On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the genome sequencing data of 10,000 Indian nationals, a significant step in advancing biotechnology research in India. This data, known as Genome India Data, encapsulates the vast genetic diversity of the Indian population and will be available to researchers through the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) with "managed access." PM Modi highlighted that the national database would be crucial in the treatment of genetic and infecti

A groundbreaking new theory suggests that Pluto's moon Charon may have been captured in a "kiss and capture" scenario billions of years ago, offering a fresh perspective on the formation of planetary systems. Led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the U of A Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, this study challenges long-standing models of moon formation. Instead of the traditional collision model, the researchers propose that Pluto and Charon had a brief, icy encounter, wh

On December 13, 2024, the United States and China signed a bilateral science and technology agreement, revising a 45-year-old pact. However, this new agreement limits research collaboration and narrows the scope of topics allowed for joint study, reflecting heightened concerns over international research security. Governments worldwide, including the U.S., European Union, Canada, and Japan, have introduced stricter measures to safeguard sensitive scientific data from foreign interference, esp

A groundbreaking study has uncovered notable differences in the nut-cracking abilities of chimpanzees within the same group, shedding new light on their cognitive and motor skills. Researchers analyzed extensive video footage of wild chimpanzees from Bossou, Guinea, where they observed 3,882 instances of chimps attempting to crack open nuts using stones as tools. The study found varying levels of efficiency among individuals, indicating differences in cognitive abilities and physical dexterit

Alibaba’s Qwen research team has introduced a new experimental open-source AI model, the QVQ-72B, designed to handle both vision-based analysis and advanced reasoning tasks. The model combines the abilities of analyzing visual information from images and answering complex queries through reasoning-focused techniques. According to internal benchmarks, QVQ-72B surpassed OpenAI’s o1 model on the MathVista (mini) benchmark, scoring 71.4% compared to o1’s 71.0%. The mod

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have quantified how quickly the human brain processes information, revealing a surprisingly slow speed of just 10 bits per second. Despite receiving billions of bits of data from our senses, including sight, hearing, touch, and smell, the brain only processes a tiny fraction of this information. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) conducted the study, publishing their findings in the journal Neuron last week.

On Friday, at least six schools in Delhi, including Delhi Public School in East of Kailash, Salwan School, Modern School, and Cambridge School, received bomb threats via email. This marks the second such incident this week, following a similar scare on December 9 when over 40 schools in the city received similar threats. The emails claimed that explosives had been planted within the school premises, warning of potential bomb blasts on December 13 and 14, particularly targeting schools with sc

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a pivotal role in overseeing health research and funding in the United States. Bhattacharya, a professor at Stanford University with expertise in health policy and the economics of aging, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address the nation's most pressing health issues, including chronic illness and disease. Bhattacharya is known for his contro

Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's investment in security for his official residence in Tadepalli has come under fire due to the staggering cost of ₹12.85 crore for iron fencing. This expenditure, funded by the state exchequer, has drawn scrutiny from political opponents, particularly Nara Lokesh. Lokesh publicly criticized the spending, sharing the government memo that authorized the allocation from the state treasury. He accused Jagan of misusing public funds for p

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) in Guangdong, China, is poised to transform the study of neutrinos, subatomic particles produced by nuclear reactions. Set to begin operations in 2025, this $300 million facility features a giant spherical detector located 700 meters underground, surrounded by a 12-storey cylindrical pool of water. This innovative setup is designed to capture and analyze neutrinos emitted from nearby nuclear power plants, as well as those from the sun and t

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery involving a massive black hole that is currently disrupting two celestial objects, one of which is a star. Utilizing NASA's observatories, including Chandra, NICER, and Hubble, alongside India’s AstroSat, researchers have gained new insights into the behavior of stellar debris surrounding supermassive black holes. In 2019, astronomers observed a star that ventured too close to a supermassive black hole, resulting in a tidal

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's state visit to India represents a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations, particularly following recent diplomatic tensions caused by derogatory remarks made by Maldivian ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his visit, President Muizzu proposed a Rs 3,000 crore currency swap deal aimed at bolstering the Maldives' foreign exchange reserves amid ongoing economic challenges. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri b

In a landmark achievement for molecular biology, scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering discovery of microRNA and its pivotal role in gene regulation. Announced by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute Medical University, the prize includes a sum of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million). The Nobel Prize in Medicine is the first of the Nobel awards announced each

In a decisive move to safeguard citizens' sensitive information, the Indian government has blocked several websites found to be exposing personal identifiable information, including Aadhaar and PAN Card details. This action follows a report from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which identified significant security flaws on these sites. The official statement highlighted the government's co

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, orchestrated by Al-Qaeda, profoundly transformed the global landscape. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four planes, leading to the destruction of New York’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the crash of United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. This catastrophic event resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and prompted immediate and sweeping actions by the United States, including the invasion of Afghanistan to dismantle Al-Qaeda and oust the Ta

Scientific Advances in Aging: Recent developments in science are exploring dietary changes, stem cell therapy, and genetic engineering to extend lifespan and enhance health. Studies suggest caloric restriction and specific supplements could improve longevity. Bryan Johnson’s Investments: Former Silicon Valley CEO Bryan Johnson

One significant action from the previous government that even YS Jagan Mohan Reddy might agree needs correction is the closure of the Anna Canteens. Established in 2017, these canteens were designed to offer subsidized meals at just 5 rupees per meal to the poor and needy across Andhra Pradesh. However, the scheme was halted in 2019 under Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration. Reopening these canteens has been a central promise in Chandrababu Naidu’s election manifesto, and he