Shux prepping for homecoming: SpaceX readies Dragon for Monday undocking
WHEN WILL UNDOCKING HAPPEN? The Dragon spacecraft will undock from the ISS on July 14 at 4:35 pm IST.Shukla, who has been aboard the ISS for nearly two weeks as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), has captured the imagination of millions across India.His journey marks a significant milestone for Indian space exploration and has inspired a new generation of space enthusiasts. FINAL DAYS IN ORBITAhead of the scheduled return, the four astronauts are busy at work as they rush to finsh up experiments after a brief off-duty.After a day off, astronaut Peggy Whitson led the crew through a busy schedule of science aboard the International Space Station.Shux worked on the microalgae experiment, managing samples that could one day provide food, oxygen, and fuel for deep space missions.Tibor assisted with the Fruit Fly DNA Repair study, offering insights into how radiation affects genetic health. He also led a fluid dynamics experiment, simulating planetary weather patterns like Saturn's polar hexagon.
His journey marks a significant milestone for Indian space exploration. (Photo: Axiom)
The crew advanced the Voyager Displays study on eye movement in space and wore VR headsets for the Neuromotion experiment, which tracks how microgravity affects stress, motor skills, and attention.Tibor harvested crops from the VITAPRIC plant study, while the ENPERCHAR project explored how astronauts perceive their environment.Data on cerebral blood flow and radiation levels were also collected. Cognitive tests and brain activity monitoring supported research into neuroadaptive technologies for future missions and Earth-based medicine.The crew is now preparing to store their experiments and studies in the cargo bay of the Dragon spacecraft to return home with them.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Ranveer Singh In Early Talks For Time Travel Film With Dinesh Vijan, Amit Sharma: Report
Last Updated: Ranveer Singh is in talks for a time travel film with Dinesh Vijan and Amit Ravindranath Sharma, blending sci-fi and Indian mythology. Ranveer Singh, currently riding high with multiple high-profile projects on his slate, may soon be venturing into the sci-fi genre. According to a new report, the actor is in early discussions for a time travel-based film with producer Dinesh Vijan and director Amit Ravindranath Sharma, known for Badhaai Ho and Maidaan. The project is said to blend elements of science fiction with Indian mythology. A source close to the development told Pinkvilla, 'Ranveer has heard the plot and liked the world that Dinesh Vijan and Amit Ravindranath Sharma are looking to create. It's a one-of-its-kind time travel film, that's deeply rooted against the backdrop of Indian Mythology." While Singh has shown keen interest in the concept, the project is still in its very early stages. 'However, he is yet to sign the dotted lines. The things are in very nascent stages, and the final script is also not in place at the moment. It's an idea, which holds potential, and Ranveer has shown his interest to step into this new world, once it is completely ready to roll. Dinesh Vijan and Amit Sharma are jamming to develop a proper screenplay at the moment on this idea of time travel," the source further added. The actor was recently spotted at the Maddock Films office, sparking speculation about a new collaboration. Meanwhile, Singh has a busy year ahead. He is currently wrapping up Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, which is targeting a December 2025 release. Following that, he will dive into Don 3, directed by Farhan Akhtar, with filming expected to begin in January. Besides these, Singh is also reportedly attached to a zombie-themed film being developed by Jai Mehta. Both that project and the time travel film remain in the writing and development stages for now. As per the source, 'It's an ambitious big budget film, and the things on the casting front will be clear by the end of 2025. As we speak, the writing work is underway and the team intends to do more meetings with the actor once he is done shooting for Dhurandhar." First Published: July 26, 2025, 08:36 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Scroll.in
2 hours ago
- Scroll.in
‘Nalanda': Insights into ancient Indian practices of debate and argument
India was home to one of the world's oldest 'university-like' institutions, if not a university in the modern sense. The statement, however, reflects presentism, imposing contemporary meanings in the past. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to assume that Nalanda Mahavihara was a unique ancient institution of higher education with no other contemporary institution matching its excellence. Although Takshashila was an older, renowned institution on the Indian subcontinent, the intellectual contributions of Nalanda Mahavihara have had a far greater and fundamental impact on the modern and contemporary world. The global transmigration and diffusion of ideas from Nalanda is well documented and visible in our life-world. A modern spirit The recent title Nalanda: How It Changed the World by Abhay K captures the story and impact of the Nalanda Mahavihara on the modern idea and architecture of the university, along with an advanced scientific understanding of the world we live in. The book modifies the presentist approach by putting it upside down, and explains the idea and architecture of the modern university as a product of an intellectual and architectural movement initiated by the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara. Abhay K highlights the aspects of Nalanda that identify with the modern spirit of scientific enquiry and knowledge creation. Certain systems of enquiry and knowledge systems developed at the Mahavihara are still integral to the understanding and evolution of our material and spiritual surroundings. The book takes us into the ancient origins and evolution of Nalanda, its culmination as a Mahavihara, and the sad decline and destruction of an institution that was once the fulcrum of the most advanced and revolutionary ideas known to humankind. It is not a coincidence that the emergence of Nalanda Mahavihara took place in the suburbs of the most powerful capital city in northern India, given the symbiotic relationship between knowledge and political power. The book captures that Rajagriha (Rajgir in contemporary Bihar) was already a seat of power and knowledge before the development of Nalanda as the highest seat of learning and research. The city was known for the time spent in it by the greats – Jain Mahavira, Gautam Buddha and a number of other philosophers with different worldviews, including the heterodox Ajivakas and Lokayatis. The increasing political power and imperial ambitions of the city engaged and patronised the finest of scholars and philosophers from around the known world. The city emerged as a seat where a victory in debate established the prowess of a scholar. With the passage of time and the increase in the scale of the city and its political engagements, the political powers in Rajagriha decided to develop the nearby Nalanda village as the seat of knowledge, intellectual power and legitimacy. The book illustrates a couple of incidents when scholars from the southern part of the Indian Subcontinent came to seek recognition and livelihood through debate and became an integral part of Nalanda. Although Nalanda, as the known Mahavihara (university), emerged in the 5th century CE during the Guptas, King Ashoka had initiated it as a centre of Buddhist excellence with the establishment of a monastery. The Buddhist outlook, however, did not mean exclusion from other philosophical discourses as they thrived in the teachings, debates and scholarship on campus in Nalanda after the 5th century CE. This seat of knowledge stimulated the intellect and kindled the imaginations of the best minds of its time till its unfortunate decline and destruction. The book traces the trajectory that marks receding patronage, increased influence of rituals and the tantric Vajrayana Buddhism rather than the initial contemplative and scientific spirit in the later life of the institution. Nalanda attracted invaders who saw and equated it as the beacon of power of the emperors-in-charge. The ultimate blow was given by Bakhtiyar Khalji after which the university never returned and went into oblivion until its rediscovery. Multidisciplinary knowledge The book has taken a different approach from that of the historians. The author's mission through this is to highlight and tell the world the story of the seminal contributions that Nalanda Mahavihara made through its network of scholars and institutions established by them. Reading the book gives an insight into the ancient Indian culture of debate and argument that respected knowledge and treated it as a product of merit, mutual interaction and a heritage of humankind. Several important lessons may also be taken on the organisation, funding and the purposes of a university, as a few illustrations in the book are to be noted. The book refers to the recursive argumentation, inter and multidisciplinarity as the popular academic approaches at the Nalanda University. The recursive method, extensively used at Nalanda, is relevant to the exercise of establishing general principles and scientific theory building and testing in our times – primarily in computer science, logic and mathematics, to list a few. Multidisciplinarity at Nalanda was so important that the prestige and status of a scholar was judged not merely by the depth of knowledge but primarily by the hold, understanding and extent of the scholar's knowledge in various and multiple disciplines. The book notes that there was no violence among the students and scholars of different debating sects and schools at the Nalanda campus. This is remarkable as this academic ideal still inspires the best of the universities in the world. The book is a revelation of the global influence of Nalanda across time. It records the scholarly luminaries at Nalanda and the contributions of India and its intellectual network that looked towards Nalanda for learning and inspiration. The contributions of ancient Nalanda in the study of architecture, medicine, logic, mathematics, ophthalmology, art, language, translation, grammar, script, religion and book-culture are incomparable. The global footprints of the idea of Nalanda and its intellectual traditions are visible in the reverence it receives through the names of the institutions like Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science (US), Nalanda Monastery (France), Institut Tibetan Nalanda (Brussels), Nalandaram Retreat Centre (Brazil), Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre in Singapore and many more in other parts of the world. One of the not-so-visible and taken-for-granted footprints is structurally embedded in our computing systems, algebra and calculus, which cannot exist as they are without the 'zero' invented at Nalanda. At Nalanda, along with philosophy, there were many firsts in the field of mathematics and astronomy – like attributing sunlight as the source of moonshine, the earth rotates around its axis and many applications of trigonometric functions of spherical geometry. The book illustrates that the ancient world might not have globalised in the modern meaning of the word but knowledge and ideas were already a global product, Nalanda Mahavihara being the most important centre of dissemination pertaining to its seminal and transforming conceptual breakthroughs in science and philosophy. These ideas travelled to other parts of Asia and later to the West, whose scientific knowledge is built on some of the strong and essential foundations that the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara has contributed to the global body of knowledge. Nalanda was a magnet attracting curious scholars, appreciated merit and encouraged a spirit of enquiry that made its research faculty and facilities the most advanced in the world. Nalanda transformed the world with its ideas, and the impact has become part of our modern daily lives. The trajectory of the rise and fall of the spirit of scepticism and enquiry and the state of the art research, corresponds with the rise and fall of the great Mahavihara. All universities in the world may take a lesson or two from the history, architecture and legacy of Nalanda to transform the world further for the good of humankind. Nalanda: How it Changed the World is a capsule to revive that spirit. Saurabh Mishra is a Research Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
We fund academic centres at IIT, and work long-term for creating impact: Rahul Mehta, founder, Mehta Family Foundation
Rahul Mehta is the founder of the Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), which partners with IITs to establish new academic centres offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programmes, along with support for research. Established in 1996 and headquartered in Texas, USA, the Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation was established by Rahul and his siblings in memory of their parents. The foundation has set up centres or schools at various IITs. Among them are the School of Biosciences at IIT Madras, Centre for Engineering in Medicine at IIT Kanpur, the School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IIT Guwahati, the School of Health Sciences and Technology at IIT Guwahati, the School of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence at IIT Palakkad and IIT Roorkee. They have also recently launched the School of Sustainability and the School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Indore. MFF works with IITs in the areas of infrastructure, curriculum, professorships, conferences, joint research projects, faculty visits, and scholarship programmes. They also work on building collaboration between their schools at IIT and international universities. Rahul spoke to on MFF's journey, the opportunities for growth of IITs, his experiences working with them, and the way forward for Indian research and innovation. Edited excerpts: Venkatesh Kannaiah: Could you tell us about yourself and the foundation? Rahul Mehta: I was born in Bombay and moved to the United States at a very young age. I was the first in our family to pursue higher education overseas in the US, and the experience was transformative. Over the years, I founded and built four software startups. These ventures gave me not only financial independence but also a sense of responsibility to give back to society. I established the foundation to honour my parents, and it is a family endeavour; my brothers and sisters are deeply involved, and we operate from Houston, Texas. Our mission is to create opportunities through education and innovation, particularly in areas that can drive long-term societal impact. Venkatesh Kannaiah: Tell us about your work with IITs in India, and what is different about your collaboration with them? Rahul Mehta: Our engagement with IITs began with a vision to address gaps in India's higher education, and our first initiative was funding a project at IIT Madras. At the time, India was already a powerhouse in computer science, producing global giants like Infosys and TCS. However, I saw a significant disparity when comparing Indian academia to its American counterparts. In the US, particularly in the early 2000s, about 50 per cent of academic research was focused on biological sciences; fields like biotechnology, bioinformatics, and bioengineering. In contrast, most IITs were heavily skewed toward computer science and traditional engineering disciplines, with little emphasis on biology-related programmes. This led to the creation of the School of Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT Madras in February 2006. Our goal was to introduce a curriculum that exposed Indian students to the engineering aspects of biology. It was a pioneering effort — the first programme of its kind at an IIT. What makes our approach unique is our focus on impact over mere financial contribution. To achieve our goals, we don't just fund projects; we actively shape them. We work closely with IITs to design curricula, bring in global expertise, and foster collaborations that elevate the quality of education and research. That is the core of our model — active engagement to maximise impact. Venkatesh Kannaiah: How is your approach different from a typical philanthropy model? Rahul Mehta: Our approach is not the 'write a cheque and walk away' model. It is about getting deeply involved in the process. When we fund a programme, it's not a one-off transaction; it is a commitment to ensure that the centre is impactful. To build a world-class academic centre, you need more than just funding. You need a curriculum that reflects global standards, good faculty, and opportunities for students to engage with cutting-edge research. We facilitate all of this. For instance, we have a team of advisors/experts from institutions like Purdue and UC San Diego, who help design curricula. We also organise conferences and workshops, bringing together Indian and international academics to share knowledge and spark innovation. We funded the School of Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT Madras in 2006, and even after more than 20 years, our relationship remains strong. They regularly consult us, invite us to participate in their planning, and involve us in their initiatives. Venkatesh Kannaiah: Why IITs and why these themes? Rahul Mehta: The decision to focus on IITs stemmed from personal familiarity and their reputation. My sister graduated from an IIT, which gave me early exposure to them. IITs attract India's brightest students and some of the best undergraduate talent in the world. Our initial focus was on biosciences and bioengineering, later followed by a Center for Engineering in Medicine at IIT Kanpur and the School of Health Science and Technology at IIT Guwahati. In 2017, we recognised artificial intelligence (AI) as the next frontier. I wrote a paper urging IITs to prioritise AI, as it was becoming a transformative force globally. At the time, AI was not as mainstream as it is now. ChatGPT's release in 2022 brought it into the spotlight, but we saw its potential early. We funded AI schools at IIT Guwahati, Roorkee, and Palakkad, focusing on domain-specific applications like AI in healthcare, material science, and chemical engineering. The third pillar of our strategy is sustainability. India faces significant environmental challenges, such as maintaining food security in the face of climate change. Biosciences, AI, and sustainability are interconnected fields that, when combined, can produce groundbreaking innovations. Venkatesh Kannaiah: What have been your learnings from your collaboration with the IITs? Rahul Mehta: While the quality of IIT undergraduates is good, the challenge is to expose them to cutting-edge technologies and global perspectives. Second, we have learned that Indian research needs to evolve. While India produces many PhDs, the focus should shift toward interdisciplinary, globally collaborative research that drives innovation. We have a team of advisors through our MFF CARE Initiative — Collaborative for Academic Research and Excellence, where we tap into a network of thousands of Indian-origin professors in the US who are eager to contribute to India. Our foundation facilitates these collaborations, connecting Indian academics with global experts. Venkatesh Kannaiah: Can you give us some idea of the number of students who have graduated from your centres? Rahul Mehta: Across all our programmes, we have created capacity for 3,000 students, including 1,500 BTech and 1,500 Master's and PhD students. This is significant, as our efforts have added more capacity than some newer IITs, like Palakkad or Tirupati, which have around 1,800 students. Over the past five years, approximately 10,000 students have graduated, with 2,500 BTechs and over 3,000 currently enrolled. That's the kind of scale we are talking about. Money is just one input. The time, energy, and expertise we invest in curriculum design, faculty support, and global collaborations are critical. Venkatesh Kannaiah: Tell us about what needs to change in the IITs. Rahul Mehta: IITs are doing a lot of things right; they attract good talent and produce graduates who excel globally. But to compete on the world stage, India needs to scale up. First, they need to increase capacity at each location from 2,000 students to 10,000 or more. Second, they need better leadership training and succession planning for directors, deans, and faculty. Some faculty should have the option to pursue administrative careers, as is the case in Western universities. Third, the research ecosystem needs to be more multidisciplinary and collaborative. Currently, Indian faculty often find it easier to collaborate internationally than within India. We need to foster a culture of teamwork across disciplines and institutions. Venkatesh Kannaiah: Can you tell us about any interesting tech innovations or interventions that have come out of your collaboration with IITs? Rahul Mehta: One standout example is the cancer biobank at IIT Madras, one of India's first. It collects tissue samples from local hospitals to study differences between Indian and Western cancers, addressing the unique Indian genome. This is critical because most drugs are tested on Western populations, and we need to understand how they work for Indians. At IIT Madras, researchers have created models to help doctors figure out how old a baby is inside the womb during pregnancy. This is helpful as about half of pregnant women in India miss their first checkup. These models are designed specifically for an Indian context and are now being used in hospitals in Tamil Nadu and at army hospitals. At IIT Madras, researchers have created a special reference genome, like a genetic map, using DNA from 10,000 healthy people across 83 different groups in India. They used this to build a genomegraph, which helps make custom genetic maps for different Indian communities. This project is a digital public good, and it is freely available to help doctors and researchers find India-specific disease patterns. We are also working on a Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas, and we plan to host India-specific cancer genomic data for various cancers prevalent in India. At IIT Kanpur, our Centre is making progress in prostate cancer research, with results that could lead to new treatments. We have developed patented solutions for cancers, blood disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders and are partnering with companies to bring these innovations to the market. Researchers have invented a special kind of insulin that stays stable even at high temperatures. This discovery of thermostable insulin has led to several research papers and patents. We have also developed a Brain-Machine Interface for restoring hand movements in patients paralysed by stroke, in collaboration with NIMHANS Bengaluru. At IIT Roorkee, we have been focusing on innovative, AI-driven, urban mobility transportation solutions and have successfully launched a few products. Researchers at the centre have also developed a new method called Zero-Shot Knowledge Distillation (ZSKD), which is an easier way to make smaller, faster machine learning models without needing the original training data, which is often kept private or secret for safety or business reasons. This groundbreaking method has found a mention in over 300 research papers. Venkatesh Kannaiah: What are your thoughts on the university-research-innovation ecosystem in India? Rahul Mehta: The ecosystem has potential but needs improvement. India funds a large number of PhDs, which is a strength, but the focus needs to be on impactful research. Indian faculty also need to collaborate more within the country, not just internationally. It is about translating research into economic and social benefits. Venkatesh Kannaiah: Where is the Mehta Family Foundation headed 10 years from now? Rahul Mehta: I hope to expand our reach to support 10,000 students, up from 3,000 today, in cutting-edge fields like AI, robotics, global health, and sustainability. Venkatesh Kannaiah: What are your three asks from the government? Rahul Mehta: First, dramatically increase educational capacity to provide opportunities for more students. Second, promote research collaboration, both within India and globally, to drive innovation. Third, focus on translating research into economic prosperity and social impact by creating jobs.
