International Academic Excellence Awards

  The study revealed that TOI-2267 has two closely bound stars orbiting each other, and the third planet transits the companion star. An international team of scientists identified three Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting within the binary star system TOI-2267, approximately 190 light-years from Earth.the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, provides new insights into planet formation in double-star systems. The researchers used NASA's planet-hunting spacecraft TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) to find these exoplanets that look like imaginary worlds in sci-fi movies. The study revealed details of the system. It says TOI-2267 has two closely bound stars orbiting each other, and the third planet transits the companion star. Previously, it was believed that binary systems are hostile to the formation of complex planetary arrangements. Lead author Sebastian Zuniga-Fernandez, who is a researcher and member of the ExoTIC group at the University of Liege, said in a statement th...

Google unveiled a family of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that proposed a previously unknown drug combination for detecting cancer, which proved effective in laboratory conditions. Key Points Introduction of C2S-Scale Model: Google introduced the Cell2Sentence-Scale 27B (C2S-Scale) — a 27-billion-parameter foundation model developed to understand the language of individual cells. AI-Led Scientific Discovery: The model generated a novel hypothesis about cancer cell behaviour that was later experimentally validated in living cells. Scientific Objective: The AI was tasked to detect nascent tumours that the immune system fails to recognize, by identifying a drug that boosts immune signals when interferon levels are low — a condition often seen in early-stage, undetected tumours. Discovery of Silmitasertib: The AI identified silmitasertib, a chemical drug that enhances immune response when a tumour is suspected. Significance of Results: The findings demonstrate that the AI’s in s...

  In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have detected life-related organic molecules frozen in ice outside the Milky Way galaxy for the first time. The compounds were found in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy, surrounding a newborn star. The research team, led by astrophysicist Marta Sewilo from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland, identified complex molecules such as ethanol, acetaldehyde, and methyl formate, all found in ice form, a first outside our galaxy. Even more remarkably, the team also detected acetic acid, a compound never conclusively identified in ice anywhere in space before. These molecules are considered essential building blocks for prebiotic chemistry, which can lead to the development of life. Scientists say this discovery reinforces the idea that the ingredients for life are not unique to our solar system or galaxy. It suggests that the basic chemical components needed for life may be common across the universe...

  Chinese researchers have developed a fully transparent, jellyfish-shaped bionic robot designed for stealthy underwater observation and data collection. This new robotic innovation, often described as a “ghost” drone, demonstrates China’s growing expertise in biomimetic engineering and underwater robotics. Bionic Design Inspired by Nature The jellyfish-inspired robot was developed by Tao Kai and his team at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. Shaped like a real jellyfish with an umbrella-like dome and tentacles, the robot uses a specially developed hydrogel electrode material to achieve full transparency underwater. Measuring 120mm in diameter and weighing just 56 grams, the design ensures that the device blends seamlessly into its aquatic surroundings. Advanced Movement and Low Energy Consumption The robot mimics the muscle contractions and reflexes of real jellyfish through an electrostatic hydraulic actuator. Operating at only 28.5 milliwatts, it ...

  Researchers at Mayo Clinic have uncovered a molecular "switch" inside lung cells that determines when the cells focus on repairing tissue and when they shift to fighting infection. This important finding could pave the way for regenerative treatments for chronic lung conditions. "We were surprised to find that these specialized cells cannot do both jobs at once," says Douglas Brownfield, Ph.D., senior author of the study, which was published in Nature Communications. "Some commit to rebuilding, while others focus on defense. That division of labor is essential. And by uncovering the switch that controls it, we can start thinking about how to restore balance when it breaks down in disease." Understanding How Lung Cells Repair and Protect The study focuses on alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, which are unique because they both safeguard the lungs and act as reserve stem cells. AT2 cells produce proteins that keep the tiny air sacs open for breathing, while als...

  Scientists at Cedars-Sinai have developed "young" immune cells from human stem cells that reversed signs of aging and Alzheimer's disease in the brains of laboratory mice, according to findings published in Advanced Science. The breakthrough suggests these cells could eventually lead to new treatments for age-related and neurodegenerative conditions in people. Clive Svendsen, PhD, executive director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and senior author of the study, explained the team's innovative approach. "Previous studies have shown that transfusions of blood or plasma from young mice improved cognitive decline in older mice, but that is difficult to translate into a therapy," Svendsen said. "Our approach was to use young immune cells that we can manufacture in the lab -- and we found that they have beneficial effects in both aging mice and mouse models of Alzheimer's disease." Creating Youthful Immune Cells From Ste...

  The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, introducing new obligations for social media platforms to identify and label AI-generated and deepfake content. The move comes amid growing concerns over misinformation, impersonation, and manipulation caused by synthetic media. Mandatory Labelling and Metadata Tagging The draft defines “synthetically generated information” as any content created or modified using AI tools. It mandates that all such material must be prominently labelled or embedded with a unique metadata identifier. The identifier must be permanent, visible, or audible, covering at least 10% of the visual area or the first 10% of the audio duration. This metadata cannot be altered, removed, or suppressed by any technical means. Scope for Significant Social Media Intermediaries Under existing IT Rules, platforms with over fi...

  Dark matter is something that we can't see. According to NASA, it is an "invisible glue" that holds the universe together. Some scientists are convinced that this mysterious material exists, making up most of the matter in the universe. But no one knows what exactly it is. Meanwhile, scientists are curious about a mysterious glow of gamma rays near the centre of the Milky Way, and they think it could be evidence of dark matter. The glow, which was detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope shortly after it was launched in 2008, continues to puzzle scientists even today. There are two main theories about this glow. One suggests that dark matter particles might be colliding and destroying each other, producing gamma rays as a byproduct. Another theory suggests that the glow could be caused by thousands of unobserved millisecond pulsars, which are neutron stars that emit gamma rays as they spin rapidly. Both theories have been supported by scientists. But as p...

  Recent observations in 2023 have confirmed that the small icy body Chiron, orbiting between Saturn and Uranus, possesses a complex and evolving ring system. This discovery marks the first time scientists have witnessed rings forming and changing around a centaur, a type of object that shares traits of both asteroids and comets. The findings shed light on ring formation beyond the giant planets and offer new vital information about the dynamics of small bodies in our solar system. Chiron and Its Orbital Characteristics Chiron, formally known as (2060) Chiron, is about 200 kilometres in diameter. It orbits the Sun every 50 years in the region between Saturn and Uranus. Classified as a centaur, it displays features of both rocky asteroids and icy comets. Its composition includes rock, water ice and complex organic compounds, making it a unique subject for studying solar system evolution. Discovery and Observation of Rings Since its discovery in 1977, Chiron has been known to be sur...

  Recent surveys in Silent Valley National Park have revealed six new species of dragonflies and damselflies. Conducted from 10 to 12 October, this odonate survey recorded a total of 83 species in three days. The park’s known odonate diversity now stands at 109 species. This discovery marks the park’s rich and varied ecosystem. Survey Details and Findings The survey was a joint effort by Silent Valley National Park and the Society for Odonate Studies. It covered 12 campsites with participation from 37 volunteers and forest staff. The new species identified include Long Legged Clubtail, Fraser’s Torrent Hawk, Dark Daggerhead, Blue-necked Reedtail, Wayanad Torrent Dart, and Black and Yellow Bambootail. These additions reflect the diverse microhabitats within the park. Significance of New Species The newly recorded species add to the ecological richness of Silent Valley. Many are endemic to the Western Ghats and depend on specific habitats. For example, species like Protosticta morto...

  Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have uncovered previously unknown geological structures beneath Italy’s Campi Flegrei volcano. This discovery includes a distinct ring fault that could trigger magnitude 5 earthquakes. Campi Flegrei has shown signs of unrest since 2005 and produced five earthquakes above magnitude 4 in 2025 alone. Using AI, scientists detected tens of thousands of smaller quakes that traditional methods missed. This new insight improves understanding of the volcano’s seismic risks and underlying geology. Background and Volcanic Activity Campi Flegrei is a large caldera west of Naples, Italy. It has a history of powerful eruptions over the past 40,000 years, including two of Europe’s largest. Since the 1950s, scientists have monitored its activity closely. In the 1980s, a swarm of 16,000 earthquakes led to the evacuation of 40,000 residents. The volcano’s unrest has persisted, with ground uplift and increased seismicity noted in recent decades. AI-B...

  Scientists have discovered a small clump of “dark matter.” Located approximately 10 billion light-years away from Earth at the edge of the universe, the object has a mass a million times greater than that of our sun. Previously presumed to be invisible, dark matter does not emit light and occupies about 27 per cent of the universe. However, researchers from the University of York say that dark matter does leave a faint yet measurable impact on light passing through the area where the object exists. To detect this mysterious object, scientists used what is called gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where light of a remote object is distorted and deflected by its gravity. As it turns out, astronomers stumbled on the small clump of dark matter while observing an Einstein ring, a rare gravitational lensing phenomenon where the light from a faraway galaxy is bent into a ring shape by the gravity of an object. “Hunting for dark objects that do not seem to emit any light is clearly ch...

  Scientists have developed a new cancer therapy that uses LED light and microscopic flakes of tin to destroy cancer cells while protecting healthy ones. The approach aims to eliminate the painful side effects often caused by chemotherapy and other traditional treatments. This breakthrough comes from a partnership between The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto in Portugal, formed through the UT Austin Portugal Program. The innovation could make light-based cancer therapies more accessible by addressing key challenges such as expensive materials, the need for specialized facilities, and the potential for lasers to harm healthy tissue. Instead of lasers, the researchers use LED light together with a cancer-targeting compound called “SnOx nanoflakes,” in which “Sn” refers to the chemical symbol for tin. This combination could pave the way for safer, more affordable, and more widely available cancer treatments. “Our goal was to create a treatment that is not only...