New York, Feb 13 (IANS) Scientists have discovered, for the first time, water molecules on the surface of an asteroid.

The team from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in the US looked at four silicate-rich asteroids using the FORCAST instrument from the retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to isolate the mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water on two of them. SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency.

"Asteroids are leftovers from the planetary formation process, so their compositions vary depending on where they formed in the solar nebula," said lead author Anicia Arredondo, from the SwRI.

"Of particular interest is the distribution of water on asteroids, because that can shed light on how water was delivered to Earth," Arredondo added.

Anhydrous, or dry, silicate asteroids form close to the sun while icy materials coalesce farther out.

Understanding the distribution of water in our solar system will provide insight into the distribution of water in other solar systems and, because water is necessary for all life on Earth, will drive where to look for potential life, both in our solar system and beyond.

"We detected a feature that is unambiguously attributed to molecular water on the asteroids Iris and Massalia," Arredondo said. "We based our research on the success of the team that found molecular water on the sunlit surface of the moon. We thought we could use SOFIA to find this spectral signature on other bodies." The findings are detailed in a paper in The Planetary Science Journal.

SOFIA detected water molecules in one of the largest craters in the moon's southern hemisphere.

Previous observations of both the moon and asteroids had detected some form of hydrogen but could not distinguish between water and its close chemical relative, hydroxyl. Scientists detected roughly equivalent to a 12-ounce bottle of water trapped in a cubic metre of soil spread across the lunar surface, chemically bound in minerals.

"Based on the band strength of the spectral features, the abundance of water on the asteroid is consistent with that of the sunlit moon," Arredondo said. "Similarly, on asteroids, water can also be bound to minerals as well as adsorbed to silicate and trapped or dissolved in silicate impact glass."

While SOFIA’s FORCAST instrument is apparently not sensitive enough to detect the water spectral feature if present, the team is enlisting NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the premier infrared space telescope, to use its precise optics and superior signal-to-noise ratio to investigate more targets.

New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) An Indian-origin scientist, Vijay Murugesan-led team has discovered a new battery material using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and supercomputing that could reduce lithium use in batteries.

The findings were made by Microsoft and the US-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

The new battery material came out using Microsoft’s Azure Quantum Elements to narrow down 32 million potential inorganic materials to 18 promising candidates that could be used in battery development in just 80 hours.

The Microsoft Quantum team used AI to identify around 500,000 stable materials in the space of a few days.

According to the scientists, the new material could potentially reduce lithium use by up to 70 per cent.

Since the discovery of the new material, it has been used to power a lightbulb. The AI-derived material is a solid-state electrolyte.

Ions shuttle back and forth through the electrolyte, between the cathode and the anode, ideally with minimal resistance.

Initially, scientists thought that sodium ions and lithium ions couldn’t be used together in a solid-state electrolyte system because they are similarly charged but have different sizes.

It was assumed that the structural framework of a solid-state electrolyte material couldn’t support the movement of two different ions.

But after testing, Murugesan said, “We found that the sodium and lithium ions seem to help each other".

Lithium got attention as a battery component in the early 1900s, but rechargeable lithium-ion batteries didn’t hit the market until the 1990s. Today, Lithium-ion batteries power everything from phones to medical gadgets, electric vehicles, and satellites.

The US Department of Energy predicted that lithium demand would increase five to tenfold by 2030. Lithium is already relatively short, and thus expensive.

Mining it is environmentally and geopolitically problematic. Traditional lithium-ion batteries also pose safety issues, with the potential to catch fire or explode.

Many researchers are looking for alternatives, both for lithium and for the materials used as electrolytes. Solid-state electrolytes show promise for their stability and safety, according to the scientists.

Washington, Oct 15 (IANS) Seven Indian student teams including three high school groups will participate in the prestigious NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) 2024 in the US.

The teams are from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus; Candor International School, Bengaluru; Kanakia International School, Mumbai; KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR; Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh; Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai; and Young Mind Research and Development, Faridabad.

These are among 72 others from 13 nations around the world that will compete in the engineering design challenge to build human-powered rovers.

The HERC, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, tasks the students to design, build, and test lightweight, human-powered rovers on an obstacle course simulating lunar and Martian terrain, all while completing mission-focused science tasks.

"Throughout this authentic learning challenge, NASA encourages students to improve their understanding of collaboration, inquiry, and problem-solving strategies," said Vemitra Alexander, rover challenge activity lead, Office of STEM Engagement at NASA Marshall.

"Improving these critical real-world skills will benefit our students throughout their academic and professional careers," Alexander added.

In the HERC 2023, 11 student teams represented India at the international competition. Of the new teams from India, VIT Chennai, BITS Pilani, Rajasthan and Amity Noida, KIET Group of Institutions, featured in the 2023 challenge as well.

Throughout the nine-month challenge, students will complete design and safety reviews to mirror the process used by NASA engineers and scientists. The agency also incorporates vehicle weight and size requirements encouraging students to consider lightweight construction materials and stowage efficiency to replicate similar payload restrictions of NASA launch operations.

Teams earn points throughout the year by successfully completing design reviews and fabricating a rover capable of meeting all criteria while completing course obstacles and mission tasks. The teams with the highest number of points accumulated throughout the project year will win their respective divisions.

The challenge will conclude with an event on April 19 and 20, 2024, at the US Rocket and Space Center in Alabama. The competition is one of nine Artemis Student Challenges and reflects the goals of NASA’s Artemis programme, which includes landing the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon.

London, Aug 14 (IANS) An Indian-origin scientist in the UK is spearheading research to make plant-based meat more juicy without adding fat. 

One of the biggest obstacles to the uptake of plant-based alternatives to meat is their very dry and astringent feel when they are eaten. 

Scientists, led by Professor Anwesha Sarkar at the University of Leeds, are revolutionising the sensation of plant proteins, transforming them from a substance that can be experienced as gloopy and dry to one that is juicy and fat like. 

The only substance they are adding to the plant proteins is water. 

To bring about this change, the team created plant protein microgels, through a process called microgeletion. 

Plant proteins -- which start off as dry with a rough texture -- are placed in water and subjected to heating. 

This alters the structure of the protein molecules which come together to form an interconnected network or gel which traps water around the plant proteins. 

The gel is then homogenised, which breaks the protein network into a microgel made up of tiny particles that cannot be seen with the naked eye. 

Under pressure, as they would be when they are being eaten, the microgels ooze water, creating a lubricity akin to that of single cream. 

"What we have done is converted the dry plant protein into a hydrated one, using the plant protein to form a spider-like web that holds the water around the plant protein," said Professor Sarkar. 

This gives the much-needed hydration and juicy feel in the mouth. 

"Plant-based protein microgels can be created without having to use any added chemicals or agents using a technique that is widely available and currently used in the food industry. The key ingredient is water," she said. 

The research team, who published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Communications, said the dryness of plant proteins has been a "key bottleneck for consumer acceptability". 

With the breakthrough, the research team hope consumer interest in plant-based proteins will be revitalised, encouraging people to reduce their reliance on animal products for protein intake, a necessary step if global climate change targets are to be met. 

More than half of the 18 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents produced each year from food production comes from rearing and processing animal products. 

The researchers said the protein microgels "offer a unique platform to design the next generation of healthy, palatable and sustainable foods". 

Given the lubricity of the microgels, akin to that of a single cream, means they could be adapted for other uses in the food processing industry, such as replacing fat that has been removed from a foodstuff to develop healthier options, the researchers noted. 

Chennai, June 13 (IANS) Indian space sector startup Azista BST Aerospace Pvt Ltd's first remote sensing satellite ABA First Runner (AFR) was successfully orbited by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

According to SpaceX, the rocket on a dedicated rideshare mission carried 72 spacecraft that includes CubeSats, MicroSats and others and one of them was the Ahmedabad-based Azista BST Aerospace's 80 kg satellite AFR.

Azista BST Aerospace is an Indo-German satellite manufacturing joint venture floated by India's Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd (holding 70 per cent stake) and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH (holding 30 per cent stake).

"Currently the company is funded by Azista Industries. We are not for venture capital funding. We have a long term outlook in business," Sunil Indurti, Director had told IANS.

The AFR will provide a panchromatic image with five metre resolution with a Swath of 70km.

According to Bharath Simha Reddy P., Business Development Manager, the company has potential customers -- in strategic and agriculture sectors -- for the data to be acquired from the first satellite and as well as analytics. Most of the customers are located in SouthEast Asia and other parts, including India.

"In the next two/three years, there will be three/four missions to demonstrate our satellite payloads," Bharath Simha Reddy had told IANS recently.

An engineering graduate from the famed College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai Indurti got into the space sector after founding and exiting an ice cream parlour chain in Hyderabad.

"My ambition during the college days was to build a national brand," Indurti said.

Soon after exiting the ice cream venture, Indurti met Srinivas Reddy Male, Managing Director and a Director with pharma company Hetero and both decided to get into satellite manufacturing.

"We initially started as a vendor for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and set up a factory in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. We have also set up weather stations for DRDO and others," Indurti said.

According to Bharath Simha Reddy, the company's target is to make about 100 satellites per year that would weigh between 50-200 kg.

New York, June 1 (IANS) A 17-year-old Indian-origin student in Missouri has won the prestigious Regeneron Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for his research relating to the mpox virus.

Saathvik Kannan of David H. Hickman High School in Columbia was awarded for using biocomputational methods to understand the causes of heightened infectivity in the disease mpox after it re-emerged in 2022.

Saathvik's approach, named Bioplex, uses a combination of machine learning and three-dimensional comparative protein modeling to decode structures like those that enable the mpox virus to replicate.

This allowed him to identify the mutations in the virus that likely made it more infectious as well as other mutations that could make it resistant to antibiotics.

He credited his mentor, Kamlendra Singh, an assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology at the University of Missouri.

"I was overjoyed and incredibly excited!" Saathvik wrote in an email to the Columbia Daily Tribute about the prize.

"I felt that it reflected our work with Dr. Singh's mentorship and guidance over the last few years culminating in my project from this year."

Saathvik believes scientists will also be able to apply Bioplex to future outbreaks of other viruses.

More than 1,600 young scientists and engineers representing 49 states and 64 countries across the world competed at the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

Saathvik also took first place in the fair's computational biology and bioinformatics division, receiving another $5,000.

According to Regeneron, a leading biotechnology company, the winners were selected for their commitment to innovation in tackling challenging scientific questions, using authentic research practices and creating solutions to the problems of tomorrow.

Rishab Jain, another Indian-American student from Portland, won the same award last year for developing an AI-based model to enable rapid and cost-effective production of drugs, such as recombinant Covid-19 vaccines, using synthetic DNA engineering.

New York (USA), May 5: Nachiket Joshi, Director at Global Vision India Foundation, was invited as an intervention speaker by the United Nations to participate in the 8th Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) held in United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA from May 02- 05, 2023. During the forum, Mr Joshi delivered a speech on ‘The importance of strengthening trust in science and technology for accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)’, on May 03, 2023.

As part of his speech, Mr. Joshi highlighted the key steps taken by India under the leadership of honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to overcome the challenges and build trust in science and technology. Further, He also emphasised the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure that the public has access to reliable and accurate information about the pandemic and its impact.

“A comprehensive science communication strategy was built to promote public understanding and trust in science and technology through various media and social media networks. “Mann Ki Baat”, a platform to facilitate a direct connection between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of republic India which recently completed its 100th episode and was broadcasted live in the UN headquarters, was used to communicate to the mass population about the ongoing scientific research during and after the pandemic, that has already drawn the attention of remote areas of nation and worldwide as well. India developed vaccines and distributed them in a transparent and evidence-based manner with necessary data shared publicly to ensure trust in the vaccines.”, said Nachiket Joshi.

Apart from the speech, while interacting with delegates representing different countries & organisations, Mr. Joshi shared success story of India’s Vaccination programme under the leadership of honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He mentioned that it is one of the most successful campaigns and has garnered world attention. The government started providing the vaccines from 20 January 2021. As of January 2023, India has helped almost 150 nations with the Covid vaccine. India had delivered around 282 million vaccine doses so far worldwide and within India, 2.2 billion doses have been given to the people of India.

Nachiket Joshi is a Social Entrepreneur, Environmentalist and renowned Author. He is the Director of Global Vision India Foundation. His experience ranges in multiple areas including National and International Development, Sustainable Development Goals, Digital Transformation, Human Rights, Leadership Skills, Intercultural harmony, Gender Equality and Entrepreneurship. He has extensive experience in policy advocacy and facilitating sessions. He has been actively involved in the development of innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The United Nations has been actively engaged in the fight against the pandemic and has been working to ensure that the public is informed and empowered to make right decisions. Mr Joshi’s participation in this event is a testament to the importance of strengthening trust in science and technology for accelerating the recovery from the pandemic.

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New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Humans will be able to upload consciousness and sensibility in computers by the end of 2023, claims an Indian-origin computer scientist.

Dr Pratik Desai has asked people to start recording their loved ones' voices, which will "live" even after their death.

In other words, users can create a computerised avatar that resembles their loved one before their death, which can live forever on their screens.

"Start regularly recording your parents, elders and loved ones," Desai recently wrote on Twitter.

"With enough transcript data, new voice synthesis and video models, there is a 100 per cent chance that they will live with you forever after leaving physical body.

"This should be even possible by end of the year," he noted.

Desai is not the only one who has claimed this.

Previously, metaverse company Somnium Space offered an AI-based "live forever" mode. It aims to allow individuals to talk with their loved ones in the metaverse.

In an interview with Motherboard, the company's founder and CEO Artur Sychov said his project will allow people to store the way they talk, move, and sound until after they die, when they can come back from the dead as an online avatar to speak with their relatives.

"Literally, if I die -- and I have this data collected -- people can come or my kids, they can come in, and they can have a conversation with my avatar, with my movements, with my voice," Sychov was quoted as saying to Vice.

"You will meet the person. And you would maybe for the first 10 minutes while talking to that person, you would not know that it's actually AI. That's the goal," he added.

Another US-based company Deepbrain has also developed a programme called "Re;memory" which allows users the opportunity to walk down a memorial hall dedicated to a late loved one and even interact with the person "through an actual conversation".

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) The Income Tax department has launched a mobile app which will allow taxpayers to view their information available in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS).

The app is called 'AIS for Taxpayer', which will be provided free of cost by the Income Tax Department and is available on Google Play and App Store.

It will provide a comprehensive view of the AIS and TIS to the taxpayer, which displays the information collected from various sources pertaining to the taxpayer.

Taxpayers can use the mobile app to view their information related to TDS or TCS, interest, dividends, share transactions, tax payments, income tax refunds and other related information.

The taxpayer also has the option and the facility to provide feedback on the information displayed in the app.

To access this mobile app, the taxpayer needs to register on the app by providing his or her PAN number, authenticate with the OTP sent on mobile number and e-mail registered on the e-filing portal.

After authentication, the taxpayer can simply set a 4-digit PIN to access the mobile app.

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) As data centre business surges in India amid the demand from various industry stakeholders to store citizens' data locally, the government is planning to create more innovations around the India Cloud just like India Stack, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has stressed.

The minister told IANS that the demand for storing data locally keeps growing as more and more global companies open their data centres in the country, like Amazon, Microsoft, Google and others.

"I believe the government incentives should be directed at creating an innovative India Cloud that caters to our people. We need diversity in the Cloud in the country," stressed Chandrasekhar, as the world observed the International Data Center Day on Wednesday.

Amid the growing data localisation demand in India, the country is likely to witness 4,900-5,000 MW of capacity with an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the next six years.

The industry revenues are expected to increase at a CAGR of around 17-19 per cent during FY2023-FY2025, supported by an increase in capacity utilisation and ramp-up of new data centres, according to credit rating agency ICRA.

To cater to the increasing demand, Indian corporates like the Hiranandani Group, the Adani Group (in JV with EdgeConnex), the Reliance Group and foreign investors like Blackstone, CapitaLand, Princeton Digital Group (PDG) and Big Tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft have started investing massively in data centres in the country.

Hiranandani Group subsidiary Yotta Infrastructure recently laid the foundation stone of their 20-acre hyperscale data centre park in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The data centre park will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 crore.

"Yotta investment in UP is a great example of how the Indian data centre market is growing exponentially," said Chandrasekhar.

Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) India last month said it will invest Rs 4,100 crore in Noida over the next 5-10 years to establish state-of-the-art data centres.

The promise of Noida emerging as a new data centre hub is supported by progressive policy impetus at both the Central and state governments.

Software giant Microsoft plans to expand their data centre investment in the country.

During his India visit in January this year, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella had said that they are growing their investment in India, like in building new data centres.

"We now have three data centres and the fourth one is coming soon," he informed.

According to Chandrasekhar, the country needs more and more Cloud providers.

"The incentives that we are thinking of is to create more innovation around the Indian Cloud," the minister told IANS.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the successful completion of vibration tests for its upcoming moon spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3.

The tests were conducted earlier this month at the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru to assess the spacecraft's ability to withstand harsh vibration and acoustic conditions during its launch.

Chandrayaan-3 is composed of three modules - Propulsion, Lander, and Rover - making the testing process particularly challenging. However, ISRO stated that the tests had provided enough confidence in the spacecraft's structural integrity and survivability in the launch environment.

Chandrayaan-3 is set to launch later this year, with the aim of studying the moon's surface and mineral composition.