First Indian epigraphical reference to Halley’s comet found in 15th century copper plate inscription

Sri Mallikarjunaswamy temple at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh. The first Indian epigraphical reference to Halley’s comet has been discovered in a copper plate inscription dated 1456 CE belonging to the Vijayanagara period and preserved at the Srisailam Mallikarjunaswamy temple in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director, Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India … Read more

NASA puts off June 22 launch of Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station

Axiom-4 astronauts, commander Peggy Whitson of U.S., pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and mission specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, are pictured on the countdown video clock, as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at Launch Complex 39-A after a delay of its mission to the International Space Station, in … Read more

Technique to make CAR T-cells in vivo could transform cancer care

In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has changed outcomes for patients with aggressive blood cancers that no longer respond to standard treatments. In some acute leukaemias, CAR T-cell therapy has led to remissions lasting months or even years. Early-stage trials have explored its use in severe autoimmune diseases like lupus as well, … Read more

Karnataka’s Raichur govt schools to get science labs under Kriya initiative

The Prayoga Institute of Education Research’s Kriya initiative aims to transform science learning for over 11,000 students across 77 schools in Karnataka. | Photo: iStock/ Getty Images In a move to enhance science education in rural India, 12 government schools in Raichur district, Karnataka, will be equipped with science lab stations to conduct experiments and … Read more

Funding, infrastructure, general environment woes unattractive for senior international scientists to work in India: Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan

With the U.S. terminating several research programmes, firing thousands of federal scientists, and cancelling important, high-value federal research grants— $8 billion already and further cuts of almost $18 billion next year for National Institute of Health (NIH), proposed cuts of about $5 billion next year to National Science Foundation (NSF), proposed cut of nearly 25% … Read more

How do electric meters read your bills?

Have you ever seen a small box on the side of your house with numbers or a screen on it? That’s an electric meter.  | Photo Credit: Pexels You must have been asked to switch off lights and fans while leaving a room and lectured about how the electricity bill will skyrocket. Have you ever … Read more

Trade tariffs close borders but may open doors to invasive alien species

Around 1847, in colonial Calcutta, an unexpected visitor arrived, likely hidden in plant crates or trade goods from East Africa. The giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) entered India without fanfare, admired at first for its size and shell. But what seemed ornamental soon revealed itself to be the country’s most persistent invasive alien species. Thriving … Read more

Research consumables supply center inaugurated at AIC-CCMB in Hyderabad; it cuts waiting time to get chemical agents

Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Vinay K Nandicoori inaugurating the Thermo Fisher Scientific Supply Centre at AIC-CCMB in Hyderabad on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR A special ‘supply center’ providing accessibility to essential research consumables for the life science research community in and around the (AIC-CCMB) Atal … Read more