Category: Science&Tech

Scientists have developed an innovative sunlight-powered supercapacitor, known as a photo-capacitor, that can both capture and store solar energy in a single integrated device. The breakthrough is expected to pave the way for clean, self-sustaining and low-cost energy storage systems for portable, wearable and off-grid technologies. Limitations of Conventional Solar SystemsTraditionally, solar energy systems use two separate components—solar panels for energy harvesting and batteries or supercapacitors for energy storage. Such Read More …

Kerala has officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its ‘State microbe’, becoming the first State in India to confer such recognition on a microorganism. The move highlights the growing importance of microbiology in health, agriculture, and sustainable development. About Bacillus subtilisBacillus subtilis is a probiotic or “good” bacterium widely found in the environment and naturally present in the human gut as well as in fermented foods. It is known for its Read More …

Scientists have studied bark spiders to understand the conditions under which they produce their famously tough silk. The findings were recently published in the journal Integrative Zoology. Species Studied The research focused on two bark spider species found in Madagascar: Toughest Biological Material Known One of the strongest materials on Earth is not factory-made but spun by a spider barely two inches long. However, scientists have found that not every Read More …

Researchers at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bengaluru, have developed a deep-learning tool called Disobind to predict how intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) bind to their partner proteins. BackgroundTraditionally, protein function has been understood as being dependent on a stable, well-defined three-dimensional structure. However, intrinsically disordered proteins challenge this view as they do not adopt a fixed structure and instead remain flexible and Read More …

The West Bengal government has recently confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection in the state, raising public health concerns due to the virus’s high fatality rate and potential for human-to-human transmission. About Nipah Virus Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted to humans from animals. It can also spread through contaminated food or direct person-to-person contact. The infection can range from asymptomatic cases to acute respiratory Read More …

Astronomers have observed a rare and visually striking phenomenon involving a white dwarf star that is generating a colorful shockwave as it moves through space, leaving scientists searching for a clear explanation of the process behind it. The object is a highly magnetized white dwarf — an extremely dense, Earth-sized stellar remnant — that is part of a binary star system. In this system, the white dwarf is gravitationally bound Read More …

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s PSLV-C62 mission, carrying the EOS-N1 Earth Observation satellite, failed to complete its intended trajectory on 12 January 2026 after an anomaly was detected at the end of the third stage of the launch vehicle. ISRO has initiated a detailed technical analysis to identify the cause of the failure. Mission Overview After a 22.5-hour countdown, the PSLV-C62 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Read More …

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 10 January 2026 announced that its Aditya-L1 solar mission has provided fresh insights into how intense solar storms impact Earth’s magnetic shield. The findings are based on a breakthrough study published in The Astrophysical Journal in December 2025. Decoding a Massive Solar Plasma Eruption ISRO scientists and research students analysed a major space weather event from October 2024, when a powerful eruption of Read More …

Scientists working on China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) have overcome a major obstacle in nuclear fusion research by achieving stable plasma at densities far exceeding a long-recognised theoretical limit. The breakthrough marks an important step towards burning plasma, the stage at which fusion reactions become self-sustaining. 65% Beyond a Critical Threshold According to a study published on January 1 in Science Advances, the EAST team successfully operated plasma at Read More …

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has announced the launch of ‘Param Shakti’, a high-performance supercomputer conceptualised and manufactured entirely within India. Backed by the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), Param Shakti emerges as one of the most powerful academic computing systems in the country. Petascale Computing Power Param Shakti is capable of performing over 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second (3.1 petaflops), placing it among the leading academic supercomputing assets Read More …

Scientists analysing the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have discovered the fastest-spinning asteroid ever observed in its size category. The asteroid, named 2025 MN45, measures around 2,300 feet (710 metres) wide, making it larger than most skyscrapers on Earth. Unprecedented Rotation Speed Findings Published in Leading Journal The discovery has been published in The Astrophysical Journal and represents the first peer-reviewed scientific paper based on data from Read More …