Category: Science

Science

Union Budget 2026: push for technology, planetary science in space programme

February 1, 2026 admin

Image used for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The total budget allocation for the Department of Space has seen a marginal increase compared to 2026-2027 but a double-digit jump compared to actual revised spending. Importantly, while the allocation of ₹13,705.63 crore represents a modest growth of 2.16% from 2025-2026, there is a…

Science

What is waste-to-energy technology? – The Hindu

February 1, 2026 admin

A view of a waste-to-energy plant at Bidadi, near Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: RAVICHANDRAN N./The Hindu A: Waste-to-energy (WtE) is a technology to convert non-recyclable waste materials into usable fuel, typically heat or electricity. A common method is incineration in which trash is burned at a high temperature to boil the water off, creating steam…

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From field to screen: the changing landscape of ecology research

February 1, 2026 admin

For centuries, ecology and biology have been built on muddy boots, mosquito bites and long days spent in forests, wetlands and oceans. Fieldwork was not just a method; it was an identity. To be an ecologist meant to be outdoors, immersed in nature, observing life in its raw, unpredictable complexity. But the age of artificial…

Science

Budget 2026: Odisha, T.N., Andhra, Kerala to get dedicated rare earth corridors to promote research and mining

February 1, 2026 admin

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to support the mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu in establishing dedicated rare-earth corridors. Image used for representative purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to support the mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu in establishing…

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What’s ailing India’s battery scheme for EVs? | Explained

January 31, 2026 admin

The ACC PLI scheme, launched in October 2021, was designed to catalyse a domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem and reduce a near-total reliance on Chinese imports. File image for representation only. | Photo Credit: PTI The story so far: An ambitious ₹18,100 crore scheme to facilitate the manufacture of advanced chemistry cell batteries in India, particularly…

Science

The story of dapsone: from dye to drug

January 31, 2026 admin

India observes Anti-Leprosy Day on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. For most of history, leprosy was treated not as a medical condition but as a moral one. Across major religions and ancient traditions, people with leprosy were described as impure, cursed, or unclean. They were made to live outside towns, barred from…

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Working towards first uncrewed mission for Gaganyaan programme: ISRO Chairman

January 31, 2026 admin

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. File | Photo Credit: ANI ISRO is working towards the first uncrewed mission of its ambitious Gaganyaan Mission scheduled for 2027, Chairman V. Narayanan has said. The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first human spaceflight programme currently under development. It aims to send a three-member crew on a three-day mission to space…

Science

US judge signals Elon Musk’s xAI may lose lawsuit accusing Altman’s OpenAI of stealing trade secrets

January 31, 2026 admin

Lawyers for xAI and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment [File] | Photo Credit: REUTERS A U.S. federal judge signaled on ‌Friday she may dismiss a lawsuit by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI accusing Sam Altman’s rival OpenAI of stealing trade secrets to gain an unfair advantage in developing AI technology….

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Why some rivers refuse to mix

January 30, 2026 admin

Two rivers meet, and yet, they do not become one. They run side by side, different in colour and texture, divided by a sharp, visible line that seems to defy everything we know about water. After all, place two droplets together and they merge instantly. So how can two massive, fast-moving rivers touch, and still…

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Private sector seeks anchor contracts as Dept of Space struggles to use funds

January 29, 2026 admin

From the historic high of landing on the moon to the recent sobering reality of failed launches and near-misses that have triggered internal reviews, the last five years have been a period of strategic volatility for the Department of Space (DoS). What began as a celebrated era of ‘unlocking’ the sector, marked by the Indian…

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