General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - March 2025

Mar 2025

May 09, 2026

Skyroot Aerospace becomes India’s first space-tech unicorn

On 7 May 2026, Skyroot Aerospace emerged as India’s first space-tech unicorn after raising around $60 million, valuing the Hyderabad-based firm at about $1.1 billion. The round was co-led by Sherpalo Ventures and Singapore’s GIC, with participation from Greenko Group founders, Arkam Ventures, BlackRock funds, Playbook Partners, and Shanghvi Family Office. The funds will support Vikram-1, Skyroot’s orbital launch vehicle, including manufacturing expansion and technology development. Vikram-1 was in late integration testing as of 29 April 2026, with a planned launch from Sriharikota in the coming weeks. Skyroot aims to make Vikram-1 India’s first privately developed orbital rocket.

Company: Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad
Unicorn status: Valuation around $1.1 billion
Funding: ~ $60 million, led by Sherpalo Ventures and GIC
Asset: Vikram-1 orbital launch vehicle
Recent milestone: Final integration/testing completed by 29 April 2026
Strategic goal: Private Indian orbital rocket development

New Cyphostemma annamalaii discovered in Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu

A new plant species, Cyphostemma annamalaii, has been identified in the southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, on Sanjeevi hill in Villupuram district. Discovered during field work, the plant belongs to the Vitaceae family (grape family) and grows as a climbing shrub in open scrub within tropical dry forest at about 86 metres above sea level. The species name honors Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiyar, founder of Annamalai University. Taxonomists led by Prof. L. Mullainathan distinguished it from related Cyphostemma species by leaf progression and fruit shape and colour. The description appeared in Phytotaxa (March 2026), and herbarium specimens are deposited at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, and the Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore.

Discovery location: Sanjeevi hill, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu
New species: Cyphostemma annamalaii, in Vitaceae family
Discovery date: 7 May 2026
Described by: Prof. L. Mullainathan
Publication: Phytotaxa, March 2026
Herbarium deposits: St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli; BSI, Coimbatore

May 08, 2026

Rare Cordyceps mushroom found in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang

A team of researchers led by Dr. Senpon Ngomle, assistant professor at Central Agriculture University, Pasighat, along with Dr. Yengkhom Disco Singh and P. Chattopadhyay, has found a rare Cordyceps mushroom in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district. The discovery occurred during a mushroom exploration programme in the district's low- to mid-altitude terrain, challenging the usual belief that Cordyceps occur mainly above 3,000 metres. Preliminary laboratory work is underway at the College of Agriculture and the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Pasighat to culture and identify strains. The find is scientifically valuable for its medicinal and economic potential and highlights Arunachal's biodiverse ecosystems. In the last 48 hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his Gujarat visit on 10-11 May 2026.

Cordyceps mushroom found in East Siang district.
Led by Dr. Senpon Ngomle and team.
Cordyceps typically found at high altitudes; this is unusual.
Lab work at Pasighat colleges for culture and identification.
Potential medicinal and economic value highlighted.

New freshwater crab Indopotamon alipurduarense found in West Bengal

A new species of freshwater crab has been discovered beneath rice paddies in West Bengal, named Indopotamon alipurduarense. Researchers Ram Krishna Das from Asutosh College and Santanu Mitra from the Zoological Survey of India found the crab during a wildlife survey in the Dooars sub-Himalayan belt. The species lives in burrows up to 1.5 metres deep in muddy paddy fields near Uttar Rampur village, spending most of the year underground. It emerges mainly during the heavy monsoon months from May to August, when it becomes visible to researchers and locals. The name honors Alipurduar district, where the crab resides. In the last 48 hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his Gujarat visit on 10-11 May 2026.

Indopotamon alipurduarense named for Alipurduar district.
Discovered in Dooars region by Das and Mitra.
Crab lives up to 1.5 metres deep in mud fields.
Emergence mainly May–August during monsoon.
Scientific significance and regional biodiversity highlighted.

India-EU launch ₹169 crore project to boost EV battery recycling

India and the European Union have launched a ₹169 crore joint initiative to boost electric vehicle battery recycling capacity. The project, launched under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), focuses on green and clean technologies to support the expanding EV ecosystem. Its objectives include developing high-efficiency processes to recover critical materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel from used batteries, reducing environmental risks and securing raw materials. The program also aims to implement safe, digital collection systems to improve how used batteries are gathered, tracked and processed, integrating research, industry and policy execution. The collaboration underscores shared goals for sustainable mobility and domestic battery recycling capacity.

Joint India-EU program worth ₹169 crore.
Launched under the TTC framework.
Targets recovery of lithium, cobalt, nickel from used batteries.
Emphasizes digital collection and tracking systems.
Aims to enhance domestic EV battery recycling capacity.

May 07, 2026

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
Uses ESO’s ESPRESSO high-resolution spectrograph
Remote operation from University of Porto, Portugal
Aids study of how solar variations affect exoplanet detection

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