Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar object and one of the oldest cosmic bodies ever observed, likely over 7 billion years old. Travelling on a high-speed hyperbolic path, it originates from the Milky Way’s thick disk—unlike earlier interstellar visitors—making it a rare sample of ancient galactic material. Its active coma, large nucleus, and presence of water ice and complex organics provide valuable clues about early planetary environments, organic chemistry, and the evolution of stellar systems beyond our Solar System.
Click to View MoreIndian scientists have created an indigenous, IP-free gene-editing tool using TnpB proteins, offering a cheaper alternative to CRISPR-Cas9. It enables precise edits without foreign genes, supporting resilient, nutrient-rich crops. Despite eased rules for SDN-1/2 crops, regulatory gaps, ethics, and public distrust after the GM Mustard debate remain major hurdles.
Click to View MoreIndia is redefining global TB eradication efforts through rapid, point-of-care molecular diagnostics that enable early, accurate detection even in remote settings. Indigenous technologies such as Truenat have accelerated diagnosis, improved treatment initiation, and strengthened primary healthcare delivery. International case studies from Nigeria, Mozambique, and Tanzania demonstrate their global impact. However, challenges such as high operational costs, supply chain gaps, limited digital connectivity, and the need for integrated nutrition and social support remain. With sustained investment, stronger partnerships, and equitable access, India can lead the global shift toward inclusive and effective TB control.
Click to View MoreIndia’s NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–2029) adopts a One Health approach and, for the first time, assigns budgeted responsibilities to over 20 ministries. It strengthens governance, surveillance, infection control, and stewardship, but its success depends on funding, regulation of the unorganised sector, and behavioural change.
Click to View MoreNeurotechnology refers to tools that read or influence brain activity, offering major benefits in healthcare, communication, and assistive devices. However, it raises serious concerns about mental privacy, manipulation, data misuse, and human autonomy. UNESCO’s 2025 recommendations provide the first global ethical framework to ensure responsible innovation, protect neural data, safeguard cognitive freedom, and prevent harmful uses in political, commercial, or medical settings. The way forward lies in strong regulation, recognition of neurorights, secure handling of neurodata, and promoting ethical and inclusive technological development.
Click to View MoreCoronal Mass Ejections are massive eruptions of magnetized plasma from the Sun’s corona that can travel through space and impact Earth. They are caused by magnetic instabilities and reconnection in the solar atmosphere. CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms, auroras, satellite disruptions, and power grid failures. Studying them is crucial for space-weather forecasting, protecting technology, astronaut safety, and understanding planetary habitability. Recent observations, including the first CME detected on a red dwarf star, highlight their significance for both solar physics and exoplanet research.
Click to View MoreHepatitis A is a viral liver infection that spreads through contaminated food and water. While usually mild in children, it can be severe in older children and adults, sometimes leading to liver failure. Improved sanitation has reduced early childhood exposure, leaving many young people vulnerable. Safe and effective vaccines are available, including a single-dose option with long-lasting protection. Despite this, Hepatitis A is not yet part of India’s national immunisation program. Strengthening surveillance, promoting hygiene, improving water quality, and introducing phased vaccination can help prevent outbreaks and protect public health.
Click to View MoreIndia’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) aims to position the country as a global leader in green hydrogen by 2030. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, offers a clean alternative to fossil fuels, helping decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel, fertilizers, mobility, and shipping. The Mission focuses on scaling production, promoting domestic manufacturing, fostering R&D through public-private partnerships, developing port-based hydrogen hubs, and implementing certification standards. Despite challenges like high costs, infrastructure gaps, and technology readiness, strategic policy support, financial incentives, and skill development are driving India’s transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon, and energy-secure future.
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Scientists have discovered a special type of brain immune cell called microglia that can protect against Alzheimer’s disease by reducing inflammation and slowing the buildup of harmful proteins like amyloid plaques and tau. These cells work through molecules PU.1 and CD28, offering a potential new direction for treatment. Alzheimer’s, a progressive brain disorder causing memory and cognitive decline, is a growing public health challenge globally and in India. Governments are responding with awareness campaigns, healthcare policies, and research initiatives, but challenges like high costs, limited access, and early diagnosis remain. The discovery highlights the promise of combining scientific research, healthcare, and policy to combat Alzheimer’s disease.
Click to View MoreIndia struggles to win science Nobels because rigid institutions block innovation. Bureaucratic hiring, internal politics, and metric-driven incentives suppress young talent. Experts insist India must overhaul governance, ensure transparent hiring, and promote merit-based funding to unlock transformative scientific progress.
Click to View MoreResearchers at Northwestern University have redesigned a common chemotherapy drug using nanotechnology, making it up to 20,000 times more effective against cancer while minimizing side effects. By embedding the drug into spherical nucleic acids, the therapy targets cancer cells precisely, improving absorption and potency. This breakthrough could revolutionize cancer treatment and pave the way for advanced nanomedicine applications in oncology and beyond.
Click to View MoreAI is rapidly transforming India’s workforce, automating routine tasks and creating both job displacement and new opportunities. Key challenges include skill mismatches, vulnerability of informal workers, and potential social inequality. The Indian government is addressing these through labour protections, reskilling programs like Future Skills PRIME, job-creation incentives, and policy taskforces. A forward-looking approach emphasizes responsible AI adoption, workforce upskilling, inclusive governance, and investment in emerging sectors. Balancing innovation with human welfare is essential to ensure AI drives growth without leaving workers behind.
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