Shubhanshu Shukla (PTI image) BENGALURU: India’s astronaut corps is not a one-off experiment but a permanent national capability, Indian astronaut Group Captain Prashanth Nair (Papa) said Wednesday, while Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Shux) said that a civilian flying to space will happen as the Gaganyaan programme matures.Speaking at the US-India Space Business Forum event in…
Last month, veteran technocrat and BJP leader E Sreedharan revived his earlier proposal for a high speed rail corridor linking the northern and southern ends of Kerala, claiming that this project worth Rs 1 lakh crore was under consideration by the BJP-led central government. Days later, the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet gave an in-principle approval for a Regional…
Europe’s space ambitions seem to be taking a bold leap forward. The Ariane 64, the most powerful version of the Ariane 6 rocket, has finally made its maiden launch. It seems like a small step, but in reality, it might be a game-changer. For years, Europe has relied on established players in space, but this…
Amid the Election Commission (EC)’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the Opposition parties have been up in arms over the contentious exercise, alleging that a section of voters are being targeted for “deletion” of their names in the rolls. Already, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West…
For decades, the Indian Ocean has been known for some of the saltiest waters on Earth. But it seems that’s changing. Experts say parts of the Southern Indian Ocean have become noticeably “fresher” over the last 60 years. Some reports suggest salinity has dropped by roughly 30 per cent. It might not sound like much,…
Out on bail in the 2022 teacher recruitment scam case, former West Bengal education minister and suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Partha Chatterjee appears to be on the verge of a political comeback, just weeks ahead of the Assembly elections. Speculations surrounding the sitting TMC MLA from Behala Paschim in Kolkata are rife after he…
1,000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus, a sun-like star is reaching the closing chapter of its life. And it is not slipping away quietly. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured what many are calling the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula, a glowing, swirling cloud of gas and dust created by this dying…
Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo) Following his match-winning knock against Namibia in the ICC T20 World Cup clash in Delhi, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan opened up about the advice he received from all-rounder Hardik Pandya after losing his BCCI central contract in 2024. Kishan revealed how Hardik urged him not to dwell on…
(A weekly analysis of politics, policy and the economy, from the National Bureau of The Indian Express.) Three of four states headed for elections this year will receive a higher share of the Union taxes and duties as recommended by the 16th Finance Commission, bringing them an additional amount of Rs 9,234 crore during the…
Comets usually fade quietly once they swing past the Sun. Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS did not follow the same path. Instead, as it began to exit the solar system, it flared up dramatically. NASA’s SPHEREx space telescope caught the outburst in December 2025, spotting water vapour, carbon dioxide, and complex organic compounds streaming into space. For…