General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - December 2018

Dec 2018

Sep 22, 2025

IISc and Delta Electronics India Develops Fast Charging Solutions for EVs

Researchers in the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and Delta Electronics India developed a new fast charging solution for Electric Vehicles (EVs).
This novel cascaded H-bridge (CHB)-based multi-port DC converter directly connects to the medium-voltage AC (MVAC) electricity grid.
Besides, it eliminates the need for large and expensive line frequency transformers (LFTs), which conventional charging stations rely on.
These stations (conventional) also have multiple conversion stages involving stepping up or down current, or converting AC to DC, and vice versa.
This can greatly increase cost and reduce efficiency, according to IISc.

Sep 21, 2025

Scientists Creates World's 1st Functioning AI-Designed Viral Genome

Artificial intelligence is making rapid strides in computational biology.
In 2025, researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute created the world's first entirely AI-generated genome.
In what can be called a breakthrough, the new virus created by AI can infect and kill bacteria.
Scientists already used AI to design individual proteins and even small multi-gene systems. However, creating an entire genome is way more complex.
In simple words, a genome must have many interacting genes, and regulatory switches that allow an organism to grow, copy itself, and survive.
For scientists, until now, getting all of these to work together was a huge challenge.

Sep 19, 2025

Kolkata Hosts Pioneering Quantum Science Conference ICEQSM 2025

Kolkata played hosts to the International Conference and Exposium on Quantum Sensing and Metrology (ICEQSM) 2025, a landmark event that brought together a global community of scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, and students.
Held at the Bose Institute Auditorium and organised by CQuERE, TCG CREST, the four-day conference celebrated the United Nations' International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and aligned with India's National Quantum Mission launched in 2024.
ICEQSM 2025 served as a dynamic platform for bridging the gap between cutting-edge quantum science and its practical applications.
The event featured sessions on atom-based, solid-state, and light-based quantum sensors, alongside discussions on the theoretical underpinnings of quantum metrology. Industry-academia panels, technology showcases, and roundtable discussions facilitated innovation and technology transfer, fostering collaboration between researchers and industry stakeholders.

Sep 18, 2025

India to Host 89th IEC General Meeting in 2025

India hosted the 89^th General Meeting (GM) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in September 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the summit brought together over 2,000 global experts from more than 100 countries to deliberate on international electrotechnical standards that drive a sustainable, all-electric, and connected future.
This was the fourth time India hosted the IEC General Meeting, after the editions held in 1960, 1997, and 2013.
The event was formally inaugurated by Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and New & Renewable Energy. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, opened the IEC GM Exhibition at Bharat Mandapam, which was expected to be the largest electrotechnical showcase in the country.

IIT-Madras and Indus Towers Join Hands for Research on Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and Indus Towers, an international telecom tower company, announced a partnership to initiate research on glass fibre reinforced polymers as a replacement for conventional steel structures.
The partnership aims to develop lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and high performance alternatives to the existing materials. The polymer holds promise for the infrastructure industry due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, low maintenance, adaptability in design and ease of transportation and installation.
The IIT-Madras will lead investigations into mechanical performance, durability, and lifecycle sustainability of the material, a press release stated.

Sentient AI Launches Open AGI Network

In a landmark development for global artificial intelligence, AI startup Sentient launched its open-source Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) network, providing access to 2 million waitlisted users.
This launch, announced in September 2025, positions India at the forefront of open AI innovation and sets the stage for direct competition with global giants like OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Sentient's platform allows over 40 AI agents and models, integrated with more than 50 data sources, to collaborate in real time.
This means AI can now perform multi-step, high-level tasks—ranging from market analysis to news briefings—without relying on siloed systems.
The AGI network is also integrated across multiple blockchains, with agents accessible via Sentient Chat, a consumer interface.
The open-source nature allows global developers to contribute and monetize their AI models via a token-based reward system.

Sep 17, 2025

Google Launches Payments Protocol for Agentic AI Transactions

Google announced an open payments protocol for transactions on agentic payment systems in September 2025. Called Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), the system is supported by more than 60 companies including American Express, Mastercard, Revolut, Coinbase, Paypal, Etsy, Salesforce and Inuit.
Using this protocol, AI agents will eventually be able to shop on behalf of customers while interacting with retail agents.

Indian Scientists Create Foldable, Eco-friendly Battery for Safer Energy Storage

Researchers in Bengaluru developed a flexible, safe, and environmentally friendly battery that could serve as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion cells.
The work, carried out by the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), under the Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science, uses aluminium and a water-based solution to power devices.
Aluminium is one of the most abundant metals on Earth and offers a cheaper and safer option compared with lithium.
Traditional lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and wearable devices, can overheat or catch fire.
The new aluminium-ion battery is less prone to such risks and reduces environmental hazards linked to battery disposal.
The researchers overcame the challenges of aluminium's complex chemistry by engineering the battery's components at a microscopic level.

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