Sci &Tech

A newly identified asteroid, 2025 SC79, is drawing global attention from astronomers due to its unusual orbit and size. Roughly 700 metres across, this fast-moving space rock completes a full circuit around the Sun in just 128 days, ranking it as the second-fastest known asteroid in the Solar System. Uniquely, it travels inside Venus’s orbit,…

Riya Dhage (first author) and Purusharth I Rajyaguru (corresponding author) (Photo: IISc) BENGALURU: The baker’s yeast that helps make bread and beer may also hold secrets to life beyond Earth. A new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Isro‘s Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) suggests that the humble yeast can endure…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making remarkable progress on its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. Chairman V Narayanan recently revealed that approximately 90 per cent of the mission’s development work has been completed, signalling a major milestone for India’s ambitions in space exploration as reported by Indian Defence News. The Gaganyaan mission aims to…

Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, is preparing for a significant expansion into India. The company plans to establish nine gateway earth stations across major Indian cities, including Mumbai, Noida, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow. These stations are crucial infrastructure for Starlink’s satellite communication (satcom) services and will enable the comninpany to test and demonstrate…

Environmental scientist Dr Ashokkumar Veeramuthu from Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district has once again brought pride to India, earning a place in the World’s Top Scientists list compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier Publishers. This marks his third consecutive appearance — in 2023, 2024, and 2025 — an honour achieved by only a handful of Indian…

A fascinating new species of ichthyosaur, Xiphodracon goldencapensis, has recently been described in a study published in Papers in Palaeontology. The nearly complete fossil, officially known as specimen ROM VP52596, was discovered along the scenic Jurassic Coast of Dorset, England—specifically near Golden Cap between Charmouth and Seatown. Dating back to the Early Jurassic period, this…

Astronomers have confirmed that Earth has a new temporary mini-moon, a small asteroid designated 2025 PN7, which has recently joined our planet’s orbit. Measuring roughly 62 feet in diameter, this quasi-moon is not permanently bound like the Moon but instead follows a looping trajectory that keeps it near Earth for decades. Its discovery offers scientists…

Elon Musk has made headlines again, this time sharply criticising NASA’s leadership as the competition to return to the Moon intensifies. The SpaceX CEO publicly questioned NASA administrator Sean Duffy’s competence, suggesting he lacks the intelligence to effectively lead one of the world’s most influential space agencies. Musk’s comments come in the wake of NASA’s…

In a new discovery outlined in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, astronomers have identified a mysterious celestial body known as Companion Candidate 1 (CC1), orbiting within the young WISPIT 2 system. Initially observed during a study focused on the protoplanet WISPIT 2b, this intriguing object may represent either a dense dust clump reflecting long-wavelength light or…

Krill, the small, shrimp-like creatures drifting through the oceans might appear insignificant, but they are central to the balance of marine life. Recent findings have uncovered fascinating details about how these tiny crustaceans feed, revealing an impressive adaptability in the face of environmental changes. The research, published in Biology Letters by The Royal Society, sheds…