Research

The human brain processes visual information through a considerably different mechanism. Rather than treating perception, memory and learning as entirely separate operations, networks of neurons continuously exchange electrical signals through specialised connections known as synapses. These connections can change their responses based on previous activity, allowing the brain to recognise familiar objects and interpret visual information efficiently.

A major focus of the research will be understanding how prolonged exposure to simulated microgravity affects the human gut microbiome, metabolic processes and nutritional requirements. Scientists intend to use specialised ground-based experimental facilities to study physiological changes and develop dietary strategies that could help protect astronaut health during future missions.

To tackle this challenge, a new technology developed by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) immobilised ZnO (zinc oxide prepared from natural sources) within porous PLA nanofibers and introduced mechanical excitation along with light.

The Sun’s polar regions play an important role in the evolution of its magnetic field and the generation of the solar wind. However, despite decades of observations, the cause of microwave polar brightening,the enhanced radio emission seen near the Sun’s poles, has remained unclear.

A study by the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) found that by introducing just, a single methylene (–CH₂–) spacer between a peptide and a fluorescent pyrene unit, the researchers were able to alter molecular geometry and, consequently, the self-assembly behaviour of the system.

On October 11, 2026, Jasvinder Singh Khoral, Director (Projects) at ISRO’s U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), reportedly stated that the satellite had reached an advanced stage of realisation. According to The Hindu, he indicated that the mission could launch within the next 12 to 16 months, placing the anticipated launch period between October 2027 and February 2028.

The research, conducted by scientists from IISc’s Department of Physics and international collaborators, was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. It examines how magnetic fields influence stellar evolution and whether stars can naturally develop into white dwarfs whose masses exceed the conventional theoretical boundary.

The Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre will undertake a large-scale scientific programme to convert more than 100 human brains into detailed three-dimensional digital atlases. The project will capture microscopic structures at cellular resolution, providing researchers with information that conventional brain imaging cannot reveal.

The updated database, formally titled Updated Science-Wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators, was released on 7 October 2026. It uses Scopus citation information available as of 1 August 2026 and examines research citations accumulated through the end of 2025.