Indian-born scientist Shankar Balasubramanian has been awarded the 2026 Wolf Prize in Chemistry alongside British chemist David Klenerman and French biophysicist Pascal Mayer. The trio was recognised for developing low-cost, large-scale DNA sequencing methods for genomic medicine. Balasubramanian and Klenerman pioneered a massively parallel sequencing approach that allowed millions of DNA fragments to be read simultaneously. Mayer contributed technology that helped turn the research into a practical high-throughput sequencing system. Their work helped establish next-generation sequencin
The United States, China and Russia are developing nuclear reactors for future lunar operations, with projects targeting the Moon’s south pole and potential permanent bases. NASA is developing Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1), a fission surface power system planned for deployment by 2030. The project is intended to provide continuous electricity during periods when solar power is unavailable. NASA also described nuclear power as a key technology for sustained lunar operations. The US reactor is expected to produce about 20 kilowatts of electricity and operate for several years without human int
Singapore has been designated the Asia-Pacific regional hub of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH), giving the country a formal role in coordinating the organisation's engagement across the region. Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE) was named GA4GH's first Regional Hub Institution at the alliance's 14th Plenary meeting on September 29. A memorandum of understanding was signed between GA4GH President Peter Goodhand and PRECISE Executive Director Professor Patrick Tan. Under the new arrangement, PRECISE will serve as the focal point for GA4GH activities across
Scientists from the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru have detected the faint glow of hydrogen from roughly eight billion years ago, when the universe was about five billion years old. The research was carried out as part of a joint Canadian, American and Indian effort. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal on September 28. Researchers used the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) radio telescope in British Columbia to make the first “standalone” detection of hydrogen’s glow from the early universe. The telescope, built in 2017, used a m
Microsoft plans to invest more than US$10 billion in capital and operating expenses across the Middle East between now and 2030 as part of a new regional technology framework. The company announced the plans on September 23 during a roundtable held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The investment will focus initially on Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Microsoft plans to expand cloud and AI infrastructure across these markets while increasing capacity and developing new capabilities for customers and governments. The comp
Indian researchers have experimentally measured a quantum measure of 1.17, exceeding the upper limit of one that applies to ordinary probability. The experiment was conducted by physicists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) and reported on September 24. The result relates to Quantum Measure Theory (QMT), a framework that describes quantum systems through possible histories rather than only their states and measurement outcomes. In this approach, a quantum measure can account for interference between different possible paths taken by a particle or photon. The RRI team deve
India and the United States discussed ways to strengthen cooperation around the artificial intelligence economy during a high-level roundtable held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22. The meeting was titled “US India Partnership: Powering the AI Economy”. The roundtable was organised by the Consulate General of India in New York in partnership with ReNew and the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum. More than 40 participants from industry, academia, investment, government and civil society took part. Discussions focused on expandi
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a process that converts polyethylene, one of the most widely used plastics, into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as gasoline- and diesel-like fuels. The research uses aluminium chloride-based molten salts to break down the plastic’s long molecular chains. The process works at temperatures below 170°C and does not require an external hydrogen supply, additional solvents or noble-metal catalysts. Instead, the molten salt provides the catalytic environment needed to break polyethylene into smaller hydrocarbon molecules. The
NASA has awarded SpaceX three additional crew missions to the International Space Station under an expanded contract worth $5.92 billion. The contract modification adds Crew-15, Crew-16 and Crew-17 to SpaceX’s existing NASA programme. The additional missions are intended to maintain regular crew transportation to the space station. The modification brings the total number of NASA astronaut flights contracted with SpaceX to 17. The three new missions extend the company’s current arrangement through 2030. The latest agreement adds $946 million to SpaceX’s existing contra
Hero Esports has launched CyberHero, described by the company as the world’s first global humanoid robot sports league, with its first event held in Riyadh on September 9. The launch took place at Boulevard City and featured humanoid robots competing in a combat format. The inaugural CyberHero event featured EngineAI T800 humanoid robots in a purpose-built arena. The machines are designed to perform movements including walking, running, punching and kicking, bringing physical AI into a live sporting environment. Hero Esports plans to take the league beyond Saudi Arabia, wi