Putin's 'Hunt & Kill' Continues; Russia Wipes Out 100+ Mercenaries In Brutal Strike On Sumy's Military Ground
'Namaskar mere deshwasiyon… Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!' With these emotional words, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history from orbit, becoming the first Indian in 41 years to enter space. Speaking from aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, shortly after separation from the Falcon-9 rocket, Shukla proudly said the tricolour is on his shoulder, symbolizing the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians. Launching at 12:01 pm IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Axiom-4 mission overcame last-minute tech glitches to lift off successfully. Shukla joins three other astronauts—including Commander Peggy Whitson—in a 14-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS). Calling it not just his mission, but the start of India's human spaceflight era, Shukla's voice from space has ignited national pride. This is more than science—it's a legacy reborn.#shubhanshushukla #jaihindfromspace #indiaisspace #axiom4launch #humanflightindia #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
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NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Exclusive - Biology Beyond Earth: How Space Station Is Shaping Human Life in Space
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is visiting a home away from Earth that has seen continuous human presence for a quarter of a century and is floating around 400 kilometres above Earth. For most millennials, the idea of humans living and working in space has been a constant reality. Since November 2000, the International Space Station (ISS), a football-field-sized laboratory orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, has hosted a continuous human presence. But beyond the awe of astronauts floating in microgravity, the ISS has quietly become one of the most important biological laboratories in human history. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, influential NASA biologist Dr Sharmila Bhattacharya shared how two decades of biological research aboard the ISS are not only preparing us for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars but also transforming our understanding of human health on Earth. A Living Lab in Orbit "The first few years were about building the station," Dr Bhattacharya explained. "But for the last 15 to 20 years, we've been doing very active science as an international community." That science spans a wide range of biological disciplines. Researchers studied how spaceflight affects muscle loss, bone density, cardiovascular health, immune function, and even kidney-stone formation. These studies are essential because space is an extreme microgravity environment, radiation and isolation take a toll on the human body. And yet, astronauts have not only survived but thrived. "They go fit and come back fit," said Dr. Bhattacharya. "But that's because they're some of the fittest people on Earth and follow strict exercise and diet regimens." The Brain in Space One of the most fascinating areas of research has been the effect of spaceflight on the brain. Dr Bhattacharya's team used fruit flies, Drosophila, as a model organism to study neurological changes. "We found that in space, there were definite effects on the brain," she said. To test whether these effects could be mitigated, her team created artificial gravity using a centrifuge aboard the ISS. "We were able to partially reverse some of the defects we saw in the nervous system," she noted. This has major implications for future missions, especially those lasting years, such as a round trip to Mars. Preparing for Mars A journey to Mars could take six to nine months one way, with astronauts staying for several months before returning. That means humans will need to survive in deep space for up to two years, facing elevated radiation and reduced gravity. "The ISS has taught us a lot about microgravity," Dr Bhattacharya said. "But the Moon has one-sixth Earth's gravity, and Mars has one-third. We need to understand how partial gravity affects biology." A recent collaboration between NASA and the Japanese Space Agency used mice to study biological changes under different gravity levels-Earth, Moon, Mars, and microgravity. "It was a really interesting experiment," she said, adding that "because it helped identify thresholds where certain biological systems begin to change." Plants in Space: More Than Just Food Beyond human biology, the ISS has also become a greenhouse in orbit. Astronauts have successfully grown lettuce, tomatoes, and other crops. "Some of the tomatoes were very well appreciated by the crew," Dr. Bhattacharya said. Plant habitats on the ISS are not just functional; they are emotional anchors. "They're well-lit, so when crew members celebrate birthdays or holidays, they often gather near the plants. It's like the beautiful garden in space." These experiments are crucial for future missions, where astronauts will need to grow their food. They also help scientists understand how plants respond to microgravity, which could lead to agricultural innovations back on Earth. The Microbial Frontier Space is also a frontier for microbiology. Dr Bhattacharya's team studied how bacteria behave in space and found that some, like Serratia marcescens, became more virulent after spaceflight. "They killed fruit flies faster than bacteria that hadn't gone to space," she said. Interestingly, this increased pathogenicity disappeared when the bacteria were grown again on Earth. "We wanted to understand the molecular biology behind that change and what made them more dangerous in space," she explained. "These enclosed environments give us insights into microbial ecosystems, not just in space but also in places like submarines or hospitals on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. Astronauts as Test Subjects Over 600 astronauts have flown to space, many of them to the ISS. Their bodies have become invaluable data sources. 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Why It Matters for Earth While the focus is often on preparing for Mars, the benefits of space biology are already being felt on Earth. From understanding immune responses to developing better exercise regimens, the research done in orbit is improving healthcare on the ground. "Basic biology helps us understand not just how to live in space, but how to live better on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. A New Age of Exploration As humanity looks beyond Earth, the ISS stands as a testament to what international cooperation and scientific curiosity can achieve. It has been a proving ground for the biology of the future where humans may one day live on the Moon, Mars, or even beyond. And thanks to scientists like Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya, we're not just dreaming about that future, we're building it, one fruit fly at a time.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Shubhanshu's SpaceTime moment: Astronaut gives cosmic tour to kin
Lucknow: In his first video interaction with his family after reaching the International Space Station, astronaut shared the excitement and intrigues of his cosmic sojourn and showed them a sunrise from space. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "He showed us the sunrise from the spacecraft window, his sleeping spot, and the food he eats. I feel so proud that my son has reached this milestone. It's a beautiful feeling," said a beaming Asha Shukla. Shubhanshu spoke to his parents and sisters Shukla over a video call setup through laptop, making it a virtual gathering through tele bridge connection. "It was a sunrise like no other, seen not from a hilltop or a plane, but from miles away above the Earth. Watching it from the window of the spacecraft was something he wanted to share with us. It was not just a view, it was a moment that made us realise how far he has gone, how much he has achieved, and how connected we still are despite the distance. It's a feeling I cannot put into words, but it fills us with pride and wonder," said his father Shambhu Dayal Shukla. "Initially, he had some problems adjusting, but now he seems completely fine. He told us about all the important work he's doing. We never imagined our son would reach such heights. We feel blessed," added Shambhu Dayal. The Lucknow boy gave his family a tour of the space station. "It was absolutely mesmerizing. We were awe-struck seeing Earth's curved horizon, its peripheral glow, and that deep, rich blue shade you just cannot imagine until you see it. It was not just a view, it was this emotional moment of realising his success. We are happy to see he is healthy," said his sister Shuchi Mishra. The family members said they are eagerly waiting for his return. Shubhanshu, an alumnus of City Montessori School, is the second Indian astronaut after Rakesh Sharma to go in space.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
BSI records 245 new species of plants
1 2 Kolkata: The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) reported the addition of 433 new taxa to the Indian flora in 2024, including 245 new species and 188 new distributional records. These findings were published in the latest volume of Plant Discoveries 2024, released by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav during the inauguration of the Animal Taxonomic Summit. The minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, inaugurated the newly developed Plant Taxonomy Section at the Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah on Friday. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The open-air display features over 500 plant species from 175 families. Each plant group, arranged scientifically, is tagged with QR codes, offering instant access to scientific names, ecological data and distribution maps. During his visit, the minister planted a Sindoor plant (Bixa orellana L.) under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. The plantation was dedicated to Operation Sindoor, a tribute to the valour of India's Armed Forces.
