Mission Mausam Urban Testbed launched to improve urban monsoon forecasts
Mission Mausam Urban Testbed was launched to enhance monsoon prediction through urban-scale weather observation and modelling. The initiative links with the Indian Meteorological Department and the Ministry of Earth Sciences to improve forecasting of monsoon rainfall, extreme weather events and local atmospheric conditions. The urban testbed employs automatic weather stations, radar inputs and high-resolution data to refine numerical weather prediction for city environments. This effort supports better planning for agriculture, water management and disaster preparedness, aligning with broader goals to strengthen climate services and resilience in Indian cities.
Purpose: improve urban monsoon forecasts.
Part of Mission Mausam, led by IMD and MoES.
Uses urban weather stations, radar data and high-resolution modelling.
Aims to inform city-level planning and resilience.
Supports improved climate services for India.
India and Japan sign quantum technology and health research pacts
India and Japan signed agreements in quantum technology and health research, deepening bilateral collaboration in science and technology. Quantum cooperation covers computing, communication, sensing and cryptography, while health research encompasses biomedical studies, clinical trials and disease prevention. The framework supports joint research, data sharing and capacity building, with field collaborations spanning information technology, materials science and clean energy. The alliances align with ongoing science diplomacy between the two nations and aim to accelerate innovation, accelerate translational research, and strengthen joint capabilities in critical sectors for national development and public health.
Agreements cover quantum technology and health research.
Focus areas: quantum computing, sensing, communication and cryptography.
Health cooperation includes epidemiology, biotechnology and clinical trials.
Emphasis on data sharing and capacity building.
Bolsters India-Japan science diplomacy and collaboration.
IIT Madras Global Research Foundation opens Menlo Park centre for deep-tech startups
IIT Madras Global Research Foundation announced the establishment of its first United States centre in Menlo Park, California, on 6 May 2026. The centre will focus on startup incubation, deep-tech research and global market access for Indian innovations. With an investment of USD 7.5 million, including USD 4.5 million from IITM Global for greenfield activities, the hub is designed to connect Indian deep-tech ventures with US investors and ecosystems. The centre, developed in partnership with CA Startups, became operational earlier in 24 April 2026 and is planned to host additional campuses on the US East Coast as part of a broader expansion plan.
US centre located in Menlo Park, California.
Opened 6 May 2026; operational since 24 April 2026.
Total planned investment: USD 7.5 million (USD 4.5 million from IITM Global).
Focus on startup incubation, deep-tech research and global access.
Partnership with CA Startups; expansion to East Coast planned.
May 06, 2026
Virus Found That Can Kill Drug‑Resistant Bacteria
Scientists have identified a virus that can infect and kill drug‑resistant bacteria. Such viruses, known as bacteriophages or phages, target specific bacterial cells rather than human cells. Phage therapy offers an alternative to traditional antibiotics and is being studied as a way to combat antimicrobial resistance, a global public health concern. Phages are the most abundant biological entities on Earth and are found in soil, water and the human body. Each phage acts on a narrow range of bacteria, which makes them valuable tools in laboratory research and potential clinical applications in infectious disease care.
Bacteriophages infect bacteria, not humans
Phage therapy as alternative to antibiotics
Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue
Phages are abundant in nature
Narrow bacterial targets are a feature of phages
May 05, 2026
Astronomers identify 27 candidate circumbinary planets orbiting two stars
Astronomers have identified 27 candidate circumbinary planets that may orbit two stars, a configuration often called ‘Tatooine‑like’ planets. The first confirmed circumbinary planet, Kepler‑16b, was announced in 2011. Binary star systems are common in the Milky Way, and circumbinary planets form far from their host stars. Detecting such planets uses methods including the transit method, radial velocity, direct imaging, and gravitational microlensing. Circumbinary planets add to our understanding of planetary systems beyond the solar system and help scientists study planet formation in complex stellar environments.
27 candidate circumbinary planets identified.
Kepler‑16b was the first confirmed circumbinary planet in 2011.
Circumbinary planets orbit two stars; binary systems are common.
Detection methods include transit, radial velocity, imaging, microlensing.
Expands knowledge of planet formation around two stars.
Paranal solar ESPRESSO Telescope achieves first light
The Paranal solar ESPRESSO Telescope (PoET) achieved first light at the European Southern Observatory’s Paranal Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert. PoET, a daytime solar observatory, uses a 60-centimetre main mirror and a smaller telescope to capture light from the full solar disc. It operates with ESO’s ESPRESSO high-resolution spectrograph and is managed remotely from the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto, Portugal. PoET’s observations aim to study solar variations that could mask exoplanets, contributing to solar physics and exoplanet research. The project demonstrates international collaboration in daytime astronomy and precision spectroscopy.
PoET achieved first light at Paranal Observatory (Atacama Desert, Chile)
60 cm main mirror plus a secondary telescope for full-disc solar observations
Remote operation from University of Porto, Portugal
Aids study of how solar variations affect exoplanet detection
May 04, 2026
South Korea launches CAS500-2 Earth‑observation satellite
South Korea launched its domestically developed Compact Advanced Satellite 500-2 (CAS500-2) on 3 May 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The launch occurred at 3:59 p.m. Korea time, aligning with midnight local time in California. The mission, overseen by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), followed a nearly four‑year delay after plans to use a Russian Soyuz rocket were altered by the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. CAS500-2 separated into a 498‑kilometre sun‑synchronous orbit about an hour after launch and first contacted a ground station in Svalbard, Norway. The satellite is built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and leads private‑sector involvement in Korean space activity.
Launch date/time: 3 May 2026 at 3:59 p.m. Korea time.
Orbit: 498 km, sun‑synchronous.
Built by Korea Aerospace Industries (private sector leadership).
Must-know last 48 hours: India‑related space developments also reported on 3 May 2026.
GalaxEye launches Mission Drishti, world’s first OptoSAR satellite
GalaxEye, a Bengaluru‑based space‑tech startup founded by IIT Madras alumni, launched Mission Drishti on 3 May 2026 from SpaceX Falcon 9 at Vandenberg, California, at 12:30 IST. The 190‑kilogram satellite is described as the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, combining Electro‑Optical (EO) sensors with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all‑weather, day‑and‑night imaging. Mission Drishti is India’s largest privately developed Earth‑observation satellite and aims to support data collection across land, water, atmosphere, and built environments. Development involved GalaxEye’s collaboration with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for global imagery distribution.
Mission Drishti launched on 3 May 2026 from Vandenberg, weighing 190 kg.
First OptoSAR satellite; combines EO and SAR for all‑weather imaging.
Private Indian space initiative; world's first in its class for India.
NSIL partners for global distribution of imagery.
Must-know last 48 hours: Drishti launch marks a milestone for private space sector in India.
May 03, 2026
Visakhapatnam to host India’s AI ambitions with Google Cloud hub
Visakhapatnam will host a major Google Cloud-powered AI hub as part of India’s push into advanced technology. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a project with an estimated investment of $15 billion, featuring a 1 gigawatt hyperscale AI data centre. The Andhra Pradesh government will allocate nearly 600 acres across Turluvada, Rambilli, and Adavivaram for the facility, which is being developed with Google Cloud, Adani ConneX, and Airtel Nxtra. The project underscores India’s rapid progress in electronics manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space technology, while reinforcing the Semiconductor Mission’s role in building a robust domestic tech ecosystem.
Google Cloud AI Hub announced for Visakhapatnam; $15 billion investment.
1 GW hyperscale AI data centre planned; 600 acres allocated.
Partnerships with Google Cloud, Adani ConneX, Airtel Nxtra.
Supports India’s AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and space tech goals.
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