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Astrobiologist Iva Vilović found that garden cress grew faster under light mimicking K-dwarf stars. These orange stars might support life on super-Earths, which are larger and more stable than our planet. "K-dwarf light is a very, very interesting light source," said Vilović. Such worlds could be more habitable than Earth.
Sadiq Ali Mir from Budgam was named to the National Space Society 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 on October 12. The aerospace engineer started his journey after spotting the International Space Station as a child. He now works on autonomous aircraft and space technology, showing great promise for India.
The United States is pushing to develop domestic sources of critical minerals as global supply chains face new risks. The Energy Act of 2020 defines these essential materials, and the USGS finalized an updated list in 2025. Officials now prioritize minerals that protect national security and the American economy.
Salt marshes act as powerful allies for building climate-resilient coastlines. Researchers from the University of Twente and other institutions tested salt marsh sections against two-meter waves. The seabed remained stable, and plants survived extreme conditions. "Firstly, it surprised us how strong the salt marsh was under these extreme waves," researchers said.
About 20,000 years ago, a mile-thick ice shelf helped lock in massive ice sheets in Canada and Greenland. Researchers found evidence of this ancient structure in Baffin Bay. Robert Hatfield said, "These ice sheets are like a Gothic cathedral," noting how such shelves stop ice from flowing into the ocean.
On Oct. 21, 2008, the Indian Space Research Organization launched its first mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1. The spacecraft used a PSLV-XL rocket to reach lunar orbit. It carried 11 instruments to study the surface. NASA said, "The spacecraft carried scientific equipment from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Bulgaria."
Researchers at Vilnius University created perovskite-based laser structures that maintained stable performance over 400 million pulses. These semiconductor materials often degrade quickly, but the team used a new method to improve them. Dr. Patrik Ščajev said, "We decided to make our own perovskites using the same spin-casting method."
Researchers Carla Schuh and Chaitanya Gokhale studied why Candida auris became a dangerous global pathogen. They suggest climate change helped the fungus adapt to human body temperatures. "This is partly because most fungi cannot grow at a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius," said Schuh. Other factors remain under investigation.
Madurai Kamaraj University held the 53rd annual meeting of the Mycological Society of India on Wednesday. The event explored how fungi can help agriculture and human health. R. Selvarajan said, "We need to bridge academia and industry to create robust employment." Experts discussed using beneficial microbes to replace chemical pesticides.
A desert fox killed a captive-bred Great Indian Bustard days after its release in Rajasthan. The bird was one of two released on October 4. Officials said they will review safety protocols before releasing seven more birds. The other three birds released into the wild remain safe and are monitored.
A new study shows that witnessing others break rules can encourage people to do the same. Researchers led by Dr. Lucas Molleman found that 750 participants often copied bad behavior. If people saw others blatantly break rules, they got more likely to follow suit, sometimes even exceeding those observed violations.
Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain is set for excavation to uncover a Buddhist stupa potentially larger than the one in Sanchi. Archaeologists believe the site dates back to the Mauryan period. Professor Nayanjot Lahiri said, "There need not be a comparison between Sanchi and the site in Ujjain." This could boost tourism.