Indian astronaut Shubhanshu to experiment with Kerala-developed seeds in space
The main aim of the experiment with seeds is to examine how space conditions such as micro-gravity impact the germination, growth, and viability of food crop seeds. Since the conditions in the ISS are limited, the experiment would identify factors that can help in the development of crops in restricted environments.
The experiment is the brainchild of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, (IIST), established by ISRO. The seeds were developed by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) in its various centres. The European Space Agency has also partnered in the project for its technical aspects.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
CUET results out: Students aim for top varsities outside state
Kochi: National Testing Agency ( ) declared results of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) on Friday, enabling students to secure admission to undergraduate programmes in various universities across the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Since the Central University of Kerala is the only institution in the state participating in CUET-based admissions, most students are eyeing top universities outside state. Although the statewide breakup of the data was not made available, among the 10,71,735 students who appeared for the examinations from across the country, 544 students opted to write the exam in Malayalam, according to data released by the NTA. Out of these, 406 students took the examinations for an undergraduate degree in Malayalam, with the highest NTA score recorded at 238 for the subject. The examination was held in computer-based test mode from May 13 to June 4 and was conducted across 300 cities in 13 different languages, including Malayalam. Although a detailed state-wise breakdown was not provided, it is evident that the number of students from Kerala was relatively low compared to those from North Indian states. "In science subjects like Biology and Chemistry, several students secured full marks, and in English, many scored over 98 percent," said Benson Varghese, a teacher at Brilliant Pala. "Since I was thorough with my Class XII subjects, the exams were relatively easy for me. I scored full marks in Biology and look forward to pursuing an undergraduate degree from ," said Johannes John Illickan, a native of Kanjikkuzhy, Kottayam.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Soundcheck! Shux, crew lend voice to help train AI on Earth
In the hushed corridors of the International Space Station (ISS), where human voices float as weightlessly as the bodies that carry them, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his Ax-4 crewmates are helping decode the science of sound in space — quite literally. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Ax-4 crew recently lent their voices to the 'Voice in Space' study, a pioneering experiment investigating how microgravity alters human speech. Without gravity's usual pull on the lungs, diaphragm, and vocal tract, even subtle changes in vocal fold vibration or tone can occur. Using electroglottography — a non-invasive technique used to measure vocal fold contact during voice production — sensors and a series of scripted vocal tasks, researchers are capturing these shifts to understand how spaceflight affects speech patterns and cognition. Training AI on Earth The aim? To train artificial intelligence systems that can one day monitor astronaut health in real time — and perhaps even enhance voice-based AI technologies back on Earth. This study blends physiology, acoustics, and machine learning. 'This experiment seeks to determine whether the influenced voice pattern and listening capabilities of the participant might be able to be detected by an AI algorithm. Vocal characteristics of an ISS crew member can change in a zero-gravity, and after undergoing cognitive function changes. Measurements of vocal fold vibration provide a quantitative indication of vocal fold function,' as per Axiom Space. Scripted voice audio recordings — reading, singing, vowel enunciation, audio pitch matching— allow for tonal analysis, Axiom said, adding that these data allow the investigator to test and analyse vocal performance and voice pattern changes in space and then evaluate how space journey influences the human voice. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now UltraSound & fabric study But sound wasn't the only thing on the crew's mind. Alongside the voice study, they completed multiple sessions of the 'Cerebral Hemodynamics' investigation — an exploration into how blood flows through the brain in a zero-gravity environment. Without gravity pulling fluids downward, astronauts often experience a fluid shift towards the head. By using ultrasound to monitor these changes, scientists hope to develop better diagnostic tools for cardiovascular and neurological conditions — tools that could serve both astronauts and patients on Earth suffering from stroke, dizziness, or fainting. Also on the roster of the Ax-4 crew is the 'Suit Fabric Study', a technology demonstration examining how clothing behaves in space. This isn't just about comfort — it's about performance. The crew wore sensor-equipped garments during exercise to observe how heat and moisture are managed when convection is no longer at play. 'The findings could inform the design of next-generation space suits — and inspire innovations in thermal wear on Earth, from sports gear to medical textiles,' Axiom added.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Gp Capt. Shukla shares experience of life aboard ISS with students
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had a brief interaction with students who had gathered at the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) here on Friday. He interacted with the student community via ham radio which lasted about 10 minutes. The interaction overseen by the Amateur Radio on the ISS (ARISS) saw the participation of approximately 70 students who posed questions on the Indian astronauts journey to the space station and daily routine in the orbiting laboratory. 'One-and-a-half days (journey to the ISS) and thereafter you get to see the ISS... It was very exciting to see and the entire process of how the capsule approaches the station and then positions itself right in line with the docking port and thereafter goes ahead and docks into the port. It was a very, very exciting moment for me,' Gp Capt. Shukla said replying to a question. His Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) was launched on June 25, 2025, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After a 28-and-a-half-hour journey on the ISS Dragon spacecraft, Gp Capt. Shukla and other crew members reached ISS. He also spoke about the complex docking process. 'So when we landed in the space station, there were two crew members who were able to reach the docking port. And thereafter you get to see the International Space Station, which is going to be your home for the next 14 days,' he said. The Gp Capt. also spoke about the experiments he has been conducting in the space station and how sleeping is a challenge there. 'We have to tie our sleeping bags,' he said.
