General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - January 2018

Jan 2018

Dec 29, 2025

Param Rudra Supercomputer Launched at IIT-Patna

The first Param Rudra supercomputer in Bihar was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology Patna. This facility strengthens India’s National Supercomputing Mission and aims to boost advanced research in eastern India. The project was unveiled by Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, MeitY. The new system will support high-performance computing for scientific simulations, data analytics, and engineering research, enabling faster discoveries and collaborations with industry and academia. The Bihar hub is part of a broader national strategy to expand supercomputing capacity across the country.

Param Rudra supercomputer inaugurated at IIT Patna.
Part of India’s National Supercomputing Mission.
Aims to boost eastern India’s research capacity.
Inaugurated by MeitY official Amitesh Kumar Sinha.
Supports high-performance computing for science and engineering.

NTH and DRDO Lab Sign MoU on Research and Testing

The National Test House (NTH) and the Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a DRDO laboratory, signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in research, testing, and capacity building. The MoU covers joint testing, shared facilities, and knowledge exchange to accelerate development of defence materials and consumer goods with national importance. Officials emphasise mutual support in testing and evaluation, especially where in-house facilities are limited. This partnership is expected to enhance technical capabilities and speed up validation processes for critical materials and technologies used by defence and civilian sectors.

MoU signed between NTH and DMSRDE (DRDO lab).
Focus on joint research, testing, and capacity building.
Shared facilities and knowledge exchange highlighted.
Aims to accelerate defence material development and validation.
Strengthens national technical capabilities.

Dec 28, 2025

Russia Plans to Build a Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon by 2036

Russia has announced ambitious plans to build a power plant on the Moon by 2036 to support its future lunar missions. The announcement was made by Roscosmos which is Russia's state space agency, as global space powers accelerate efforts to explore and establish a long term presence on the Moon. The proposed plant will supply energy to rovers, scientific observatories, and infrastructure linked to a joint Russian-Chinese lunar base.
According to Roscosmos, the planned power plant will,
Supply energy to lunar rovers
Power a scientific observatory
Support infrastructure of the International Lunar Research Station
Enable a permanently functioning lunar base

Dec 24, 2025

Baahubali rocket carries BlueBird 6 satellite into orbit

India’s LVM3-M6 rocket, nicknamed Baahubali, lifted off from Sriharikota carrying BlueBird 6, a next-generation communications satellite from AST SpaceMobile. The mission aims to enable broadband access directly from space to standard smartphones, without special ground equipment. The launch underscores India’s growing capabilities in space technology and satellite communications and could impact rural connectivity and digital inclusion. The programme involves collaboration with US-based AST SpaceMobile, and the mission demonstrates ongoing expansion of India’s space program and international partnerships in space commerce and technology.

LVM3-M6 launched from Sriharikota with BlueBird 6.
Baahubali mission aims to beam broadband to ordinary smartphones.
Satellite collaboration with AST SpaceMobile (US).
Advances India’s space and telecommunications capabilities.
Implications for rural connectivity and digital inclusion.

IIT Madras Pravartak, ENAC launch aviation safety course

IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and France’s ENAC launched a joint Aviation Safety Management (ASM) course, supported by Airbus. The two-year programme targets aviation professionals across airlines, airports, and related agencies. The upcoming batch, beginning February 2026, will admit up to 30 participants with applications open until January 31, 2026. The course covers safety performance, risk management, and organisational safety culture, combining ENAC’s expertise with IIT Madras’ research and industry links. This international collaboration aims to strengthen aviation safety education across India and the region.

ASM programme launched by IITM Pravartak and ENAC (France).
Two-year course; applications open until Jan 31, 2026.
Intake capped at 30 participants; starts February 2026.
Supported by Airbus; focuses on safety management and risk.
Aims to bolster aviation safety education regionally.

Dec 23, 2025

Japan Takes Final Step to Restart World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant

Japan moved toward restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, after a regional vote. This marks a key moment in Japan’s post-Fukushima energy strategy, aiming to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa had been among reactors shut down since 2011, with 14 of 33 reactors now back in operation nationwide. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) will operate the plant, which is intended to bolster domestic energy security and provide a lower-emission power source for Japan’s grid amid ongoing energy transition and climate goals.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart moves forward after regional vote.
Aims to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels; lower emissions.
14 of 33 reactors currently operational in Japan.

Dec 22, 2025

Michaela Benthaus Becomes First Wheelchair User in Space

A German paraplegic engineer, Michaela Benthaus, became the first wheelchair user to travel to space. She joined five other passengers on a Blue Origin flight from west Texas. Benthaus, who was severely injured in a mountain bike accident seven years earlier, joined with Hans Koenigsmann, a former SpaceX executive who helped organize the mission and sponsor Benthaus’s trip. The historic flight highlighted inclusive space exploration and demonstrated how adaptive technologies enable people with disabilities to participate in high-profile science missions.

Benthaus first wheelchair user in space
Blue Origin flight from West Texas
Hans Koenigsmann helped organize and sponsor
Demonstrates inclusive space exploration

Starbucks Names Anand Varadarajan as Chief Technology Officer

Starbucks has named Anand Varadarajan, an Indian-origin technology executive, as its next Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Varadarajan will assume the role on January 19 and join Starbucks' Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol. He succeeds Deb Hall Lefevre, who retired in September. A nearly two-decade veteran of Amazon, Varadarajan most recently led technology and supply chain for Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores. Earlier stints include software engineering at Oracle and work with several startups. His appointment underscores the global reach of Indian-origin tech leaders in multinational firms. The move signals continued emphasis on digital platforms, data analytics, and customer experience.

Anand Varadarajan appointed EVP & CTO of Starbucks
Takes charge January 19; reports to CEO Brian Niccol
Succeeds Deb Hall Lefevre (retired Sept)
Former Amazon tech leader with ~19 years in the company
Prior roles include Oracle software engineer and startup work

James Webb Telescope Detects Lemon-Shaped Exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a lemon-shaped exoplanet, PSR J2322-2650b, located about 2,000 light-years from Earth. The planet orbits a millisecond pulsar and completes an orbit every 7.8 hours at nearly one million miles from its host. Its extreme environment challenges current models of planetary formation and survival, offering a rare glimpse into planetary diversity in distant systems.

JWST detects lemon-shaped exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b
Located ~2,000 light-years away
Orbits a millisecond pulsar
Orbit period = 7.8 hours

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