India surpassed Japan to become the third-largest generator of solar electricity globally in 2023 as a result of its rapid deployment. Following the global trend of solar energy growth, 5.8% of India's electricity came from solar energy in 2023, up from 0.5% in 2015. According to Ember's report, solar power has outpaced coal as the fastest-growing electricity source globally for the 19th year. In terms of the increase in solar generation worldwide in 2023, India ranked fourth. 75% of this growth came from the top four nations, which are Brazil, the US, China, and the US. Globally, solar
India and its allies aim to regulate tourism in the Antarctic due to growing worries about its impact on the environment. The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Conference (ATCM) and the 26th Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) conference, which are both focused on this issue, will be held in Kochi, Kerala, from May 20 to May 30, at the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ravichandran, emphasised the pressing need for regulation and outlined the difficulties associated with uncontrolled tourism. India suggests more stringent regulations to
On Monday, the government of India announced its decision to permit the export of 14,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati white rice to Mauritius. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) informed people about this export allowance via a notification through the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL). Although exports of non-basmati white rice have been prohibited since July 20, 2023, exceptions are granted to some nations with government clearance, mainly to meet their requests for food security. This is done to support domestic supplies. Following the announcement's protocol, NCE
Britain is embarking on a significant endeavour, investing £200 million to establish Europe’s first high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production facility. This plant is essential to future nuclear energy initiatives that seek to improve energy security and achieve climate goals. Britain is establishing itself as a pioneer in nuclear energy innovation with a targeted nuclear power capacity of 24 gigawatts by 2050, which would account for a quarter of projected electricity consumption. By 2031, the HALEU factory in Cheshire should be operational and able to meet both domestic an
Scientists have uncovered Mexico’s Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) as the world's deepest, reaching 1,380 feet below sea level. This discovery, revealed in Frontiers in Marine Science, is located in Chetumal Bay off the Yucatan Peninsula and surpasses the previous record-holder, the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, by 480 feet. These incredibly deep Karst formations, which are the result of soluble bedrock dissolving, present a challenge to scientific research and push the bounds of knowledge. Blue holes are vertical marine caves that were left over from glacial discharge during the Ice A
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams was all set for her third space voyage aboard the Boeing Starliner, scheduled for May 7. A technical issue has caused the launch to be delayed; however, no new date has been announced. Williams, born on September 19, 1965, has spent 322 days in space throughout two space missions since 1998. Known for her calm demeanour, she expressed a mix of excitement and readiness for the upcoming mission despite flying in a new spacecraft. Williams was chosen for NASA's commercial crew programme, which aims to certify the Starliner for future crew transport to t
New Zealand's Antarctic agency recently inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Germany's prestigious Alfred Wegener Institute, marking a significant stride in fostering cooperation in polar science. The foreign minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, sought to strengthen links between polar and marine science institutions by highlighting Antarctica's growing geostrategic and scientific importance. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place during German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's official visit to New Zealand, highlighting the significance of cooperation b
Scientists in Singapore have created a reusable adhesive with strong adhesion to rough surfaces that take inspiration from dried snail mucus and gecko feet. Unlike traditional adhesives, it can support up to 60kg with a palm-sized amount, outperforming gecko feet. Remarkably, it detaches easily when heated, unlike strong adhesives that risk surface damage during removal. This innovation opens doors for climbing robots and robotic grippers, potentially enabling Spider-Man-like scaling or ceiling clinging for surveys and repairs. Developed by a team at Nanyang Technological University (NTU),
Sundar Pichai, Alphabet Inc.'s CEO, is on the brink of becoming a billionaire, a rare feat for a tech executive without founding a company. Since taking charge of Google in 2015, Pichai, 51, has overseen remarkable growth, with the stock soaring over 400%, surpassing major market indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. The recent stellar first-quarter performance, driven by robust growth in the cloud computing division powered by artificial intelligence, propelled Google's stock to an all-time high. Additionally, the company announced its first dividend, a historic move. The surge in Goog
On Tuesday, a senior cabinet member announced that Indonesia is considering providing dual citizenship to individuals of Indonesian descent in order to attract more qualified professionals to the country. Dual citizenship for adults is not recognised under current Indonesian law; therefore, anyone having two passports must choose one and renounce the other once they reach the age of 18. Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, announced the government's plan to award dual citizenship to former Indonesian nationals living abroad, but no further det