Category: Tech

On Monday night, SpaceX successfully launched the Fram2 private astronaut mission aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, achieving a historic first in human spaceflight. Unlike previous crewed flights, Fram2 reached a unique polar orbit, allowing the Crew Dragon spacecraft to circle Earth’s North and South Poles in 45 minutes. The mission, named after the Norwegian arctic exploration vessel, provides spectacular views of the Earth’s immense northern landscapes from a height of 430 km.

Despite its unusual course, the mission did not need a polar orbit for scientific purposes. Fram2 has 22 life-science experiments, none of which required this approach. The decision was largely symbolic, emphasising the increasing acceptance of private space exploration. Chun Wang, the cryptocurrency billionaire, led the mission, which also included filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen, roboticist Rabea Rogge, and arctic adventurer Eric Philips.

This is SpaceX’s 17th crewed mission, with a large share funded privately. The Crew Dragon capsule, Resilience, has already completed four trips, including one flown by wealthy entrepreneur Jared Isaacman. Fram2’s launch came just two weeks after NASA’s Crew-10 mission, highlighting SpaceX’s rapid operational cadence.

Similar to SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and United Launch Alliance are pushing boundaries, keeping commercial spaceflight a thriving industry with new horizons.

India’s space program made a huge step forward when the Indian Space Research Organisation completed a critical hot test of its semi-cryogenic engine. The test was conducted on Friday at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This is a significant step towards upgrading the country’s space launch capability.

The Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) focuses on a semi-cryogenic engine powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene. It lasted 2.5 seconds and tested important components such the pre-burner, turbo pumps, and ignition system. The engine functioned exactly as planned, demonstrating its operational efficiency.

SE2000, a semi-cryogenic engine, will replace the existing L110 core stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3). The update is expected to boost LVM3’s payload capacity from 4 to 5 tonnes in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a cutting-edge facility in Thiruvananthapuram to support the development of high-performance propulsion systems. The project also increases ISRO’s relationship with Indian companies, as crucial components are manufactured domestically.

This achievement pushes India closer to developing high-thrust engines and aligns ISRO with global space leaders.

The Union Cabinet authorised a $2.7 billion (₹22,919 crore) incentive scheme to increase electronics component production in India. The six-year initiative intends to attract $7 billion (₹59,350 crore) in investments and produce products worth ₹4.6 trillion. The government would provide subsidies of up to 50% of project expenses to encourage domestic and foreign enterprises to establish local manufacturing facilities.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the plan will generate 91,600 jobs by focusing on critical components such as display and camera modules, lithium-ion battery cells, printed circuit boards, and electronic enclosures. Incentives will be tied to turnover targets, similar to India’s semiconductor schemes. A capital expenditure-based incentive will also be implemented for capital goods production.

India’s overall goal is to increase value addition in electronics manufacturing by doubling it within five years. Vaishnaw emphasised that labour, customs, and tax changes are now underway. Industry leaders, including HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhry and Zetwerk’s Josh Foulger, praised the move for its potential to attract worldwide investment and boost high-value electronics production. 

India now produces $120 billion in electronics and aims to grow the industry to $500 billion by 2030.

NASA has once again showcased the amazing wonders of space. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured an astonishing astronomical event: a rare collision between a powerful jet from a young star and a distant spiral galaxy. Scientists refer to this as a “lucky alignment” of two unconnected cosmic objects, which provides a unique viewpoint on the cosmos.

Infant stars frequently release jets that traverse long distances through space. In this scenario, the jet appears to be perfectly aligned with a spiral galaxy in the backdrop, resulting in a stunning visual effect. This event, known as Herbig-Haro 49/50, occurs in the Chamaeleon constellation, around 630 light-years from Earth.

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope initially noticed the phenomenon in 2006, identifying it as a spiral. Researchers termed it the “Cosmic Tornado” because of its spinning look. However, the misty item at the formation’s tip remained a mystery for many years.

JWST recently used improved imaging technologies to examine HH 49/50. The telescope’s high-resolution sensors identified the “tornado’s” tip as a faraway spiral galaxy. NASA has described the discovery as “an extraordinary cosmic coincidence,” making it one of JWST’s most intriguing observations to date.

On Tuesday, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi announced that the country’s first indigenously developed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine would be installed by October of this year. The milestone project is being carried out in partnership with the Society for Applied Microwave Electronic Engineering and Research (SAMEER), an autonomous agency within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

SAMEER’s director general, PH Rao, indicated that they are awaiting clinical and human study permission. India currently lacks a method to validate MRI machines using national criteria. The 1.5 Tesla MRI equipment is scheduled to be installed within seven months.

The initiative supports the federal government’s aim for local technologies to lessen reliance on imported medical equipment. Currently, about 80 to 85 percent of medical gadgets utilised in India come from foreign markets. In FY24, India’s medical device import bill increased to ₹68,885 crore, up 13% from ₹61,179 crore in FY23.

An AIIMS official emphasised that this research has the potential to reduce treatment costs while increasing medical self-reliance. Meanwhile, other businesses, such as Fischer Medical Ventures and Voxelgrids Innovations, have previously claimed to have created MRI scanners in India.

NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered the largest organic compounds ever identified on Mars, a huge step forward in the quest for past life. The discovery, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that prebiotic chemistry on Mars may have advanced further than previously thought.

The rover’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) mini-lab detected decane, undecane, and dodecane in a rock sample. These carbon-based compounds, potentially remains of fatty acids, are critical chemical building blocks of life on Earth. Fatty acids are essential for creating cell membranes, although they can also be produced by non-biological chemical reactions.

Curiosity had previously found simple organic molecules, but the newly discovered chemicals are more complicated. Their presence on the Martian surface raises expectations that biosignatures—molecules that indicate life—may yet exist. Scientists believe that Mars’ ancient lake conditions, such as Gale Crater’s Yellowknife Bay, could have supported life-forming processes.

While the actual origin of these molecules is unknown, the discovery supports the case for returning Martian samples to Earth for further research. “We are ready to take the next big step and bring Mars samples home,” stated NASA scientist Daniel Glavin.

Cambridge University researchers have demonstrated an advanced AI-driven weather forecast system that outperforms current supercomputers. The Aardvark Weather technology is characterised as thousands of times faster than traditional weather forecasting methods. Scientists claim it runs tens of times quicker than current AI and physics-based models while using far less computing power.

According to main researcher Richard Turner, Aardvark has the potential to transform weather forecasting by making it faster, cheaper, and more accurate. Turner claimed the system could provide solid weather forecasts up to eight days in advance, three days more than current models. The device can also make specialised projections, such as wind speeds for renewable energy installations or temperature forecasts for agricultural land.

Unlike traditional forecasting, which requires numerous models and supercomputers, Aardvark streamlines the process by employing a single, massive language model. This artificial intelligence algorithm collects data from satellites, weather stations, and sensors to generate highly accurate predictions in minutes—all from a desktop computer. Even with only 10% of the data used by previous systems, Aardvark surpassed the US national GFS forecasting system across multiple parameters.

Aardvark’s technique may be used to predict extreme weather occurrences such as hurricanes and wildfires and potentially improve forecasts for air quality, ocean patterns, and sea ice dynamics.

Scientists in Abu Dhabi have created artificial moon dust from the UAE’s natural resources, enhancing the country’s space exploration goals. Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi’s Space Exploration Laboratory developed the substance, known as Emirates Lunar Simulant, to test space instruments and equipment for future lunar missions.

Dr Dimitra Atri led the research, which used anorthosite-rich rocks from the UAE that closely resembled the composition of the Moon. This development contributes to the country’s objective of sending an Emirati astronaut to the moon within a decade. Dr. Atri emphasised the value of utilising local geological resources to further planetary science and prepare for future moon missions.

Transporting Moon soil to Earth is impractical, therefore simulants are essential for mission preparation. The Abu Dhabi team, which includes researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi and NYUAD students, is utilising the material to test landers, rovers, and lunar agriculture ideas. The simulant comes from the Semail Ophiolite Complex, an old UAE geological formation.

NYUAD has also established a planetary simulation chamber to simulate extreme space conditions, which will aid in studies for lunar, Mars, and asteroid expeditions.

Thailand has won the eighth rank internationally for fixed broadband download speeds, according to We Are Social’s Digital 2025 study. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Prasert Jantararuangtong stressed the government’s commitment to improving digital infrastructure and providing inexpensive, high-speed internet access across the country, particularly in rural regions.

The DES is actively increasing connectivity through initiatives like Community Digital Centers and One District, One IT Person. The Learn to Earn initiative is bridging the digital gap by increasing access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, thus improving Thailand’s worldwide competitiveness.

The government, in partnership with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has expanded the Public Internet Project (previously “Net Pracharat”) to 24,700 communities, the majority of which are rural areas. Free Wi-Fi hotspots have been placed to improve accessibility.

The program has earned international acclaim, including the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize 2019 for infrastructure excellence from the International Telecommunication Union.

As of January 2025, over 13.6 million people had signed up for public Wi-Fi, with use topping 16.8 million connections.

India is all set to introduce its first hydrogen-powered train on March 31, 2025, marking a big stride toward sustainable transportation. This project demonstrates the country’s dedication to green energy, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting clean mobility options. Unlike diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells produce only water vapour, making these trains a significantly more environmentally friendly option.

The hydrogen train will travel 89 km through Haryana, between Jind and Sonipat. This scenic route will now provide travellers with a more environmentally friendly and calmer travel experience. Powered by a 1,200-horsepower hydrogen engine, it outperforms comparable trains in Germany and China, which have 500-600 horsepower. The train will travel at speeds of up to 110 km/h, ensuring efficiency while maintaining sustainability.

With 10 coaches, the train will carry 2,638 passengers, which is much higher than its global counterparts. Each train is expected to cost Rs 80 crore to manufacture. The Indian government also intends to install hydrogen trains in mountainous areas, boosting sustainability and environmental conservation efforts. Northern Railway will oversee the operations, in line with India’s goal of making its railways carbon-free by 2030.

The introduction of hydrogen-powered trains demonstrates India’s commitment to cleaner, more efficient public transportation systems.