Science News

The PSLV-C62 lifted off from Sriharikota on January 12, 2026, carrying the first hardware nodes for a secret 6kW power bank. However, the satellite could not be deployed. (Photo: Eon Space Labs)

Updated : Jan 12, 2026

Isro’s PSLV-C62 mission fails, second rare setback in eight months for workhorse launcher

Trouble emerged after the ignition of the third stage. Mission control lost telemetry shortly thereafter, confirming that the rocket failed to achieve orbital insertion, a setback that closely resembled the PSLV-C61 failure reported last year

At its most basic, space insurance transfers the financial risk of launch and satellite failure from operators to insurers.

Updated : Jan 12, 2026

ISRO's 16-satellite launch: Who pays when a rocket fails? The growing role of space insurance

Space insurance traces its roots to 1965, when Lloyd’s of London underwrote the first satellite policy for Intelsat I, known as “Early Bird.” Although the mission succeeded and no claim was filed, it set a precedent for insuring space assets.

Rising opposite the Sun in the constellation Gemini, the Moon will appear slightly larger and noticeably brighter than an average full Moon. (Representational photo)

Updated : Jan 2, 2026

First full moon of 2026 gets a ‘triple boost’: When and how to watch the wolf supermoon in India

This particular full Moon gets what astronomers describe as a “triple boost.” Not only is it full and near perigee, but it also occurs when Earth itself is close to the Sun (near perihelion), increasing the amount of sunlight reflecting off the lunar surface.

From a Wuhan pneumonia alert to COVID-19: six years since the world changed

Updated : Dec 31, 2025

December 31, 2019: The quiet Wuhan alert that triggered the COVID-19 global upheaval

There were no global alarms, no emergency summits, just a routine health notification that barely registered beyond its immediate geography

OneWeb began deploying its Gen-1 satellites in 2019 and operates a constellation of around 640 satellites as of 2025.

Updated : Dec 20, 2025

Eutelsat OneWeb to deploy 340 satellites starting 2027; eyeing ISRO for strategic launches

Global SatCom leader targets 2027 for next-leg of fleet expansion; Gen-2 and IRIS² program slated for 2030

Airbus’ rapid grounding directive underscores how even minor design flaws can become major operational risks under extreme solar conditions.

Updated : Nov 29, 2025

Solar shockwave in the skies: How a burst of radiation triggered a global scramble to fix Airbus jets

Commercial aircraft operate at altitudes where Earth’s protective atmosphere is significantly thinner. This makes critical onboard electronics and avionics more susceptible to solar radiation-induced interference.

Himalayas' impose great risk as its ice continue to melt

Updated : Nov 27, 2025

‘Sentinels of change’: Research team on the Himalayas’ impending danger

This research, involving nearly two dozen international scientists, reveals that these changes are not isolated to the Himalayas but are observed in multiple high-altitude regions worldwide.

Unlike many big health theories, Goyal’s team built GAH to be falsifiable.

Updated : Nov 20, 2025

After viral backlash, Deepinder Goyal reintroduces gravity-aging theory with scientific clarity

Goyal points to a biological trade-off. Evolution selected for traits that ensure survival through reproductive age — not necessarily long-term brain health. The heart and brain were optimized for efficiency, not durability.

Updated : Nov 19, 2025

Must go beyond degrees: Ex-ISRO chief urges universities to deepen research, work on real-world problems

S Somanath stressed the importance of creating a "future-ready" education system.

Next step in space: ISRO's successful parachute test for Gaganyaan

Updated : Nov 11, 2025

Next step in space: ISRO successfully tests main parachutes for Gaganyaan Crew Module

The parachute system for the Gaganyaan Crew Module comprises 10 parachutes of four different types, designed to ensure a safe landing after the descent from space.

The comet will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19.

Updated : Nov 7, 2025

Farewell tour: 3I/ATLAS to grace Earth’s skies before leaving solar system. How to watch

As 3I/ATLAS draws scientific attention, it has also ignited a familiar wave of online speculation. Some conspiracy theories, echoing earlier debates around ‘Oumuamua, suggest the comet might be an alien spacecraft.

The idea, equal parts visionary and controversial, ignited an immediate global debate.

Updated : Nov 6, 2025

Elon Musk’s next frontier: Proposes AI satellite network to control sunlight and cool the planet

At the heart of Musk’s concept lies a familiar dream from astrophysics: the Dyson Sphere — a theoretical megastructure that harnesses the full power output of a star. Musk’s scaled-down version would not encase the Sun but instead orbit Earth, adjusting sunlight levels in real time through AI coordination.

This glowing traveler is only the third known interstellar object ever spotted passing through our solar system, following the infamous ‘Oumuamua and comet Borisov.

Updated : Nov 6, 2025

Blue mystery in space: 3I/ATLAS, the interstellar comet that won’t stop surprising scientists

While NASA has confirmed that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth, the mystery deepens as the comet prepares for its closest approach on December 19, cruising safely past our planet at a distance of about 167 million miles.

With CMS-03, ISRO is taking a significant step toward launching large satellites independently, reducing dependence on international partners and saving substantial costs.

Updated : Nov 2, 2025

ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ set for historic liftoff with India’s heaviest satellite. When to watch

The launch marks a major stride toward India’s self-reliance in building and deploying high-capacity communication satellites. CMS-03 is not only the heaviest communication satellite ever launched from Indian soil but also a symbol of India’s expanding technological and operational confidence in the heavy-lift category.

The LVM3 has completed seven missions with a perfect success rate. It previously launched Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3, as well as the crew module for ISRO’s first re-entry test in 2014.

Updated : Nov 2, 2025

A 4,410 kg satellite, one massive rocket, and zero foreign help: ISRO’s epic launch today

CMS-03, a multiband communication satellite, will be placed in an elliptical orbit that stretches from 170 km to nearly 30,000 km above Earth. The LVM3 rocket, previously called GSLV Mk 3, is built to carry up to 8,000 kg to low earth orbit and up to 4,000 kg to GTO.

ISRO-IIT study uncovers rare reversal in Dwarka

Updated : Oct 30, 2025

Rare reversal: After years of sinking, land in Delhi's Dwarka lifting again

Land subsidence in Dwarka has not only stopped but reversed in certain parts

China’s lunar programme is widely seen as a symbol of its scientific prowess and geopolitical aspiration to match — or surpass — the United States in space exploration.

Updated : Oct 30, 2025

Countdown to the Moon: China’s 2030 lunar dream gains momentum with new Tiangong mission

The announcement came as China prepared to launch its latest Shenzhou mission to the Tiangong space station, the country’s orbiting outpost built after being barred from the International Space Station due to US national security concerns.

As it draws nearer, solar radiation is expected to heat its ancient surface, triggering eruptions of gas and dust that could transform the object into a spectacular sight visible from Earth in the coming weeks.

Updated : Oct 27, 2025

Intersteller spectacle: Fiery encounter looms as 3I/ATLAS races toward Sun’s far side

Astronomical teams across the world — from ground-based observatories to orbiting spacecraft — are now preparing to capture data as 3I/ATLAS re-emerges from behind the Sun in early November.

3I/ATLAS is now completing its close approach to the Sun.

Updated : Oct 24, 2025

Mystery from beyond: 3I/ATLAS fires a 10,000-km Jet towards the Sun in dazzling display

Discovered in late June and confirmed by NASA in early July, 3I/ATLAS is believed to have originated in a distant, ancient star system. Estimated to measure between 5 and 11 km across, it is the largest and possibly the oldest interstellar object ever observed

The study’s authors believe this antibody optimisation approach could serve as a blueprint for designing new immunotherapies that are tailored to the immune environment of each tumour type.

Updated : Oct 16, 2025

Hope for treatment-resistant cancer: US varsity’s antibody breakthrough earns praise from Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Many advanced cancers — including lung, pancreatic, and prostate tumors — become resistant to standard treatments, often due to a protein called integrin αvβ3, which is highly expressed in aggressive cancers but absent in normal tissues.

ISRO outlines roadmap: Moon by 2040, space station by 2035

Updated : Oct 15, 2025

Crewed Moon landing by 2040, Gaganyaan in 2027: ISRO outlines roadmap for next space frontier

India's upcoming projects include Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5, a new Mars mission, and AXOM, a priority astronomical observatory