The iPhone 16 series is now available at significant discounts on Amazon, with savings reaching up to Rs 11,000. The series, which launched in September 2023, includes four models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. For those considering an upgrade, both the base model and the Pro variant are now offered at reduced prices.

Current Deals on iPhone 16 and 16 Pro

On Amazon India, the iPhone 16 with 128GB storage is priced at Rs 72,900, down from its original price of Rs 79,900. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro, also featuring 128GB of internal storage, is available for Rs 1,11,900, reduced from Rs 1,19,900. Additionally, customers using the Amazon Pay ICICI credit card can benefit from a cashback offer of up to Rs 3,357 as Amazon Pay Balance.

Specifications and Features of iPhone 16 Series

The iPhone 16 is equipped with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and runs on the Apple A18 processor with the latest iOS 18. It features a dual rear camera system that includes a 48MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, along with a 12MP front camera for selfies. The device is powered by a 3561mAh battery and supports 25W MagSafe charging.

In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro boasts a larger 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It operates on the Apple A18 Pro chipset, supported by 8GB RAM and the same 128GB storage for the base version. The Pro model enhances photography capabilities with a triple rear camera setup, featuring a 48MP primary sensor, a second 48MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens. Like the iPhone 16, it includes the same 12MP front camera and a slightly larger 3582mAh battery.

With these attractive discounts, the iPhone 16 series is positioned as a compelling choice for consumers looking to invest in a high-quality smartphone that is expected to remain relevant for the next five to six years.

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, in collaboration with the Hubble Space Telescope, has identified a young exoplanet, known as TOI 1227 b, that is rapidly losing its atmosphere due to intense stellar radiation. Located approximately 8 million years from formation, this Jupiter-sized planet orbits a faint red dwarf star and is undergoing significant atmospheric erosion.

The powerful X-ray emissions from the star are stripping away TOI 1227 b’s thick gas envelope at an alarming rate. Research indicates that this planet is losing an amount of gas equivalent to Earth’s entire atmosphere roughly every 200 years. According to scientists, the planet’s atmosphere “simply cannot withstand the high X-ray dose it’s receiving,” leading to rapid changes in its structure.

Insights from Observational Data

The study utilized data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory alongside earlier observations from the Hubble Space Telescope to analyze TOI 1227 b’s atmospheric conditions. This planet orbits its star at an extremely close distance, much closer than Mercury orbits the Sun, making it about a thousand times younger than Earth. The star’s intense X-ray radiation is depicted in computer simulations as a blue tail of gas streaming off the planet, illustrating the ongoing atmospheric loss.

Remarkably, if current conditions persist, TOI 1227 b could eventually transition from a gas giant to “a small, barren world.” This process, known as photoevaporation, highlights the significant impact of stellar radiation on planetary evolution.

Stellar Radiation and Planetary Evolution

The findings emphasize the critical role of high-energy stellar radiation in young planetary systems. Intense X-rays and ultraviolet light from active young stars can heat and subsequently blow away a planet’s atmosphere. Co-author of the study Joel Kastner notes that understanding exoplanets necessitates accounting for high-energy radiation such as X-rays. He likens the star’s output to “a hair dryer on an ice cube,” illustrating how the radiation gradually erodes the gas off the planet.

This phenomenon could explain why many intermediate-sized exoplanets appear to end up smaller or are stripped down to their core. As scientists continue to explore the dynamics of exoplanets like TOI 1227 b, these observations provide a rare glimpse into the formative stages of planetary evolution, shaping our understanding of how stars interact with their orbiting worlds.

The research contributes valuable insights into the processes influencing planetary atmospheres and their long-term survivability in the cosmos, paving the way for future studies in exoplanetary science.

A recent multicentre study has identified scrub typhus as the most common infectious cause of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children in southern India. Conducted across three states—Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu—the study involved 587 children and was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia.

The research team, which included experts from NIMHANS, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, and other institutions, sought to investigate the infectious causes of AES, a condition characterized by fever, altered mental status, and seizures. The findings reveal that scrub typhus, caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, accounts for 44% of AES cases, far surpassing the historically dominant Japanese encephalitis virus at 11%.

Scrub typhus has emerged as a significant public health concern, with the incidence of AES in India reported at between 3.5 and 13.8 cases per 100,000 patient-years. Over 10,000 cases of AES are documented annually, according to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). The study’s lead author, Dr. Tina Damodar, emphasized that the recognition of scrub typhus as a major contributor to AES has been limited by inadequate surveillance efforts.

Dynamic Landscape of AES in India

The research analyzed data from children aged 28 days to 18 years presenting with AES at three tertiary care hospitals in Bengaluru. During the study period from March 2020 to February 2023, 714 children were screened, with 587 ultimately included in the analysis. A microbiological diagnosis was established for 315 cases, revealing that scrub typhus was responsible for 138 infections.

In addition to scrub typhus, the study identified other notable pathogens, including dengue (10%), leptospira (5%), and chikungunya (5%). Dr. Damodar noted that these findings illustrate a diverse and evolving landscape of AES in the region.

Key predictors for both scrub typhus and other doxycycline-treatable infections included age, illness duration, and specific clinical signs such as lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly. Notably, the study found that over 60% of microbiologically confirmed cases were linked to infections treatable with doxycycline, yet this antibiotic is not routinely included in AES treatment protocols.

Recommendations for Treatment Protocols

In light of these findings, the researchers recommend integrating doxycycline or azithromycin into the initial treatment for children presenting with AES or acute febrile illness in southern India. This recommendation has already been implemented at the participating referral hospitals.

Dr. Reeta S. Mani, head of Neurovirology at NIMHANS, highlighted the urgency of timely treatment, noting that nearly 40% of the children diagnosed with scrub typhus experienced severe outcomes, including death or neurological complications, largely due to delayed diagnosis. To mitigate this, the study advocates for the wider availability of diagnostic tests for scrub typhus, such as IgM ELISA or PCR, at primary and secondary healthcare facilities.

Additionally, the research team developed a clinical prediction model—a simple point-based tool designed to assist frontline clinicians in identifying children who are likely to benefit from doxycycline treatment, even before laboratory confirmation is available.

The emergence of scrub typhus as a key player in AES underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and revised treatment protocols to improve patient outcomes in southern India.

Hypertension, a condition affecting approximately 1.28 billion people worldwide, is increasingly prevalent, with nearly half of those affected unaware of their condition. In India alone, over 220 million individuals are living with hypertension, highlighting a significant public health challenge. Detection and management rates are particularly low among younger adults and rural populations, raising concerns among healthcare professionals.

Dr. T.S. Srinath, a senior consultant in cardiology at SIMS Hospital in Chennai, emphasizes the growing trend of early hypertension in individuals in their twenties and thirties. “But they don’t get tested until symptoms appear, often too late,” he says, underscoring the urgency of early detection and intervention.

Movement as a Preventive Measure

Recent studies, including those published by the American Heart Association, suggest that incorporating brief activity breaks can significantly lower average blood pressure and enhance vascular health. Specifically, taking just two minutes of activity every 30 to 60 minutes can yield substantial benefits, especially for those leading sedentary lifestyles.

Dr. Surya Prakash S., a consultant at the Institute of Cardiac Sciences at SRM Global Hospitals, explains, “Physiology is cumulative.” Simple actions like walking during phone calls, using stairs, or pacing while watching television can contribute to better long-term blood pressure control. For a country grappling with increasing sedentary behavior, these low-cost interventions present scalable solutions that can be easily integrated into daily routines.

Alongside movement, the two-minute walk test (2MWT) is gaining recognition as a useful tool for identifying early cardiovascular dysfunction. Initially designed to assess endurance in elderly or cardiac patients, this simple exercise test has been repurposed by clinicians to detect potential hypertension risks.

Dr. Madan Mohan B., an interventional cardiologist at MGM Malar Hospital, notes, “We check how much the blood pressure rises, how fast heart rate recovers, and whether the person reports symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or breathlessness.” He highlights that a systolic increase over 20 mm Hg or a slow heart rate recovery can indicate poor autonomic control and vascular stress, both of which are early signs of potential health issues.

Integrating the 2MWT into Routine Care

Healthcare professionals advocate for the incorporation of the 2MWT into standard health assessments, particularly in primary care settings where access to advanced diagnostic tools may be limited. Dr. Prakash Ayyadurai, a consultant in orthopaedics and sports medicine, shares his experiences using the 2MWT to identify exercise intolerance in patients who typically present normal resting vital signs.

“A lot of people pass routine tests but struggle when asked to walk even two minutes,” he explains. Symptoms like palpitations or fatigue during this brief exertion can reveal underlying conditions such as prehypertension or vascular rigidity.

Dr. Srinath adds that the 2MWT is not only beneficial for screening but also for monitoring treatment progress in patients with mild or labile hypertension. “If blood pressure response improves and heart rate normalizes faster over time, it indicates that the patient is improving,” he says.

The call for integrating simple physical activity-based screenings into routine health checks is urgent. Dr. Surya Prakash states, “Two minutes of walking can be far more revealing than sitting in a chair for a BP reading.” This approach costs nothing, requires no specialized equipment, and provides valuable insights into cardiovascular fitness.

Even if not diagnostic, the 2MWT can help categorize patients into low, moderate, and high-risk groups, facilitating further testing such as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or echocardiography.

Shifting Perspectives on Hypertension

The burden of hypertension in India is exacerbated by changing lifestyles. Data from the World Health Organization and the Indian Council of Medical Research indicate that younger populations are increasingly stressed, inactive, and consuming high levels of sodium and processed foods. Dr. Srinath observes, “Many still think hypertension is a disease of the elderly,” highlighting a misconception that needs addressing.

On a more positive note, Dr. Ayyadurai reports a growing interest in preventive fitness among urban youth. “In the last five years, I’ve seen more 20- and 30-year-olds coming in not with problems, but to learn how to stay fit. It’s an encouraging sign,” he states.

From mitigating vascular strain through micro-movement to identifying hidden dysfunction via the 2MWT, these brief interventions are becoming integral to preventive healthcare. As awareness grows and simple measures are embraced, there is potential for significant improvement in managing hypertension and enhancing overall cardiovascular health.