ISRO and ESA Partner for Human Space Exploration and Research The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a landmark agreement to collaborate on astronaut training, mission implementation, and research experiments. This partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing human space exploration. Highlights of the Agreement The agreement, signed by Dr. S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, and Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, establishes a framework for joint activities in human spaceflight and research. Key areas of cooperation include astronaut training, experiment development and integration, and the use of ESA’s facilities on…
Author: Aditya Lenka
Aditya Lenka
A multi-faceted professional with a diverse range of skills and experiences. He currently works as a Producer, Digital Marketer, and Journalist for several well-known media outlets, namely StratNewsGlobal, BharatShakti, and Interstellar. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Aditya has covered a wide range of topics and events across India, bringing a unique perspective to his work.When he's not busy producing content, Aditya enjoys exploring new places and cuisines, having traveled extensively throughout India. He's also an avid writer and poet, often penning his thoughts and musings in his free time. And when he wants to unwind and relax, Aditya spends time with his two loyal companions, Zorro and Pablo, his beloved dogs.Aditya's dynamic personality and varied interests make him a unique individual, always eager to learn and experience new things.
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The New Space Race: Civilisations Reach for the Stars In June 2021, China and Russia unveiled an ambitious plan to construct a joint International Lunar Research Station, aiming to land humans on the moon by the mid-2030s in an attempt to form civilisational states. Just days before this announcement, Brazil became the twelfth nation to sign the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, a set of principles guiding the exploration and exploitation of lunar and other space resources. The Artemis Accords, inspired by the U.S. Artemis program, aim to return Americans to the moon by the mid-2020s—a timeline delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.…
Space Warfare: The Evolution of Military Competition in the Cosmos In Ukraine’s ongoing battle for sovereignty, space has emerged as a critical theater of war. Satellites, once reserved for reconnaissance and communication, now play a central role in modern conflict. Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites enable Ukrainian forces to maintain connectivity crucial for targeted drone strikes, while commercial imaging satellites provide vital battlefield intelligence. These developments have earned the conflict the moniker of the “first commercial space war.” Yet, this description only scratches the surface of a broader, more complex history of space warfare. The Historical Role of Satellites in War…
European Automakers Hike Petrol Car Prices to Meet Stricter Emission Targets European automakers are raising prices on petrol vehicles and offering discounts on electric cars (EVs) to comply with tougher EU emissions rules set to take effect on January 1. The new regulations require at least 20% of total car sales to be electric, or automakers will face significant fines. Tougher Emissions Rules and the EV Gap The EU’s stricter carbon dioxide limits pose a major challenge for the automotive industry. While the target demands one-fifth of sales to come from EVs, only 13% of vehicles sold in 2023 have…
New Human Species, Homo juluensis, Proposed by University of Hawaiʻi Researcher A researcher from the University of Hawaiʻi has potentially uncovered a new human species, Homo juluensis, shedding light on the complex history of human evolution in Asia. Professor Christopher J. Bae, an anthropologist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has dedicated over 30 years to studying ancient human ancestors across Asia. His latest findings, published in Nature Communications, contribute to untangling the mysteries of ancient human relatives like the Denisovans, whose histories are still being pieced together. Discovering Homo juluensis According to the research, Homo juluensis lived around…
The Largest Living Organism by Biomass Oregon’s Malheur National Forest is home to a record-breaking organism known as the Humongous Fungus, an enormous occurrence of Armillaria ostoyae. This massive fungal organism spans approximately 2,385 acres, or 3.7 square miles, making it the largest known single living organism by biomass on Earth. It resides in the Reynolds Creek and Clear Creek areas of the forest, roughly 11 miles east of Prairie City. The Humongous Fungus is one of five distinct Armillaria ostoyae occurrences in the area, with individual sizes ranging from 50 to 2,385 acres. Discovered in 1988 by Greg Whipple,…
ISRO Successfully Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine with Advanced Nozzle Design The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful sea-level hot test of its CE20 cryogenic engine. Conducted on November 29, 2024, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, the test showcased the engine’s cutting-edge nozzle design and restart capabilities. Overcoming Sea-Level Testing Challenges Testing cryogenic engines at sea level presents unique challenges, particularly for high area ratio nozzles like the CE20, which features a nozzle area ratio of 100. The engine’s nozzle has an exit pressure of approximately 50 mbar, making it…
OpenAI Reports Surge in ChatGPT Growth with New Features OpenAI has experienced a significant surge in user growth for ChatGPT, reaching 300 million weekly active users from 200 million in August 2023. Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, attributed the growth to the launch of advanced reasoning models, such as o1. Friar shared these insights on December 10 during an interview at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York. Rising Demand for Sora, OpenAI’s Text-to-Video Tool Friar highlighted strong interest in OpenAI’s latest tool, Sora, which generates videos from text. The tool debuted this week and has seen immense demand.…
Indian Navy and ISRO Conduct Gaganyaan Recovery Trials On Friday, December 6, 2024, the Indian Navy and ISRO carried out “Well Deck” recovery trials for the Gaganyaan mission. The trials were conducted off the coast of Visakhapatnam using a well-deck ship from the Eastern Naval Command. This operation marks a significant step in preparing for the safe recovery of the Gaganyaan crew module after its splashdown. Understanding the Well Deck Recovery Method A well deck in a ship is a compartment that can be flooded with water, allowing boats, landing crafts, or recovered spacecraft to dock inside. This capability makes…
Google Advances Quantum Computing with Breakthrough Chip Google announced on Monday, December 9, that it has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing. Its new-generation chip, called Willow, solved a complex computing problem in just five minutes—a task that would take a classical computer more time than the entire history of the universe. Quantum Computing: The Race to the Future Like Microsoft and IBM, Alphabet’s Google is investing heavily in quantum computing. These advanced machines promise speeds far beyond today’s most powerful systems. Although the math problem solved by Google’s Santa Barbara-based quantum lab lacks immediate commercial applications, the company…
