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A 28-year-old laboratory technician died of plague in Russia’s Irkutsk region, governor Alexei Tsydenov said on Friday. Reports suggest she got the infection after a test tube broke. Authorities placed 200 contacts under quarantine. While the plague is treatable with antibiotics, its potential to spread makes this case very worrying.
OpenAI has begun rolling out GPT-6 globally in ChatGPT, introducing an Intelligent UI for interactive diagrams and forms. Paid users got the update first, while free users will receive it from October 8. The company also said the new model provides faster responses, improved web research, and much stronger safeguards.
ISRO floated a tender to build a Human Space Analog System at its Bengaluru training facility. This habitat will help prepare Gaganyatris for long missions by simulating isolated, resource-limited conditions for up to 60 days. It will support a four-member crew and study how they perform under challenging space environments.
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for developing optogenetics. This technique uses light to control nerve cells, helping scientists study brain activity. By using a light-sensitive protein from alga, researchers can now switch specific neurons on or off easily.
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Henry Kagan and Kenso Soai for their work on mirror-image molecules. They showed how to create specific forms of these molecules, which are vital for life. Their research solved a long-standing mystery about why nature prefers one version over the other.
Vikash Kumar from Bihar’s Vaishali district is using a new hydrogen stove to cook food. The device separates water into hydrogen fuel, offering a clean alternative to expensive LPG cylinders. At the May 2026 World Hydrogen Summit, Indian firm Vision Mechatronics signed a deal to sell these stoves globally.
Scientists from Europe and China reported the world's first working nuclear clocks in two papers in Nature. These clocks use thorium-229 nuclei to track time with extreme precision. Because the nucleus is shielded, these devices could become portable. Researchers also used the technology to look for signs of dark matter.
Indian mathematician Mahesh Kakde won the prestigious Ramanujan Prize 2026 for Young Mathematicians for his path-breaking number theory work. A professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Kakde got this honour for his fundamental research. The award recognises his outstanding contributions to algebraic number theory and complex mathematical structures.
An international team analyzed DNA from 362 lakes to create the first global genome atlas of microscopic organisms. Researchers reconstructed nearly 20,000 mitochondrial genomes from 3,660 species. Adrian-Stefan Andrei said, "Their DNA likely holds the key to telling them apart." This new atlas helps monitor lake health more precisely today.
SpaceX is preparing to launch its Starship rocket from Florida’s Pad 39A for the first time. Construction began in late 2021 and is now nearing completion. "Things are going super well at 39A," said Julianna Scheiman on Oct. 1. The company is currently moving into final testing before the official activation.
Taiwanese scientists detected signs of Planet Nine by comparing infrared surveys from 1983 and 2006-2007. Researchers from National Tsing Hua University found a faint object that shifted position over 23 years. While not confirmed, the team said, "this is not confirmation of a ninth planet," but a new target for study.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. They got the honour for discovering non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. This prestigious prize includes a gold medal and 12-million-kronor cash award.
New technology is helping experts catch art criminals and spot fake works. Researchers at the University of Bradford used facial recognition to show a famous sketch was not Anne Boleyn. Dr Anna Tunmers said, "Art experts are like detectives. We combine different types of evidence including condition of the artwork."