New Delhi (The Hawk): Scientists have uncovered a new strain of lactic acid bacterium that could be a promising candidate for broader probiotic utilization beyond the dairy industry. The researchers from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology were keen to uncover the hidden potential of S. thermophilus often acclaimed for its role as a starter culture in various dairy products, through a collaborative genome analysis. A probe into the genetic makeup of strain MCC0200 revealed an arsenal of genes associated with gastrointestinal survival, intestinal adhesion, and health-promoting functionalities, painting a vivid picture of its probiotic prowess. One of the key challenges for any probiotic is surviving the treacherous journey through the human digestive system. In vitro studies revealed that MCC0200 not only withstands the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract but also exhibits remarkable resilience against gastric juices and bile acids, which are the known crucial factors in determining probiotic efficacy. Delving deeper into its genome, the study published in the journal Microorganisms uncovered a repertoire of genes that can help acid tolerance and bile resistance, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms underpinning its survival strategy. They found that MCC0200 which thrives in the gut, possesses a strong affinity for intestinal surfaces, allowing it to interact with host cells. This ability to adhere to mucosal surfaces is a crucial factor in promoting gut health and immune function. They also unravelled MCC0200's ability to auto aggregate and co-aggregate with pathogenic bacteria, a trait essential for competitive exclusion and gut colonization. Studies revealed MCC0200's antioxidative prowess, a quality that holds significant implications for gut health. With its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species, MCC0200 emerged as a guardian of gut redox balance, offering protection against oxidative stress-induced damage. MCC0200 has also been revealed to be a nutrient powerhouse. Genome analysis uncovered the bacterium's biosynthetic capabilities, including the production of essential vitamins like folate (vitamin B9). Folate plays a crucial role in various cellular functions, and MCC0200's ability to synthesize this vital nutrient could have far-reaching implications for human health. This revelation underscores its potential as a nutritive supplement, offering valuable vitamins to individuals deficient in these vital nutrients. In the battle against cholesterol, MCC0200 emerges as a formidable ally. Studies demonstrated that this probiotic strain possesses the ability to assimilate cholesterol, potentially lowering serum cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. While the exact mechanism is still under investigation, MCC0200's cholesterol-lowering properties hold promise as a functional food ingredient with cardiovascular benefits. As research into the health benefits of probiotics continues to evolve, Streptococcus thermophilus stands out as a beacon of hope for gut health with diverse health-promoting attributes. Its unique combination of probiotic properties, coupled with its safety profile, makes it a promising candidate for food and pharmaceutical applications. With further exploration and innovation, MCC0200 could pave the way for a healthier future for all.

Scientists have uncovered a new strain of lactic acid bacterium that could be a promising candidate for broader probiotic utilization

New Strain Of Lactic Acid Bacterium Could Be Promising Probiotic For Food And Pharmaceutical Industry

In recent years, India has emerged as a global hub for technological advancements, making significant strides across various sectors. From leading innovations in IT and software development to advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and space exploration, India's journey has been marked by transformative breakthroughs. These advancements not only showcase India's technological powers but also highlight its potential to shape global trends in innovation.  One of the most prominent sectors driving India's technological revolution is Information Technology (IT) and software development. The country has become known as a leader in software services, with Indian IT companies famous worldwide for their quality and efficiency. Companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Wipro have not only contributed significantly to India's GDP but have also set benchmarks in delivering modern solutions to global clients.  Furthermore, India has made remarkable progress in the field of space exploration and satellite technology. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved numerous milestones, including the successful Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2014, which made India the first Asian country to reach Martian orbit and the fourth space agency globally to do so. ISRO's cost-effective missions have demonstrated India's capability to undertake complex space missions at a fraction of the cost compared to other space agencies. In addition to space exploration, India has also utilised technology to revolutionize healthcare delivery. Telemedicine platforms have gained popularity, especially in rural and remote areas, enabling patients to consult with doctors online and access healthcare services that were previously inaccessible. Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being employed to develop predictive healthcare models, personalized medicine, and efficient diagnostic tools, thereby improving healthcare outcomes across the country.  Moreover, India's agricultural sector has witnessed technological advancements aimed at enhancing productivity and sustainability. Mobile apps providing real-time weather forecasts and market prices have empowered farmers with crucial information, enabling them to make informed decisions and improve their livelihoods.  Beyond these sectors, India has also embraced digital transformation in governance and education. Initiatives like Digital India and Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric identity program, have facilitated e-governance and improved access to public services. In education, online learning platforms have democratized access to quality education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools and colleges had to shift to remote learning.  Looking ahead, India's commitment to innovation and technology remains committed. Initiatives like Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat are fostering a vibrant ecosystem for startups and encouraging indigenous manufacturing in critical sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals. As the world increasingly turns towards digital solutions and sustainable technologies, India stands poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of global innovation. In conclusion, India's progress in technology shows its strength, creativity, and commitment to doing well. By using technology in many areas, India is changing its society and economy, and also helping global technology improve. As India keeps going this way, there's a lot of potential for new ideas and growth, making a better future for everyone.

India's tech advancements in IT, space, healthcare, and agriculture highlight its global leadership and innovative potential. Explore India's journey of transformation.

Technological Advancements in India: A Pathway to Innovation

New Delhi (The Hawk): A new study carried out by a group of 32 scientists from 10 countries (Finland, Poland, India, China, USA, Czech Republic, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy) spotted the smaller black hole of a pair, establishing the ‘sight’ of an orbiting blackhole for the first time. Several international research groups have already confirmed the theory that there are two black holes at the centre of the four billion light years distant galaxy OJ 287, first suggested by astronomers at the University of Turku, Finland. In 2021, NASA's exoplanet-hunting satellite was pointed towards the galaxy OJ 287 to help astronomers confirm the theory initially proposed by researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, of two black holes at the centre of the galaxy. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is designed to discover thousands of exoplanets orbit around the brightest dwarf stars in the sky. TESS is finding planets ranging from small, rocky worlds to giant planets, showcasing the diversity of planets in our galaxy. It has so far found 410 confirmed exoplanets or “new worlds” circling stars other than the Sun. In 2021, TESS spent several weeks studying another kind of system, a 4 billion light years away galaxy called OJ 287. Researchers have found indirect evidence that a very massive black hole in OJ 287 is orbiting a giant black hole 100 times its size. To verify the existence of the smaller black hole, TESS monitored the brightness of the primary black hole and the jet associated with it. Direct observation of the smaller black hole orbiting the larger one is very difficult, but its presence was revealed to the researchers by a sudden burst of brightness. This kind of an event had never been observed in OJ287 before, but researcher Pauli Pihajoki from the University of Turku in Finland predicted the event in his doctoral dissertation already in 2014. According to his dissertation, the next flare was expected to take place in late 2021, and several satellites and telescopes were focused on the object at the time. The TESS satellite detected the expected flare on 12 November 2021 and the observations of the 12 hour event were recently published the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The study of the observation by Shubham Kishore, Alok C. Gupta, both from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, an autonomous institute under the Dept. of Science &amp; Technology, Govt. of India and Paul Wiita, The College of New Jersey, USA discovered a smaller black hole. The discovery was also confirmed by NASA's Swift telescope, which was also pointed at the same target. In addition, a large international collaboration led by Staszek Zola from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, detected the same event by using telescopes in different parts of the Earth. The different telescopes were targeted for the observation so that it was always nighttime at least at one of the telescope locations throughout the entire day. Moreover, a group from Boston University, USA, led by Svetlana Jorstad and other observers confirmed the discovery by studying the polarisation of light before and after the flare. In a new study combining all the previous observations, Professor Mauri Valtonen and his research team at the University of Turku have shown that the 12-hour burst of light came from the smaller black hole in orbit and its surroundings. The fast burst of brightness occurs when the smaller black hole "swallows" a large slice of the accretion disk surrounding the larger black hole, turning it into an outward jet of gas. The jet of the smaller black hole is then brighter than that of the larger black hole for about twelve hours. This makes the colour of OJ287 less reddish, or "yellow", instead of the normal red. After the burst, the red colour returns. The "yellow" colour indicates that for the 12-hour period, we are seeing the light from the smaller black hole. The same results can be inferred from other features of the light emitted from OJ287 over the same time period. “Therefore, we can now say that we have ‘seen’ an orbiting black in the same way that we can say that TESS has seen planets orbiting other stars. And just as with planets, it is extremely difficult to get a direct image of the smaller black hole. In fact, because of OJ 287's great distance, which is close to four billion light years, it will probably take a very long time before our observation methods have developed enough to catch a picture even of the larger black hole,” say Professor Valtonen. “However, the smaller black hole may soon reveal its existence in other ways, as it is expected to emit nano-Hertz gravitational waves. The gravitational waves of OJ 287 should be detectable in the coming years by the maturing pulsar timing arrays,” says A. Gopakumar from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, India.

A new study carried out by a group of 32 scientists from 10 countries (Finland, Poland, India, China, USA, Czech Republic, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy) 

International Study Observes Smaller Object In A Black Hole Pair Directly For The First Time

New Delhi (The Hawk): India could soon have its own multi-channel, tunable laser system technology platforms which are crucial for quantum optics laboratories, manufactured by a spinoff company from Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institute of Department of Science &amp; Technology. The indigenous platforms could lower costs of quantum optics labs and be used for medicine, remote sensing, geo-mapping and space. At the heart of any quantum optics laboratory lies its high precision laser systems. But their exorbitant costs have been detrimental in both pursuing cutting-edge research and quantum technology based industrial applications. RRI which developed the technology for precision laser systems required for quantum enabled-technology applications and industrial uses, recently awarded the license to nexAtom Research and Instruments, the first spin-off company from RRI. This spinoff company will soon commence production of the multi-channel, tunable laser system technology platforms. RRI has filed a provisional Indian patent for ‘Standalone laser system with frequency tunability and precision control’. Last year, India embarked on an ambitious Rs. 6,000 crore National Quantum Mission (NQM). RRI is contributing towards the creation of an ecosystem enabling the smooth implementation of quantum-based technology solutions for the future. The tunable lasers which are called the External Cavity Diode Lasers (ECDL), are very precise spectroscopic tools meant for addressing quantum systems in research and technology labs. Such tunable laser systems will be useful for developing solutions across quantum communication, quantum technology, quantum system and metrology – all of which are the core themes of the DST-led NQM. The work on nexAtom’s tunable laser system commenced around 2017, when the control electronics technology for lasers was transitioning from the analogous to digital mode. “By tweaking the mechanical assembly for laser diodes and performing basic re-programming to extend features, our system can be suitably customized as per various end-user requirements. It offers a versatile range of applications in the fields of medicine, remote sensing, geo-mapping, space and marine navigation among others. Also, the need for buying auxiliary systems and instruments, which add to the overall costs, will not be required with the nexAtom laser systems,” said Subodh Vashist, Founder and the System Design Expert of the spinoff company. The nexAtom’s laser systems can be bought as an entire integrated package or a sub-system, this makes it highly cost-effective. Through this spinoff company’s journey, RRI and nexAtom wish to create a template for others in academia working in the quantum domain towards entrepreneurship in India, remarked Professor Sadiq Rangwala, professor at the Light and Matter group at RRI. “This venture is a contribution towards setting up a high-end scientific ecosystem in the country. The development of a future-compliant prototype laser system is a critical pillar for supporting the upcoming NQM,” said Prof. Rangwala, who is also the Principal Technical Advisor to the company. The strength of the company is in the work undertaken at the RRI’s Quantum Interactions (QuaInt) lab, which over two decades, has earned rich experience in this domain. In addition, the lab envisions facilitating high-quality yet cost-effective solutions as opportunities to users beyond academia. “Our lab’s multi-disciplinary approach of working on the interactions between quantum systems has resulted in the development of multiple products. These products have augmented our lab’s self-reliance and enhanced research in quantum physics,” said Prof. Rangwala. In addition to the precision tunable laser system, some of the other products of nexAtom are: precision time taggers used for quantum applications to count single-photon events; ultra-fast seed fibre lasers for various pulsed laser applications; Q-switched fibre and diode lasers used commonly for metal 3D printing and more. As India gets ready to take a ‘quantum’ leap through NQM, there would be a requirement of an ecosystem to build a plethora of customized lasers and associated instruments, in order to meet various quantum technology-oriented goals. Finally, this would create a high demand for skilled employees to work on developing indigenous quantum technology-based solutions, said Subodh. “In order to build high quality and reliable laser systems, we need skilled engineers and PhDs , who can work within an interdisciplinary environment,” said Prof. Rangwala.

India could soon have its own multi-channel, tunable laser system technology platforms which are crucial for quantum optics laboratories

Raman Research Institute Spinoff Company’s Tunable Lasers Could Lower Costs Of Quantum Optics Labs

A global tech failure disrupted operations across multiple industries on Friday, halting flights and upending everything from banking to healthcare systems. Here's all you need to know about it.
1. What happened? CrowdStrike, a US cybersecurity company with a market value of about $83 billion, is among the most popular in the world, counting more than 20,000 subscribers around the world, the company's website shows.  According to an alert sent by CrowdStrike to its clients at 0530 GMT on Friday and reviewed by Reuters, its widely used "Falcon Sensor" software is causing Microsoft Windows to crash and display a blue screen, known informally as the “Blue Screen of Death”.  George Kurtz, CrowdStrike's CEO, said in a post on X that CrowdStrike had deployed a fix for the issue. "This is not a security incident or cyberattack," he wrote.  However, it is not clear how easily the affected systems can be fixed remotely, as the "Blue Screen of Death" is causing computers to crash on reboot before they can be updated.  "This means in this state, devices can't be updated automatically, meaning manual intervention is required," said Daniel Card, of UK-based cybersecurity consultancy PwnDefend.  Ciaran Martin, former head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of Britain’s GCHQ intelligence agency, said the scale of the problem was huge.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/%22issue-isolated-fix-deployed%22-says-ceo-of-crowdstrike-after-software-update-triggers-global-it-outage" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/%22issue-isolated-fix-deployed%22-says-ceo-of-crowdstrike-after-software-update-triggers-global-it-outage</a>&nbsp;
"This is not unprecedented, but I’m struggling to think of an outage at quite this scale. It has happened over the years, but this is one of the biggest. I think it’ll likely be short-lived because, the nature of the problem is actually quite simple".  "But it's very, very, very, very, big" he added.  2. Why did it happen?  Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and businesses alike have become increasingly dependent on a handful of interconnected technology companies over the past two decades.  Experts say the cyber outage revealed the risks of an increasingly online world.  To protect their computer networks from being breached by hackers, many businesses use a cybersecurity product known as Endpoint Detection and Response, or EDR, which runs in the background of corporate machines, or "endpoints".  Firms like CrowdStrike are able to use their EDR products as early warning systems for potential digital attacks, scan for viruses, and prevent hackers from gaining unauthorised access to corporate networks.  But, in this case, something in CrowdStrike's code is conflicting with something in the code that makes Windows work, and causing those systems to crash, even after rebooting.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/passengers-share-handwritten-tickets-as-microsoft-outage-delays-flights-aviation-minister-assures-minimal-disruption" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/passengers-share-handwritten-tickets-as-microsoft-outage-delays-flights-aviation-minister-assures-minimal-disruption</a>&nbsp;
"With the move to the cloud and with companies like CrowdStrike owning huge market shares, their software is running on millions of computers around the world," said Card.  3. Who has been impacted? The global tech outage has affected operations in different sectors internationally including at Spanish airports, U.S. airlines and Australian media and banks.  The governments of Australia, New Zealand, and a number of U.S. states are facing issues, while American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines (UAL.O), and Allegiant Air (ALGT.O grounded flights citing communication problems.  In Britain, Sky News, one of the country's major television news channels, was off air for hours on Friday before service was restored.  Crowdstrike said it has deployed a fix for the issue after the outage impacted industries ranging from airlines to banking to healthcare worldwide, the company's CEO said on Friday.  Microsoft said separately it had fixed the underlying cause for the outage of its 365 apps and services including Teams and OneDrive, but residual impact was affecting some services.
—Reuters

A global tech failure on Friday halted flights and disrupted banking and healthcare due to CrowdStrike's Falcon Sensor causing Windows crashes.

Explained | What caused the Microsoft global outage?

New Delhi: After various businesses across the world reported IT outages on Friday, which included seeing the "Windows blue screen of death', CrowdStrike the security firm linked to a software update that caused the outage says that the issue has been isolated and a fix deployed. George Kurtz, President and CEO of CrowdStrike said the cybersecurity company was working with customers on the issues faced by them while giving a reassurance that the issue was "not a security incident or cyberattack." "CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, and isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they're communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers," Kurtz said. CrowdStrike told customers early Friday that it was "aware of reports of crashes" of its software on the Microsoft Windows operating systems, according to a company advisory as reported by CNN.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/global-cyber-outage:-microsoft-users-report-'blue-screen-of-death'-flights-cancelled" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/global-cyber-outage:-microsoft-users-report-'blue-screen-of-death'-flights-cancelled</a>&nbsp;

The US media outlet said that CrowdStrike is perhaps best known for investigating the Russian hack of Democratic National Committee computers during the 2016 US election. In an update, Microsoft said "Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation actions. Multiple services are continuing to see improvements in availability as our mitigation actions progress. More details can be found within the admin centre." Meanwhile, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an advisory, CIAD-2024-0035, addressing the severe outage impacting Microsoft Windows systems.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/airlines-in-india-report-flight-disruption-over-microsoft-outage" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/airlines-in-india-report-flight-disruption-over-microsoft-outage</a>&nbsp;

According to CERT, this disruption is linked to the recent update of the CrowdStrike agent, Falcon Sensor. CERT said that to mitigate these issues, the CrowdStrike team has reverted the changes made in the recent update. However, if hosts are still experiencing crashes and are unable to stay online to receive the necessary Channel File Changes, CERT-In recommends certain steps. 1. First, boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment. 2. Next, navigate to the directory C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike and locate the file matching the pattern "C-00000291*.sys". 3. Once identified, delete the file. Finally, reboot the host normally. Users are also advised to check for the latest updates and further instructions on the CrowdStrike support portal: CrowdStrike Support Portal. On Friday the outage affected companies across various sectors, from airlines, banks, food chains and brokerage houses, to news organizations, and railway networks. The travel industry was greatly affected causing significant delays in flights across the world.
—ANI

CrowdStrike resolves IT outages linked to a Windows update, assures no cyberattack. CERT-In issues advisory. Microsoft services improve amid mitigation actions.

"Issue isolated, fix deployed" says CEO of CrowdStrike after software update triggers global IT outage

Washington DC: Global software giant Microsoft said on Friday that an outage in its online services has affected customers across the world, including in India. Microsoft Windows users reported facing 'Blue Screen of Death' errors with many users taking to social media platform X to report about the issue. Meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike told US outlet NBC that it suffered a major outage on Friday impacting businesses globally. The outage resulted from an issue with the latest update, the company said. CrowdStrike is now in the process of rolling back that update globally, it said. As per reports, Windows users are seeing blue screen errors on their screen with their latops or Personal computers getting stuck on restart loop. Major US carriers including Delta, United and American Airlines, have grounded all flights grounded, regardless of destination, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Berlin Airport announced the suspension of all flights. Bloomberg said that London Stock Exchange was reporting "technical glitches." In India, SpiceJet announced via X (formerly Twitter) that it was experiencing technical challenges with its service provider, which affected online services like booking, check-in, and managing bookings.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/airlines-in-india-report-flight-disruption-over-microsoft-outage" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/airlines-in-india-report-flight-disruption-over-microsoft-outage</a>&nbsp;

IndiGo tweeted, "Our systems are currently impacted by a Microsoft outage, which is also affecting other companies. During this time booking, check-in, access to your boarding pass, and some flights may be impacted." As per a heatmap of India, put out by Downdetector, which detects outages, users in various parts of India reported problems. The National Cyber Security Coordinator of Australia in a post on X stated, "I am aware of a large-scale technical outage affecting a number of companies and services across Australia this afternoon. Our current information is this outage relates to a technical issue with a third-party software platform employed by affected companies." The Redmond, Washington DC headquartered American multinational corporation on Friday said that it was investigating an issue preventing users from accessing its apps and services. On its support website, Microsoft said that "impacted services may include but are not limited to" Microsoft Teams, Viva Engage, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft 365 admin centre among others. "We're investigating an issue affecting access to multiple Microsoft 365 services. We're working to identify the full impact and will provide more information shortly," the official Microsoft account for updates on certain Microsoft365 service incidents said on X. Low-cost US carriers Frontier Airlines, Allegiant and SunCountry also reported that their operations had been impacted. "The Allegiant website is currently unavailable due to the Microsoft Azure issue," Nevada-based Allegiant said in a statement to CNN. "Due to a global outage at a third party vendor, our booking, check-in, and trip-managing capabilities are temporarily unavailable," SunCountry said on its site as reported by CNN. The US media outlet said that Microsoft on its Azure cloud software status report site, said that around 6 pm ET, the service went down for some customers in the Central US region - "including failures with service management operations and connectivity or availability of services." "Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation actions. More details can be found within the admin center under MO821132 and http://status.cloud.microsoft," Microsoft took to X to state as users faced issues impacting their ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services.
—ANI

Global Microsoft outage causes 'Blue Screen of Death' errors, grounds flights, and impacts services worldwide, including Crowdstrike and major airlines.

Global cyber outage: Microsoft users report 'blue screen of death' ; flights cancelled

Washington: NASA released on Friday a pair of images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope showing two galaxies - one nicknamed the Penguin and the other the Egg - in the process of merging in sort of a cosmic ballet as the US space agency marked two years since it unveiled the orbiting observatory's first scientific results.
Webb, which was launched in 2021 and began collecting data the following year, has reshaped the understanding of the early universe while taking stunning pictures of the cosmos. The two galaxies in the images are situated 326 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydra. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).  "We see two galaxies, each a collection of billions of stars. The galaxies are in the process of merging. That's a common way that galaxies like our own build up over time, to grow from small galaxies - like those that Webb has found shortly after the Big Bang – into mature galaxies like our own Milky Way," said Jane Rigby, NASA Webb senior project scientist.  Since becoming operational, Webb has observed galaxies teeming with stars that formed within a few hundred million years of the Big Bang event that marked the beginning of the universe about 13.8 billion years ago.  The mingling Penguin and Egg galaxies are collectively known as Arp 142. They are shown in the imagery joined by a haze that is a mix of stars and gas amid their slow-motion merger.
The Penguin galaxy, so dubbed because its shape from the perspective of the telescope resembles that flightless bird, including a beak-like region, is formally called NGC 2936. It is a spiral-shaped galaxy, now a bit distorted. The Egg galaxy, also named for its shape, is formally called NGC 2937. It is a compact elliptical-shaped galaxy. Together, their appearance is suggestive of a penguin guarding its egg.  Their interaction, according to NASA, was set in motion between 25 and 75 million years ago, and they are expected to become a single galaxy hundreds of millions of years from now.  Webb has detected the earliest-known galaxies and has provided insight into areas such as the composition of planets beyond our solar system, known as exoplanets, and the nature of star-forming regions in the cosmos.  "This mission has allowed us to look back to the most distant galaxies ever observed and understand the very early universe in a new way," said Mark Clampin, astrophysics division director at NASA headquarters. "For example, with Webb, we've found that these very early galaxies are more massive and brighter than we expected, posing the question: How did they get so big so quickly?"  Webb was designed to be more sensitive than its Hubble Space Telescope predecessor, which also is continuing its work. Webb looks at the universe mainly in the infrared, while Hubble has examined it primarily at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths.  "Webb is the largest, most powerful telescope ever put in space. It specializes in capturing infrared light - wavelengths of light longer than our eyes can see. With its incredible sensitivity to those wavelengths, we've been able to look back into the early universe in a way previous missions couldn't, see through dust and gas into the heart of star formation, and examine the composition of exoplanet atmospheres like never before," Clampin said.  Looking ahead, Clampin added, "Some of Webb's most exciting investigations will be the things we haven't even thought of yet."
—Reuters

NASA's James Webb captures stunning images of Penguin and Egg galaxies merging, revealing cosmic secrets and reshaping our understanding of the early universe.

Cosmic penguin born of galactic merger: NASA releases spectacular James Webb telescope images

Washington DC: NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore who travelled to the International Space Station on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft and were supposed to have returned to Earth last month might have to remain in space a few weeks longer till August this year. As engineers continue to sort out technical issues that has kept the duo in space longer than scheduled, Williams and Wilmore spoke to reporters in their first press conference from space. The Starliner had experienced a series of delays during its launch caused by safety concerns due to faulty thrusters and a series of helium leaks. Williams and Wilmore are the first human crew on the historic test mission of the Boeing-built Starliner capsule. The two astronauts have expressed confidence that the Starliner can get them back to Earth. NASA has, however, not shared a projected return date for the astronauts. "I feel confident that, if we had to, if there was a problem with the International Space Station, we would get in (the Starliner spacecraft) and we could undock, talk to our team, and figure out the best way to come home," Williams said as per a CNN report. "We're absolutely confident," Wilmore said of Starliner's capability to get them home, the US broadcaster said. "I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem," Williams told reporters from the ISS. Williams said that it was great to be back in the orbiting laboratory and it feels like home to them. "I'm not complaining, Butch isn't complaining, that we're here for a couple of extra weeks." This is third foray into space of the Indian-origin NASA astronaut. Wilmore and Williams launched on June 5, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test mission. They docked to the orbiting ISS laboratory on June 6 and are on the station as they test Starliner and its subsystems as the next steps in the spacecraft's certification for rotational missions as part of the NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Williams said that she and Wilmore have joined the seven astronauts already on board the International Space Station to help with regular tasks. "We've been doing science for them, maintenance, some major maintenance that it's been waiting for a little while, like stuff that's been on the books for a little bit," Williams said as cited by CNN. The Starliner is intended to offer NASA a second private commercial crew alternative for the transportation of astronauts in lower Earth orbit to Elon Musk owned SpaceX's Dragon capsule. Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore who are on their 35th day in space which is continuing its testing in space and on the ground to support future long-duration missions. The US Navy veterans told reporters they've been doing science and maintenance on the ISS since they arrived. They fixed the station's urine processor with a new pump brought up on Starliner and Williams said she performed gene sequencing and Wilmore conducted experiments with a 3-D printed moon microscope. "We've been thoroughly busy up here," said Williams adding that they have been integrated into the ISS crew that they have dubbed as "Expedition 71-plus." The Expedition 71 crew of NASA astronauts on board the ISS include Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko. Both Boeing and SpaceX received funding from NASA's Commercial Crew program in 2014 to carry astronauts to the ISS after the US space agency retired its Space Shuttle Program in 2011. Boeing received over USD 4 billion in US federal funds to develop the Starliner, while SpaceX received about USD 2.6 billion. SpaceX company's Crew Dragon has performed 12 crewed missions to the ISS since its first launch on May 30, 2020. —ANI

NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore who travelled to the International Space Station on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft

Stuck In Space, NASA Astronauts Confident Of Boeing Capsule's Safe Earth Return; Sunita Williams Has This To Say

New Delhi (The Hawk): Indian scientists have made a major breakthrough in cybersecurity. They've created a new, user-friendly way to generate truly unpredictable random numbers, which is crucial for stronger encryption in quantum communications. This advance could revolutionize how we protect sensitive data in the future. The security of quantum communications relies on inherent randomness as a seed, such as randomness in measurement bases chosen by sender and receiver. This prevents malicious agents from deciphering secure information through prior knowledge of such choice of bases. The Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab at Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, had performed a photonic experiment to demonstrate violation of what are called the Leggett Garg Inequalities (LGI)-- -- a litmus test for "quantumness" in a system in a loophole free manner. Taking this further, over the last few years, the group has carried out extensive research in collaboration with researchers from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram and the Bose Institute, Kolkata to use such LGI violation in a completely unexplored domain-- truly unpredictable random number generation, secure against device tampering and imperfections. These numbers are crucial in applications like cryptographic key generation, secure password creation and digital signatures among others. “We have successfully generated random numbers using temporal correlations certified by the violation of the Leggett Garg Inequality (LGI). These are temporal analogues of the popularly known Bell inequalities-- a set of mathematical expressions that compare the predictions of quantum mechanics with those of classical physics. Our experimental setup ensures a loophole-free violation of LGI, providing an additional advantage of generating loophole-free randomness,” said Professor Urbasi Sinha, faculty at RRI, PI of the QuIC lab where the work was carried out, and the corresponding author of the paper recently published in the Physical Review Letters. In today's digital world, where we rely heavily on technology, strong passwords are vital for everyone's safety. This new method offers the enhanced protection we all need in our daily lives, by using truly random numbers to generate keys that will be used to encrypt the passwords, the researchers noted. “It is resilient against attacks on the initial state, which is typically the most vulnerable point in this scheme. The certified random numbers are important because any predictability of these numbers can compromise the entire security system, making it vulnerable to attacks. These numbers ensure the robustness of encryption, authentication and data integrity processes and maintain trust and security in digital interactions,” added Sinha. There are several advantages in generating certified random numbers using this method. “These include the creation of strongly protected passwords, enhanced account security by resisting brute-force attacks, ensuring uniqueness, integrity thereby preventing forgery and token generation with multi-factor authentication, adding a crucial security layer in this vulnerable cyber world” said Dr. Debashis Saha, IISER Thiruvananthapuram faculty and co-author of the study. In the photonic experiment led by RRI, the team replaced this conventional two-particle system with a single-particle setup. “The existing two-particle scenario for measuring correlations had drawbacks, wherein, an entangled state of two particles would get created and transferred to two measurement stations. Noise generated during the process could, thus, interfere in the entanglement. Besides, the requirement of maintaining a distance of 200 meters between the two particles to ensure the loophole free design, makes the whole process highly complicated”, said Pingal Pratyush Nath, a PhD student at IISc and the first author of the study, who is co-supervised by Professor Sinha. Additionally, the single-particle scheme used measurements that required temporal separation instead of spatial, thus providing a compact random number generator with a potential to get commercialized for varied applications. The experiment generated over 9,00,000 random bits at a rapid rate of nearly 4,000 bits/second. This high random number generation can help in using these numbers towards various applications that require rapid randomness. With further engineering interventions and innovations, devices adopting this method could find powerful applications not only in cybersecurity and data encryption, but also in the context of varied types of randomness-based simulations and randomized control trial statistical studies in diverse important areas. “These include economic surveys, drug designing/testing, as well as for any futuristic technology that would rely on provable unpredictability as a critical resource”, said Bose Institute’s Professor Dipankar Home, another co-author of the study.

Indian scientists have made a major breakthrough in cybersecurity. They've created a new, user-friendly way to generate truly unpredictable random numbers

Securing Our Future—A Huge ‘Quantum’ Leap In Data Encryption

New Delhi (The Hawk): A new online tool to create a comprehensive star catalogue for the Adaptive Optics (AO) system of the upcoming Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), can enable this ground-based telescope-- one of the largest to be operational in the next decade, generate sharper astronomical images. The Thirty Meter Telescope, the Giant Magellan Telescope, and the European Southern Observatory’s Extremely Large Telescope represent the future of ground-based astronomy. India is a key partner in the TMT project, with India TMT Center at Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) leading the national collaboration. Telescopes on the surface of the Earth face the challenge of atmospheric distortion, affecting the quality of captured images. This is particularly crucial for telescopes with high light-collection capacities, like the TMT, which are sensitive to upper atmospheric disturbances. To counteract these distortions, the TMT will use an Adaptive Optics System (AOS) that continuously senses and adjusts for atmospheric changes to produce high-quality images. In order to do this, an all-sky catalogue of NIR stars is an essential requirement. “The AOS system on TMT, known as the Narrow Field Infrared Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), will be enhanced by a Laser Guide Star (LGS) facility,” explained Dr. Sarang Shah from IIA. “This facility will project up to nine lasers into the sky to create artificial guide stars. However, atmospheric turbulence affects these laser beams, so measuring atmospheric tip-tilt is uncertain. To correct these effects, the AO system requires feedback from three real stars, known as Natural Guide Stars (NGS).” For optimal performance, simulations indicate that NFIRAOS requires at least three NGS within its field of view, each as bright as 22 magnitudes in the near-infrared J waveband. Currently, no such comprehensive catalogue of stars exists which will provide NGS in all-regions of the sky. For optimal performance, simulations indicate that NFIRAOS requires at least three NGS within its field of view, each as bright as 22 magnitudes in the near-infrared J waveband. To ensure these requirements are met across all regions of the sky, a comprehensive catalogue of NIR stars is essential. Currently, no such catalogue exists that can reliably provide NGS for all sky regions, highlighting the critical need for the new tool developed by Indian researchers to create this all-sky NIR star catalogue. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru and their collaborators have developed an automated code that can be used as an online tool to create a catalogue of Near Infrared (NIR) stars. “The automated code can compute the expected near-infrared magnitudes of stellar sources identified in various optical sky surveys using their optical magnitudes,” noted Dr. Smitha Subramanian, co-author and faculty at IIA. Using multi-band optical photometry from the PAN-STARRS telescope, the researchers filtered and identified stars, predicting their near infrared magnitudes through innovative methods. They validated their approach using data from the UKIDSS survey of the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, achieving over 85% accuracy in their NIR magnitude predictions. “Our method shows great promise in generating the all-sky catalogue of NIR stars needed before TMT’s first run in the next decade,” added Dr. Sarang Shah the lead researcher. India’s participation in the TMT collaboration involves three institutes: the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and the Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital. This research was conducted at the India-TMT Coordination Center (ITCC), headquartered at IIA, Bengaluru, which is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The detailed findings of this research were published in the Astronomical Journal.

A new online tool to create a comprehensive star catalogue for the Adaptive Optics (AO) system of the upcoming Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

Indian Scientists Develop Open-Source Tool To Generate Infrared Star Catalogue For Thirty Meter Telescope

New Delhi (The Hawk): Reaffirming the Government of India’s unwavering commitment to the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of artificial intelligence, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is organizing the ‘Global IndiaAI Summit’ on July 3rd and 4th, 2024, in New Delhi. The summit aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, underscoring India’s dedication to the ethical and inclusive growth of AI technologies. Global IndiaAI Summit 2024 The summit will provide a platform for leading international AI experts from science, industry, civil society, governments, international organizations, and academia to share insights on key AI issues and challenges. The event underscores the Government of India’s dedication to the responsible advancement of AI, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among global AI stakeholders. Through the Global IndiaAI Summit 2024, India aspires to establish itself as a global leader in AI innovation, ensuring that AI benefits are accessible to all and contribute to the nation's socio-economic development. As the lead chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), India will also host member countries and experts to advance GPAI’s commitment to safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. About IndiaAI Mission The IndiaAI Mission aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters AI innovation by democratizing computing access, enhancing data quality, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting top AI talent, enabling industry collaboration, providing startup risk capital, ensuring socially impactful AI projects, and promoting ethical AI. This mission drives responsible and inclusive growth of India's AI ecosystem through the following seven pillars which will be the key focus of Global IndiaAI Summit. Key Pillars of the IndiaAI Mission IndiaAI Compute Capacity: Establishing a scalable AI computing ecosystem with over 10,000 GPUs through public-private partnerships. An AI marketplace will provide AI as a service and pre-trained models, acting as a central hub for essential AI resources. IndiaAI Innovation Centre: Focused on developing and deploying indigenous large multimodal models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models. These models will cater to the unique needs of India's diverse industries and sectors. IndiaAI Datasets Platform: Streamlining access to high-quality non-personal datasets for AI innovation. A unified data platform will provide seamless access for Indian startups and researchers, aiding in the development of robust AI models. IndiaAI Application Development Initiative: Promoting AI applications in critical sectors by addressing problem statements from Central Ministries, State Departments, and other institutions. This initiative focuses on developing impactful AI solutions for large-scale socio-economic transformation. IndiaAI FutureSkills: Reducing barriers to AI education by increasing AI courses at various academic levels and establishing Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and 3 cities. This ensures a steady pipeline of skilled AI professionals nationwide. IndiaAI Startup Financing: Supporting deep-tech AI startups with streamlined access to funding. By providing risk capital and financial support, the mission aims to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of AI startups driving technological advancements and economic growth. Safe &amp; Trusted AI: Ensuring responsible AI development through implementing Responsible AI projects, developing indigenous tools and frameworks, and establishing guidelines for ethical, transparent, and trustworthy AI technologies.

Reaffirming the Government of India’s unwavering commitment to the responsible development, deployment

India To Host Member Countries And Experts As The Lead Chair Of GPAI

New Delhi (The Hawk): Member (Science) Niti Aayog, Dr. V.K. Saraswat in the First International Conference on Steel Slag Road jointly organized by CSIR-CRRI and PHDCCI at New-Delhi, released the Guidelines for Utilization and Processing of Steel Slag as Processed Steel Slag Aggregates in Road Construction. During this occasion, Dr. Saraswat emphasize the importance of sustainable development and the efficient utilization of industrial waste of steel industries i.e. Steel Slag, in infrastructure projects in the country. Dr. Saraswat informed that the adoption of these guidelines for construction and maintenance of road network using steel slag, is expected to bring numerous benefits, including cost saving, reduced environmental impact and improved road performance. He further said that CSIR-CRRI Steel Slag Road Technology is making significant contribution to realize the vision of Hon. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi ji for “Waste to Wealth”. He further congratulated Dr. Manoranjan Parida Director CRRI and Shri Satish Pandey, Principal Scientist and inventor of steel slag road technology for their exemplary contributions for the development and implementation of this technology on pan India basis. Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha, IAS, Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of Steel said that steel industries thrive on utilization of its best material. He said that we don’t want to discard anything, whether its scrap, slag or heat. With this spirit the Ministry of Steel sponsored a major R&amp;D project to CSIR-Central Road Research Institute to facilitate large scale utilization of steel slag as substitute of natural aggregates in road construction. The guidelines developed by CRRI for steel slag utilization provide a comprehensive framework for the effective and safe use of different types of steel slag in various types of road construction works including detailed framework for proper handling and storage of steel slag to prevent environmental contamination. He further pointed out that around 1.8 billion tonne, natural aggregates are required every year in the country for construction and maintenance works, which we are keep on extracting year on year. Utilization of processed steel slag aggregates in construction and maintenance work as substitute of natural aggregates will preserve our eco-system from unsustainable quarrying and mining.  Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR, while referring the steel slag road between Mumbai to Goa, NH 66 said that Steel Slag Road has become a common point for both the cities. The Waste to Wealth mission has significantly enhanced the CSIR visibility, outreach and popularity. She praised Niti Aayog and Mr. Saraswat for their continuous support to CSIR. She further added the Steel Slag Road Technology besides helping Ministry of Steel also contributing to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, thus become a common interact area of three important ministries of Govt. of India. She also mentioned that the Steel Slag Road Technology has created a global niche and CSIR recently received a letter from the United States of America requesting the technological support and extension of this technology to US steel industries, which showcase the confidence of the global players have in this technology.  Speaking on this occasion Director, CSIR-CRRI, Dr. Manoranjan Parida highlighted the 75 year long contributions of CRRI in development of highway network in the country with various technological initiatives Mr. Ranjan Dhar, Director and Vice President Sales and Marketing at Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India and Mr. V.R. Sharma, Vice Chairman, JSP Group Advisory Services and Former Managing Director Jindal Steel and Power Limited also spoke on the transformative potential of steel slag in road construction and its role in sustainable infrastructure development in the country.  Mr. Ranjan Dhar highlighted the India’s First Steel Slag Road built at Hazira Surat by AMNS India and CSIR-CRRI in April 2022 using 100 thousand tonne, processed EAF steel slag aggregates developed at AMNS India Hazira plant. This sustainable road project for it novel technological initiative received national and international recognitions and inducted in INDIA BOOK OF RECORDS and ASIA BOOK OF RCEORD’s. He further said that this is a prime example of waste to wealth and clean India Mission as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

 Member (Science) Niti Aayog, Dr. V.K. Saraswat in the First International Conference on Steel Slag Road jointly organized by CSIR-CRRI and PHDCCI 

Int'l Conference On Steel Slag Road:  Member (Science) NITI Aayog, Dr VK Saraswat Releases The Guidelines For Utilization Of Steel Slag In Road Construction

New Delhi (The Hawk): Researchers have developed an innovative synthetic method to produce hydrogen gas from a mixture of methanol and paraformaldehyde under mild conditions. This method has proven particularly effective for the transfer hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes and the combination could be a promising hydrogen carrier, paving the way for advancements in chemical synthesis and sustainable energy solutions. The rapid depletion of fossil fuels has spurred the search for alternative energy sources, highlighting the need for sustainable and renewable resources. Hydrogen gas generation is particularly important due to its potential to replace fossil fuels in energy storage, transportation, and various chemical processes. Methanol and paraformaldehyde, both produced on a large scale, have emerged as viable candidates for hydrogen carriers. Their abundance and widespread manufacture make them valuable for the storage and transportation of hydrogen, offering significant advantages over free hydrogen itself. The research led by Prof. Ekambaram Balaraman at IISER Tirupati has utilized commercially available nickel catalysts to produce hydrogen from methanol and paraformaldehyde without the need for bases or activators. This efficient catalytic system has demonstrated remarkable efficiency under mild conditions, and the generated hydrogen was successfully employed in chemo- and stereo-selective partial transfer hydrogenation of alkynes. This process enabled access to bioactive molecules with enhanced synthetic value. This research was supported by ANRF (erstwhile SERB, a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). This research, accepted for publication in the journal Catalysis Science &amp; Technology, opens a new avenue for COx-free hydrogen generation, contributing to the advancement of a ‘Hydrogen economy.’ The ability to harness methanol and paraformaldehyde as hydrogen carriers offers significant potential to address the challenges posed by the increasing global energy demands. This development marks a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable energy solutions.

Researchers have developed an innovative synthetic method to produce hydrogen gas from a mixture of methanol and paraformaldehyde 

Indian Researchers Develop Method To Produce Hydrogen From Methanol, Paraformaldehyde Mixture

Shanghai: A satellite developed by China and France, the most powerful yet for studying the farthest explosion of stars, was launched into orbit on Saturday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The satellite to study phenomena including gamma-ray bursts was lifted into orbit by a Chinese carrier rocket launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, CCTV said.  The launch of the Space Variable Objects Monitor will play an important role in astronomical discoveries, the broadcaster said.
It is the first astronomy satellite developed by China and France, although they developed the China-France Oceanography Satellite, launched in 2018, China Daily reported in April.  China's advances in space and lunar exploration are rapidly outpacing those of the United States, attracting partners from European and Asian countries as a result.  China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe this month carried to the far side of the moon payloads from the European Space Agency, as well as from Pakistani, French and Italian research institutes.  China is working with countries including Brazil, Egypt and Thailand to develop and launch satellites.
—Reuters

China and France launch their most powerful satellite to study gamma-ray bursts, marking significant progress in international space collaboration and exploration.

Sino-French satellite launched into orbit, China's CCTV says

New Delhi (The Hawk): India to have a robust National Research Foundation (Anusadhan NRF) which, once fully functional, will be a huge transformation in research, development and also act as a bridge for integration of public and private sectors including industry and academia, said Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh here today. The Minister made these observations when Dr. Sethuraman Panchnathan, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, currently on an India visit, called on him at the national capital. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science &amp; Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr.Jitendra Singh said,there was no dearth of scientific acumen in India but what lacked was an enabling milieu to support development of science and technology, and motivate people in research and development. The leadership and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided that enabling milieu and brought revolutionary change in the scenario thus driving India on the forefront. The Science and Technology Minister informed about the government’s efforts in making the National Geospatial policy and relaxing the drone policy to facilitate and encourage private sector players. He highlighted the government’s vision and plan to scale up research and development in India through Anusandhan National Research Foundation, a step in the direction to act as bridge for collaboration of efforts and bring best of both worlds from Public sector as well as Private sector and form multinational collaboration for development of world class technological innovations. Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted the opening of the Space sector for private players and supporting them for innovation. The rise of space startups is a testimony and their contribution is worth mentioning. He also highlighted India's progress in next generation technologies such as AI/ML, quantum technologies and said “India on par with the rest of the world in next generation technologies.” Dr.Jitendra Singh shared that the scale and amount of research currently happening in India under the guidance of PM Modi will help raise India from 5th Largest economy to 4th largest, then 3rd largest and so on subsequently in the coming days. He also discussed various areas for scientific collaboration. Dr.Sethuraman Panchnathan, expressed confidence in India's efforts to bring a transformational change in the field of research and development and futuristic projects and technologies. He also congratulated Dr. Jitendra Singh for his consistent support to International collaboration in the scientific sector. He also wished India for its future endeavours.

India to have a robust National Research Foundation (Anusadhan NRF) which, once fully functional, will be a huge transformation in research

India At Par With The Rest Of The World In Next Generation Technologies: Dr Singh

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Central Council for Research in Yoga &amp; Naturopathy (CCRYN), in collaboration with Svyasa, Deemed to be University, organized a Conference on "Yoga for Space" at S-Vyasa University, Bengaluru, in observance of International Day of Yoga 2024 with the theme "Yoga for Self &amp; Society." The conference's focus was on the convergence of experts from various fields to enhance society, including astronauts. Commencing with a prayer, the conference proceeded to outline the activities and challenges of IDY 2024, orchestrated by the Ministry of AYUSH for society, such as the "Yoga with Family" global video contest, YogaTech Challenges for innovative yoga ideas by Indian Startups, Yoga Quiz, Yoga Jingles, among others. These initiatives aim to raise awareness in society and promote vigorous yoga practice, recognizing that a healthy individual fosters a healthy society, as proclaimed by the theme of IDY 2024. Presenting keynote addresses at the conference were esteemed representatives from Indian institutions, including the Human Space Flight Centre, ISRO, IIT Delhi, and the Institute for Aerospace Medicine. The inaugural session commenced with the reception of all keynote speakers by Dr. Manjunath NK, Vice Chancellor of Svyasa University. Dr. Manjunath also highlighted the Yoga-related activities for IDY 2024 and underscored the importance of yoga in fostering a healthy society, drawing from quotes in classic literature, such as "Vasudaiva Kutumbhakam." He elaborated on the journey of S-Vyasa's founder, Dr. H.R. Nagendra, from NASA to the development of Vyasa (S-Vyasa). Subsequently, Dr. Raghavendra Rao, Director of the Central Council for Research in Yoga &amp; Naturopathy, Delhi, shed light on the inclusivity and diversity inherent in the IDY journey, showcasing yoga practices in extreme conditions on land, in the ocean, and throughout a day spanning from Japan to California, culminating in the exploration of yoga in space with this conference. Dr. B.R. Ramakrishnan, Pro Chancellor of S-Vyasa University, extended a warm welcome to the attendees, elucidating the conference's objectives with the quote "Gyanam Vigyanam Sahitam," signifying the amalgamation of ancient wisdom with space science and stressing the convergence of the best from the East and the West. He further underscored the significance of yoga. The inaugural session concluded with a virtual welcome address by Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director of MDNIY, New Delhi, who underscored the importance of a yogic lifestyle in aiding astronauts in overcoming specific health challenges. The scientific session commenced with an illuminating discourse on "Gaganyaan - Mission and Crew Safety" by Dr. C Geethaikrishnan, Deputy Director (SRQ) of the Human Space Flight Center, ISRO, under the chairmanship of Dr. Satyaprabha TN, Head of the Department of Neurophysiology at NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Dr. Geethaikrishnan acquainted the attendees with ISRO's evolution and the process of crafting and launching a spaceship, with a special focus on the Gaganyaan Mission. The session progressed with a captivating discussion on space research by Dr. KK Deepak, Former HoD, Department of Physiology, AIIMS Delhi, Currently a faculty of IIT, Delhi. He explained the about various space simulation, his story to being into the yoga &amp; space researches under his topic “Yoga for Astronauts: How, Why and What?”. The post-lunch session commenced with Dr. Biswajit Sinha from the Department of Physiology at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru. The topic discussed was "Beyond Earth: Understanding Microgravity's influence on Physiology and Earth-Based Simulations," where he elucidated the physiological impacts of the space environment on the human body. Following that, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Saveena George, also from the Department of Physiology at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru, presented a session on "Exploring the effects of microgravity on the neurovestibular system." She delved into the significant physiological issue faced in space, which is neurovestibular imbalance leading to challenges in posture, orientation, and visual perception, causing health issues that astronauts undergo training for. An exceptionally informative and detailed session on the "Physiological effects of Yoga" was conducted by Dr. Apar Soaji, the Principal of TSYNM, S-vyasa. The emphasis was on the importance of self-care practices that can be cultivated through yoga, which play a vital role in enhancing overall well-being during space exploration. Lastly, the session by the Yoga teacher of Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, Shri. N. V Raghuram, the Founder of Yoga Bharati, provided insights based on his extensive knowledge and real experiences. He shared some of Rakesh Sharma's encounters, highlighting that "Yoga made me fearless and more adaptable than any other astronaut in my team." The Valedictory function was graced by the presence of the esteemed Dr. Nagarathna, with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Vadairaja HS, the Senior Research Officer of CCRYN, on behalf of the Council. The conference looks forward to fruitful research outcomes through various research programs and collaborations.

The Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), in collaboration with Svyasa, Deemed to be University

CCRYN In Collaboration With Svyasa Organises Conference On 'Yoga For Space' In  Bengaluru

New Delhi (The Hawk): “India set to be the 6th country to have its own Deep Sea Mission” says Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space and MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Saturday in New Delhi. Chairing a meeting to discuss the 100 days Action Plan of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed pride and happiness on the progress of Deep Sea mission and India being among the very few nations to achieve this feat. He asked institutes to focus on achieving a resilient blue-economy to empower people dependent on the ocean and its energy for livelihood. On drawing contours of the deep sea mission he said “Mission is not limited to mineral exploration but development of ocean sciences and exploration of flora and fauna and conservation of marine biodiversity etc.” Union Minister lauded ‘National institute of ocean technology (NIOT)’s efforts for the development of Matsyayaan 6000 which could go 6000m deep into the Ocean. Taking stock of the progress, he directed officials to complete the 1st stage of harbor trail by September 2024. And finish subsequent trials by 2026. Dr. Jitendra Singh appreciated them for working in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to successfully bear extreme pressure by developing ‘Titanium Hull’. He also enquired on the development of’ Self –Floatation’ technology to deal with emergency conditions and be submerged for 72 hours. Some of the highlights were the progress on 4hr descent of the Yaan.  “Deep Sea Mission has the potential to contribute greatly to the overall growth of Indian economy,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighting the multi-fold impact this mission will have on Flora and fauna, deep sea exploration, rare earth metals commercial exploitation, exploration and discovery of metals and poly metallic nodules in the Indian Sea bed. He also directed and motivated scientists and officials to develop indigenous technology and capability and reduce India’s dependence. Dr. M Ravi Chandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences along with other senior officials was present in the meeting.

“India set to be the 6th country to have its own Deep Sea Mission” says Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) 

'India Set To Be The 6th Country To Have Its Own Deep Sea Mission' Says Dr Jitendra Singh

New Delhi (The Hawk): “300 women Scientists to get research grants for 3 years under CSIR- ASPIRE scheme” says Dr. Jitendra Singh Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space and MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, today in New Delhi. Chairing a review meeting of Department of Scientific and Industrial research (DSIR) Dr. Singh said Innovations in Science and technology should be to empower citizens in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to promote ease of living. While taking review of the working of DSIR and CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh commended the CSIR- ASPIRE scheme which is a testimony of governments efforts to support women scientist. Aspire is a Special Call for Research Grants for Women Scientists launched on the occasion of International Women’s Day last year. Around 3000 proposals were received. After screening and independent reviewing, the area-wise research committees recommended a total of 301 research proposals for support. Dr. Singh expressed his satisfaction over the success of ‘One Week One Lab’ initiative and directed the team to scale it up and work on lines of ‘One Week One Theme’ initiative. ‘One Week One Lab’ (OWOL) campaign of CSIR showcases the diverse legacies, exclusive innovations and technological breakthroughs of the network of 37 CSIR labs situated across the Nation, working in diversified domains of science and technology. He said “Our aim should be to build stronger connect with various industries and MSMEs, start-ups and other stakeholders, and not just confining it within the walls of laboratory, he added. Union Science &amp; technology minister also directed to carry forward and scale up the Seaweed mission along with its Commercial cultivation to promote sustainable green economy. Going further he highlighted the fact that India produces 774 tonnes of biomedical waste daily, and lauded CSIR’s efforts which transforms Pathogenic Biomedical Waste into Value-added Soil Additives. DR. Jitendra also congratulated Team CSIR on its successful endeavors such as E-Tiller, 108- Petal lotus, and success of purple mission. He also directed scientists of CSIR to integrate Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase (PI-CHeCK) with artificial Intelligence and Machine learning models to enable the development of targeted diagnostic and prognostic technologies, thus paving the path for Precision Medicine in India and perhaps, globally. He also enquired on the progress of comprehensive database of Indian women foot anthropometry and gait identification of defective gait pattern at early stage of development of supportive/corrective footwear to prevent progression of osteoarthritis and other complications arising out of aging in women. “Biomanufacturing and Bio-foundry will drive India’s future bioeconomy and promote "Green Growth” said Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh while chairing a review meeting of the Department of Bio-Technology (DBT) today. Addressing the meeting he highlighted that India's bio-economy has grown 13 folds in the last 10 years from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024. He expressed his belief that with PM Modi’s leadership India now has an enabling ecosystem of industrial development and entrepreneurship. Dr. Jitendra Singh said, “In keeping with India’s realization of a global vision, the last ‘Vote-on-Account’ envisaged an exclusive scheme to promote biomanufacturing and bio-foundry”. He said, the scheme will help transform today’s consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles. It will provide environment-friendly alternatives such as biodegradable polymers, bio-plastics, bio-pharmaceuticals and bio-Agri-inputs to supplement Bio-Start-Ups and bio-economy, he added. He directed the scientists and officials that we have to maintain this momentum and promote and empower farmers and Agri-entrepreneurs. Dr. Jitendra Singh gave a mantra that we should work to achieve BIO E3 i.e. Bio-economy, Environment and employment. He also emphasized on development of indigenous technologies and products. He motivated DBT to harmonize integration of research between research Institutions, Industrial R&amp;D and Start Up Ecosystem. Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Bio-Technology and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR along senior scientists and officials of both the departments were present for the meeting.

“300 women Scientists to get research grants for 3 years under CSIR- ASPIRE scheme” says Dr. Jitendra Singh Union Minister of State (Independent Charge)

'300 Women Scientists To Get Research Grants For 3 Years Under CSIR- ASPIRE Scheme': Dr Jitendra

Chennai (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has reinvented BTech curriculum for India to help its students meet the demands of modern and technological developments. This is by far, the most student-friendly Engineering curriculum in India, in terms of curricular demand as well as flexibility. The newly revamped programs also allow for early exits from the programs, for those that desire the freedom. These changes have been implemented following the rigorous recommendations by an Institute Curriculum Task Force, orienting it towards employment, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Institute has updated the Academic System to offer unprecedented flexibility, increased Interdisciplinary learning, hands-on projects and Entrepreneurship Opportunities as early as in Second Year of the BTech Program. The Total number of credits in B.Tech have been rationalised after extensive feedback from alumni and students, resulting in the wall clock hours of demand per degree reducing From 436 to 400 hours. This allows students greater scope for exploration of professional and entrepreneurial possibilities. IIT Madras also offers M.Tech. along with B.Tech. in 5 years besides Interdisciplinary Degrees in cutting-edge domains like Nanotechnology, Data Science and Electric Vehicles, among other fields that are in demand by the Industry. These degrees can be pursued seamlessly along with their B.Tech. programs. Welcoming students to avail these unique opportunities, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras will accord the highest priority for Innovation and entrepreneurship. With more than 380 patents filed in last financial year, IIT Madras has launched an ambitious start-up 100 program - every third day, a start-up will be born at IIT Madras.” IIT Madras Incubation Cell is India’s leading deep-tech incubator that has nurtured disruptive start-ups like Agnikul, which recently launched the world’s first 3D-printed Rocket Engine, Mindgrove, which designed, manufactured &amp; booted up India’s first commercial RISC V-based secure IoT system on chip and Ather, which is leading the EV scooter revolution in India besides Planys, which pioneered underwater, AI-based remotely operated vehicles, among many others.  Students can choose about 40 per cent of their courses, which enables customization and personalization. IIT Madras has 18 academic departments and numerous advanced research centers, which allows students to explore diverse interests and build a unique academic profile. Highlighting these opportunities, Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras has a curriculum that helps the student express their uniqueness while still maintaining a core identity. Competence with a personality. We are delighted that students can rediscover the joy of learning thanks to the flexibilities and features of the new curriculum.” These major updates have eliminated the need for a branch change option. Further, the Institute has also an ‘Early Exit’ option to pursue alternative paths. Further, IIT Madras also offers an improved first-year experience with four weeks of extra vacation time for students in the first year, and has also introduced a new ‘recreation’ course. Students have the option of taking an Entrepreneurship elective as early as in their second year. The academic program at IIT Madras is split into courses, which are academic subjects offered by various departments. Each course has a specific number of credits. The credits represent the ‘weightage’ or ‘importance’ of the course. The Core Courses are mandatory for students of a particular department while elective courses are optional courses that students can choose from a pool. This means students can build their own curriculum. IIT Madras also has state-of-the-art infrastructure for activities such as sports, research, innovations, entrepreneurship and student clubs.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has reinvented BTech curriculum for India to help its students 

IIT Madras Boosts Academic Flexibility And Entrepreneurship Opportunities For Students

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