What would it take to create one of Israel’s best-known missile shields, the Iron Dome, in India? While the technology is patented in Israel, the patent is territorial. This means there isn’t a lot stopping Indian researchers and developers from recreating the Iron Dome within India. Especially since its blueprint has been available in the public domain since 2013. This situation is not unique to the Iron Dome. At the ‘Emerging Technologies Shaping Modern Defence’ tech talk hosted by IP Bazzaar and RIPA, it was noted that out of all patented products globally, just 1-2% are patented in India. This…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
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Global Moon Race Heats Up with Dual Lunar Lander Launch Two moon landers, one from Japan and another from US, Ispace and Firefly respectively, were mounted atop a SpaceX rocket in Florida on Tuesday. The Ispace and Firefly launch signifies a unique double moonshot, highlighting the international push to explore the lunar surface for scientific and commercial purposes. Ispace’s Second Moon Mission: Aiming for Redemption Japanese space exploration firm ispace is preparing to launch its Hakuto-R Mission 2. This marks its second attempt to land on the moon after a near-successful mission in April 2023 ended in failure due to…
India’s Pixxel to Launch Hyperspectral Satellites with SpaceX, Marking Industry Milestone Pixxel, an Indian space startup, is set to launch three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket from California on Tuesday. This marks a major step for India’s private space sector. The satellites will be positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 550 km altitude. The remaining three satellites are expected to launch later in the year, during the second quarter. A Milestone for India’s Private Space Industry The launch is scheduled to take place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time…
Blue Origin Postpones Debut Launch of New Glenn Rocket Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, delayed the highly anticipated maiden launch of its New Glenn rocket on Monday. The decision was made to address a vehicle subsystem issue, as announced on the platform X. The company is now reviewing potential opportunities for the next launch attempt. Troubleshooting Delays Countdown The New Glenn rocket, standing an impressive 30 stories tall, was set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Fueled with methane and liquid oxygen propellants, the launch was initially scheduled for 1:00 am ET (0600 GMT). However, the…
Meta Overhauls Content Moderation Policies Amid Political Shifts Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced a significant shift in its content moderation policies on Tuesday. The company is scrapping its US fact-checking program and loosening restrictions on controversial topics like immigration and gender identity. This change comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, and Meta faces pressure from conservative voices. Key Changes in Moderation Strategy Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg described the overhaul as a return to the platform’s roots in free expression. The company will replace its fact-checking program with a “Community Notes”…
2024’s Climate Disasters: How Catastrophes Redefined Our World In 2024, our planet endured a series of climate catastrophes that reshaped lives, landscapes, and livelihoods. Every corner of the globe, big or small, experienced 2024’s climate disasters, underscoring the urgent need to address the escalating climate crisis. https://youtu.be/_Sr0y9L-px0?si=dFX6lrT8jlJL9UAU A Year of Unprecedented Disasters In Kerala’s Wayanad district, landslides devastated tea estates and villages, claiming over 200 lives in their sleep. Torrential rains triggered massive hillsides to collapse, sending torrents of mud, water, and boulders through communities. This was one of Kerala’s deadliest landslides, a grim reminder of the havoc extreme weather…
India’s Space Milestone: TM2Space to Launch AI Laboratory in Orbit In a landmark development for India’s space sector, Hyderabad-based company TakeMe2Space (TM2Space) has announced the launch of MOI-TD (My Orbital Infrastructure – Technology Demonstrator). This mission, set to take off aboard ISRO’s PSLV C60 rocket, will mark India’s first artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory in space. The initiative underscores India’s advancing space capabilities and places TM2Space at the forefront of global space innovation. Revolutionising Space Research with AI TM2Space specialises in advanced satellite solutions and orbital infrastructure. With MOI-TD, the company aims to transform space research by enabling real-time data processing…
Chinese Astronauts Set New Spacewalk Record, Advancing Beijing’s Space Programme Two Chinese astronauts achieved a world-record spacewalk of more than nine hours this week, marking a significant milestone for China’s rapidly growing space programme. The achievement highlights Beijing’s increasing presence in space exploration. Record-Breaking Spacewalk Details Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong conducted the spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station on Tuesday. Their mission lasted at least four minutes longer than the previous record set in 2001 by NASA astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms. Wearing their Feitian spacesuits, the Shenzhou-19 astronauts completed tasks such as installing space-debris protection devices on…
Expedition Uncovers 27 New Species in Peru’s Amazon An “amphibious mouse” with partially webbed feet that preys on aquatic insects is among 27 new species discovered during a 2022 expedition in Peru’s Amazon, according to Conservation International. This remarkable discovery highlights the ecological richness of Alto Mayo, a protected area in the region. Incredible Discoveries in Alto Mayo The expedition, led by Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program, revealed a variety of new species. Among them are the amphibious mouse, a spiny mouse with stiff fur, a dwarf squirrel just 14 cm long, eight types of fish, three amphibians, and 10…
Oxford’s Space Lab Studies Ageing in Microgravity Human tissue samples from Space Innovation Lab (SIL) of Oxford are now aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The aim is to uncover why the ageing process accelerates in space and explore potential ways to slow it down. Investigating Ageing in Space and on Earth The experiment compares how organoids—miniaturised and simplified versions of human organs grown in a lab—respond to conditions in microgravity versus Earth’s gravity. These findings could help scientists understand how space travel impacts ageing at a cellular level. Dr. Ghada Alsaleh, the lead researcher at Oxford’s SIL, highlighted the…