Make in India Turns 12: India Expands Smartphone Manufacturing Beyond Assembly
India marked 12 years of the Make in India initiative on September 25, with Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighting the expansion of the country’s smartphone manufacturing ecosystem. He said India is now moving beyond assembling phones to producing more components and materials used in them.
Mysterious Radio Signal Detected From Exoplanet Beta Pictoris b
Astronomers have detected radio emission directly from Beta Pictoris b, a giant exoplanet located about 63 light-years from Earth, marking the first reported direct detection of auroral radio emission from a planet beyond the Solar System. The observation was made using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array. Researchers detected both rapidly repeating bursts and persistent radio emission across frequencies between 0.85 and 3.5 gigahertz.
Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 With 2nm Chip and Agentic AI
Qualcomm has unveiled its latest flagship mobile platforms, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, aimed at powering the next generation of premium Android smartphones. Announced at the Snapdragon Summit in Maui on September 23, the new platforms are built on a 2nm process and focus heavily on on-device and agentic AI capabilities.
ISRO, ESA Extend Space Cooperation Agreement Until 2032
ISRO and the European Space Agency (ESA) have extended their long-standing cooperation agreement until January 8, 2032, expanding the scope of their partnership to include new areas of space exploration and technology. The extension was formalised through an exchange of letters signed in Paris on September 10, 2026, during the International Space Summit.
NASA Perseverance Finds Evidence of Three Water Episodes on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover has found evidence that rocks around Mars’ Jezero Crater interacted with water at least three separate times, offering new clues about the planet’s ancient environment and potential habitability. The findings, published in Communications Earth & Environment, come from the Margin Unit, an area believed to have bordered an ancient lake. Scientists initially expected to encounter sedimentary rocks formed by material deposited in the lake.
ONGC Gas Discovery in Mahanadi Basin: Why It Matters for India
ONGC has discovered natural gas in the deepwater Mahanadi Basin, around 43 km off the Odisha coast, potentially adding to India’s domestic energy resources. The discovery was made in the MDW-28 well, drilled in waters about 770 metres deep, with the well reaching a depth of approximately 1,450 metres. ONGC said gas flowed from the well for three days at encouraging rates and maintained pressure.
September Equinox 2026: Why Nights Will Get Longer in India
The September equinox will occur on September 23 at 5:35 am IST, marking the point when the Sun crosses Earth’s equatorial plane while moving from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere. The astronomical event occurs twice every year, in March and September, and signals the beginning of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
JioHome Users Get 1 Year Amazon Prime Lite Free: Check Eligibility
Jio is offering eligible JioHome customers a free 12-month subscription to Amazon Prime Lite as part of its 10th anniversary promotions. The benefit is available with selected JioHome plans that bundle broadband, television and OTT services, giving users access to Prime Video and shopping benefits on eligible Amazon orders. The offer applies to JioHome plans with 30Mbps and 100Mbps internet speeds.
Google Gemini Hacked Three Companies During AI Security Test, Then Stopped
Google has confirmed that its Gemini AI system accessed the computer systems of three real companies during a cybersecurity test in May, but the model stopped its activity after recognising that it had moved beyond the intended simulation. The incident occurred during a “capture the flag” exercise conducted on infrastructure operated by AI security startup Irregular.
Microsoft Executive Calls AI Training Data Use ‘Largest Theft of Labour’
A Microsoft executive has described the use of internet content to train artificial intelligence models as an “astonishing theft,” calling it potentially the largest theft of labour in human history. The remarks by Brent Hecht, Microsoft’s director of applied science, emerged in unsealed court filings from the copyright dispute involving The New York Times, Microsoft and OpenAI.
NASA Tracks Earth’s Moving Centre of Mass as Ice, Water and Air Shift
Earth’s centre of mass, or geocentre, shifts slightly throughout the year as water, ice and air move across the planet. NASA scientists have developed a more precise method to measure these seasonal movements, which occur on the scale of just a few millimetres. The technique, led by geoscientist Donald Argus at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, combines GPS observations with orbital measurements from multiple low-Earth-orbit satellites.
Anthropic’s Dario Amodei Expands Claude-Salesforce Deal Amid AI Safety Debate
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is facing renewed attention over the contrasting roles of advanced AI in his company’s business strategy. While he recently called for a slower and more carefully managed pace of frontier AI development, Anthropic has expanded its partnership with Salesforce to integrate Claude directly into enterprise software and workflows. The collaboration, called Claudeforce, brings Claude into Salesforce, Agentforce and Slack.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Rejects Calls to Slow AI Development, Says No New Laws Needed
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has pushed back against calls for governments to slow artificial intelligence development, arguing that AI safety should primarily be addressed through engineering and rigorous product testing rather than new laws. Speaking at Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference, Huang said safety remains extremely important but described it as an engineering challenge.
Trump Calls Jensen Huang Live on Stage, Says AI Takeover Fears Are a Hoax
US President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance during an on-stage conversation involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles on Monday. Huang received Trump's call while participating in a live panel, answered it and put the president on speaker, allowing the audience to hear the exchange.
IIT Madras Develops Bird-Inspired Morphing Skin to Prevent Aircraft Stalls
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed a bird-inspired “morphing skin” for aircraft wings that can adjust its shape according to changing airflow conditions. The technology is designed to reduce the risk of aerodynamic stalls while increasing lift, lowering drag and potentially improving fuel efficiency.
Bheem Moon Habitat: How India Plans to Build a Home on the Lunar Surface
India is exploring what a future human habitat on the Moon could look like through Bheem, an expandable modular habitat concept developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla among those involved.
iPhone 17 Pro at Rs 69,990 After iPhone 18 Pro Launch: Should You Buy?
Apple’s launch of the iPhone 18 Pro series has made the previous-generation iPhone 17 Pro more attractive for buyers looking to save money. A new Croma offer brings the effective price of the iPhone 17 Pro 256GB model down to Rs 69,990, subject to exchange and bank benefits.
Anthropic Reveals How Claude Was Misused for Bioweapons, Surveillance and Espionage
Anthropic has detailed several cases in which countries, criminal networks and other groups allegedly attempted to misuse its Claude AI models for activities including bioweapons research, weapons development, mass surveillance, espionage, influence operations and cybercrime. In a safety report covering incidents identified between December 2025 and August 2026, Anthropic described activity involving suspected state-backed organisations, financially motivated criminals, propaganda networks, spyware operators and politically motivated groups.
SpaceX Starship Flight 14 Set for September, Eyes First Orbital Mission
SpaceX is preparing for the 14th test flight of its giant Starship launch system, with the mission expected to take place in September and potentially mark a major step forward by attempting to place the spacecraft into orbit. Starship is designed as a fully reusable launch system consisting of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft.
iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8: Price, Specs, Display, Camera and Battery Compared
Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, giving consumers a new premium option alongside Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. Both devices offer large foldable displays and flagship-level performance, but they differ considerably in design, cameras, processors, battery technology and pricing. The iPhone Duo starts at nearly Rs 3 lakh in India and is scheduled to go on sale in late October.
Australia Eyes India’s Growing Space Sector at Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, Seeks Deeper Partnerships
Australia is looking to strengthen its partnership with India’s rapidly growing space sector as a 12-member delegation participates in Bengaluru Space Expo 2026 to explore new opportunities in technology, manufacturing, satellite systems and strategic cooperation. The Australian delegation includes companies and institutions working in launch and re-entry technologies, Earth observation, satellite systems, space debris management, advanced manufacturing and space research.
Agnikul Cosmos Opens Chennai Facilities to Develop Reusable Rocket Technology
Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated two new assembly and testing facilities in Chennai as it expands its capabilities for developing reusable launch systems. The company has opened the Stage Testing & Inspection Facility, known as STIF, and the Pressurant Tank Realisation, Over-wrapping and Outfitting Facility, called PROOF, at its Assembly and Testing Facility.
Dark Matter Detection Hint: LUX-ZEPLIN Finds New Signal but Scientists Remain Cautious
Scientists searching for dark matter may have detected a new signal deep beneath the Black Hills of South Dakota, but researchers are not yet calling it a discovery. The possible event was recorded by the LUX-ZEPLIN, or LZ, experiment, one of the world's most sensitive dark matter detectors.
ISRO EOS-05 Reaches Intended Geosynchronous Orbit After Final Orbit-Raising Manoeuvre
India's latest Earth-observation satellite, EOS-05, has successfully reached its intended geosynchronous orbit after ISRO completed the third and final orbit-raising manoeuvre. The final manoeuvre was carried out using the satellite's Liquid Apogee Motor, which fired for 1,247 seconds from 8:57 pm on September 7. The operation placed EOS-05 into a near-circular orbit at an altitude of around 35,000 kilometres.
ISRO Will Not Be Privatised, Space Agency Clarifies on Private Sector Push
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has clarified that it will not be privatised, rejecting speculation that the government's push to expand private sector participation in India's space sector could reduce the role of the country's premier space agency. ISRO said its importance would not be diminished and that it would continue to lead India's advanced space research, strategic missions, scientific exploration and development of frontier technologies.
Why Air Conditioning Was Invented: Willis Carrier's 1902 Humidity Solution
Air conditioning is now closely associated with keeping homes, offices and other indoor spaces cool during hot weather. However, the first modern air-conditioning system was not invented to make people comfortable. Its original purpose was to control humidity and solve an industrial production problem.
Jio Launches JioPC: Turn Your Old Laptop, Desktop or TV Into a Cloud PC Without New Hardware
Reliance Jio has launched JioPC, a cloud-based subscription service that allows users to turn an existing laptop, desktop or supported TV setup into a cloud-powered computer without purchasing new hardware. The service, which was previously limited to JioHome broadband users, is now available to users across India regardless of their telecom or broadband provider. JioPC works by moving computing tasks from the user's physical device to cloud infrastructure.
ISRO GSLV-F17 Launch: EOS-05 Set for Liftoff as India Eyes First Geosynchronous Imaging Satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation is preparing to return to the launch pad with the GSLV-F17 mission, which is scheduled to carry the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite into space from Sriharikota. The mission is planned for liftoff at 2:55 am IST on September 4 from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Nobel Prize 2026 Announcement Dates: Full Schedule, History and Why It Matters to Science
The Nobel Prize 2026 announcements are set to begin on October 5, bringing global attention once again to some of the world's most significant achievements in science, literature, peace and economics. The first announcement will be for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on October 5, followed by the Physics award on October 6 and the Chemistry prize on October 7.
Apple iPhone Fold Launch Could Happen Next Week: Leaked Specs, Display, MagSafe and Price Details
Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone could be unveiled sooner than expected, with fresh leaks suggesting that the company may introduce the device around its upcoming September 9 event alongside the expected iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The first foldable iPhone has been the subject of speculation for years, and recent reports indicate that Apple could finally be ready to enter the foldable smartphone market.
What Is GISAT-1? EOS-05 Set to Give India a New Eye in Space
India is preparing to launch EOS-05 on September 4, marking a major step in its effort to strengthen continuous Earth-imaging capabilities from geostationary orbit. The satellite is designed as the successor to the earlier GISAT-1 mission, which was lost during a launch attempt in 2021. EOS-05 is scheduled to fly aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Trump Congratulates NASA After Roman Telescope Launch Despite Earlier Funding Threats
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has begun its journey into space after years of uncertainty over its funding, including repeated proposals during Donald Trump's presidency to cancel the mission. The observatory launched on August 30 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Planned 60% Team Cuts, but AI Agents Failed to Deliver
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly explored an ambitious plan to transform the company into an AI-native organisation, with artificial intelligence agents taking over a significant share of work currently handled by employees. The strategy reportedly included reducing the size of some teams by as much as 60%.
Apple September 9 Event Confirmed: iPhone 18 Pro, Foldable iPhone and More Expected
Apple has confirmed its next major product launch event for September 9, 2026. The event, carrying the tagline “Surprise and shine”, will take place at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, with several new devices expected to be unveiled. The company is widely expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at the event.
OpenAI Launches Jalapeño AI Chip With Broadcom to Boost AI Speed and Efficiency
OpenAI has announced its first custom AI chip, called Jalapeño, marking a major step in the company's effort to design not only artificial intelligence models but also the hardware used to run them. The chip has been developed in collaboration with Broadcom and is designed primarily to improve AI inference performance, reduce latency and increase energy efficiency.
Apple Launches New Mac Mini and Mac Studio in India With M6, M5 Pro, M5 Max and M5 Ultra Chips
Apple has launched refreshed versions of the Mac Mini and Mac Studio in India, introducing new hardware powered by its latest M-series processors. The updated Mac Mini is available with M6 and M5 Pro chips, while the new Mac Studio comes with M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors.
Vikram-1 Rocket Second Launch: First Stage Dispatched to Sriharikota Spaceport
Preparations are underway for the second orbital flight of the Vikram-1 rocket following the dispatch of its first stage to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This swift transition comes shortly after the vehicle successfully reached orbit during its maiden mission, marking a major milestone for the burgeoning commercial spaceflight sector.
IIT Madras Develops IntelliSeat, a Smart Car Seat That Detects Driver Fatigue Before Sleep
A team of researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Madras has developed a smart driver's seat designed to detect fatigue and warn motorists before drowsiness turns into a potential road accident. Called IntelliSeat, the technology monitors how a driver sits, shifts position and interacts with the seat over time. Unlike several conventional fatigue-monitoring systems, it does not require cameras, wearable devices or electrodes attached to the driver's body.
iPhone 17 Series Gets Up to Rs 23,000 Off in Airtel-Croma Deal
Airtel users looking to buy a new iPhone may be able to save significantly through a new offer available in partnership with Croma. The deal covers multiple iPhone models, including the latest iPhone 17 series, as well as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15.
AI-Powered Moderna Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Phase 3 Trial, Elon Musk Reacts
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a powerful tool in medical research, and a new personalised cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck has brought that potential into sharper focus. The companies have announced positive Phase 3 trial results for intismeran autogene, an experimental personalised mRNA vaccine designed for patients with high-risk melanoma whose tumours have been surgically removed.