India is considering standalone AI legislation as the European Union’s AI Act reshapes global approaches to artificial intelligence regulation. The EU framework uses a risk-based approach, applying different requirements to prohibited, high-risk, limited-risk, and general-purpose AI systems. Some rules already prohibit practices such as social scoring, certain emotion recognition systems, and untargeted facial image scraping. General-purpose AI providers also face documentation, copyright, and transparency requirements. The rules can affect Indian technology companies serving Europ
China has achieved a new short-distance acceleration record with an experimental maglev vehicle reaching 800 kmph in just 5.3 seconds. The test was conducted at Donghu Laboratory in Hubei province. The 1.1-tonne experimental vehicle travelled along a 1-kilometre test track. It uses magnetic levitation to eliminate conventional friction between the vehicle and track. Coils installed along the track generate magnetic fields that propel the vehicle forward. Researchers said the latest test was the third acceleration record broken by the vehicle within six months. The vehicle previously
Three reactors at France’s Gravelines nuclear plant shut down after a massive jellyfish swarm overwhelmed seawater filtration systems. The northern French facility took reactors 2, 3, and 4 offline as a precaution. Reactor 1 reduced output by half, while reactor 5 remained under maintenance. Only reactor 6 continued operating normally, cutting roughly 3.2 gigawatts of capacity during a summer heatwave. Gravelines use seawater for cooling, the filtration systems protecting its intake pipes. Several dozen tons of jellyfish overwhelmed those systems on August 10. The plant experienced a sim
Scientists are growing three-dimensional brain organoids from adult human cells, creating laboratory models that reproduce similar features of developing human brains. Researchers first reprogram adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), guide them into neurons and allow the cells to self-organise. The resulting organoids contain connected neurons capable of communicating and generating electrical activity, although they lack the structure and complexity of a real human brain. The main goal is to study brain development and neurological diseases that are difficult to investi
BRICS nations are discussing linking their fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) to make cross-border payments cheaper and more efficient, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said in Mumbai on August 11, 2026. Speaking ahead of the BRICS summit hosted by India this year, Malhotra said cross-border payments are a shared area of interest among member countries, with significant scope to reduce costs. He said options including CBDC linkages and connections between fast payment systems remain under discussion, although talks are still at an early stage.
NASA has invited the Indian Space Research organization (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme under the Artemis Accords, opening a new chapter in India-U.S. cooperation on lunar exploration and scientific data sharing. The invitation was extended during the 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5–6, 2026. The meeting brought together senior officials from both countries, including ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and NASA Associate Administrator Kathleen Karika. The M
Astronomers have released the largest 2d map of the universe ever created, charting nearly 4 billion celestial objects across roughly three-quarters of the sky. Produced by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Legacy Imaging Surveys team, the map contains 5.6 trillion pixels, combining more than 263,000 telescope exposures collected over 13 years across visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The map forms the foundation for DESI's broader effort to create a three-dimensional picture of the universe. Installed on the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Obse
Researchers at Kiel University in Germany have developed a porous material called CAU-10-H that can capture water vapour from dry air and release it with relatively little energy. The material belongs to a class of compounds known as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), which work like molecular sponges by absorbing and releasing water molecules. The research, led by Norbert Stock of Kiel University's Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A and Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. The team is exploring technology that can potentially
Purdue University engineers have developed what they describe as the whitest paint on record, a formulation designed to cool buildings by reflecting sunlight and reducing the need for air conditioning. Professor Xiulin Ruan and his team covered around 1,000 square feet of roof with the paint, which could theoretically provide 10 kilowatts of cooling power. The Purdue whitest paint reflects up to 98.1% of sunlight, improving on the team's earlier formulation, which reflected 95.5%. Researchers compare its visible-light performance with Vantablack, one of the blackest known materials. Typica
Microsoft has launched its largest data centre in India, in Hyderabad, strengthening its position in the country's growing AI market. The new India South Central facility brings Microsoft's total cloud regions in India to four, alongside existing centres in Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. Early users include Adani Group and HDFC Bank. Microsoft has committed around $20.5 billion to expanding its operations in India. The investment reflects the country's large internet user base and strong pool of technology talent. Microsoft's Azure cloud business has recorded double-digit revenue growth in Indi