News on Science, Technology and Research in India
ICMEs are massive blasts of magnetized plasma released from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, which then travel through interplanetary space. When those ICMEs are directed towards us and encounter Earth’s magnetic field, they can disturb it and cause geomagnetic storms.
Aqueous zinc ion batteries, or AZIBs, are being studied as a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. They use water-based electrolytes, making them safer and more environmentally friendly. Zinc is also more abundant and economical, which makes the technology attractive for grid-scale energy storage, backup power systems and renewable energy applications.
“Sariska has recovered remarkably from local extinction in 2005 to supporting 56 tigers today,” he said, adding that the reserve has emerged as a global model for species restoration through scientific management, dedicated conservation efforts and community participation.
Valabhipur occupies a special place in the cultural history of Gujarat. It stood at the heart of the Maitraka kingdom, which rose in Saurashtra after the decline of Gupta power. From this capital, the Maitrakas shaped political and cultural life across large parts of Gujarat and western India. Their rule is remembered through copper plate grants, inscriptions, coins, temples, educational patronage and religious donations. The new excavation evidence now adds another layer to that legacy by showing how the city functioned on the ground: how people lived, traded, worshipped, produced goods and connected with wider commercial networks.
Rakhigarhi, spread across approximately 550 hectares in Haryana, is widely recognized as the largest known settlement of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of continuous habitation from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan periods, including planned settlements, drainage systems, craft production centres, trade networks, and burial grounds
Officials noted that areas such as Shivrajpur and Poshitra have emerged as prime dolphin sighting locations, largely due to their clean and well-preserved marine waters. These regions are increasingly attracting tourists interested in marine wildlife experiences, contributing to the expansion of coastal tourism in the state.
FXTs are energetic, non-repeating flashes of X-rays associated with violent processes in the universe. They are a new class of transient sources in the sky, first discovered about a decade ago. These enigmatic events appear as sudden bursts of low energy X-rays, lasting from a few minutes to several hours, before fading rapidly from view.
AZIBs are gaining attention as low-cost, environmentally friendly and safer energy storage solutions. However, their large-scale adoption has been limited by challenges such as zinc dendrite formation, corrosion, hydrogen evolution reactions and poor long-term cycling stability. These issues reduce battery efficiency, shorten lifespan and increase maintenance requirements.
The most striking figure in the presentation was the rise of India’s bioeconomy. Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s bioeconomy has grown from nearly US$10 billion in 2014 to over US$190 billion today, with a target of US$300 billion by 2030. This expansion shows the growing role of biotechnology in healthcare, diagnostics, genomics, biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, industrial biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing.
The numbers show steady progress in a highly sensitive conservation effort. Out of the 26 chicks hatched this season, 18 came through artificial insemination, four through natural breeding and four from wild-collected eggs. This mix of scientific intervention, natural breeding and field-based egg collection is helping conservationists strengthen the founder population and preserve genetic diversity.
