when the assistant moves from owners' phones to the dashboard screens. He clarified that the functionality will not be implemented via phone mirroring, as happens with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but rather incorporated directly into the driving experience.
The executive detailed that the assistant is capable of answering questions contained in the owner's manual, in addition to providing real-time updated data from the vehicle's telemetry system. Additionally, the tool will have the ability to analyze images sent by the owner, allowing, for example, the driver to photograph an object to check if the vehicle supports its transport or towing.
Currently, on the Ford and Lincoln digital platforms that use Android, Gemini will be available to assist with tasks such as navigation, sending text messages, and media playback. In the future, Ford plans to unify these functions into a single assistant, combining specific vehicle queries with entertainment and information features, thus creating a totally personalized experience for each owner.
For now, Ford guarantees that the new assistant will be free, without subscription or paid access costs, although the company has not confirmed whether this free access will be maintained after full integration into the vehicles' operating system.
Microsoft has quietly removed a security feature present since Windows 8: the Image Password option. This feature allowed users to access the system by drawing a specific pattern over a chosen image.
It is relevant to note that Windows 8 was introduced in 2012 with the goal of integrating the traditional PC experience (using keyboard and mouse) with that of tablet-like devices (with touch screens). The Image Password function was created precisely to enable unlocking the computer that had these characteristics, allowing drawing on the screen instead of typing a password.
Subsequent versions of the operating system maintained support for this feature, as the drawing could also be performed using a mouse. However, the feature had low usage, which may have been a factor in Microsoft's decision to remove it from Windows 11.
According to Neowin, the removal occurred with cumulative update KB5101650, which was made available on July 14, 2026, for the 24H2 and 25H2 editions of the operating system.
Another reason cited for the removal was the security of the method, which is considered relatively fragile. For this reason, the company itself suggests alternatives on its support page regarding the update:
Microsoft stated that, to enhance security, Image Password will no longer be available for new registrations. However, users who had already configured such a password can continue to use it to log into Windows. If the image password is disabled, removed, or never configured, there will be no possibility of reconfiguring it.
The company strongly recommends using the Windows Hello PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint recognition whenever these are available.
Although it might be useful to some, the Image Password function was not widely known. Furthermore, the feature may not appear in the settings section when the option 'Allow only Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts' is active, which is common in current new installations, contributing to its low usage.
Despite the changes, Microsoft clarified that the functionality will remain operational for those who activated it before the update was implemented.
