Top Science Headlines
NASA offers you a chance to send your name to Saturn’s Moon Titan
NASA is inviting people to add their names to a list that will travel aboard its Dragonfly mission, scheduled to launch in 2028 and reach Saturn’s moon Titan in 2034. The spacecraft will cover 3.54 billion kilometres. People can submit their names at https://go.nasa.gov/dragonfly-names, after which NASA generates a personalised boarding pass featuring their name.
Chinese scientists detect signal with possible signs of alien technology
Scientists in China have detected a signal from a star system about 238 light-years from Earth that has features associated with potential alien technology. Researchers said the signal was extremely narrowly focused, a characteristic rarely seen in natural cosmic processes but known in artificial transmitters. This has raised questions about whether it could've come from extraterrestrial life.
Satellite pic shows thick smog, farm fire across India-Pakistan border
Satellite imagery has captured hundreds of farm-fire hotspots across Pakistan's Punjab, Indian Punjab and Haryana. Smoke from stubble burning, carried by sluggish northwesterly winds, is worsening pollution across the northern plains. The fire activity comes at a critical time for Delhi-NCR, where air quality has deteriorated as smoke from agricultural fires combines with other pollution sources.
$440 bn adaptation gap needs innovation to unlock: McKinsey
Over half of a $690 billion annual climate adaptation opportunity remains deployment-unready due to demand and financing barriers, says McKinsey Global Institute. Innovation to reduce costs could unlock $440 billion worth of measures by 2050, especially for extreme heat and drought solutions in lower-income regions. Global adaptation spending must rise from $190 billion to $1.2 trillion annually.
NITI Aayog, TEXMiN sign pact to boost critical minerals ecosystem
NITI Aayog and TEXMiN signed a Statement of Intent to strengthen India's critical mineral ecosystem. The collaboration covers research, technology development, policy support, and capacity building. It aligns with the National Critical Mineral Mission and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. The SoI was signed during NITI Aayog Member Gobardhan Das's visit to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on October 31.
NTPC targets 149 GW capacity by 2032, eyes 30 GW nuclear
NTPC plans to expand its installed power capacity from 91 GW to 149 GW by 2032, adding ~58 GW across energy sources. CMD Gurdeep Singh, speaking at KPMG ENRich 2026, also revealed a 30 GW nuclear target by 2037, with feasibility studies completed in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. Notably, the power demand rose by 21% in October.
Brain-dead accident victim's organs to save 4–5 lives in MP
A brain-dead road accident victim's family in Jabalpur, MP, has consented to organ donation. Two green corridors are being set up to transport the heart and liver to CIMS Hospital, Ahmedabad, via chartered flight. Kidneys will be transplanted locally. This marks the first-ever heart retrieval from Jabalpur, with organs expected to save 4–5 lives.
Earlier bedtime linked to weight loss in prediabetes: Study
Going to bed earlier may help people with prediabetes lose weight, according to a study by NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. The study found that adding sleep coaching to a diabetes prevention programme improved sleep quality and reduced daytime sleepiness but didn't affect blood sugar levels. The findings suggest sleep timing could be a promising target for weight loss.
NASA's simulated Mars mission crew emerges after 378 days in isolation
Four crew members who took part in NASA's simulated Mars mission have emerged after spending 378 days in isolation at the US space agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. They entered a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat on October 19, 2025. Their tasks included growing crops in simulated Martian soil and communicating with NASA officials through delays mimicking interplanetary communication.
Vitamin C during pregnancy supports early brain development: Study
An Oregon Health & Science University study suggested that additional vitamin C intake during pregnancy may support infants' emotional well-being. Researchers found that pregnant women experiencing higher stress tend to consume less vitamin C, potentially increasing their kids' risk of mental health disorders. Vitamin C supplements during pregnancy could help reduce this risk, the study added.