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NDTV
11 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Muscles, Microbes, And Microgravity: India's First Biology Experiments In Space
New Delhi: India has taken its first bold steps into space biology with a series of pioneering experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), as part of the Axiom-4 mission-referred to by some as Mission Akash Ganga. These experiments, conducted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, mark a significant milestone in India's scientific and technological journey, exploring how biological systems behave in microgravity and radiation-rich environments. At the heart of this initiative is the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the leadership of Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of DBT. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Dr Gokhale described the mission as a "floating lab in space" that will help India understand biological adaptability in ways never tested before. The experiments are designed to explore fundamental questions about human health, sustainability, and bio-manufacturing in space. Muscle Stem Cell Regeneration In Microgravity One of the flagship experiments led by DBT focuses on skeletal muscle stem cells. Conducted by the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem) in Bengaluru, this study investigates how microgravity affects the regeneration of muscle tissue. In space, the absence of gravitational force leads to muscle and bone mass reduction, a phenomenon well-documented in astronauts. Dr Gokhale explained that the experiment will compare muscle stem cell behaviour in space with those grown under Earth conditions. The goal is to understand whether the regenerative capacity of these cells is compromised in microgravity. This research could have far-reaching implications - not only for astronaut health during long-duration missions but also for treating age-related muscle degeneration and diseases like muscular dystrophy on Earth. The experiment explores the role of mitochondria - the powerhouse of the cell - in maintaining muscle health. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a known contributor to muscle loss. DBT scientists are testing two compounds: dihydrofolate and a thiol-containing amino acid, both known to enhance mitochondrial function. By supplementing these chemicals in space-grown muscle cells, researchers aim to determine whether mitochondrial regeneration can be achieved in microgravity. If successful, this could lead to new therapeutic strategies for muscle recovery in space and on Earth, particularly for conditions like sarcopenia and cachexia. Edible Microalgae Cultivation One DBT-led experiment involves growing edible microalgae in space. Conducted by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Delhi, this study examines how three species of microalgae adapt to space conditions. These algae are photosynthetic organisms that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen - making them ideal candidates for life support systems in space. Dr Gokhale emphasised the dual benefits of this experiment: oxygen generation and food production. Microalgae could serve as bio-regenerators in future missions like Gaganyaan, replacing traditional chemical-based systems like zeolites. Their ability to grow continuously and be consumed makes them a sustainable solution for long-term space habitation. Cyanobacteria For Nutrient Recycling Another innovative experiment focuses on cyanobacteria, known for their ability to recycle nutrients. Human urine, rich in urea and nitrogen, presents a challenge in closed-loop space environments. This study investigates how cyanobacteria assimilate nitrogen from both organic (urea) and inorganic (nitrate) sources. The aim is to convert waste into usable resources-a concept Dr Gokhale described as "waste to wealth in space". Understanding how these bacteria function in microgravity could lead to efficient nutrient recycling systems for future space stations and planetary habitats. Seed Sprouting And Crop Growth India is also conducting experiments on seed sprouting, involving crops like fenugreek (methi) and moong or green gram. These seeds are being grown in space to observe changes in growth patterns and microbial interactions. Although the sprouted seeds will not be consumed by Mr Shukla, they will be returned to Earth for detailed analysis. This experiment is part of a broader effort to understand how Indian crop varieties respond to space conditions. It could pave the way for space farming and food security in extra-terrestrial environments. Eye Function And Screen Exposure While not directly under DBT, another experiment examines how prolonged exposure to screens affects eye function in space. Vision problems have been reported among astronauts, and this study aims to understand the physiological changes that occur in microgravity. It adds a critical dimension to astronaut health research. Water Bears (Tardigrades) Reproduction A particularly intriguing experiment involves tardigrades, microscopic organisms known for their resilience. Researchers are studying their reproductive cycle in space, specifically whether they can lay and hatch eggs under microgravity conditions. This could offer insights into how complex biological processes like reproduction are affected by space environments. Seeds For Genetic Analysis India is also sending seeds of various crop varieties to space, not for growth but for genetic analysis upon return. This experiment, though previously conducted by other nations, carries an Indian signature and aims to understand how space exposure affects genetic traits. Implications For Bio-Manufacturing And Policy These experiments align with India's Bio-E3 policy - Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment - approved by the Cabinet and championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr Gokhale highlighted that DBT's collaboration with ISRO is part of a long-term roadmap extending to 2040. The insights gained from these studies could revolutionise bio-manufacturing, especially in areas like carbon dioxide fixation and metabolic engineering. For example, algae used in space could be adapted to trap industrial emissions on Earth, offering sustainable solutions to climate challenges. A Vision For Viksit Bharat Dr Gokhale emphasised the transformative potential of cross-disciplinary science. From sports medicine to space biology, DBT is expanding its horizons to contribute to Viksit Bharat - a developed India. The department's pioneering role in biotechnology, from GM mustard to COVID vaccines, now extends to the final frontier, space. As India steps into the realm of space biology, these "baby steps" could soon become giant leaps, shaping the future of human health, sustainability, and innovation both in orbit and on Earth. India has big ambitions in space, from launching an Indian to space in 2027, having a space station by 2035 and landing an Indian on the moon by 2040. Group Captain Shukla has in fact laid the first firm footsteps for India's ambitious human space flight mission.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
How GPS interference threatens global transportation
A Delhi-Jammu flight was forced to turn back last week. Two tankers collided at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. A container ship ran aground near the port of Jeddah in May. All three mishaps had a common cause: GPS interference which, in recent years, has emerged as one of the biggest challenges for seafaring vessels and aircraft. What is GPS interference? GPS interference refers to spoofing or jamming, two types of deliberate cyber-attacks on Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, which disrupt or deceive vehicles' navigation systems. While both are often used synonymously with each other, spoofing and jamming refer to slightly different kinds of interference. GPS jamming, also known as GPS intervention, involves a device (jammer) emitting strong radio signals on GPS frequencies in order to overpower weaker signals. This disrupts the functioning of GPS systems by rendering receivers unable to determine location or time. GPS spoofing involves a device transmitting signals on the same frequencies used by GPS satellites, overwhelming or blocking the GPS receivers from acquiring or maintaining the right satellite signals. Unlike jamming, which disrupts signals entirely, spoofing deceives the receiver into trusting false data. Why is GPS interference dangerous? GPS interference can disrupt both military and civilian transport operations from afar, without physical confrontation. 'The risks are real and alarming. Spoofing can cause a pilot to misjudge the aircraft's position, increasing the chance of collisions with terrain or other aircraft,' Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale (retd), former vice-chief of Air Staff, told The Indian Express. 'For ships, the consequences of loss of situational awareness include groundings or collisions, disrupting entire maritime operations,' he said. In 2024, reports indicated up to 700 daily GPS spoofing incidents globally, highlighting the scale of the threat. For critical infrastructure, such as air traffic control, port operations, and VTS-vessel traffic systems, spoofing can cascade into broader systemic failures. 'GPS interference is not limited to air and water… With our increasing reliance on GPS navigation on roads, spoofing can cause havoc by triggering traffic jams and immobilising transport systems, especially in critical times as desired by an adversary or anyone with rogue intentions,' Air Marshal Gokhale added. Where are such incidents common? GPS interference can occur due to various reasons, not all of them malicious. These include electromagnetic radiation from nearby devices, adverse atmospheric conditions like ionospheric disturbances, solar activity (such as flares), and, of course, intentional jamming/spoofing. Most often, countries with advanced electronic warfare capabilities and involved in an active conflict are responsible. While interference may or may not be targeted at civilian vessels, those in the vicinity, relying on the same GPS infrastructure, are nonetheless susceptible. For instance, GPS interference has disrupted maritime navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Red sea amid ongoing conflicts throughout the region. Maritime tech consultancy Windward's Q1 2025 data show a 350% rise in spoofing incidents in the Red Sea alone compared to 2024–with some vessels having experienced sudden position jumps of hundreds of nautical miles. Such incidents have also been witnessed in Eastern Europe, amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. For aircraft, spoofing is one of the primary risks of being in the airspace of countries in war. 'This is one of the reasons for that air space being avoided by all aircraft during war. We immediately avoid these areas as a preventive measure,' said a former in-charge of safety with an airline. Russia was the first to experience a large-scale GPS spoofing attack in 2017, according to Captain Sachin Mundhra, COO Adani Karaikal Port, master mariner. 'In June 2017, more than 20 ships near Novorossiysk Port, Russia, reported sudden GPS errors — their navigation systems showed them miles inland at an airport. Investigation findings showed the ships' AIS (Automatic Identification System) displayed identical false positions. The analysis suggested a deliberate GPS spoofing attack,' he said. How do ships/aircraft mitigate risks of GPS interference and deal with the issue once detected? Aircraft experiencing GPS spoofing mid-air have to rely on alternative navigation systems. Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) are the primary backup: these use gyroscopes and accelerometers to track the aircraft's current position based on its last known location. VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) provide ground-based radio navigation, allowing pilots to further cross-check their position. Pilots can also use celestial navigation or dead reckoning (the process of calculating one's position by estimating the direction and distance travelled) in extreme cases, though these are less common in modern aviation. The Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), critical for precision approaches during landing, are unaffected by GPS spoofing. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has emphasised enhanced crew training. 'Pilots are also encouraged to listen carefully to the control room to pick up any chatter of suspected GPS spoofing and become immediately cautious of the possibility,' a former flight-safety official said. Modern ships typically run on auto-pilot: a course is assigned after which a GPS-based system autonomously determines control inputs to stay in course. During suspected spoofing, the ship's crew resorts to manual helm control-steering, with terrestrial navigation, which involves manual position fixing using land-based aids like lighthouses and radars, the immediate alternative to maintain situational awareness. Moreover, shipping companies are adopting multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) systems to mitigate against GPS interference. These use navigation systems of multiple countries to counter the digital threat — the United States' GPS, Russia's GLONASS, the European Union's Galileo, and China's Bei Dou, among others. Diversification is probably at the core of mitigating the risks of GPS interference. The Indian military has deployed the indigenous Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). NavIC is designed to provide precise positioning and timing services across India, and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders. 'During the 1999 Kargil war, India's request for the use of American GPS for information about positioning, timing & navigation of hostile forces was denied. Likewise, in 2009 and 2012, India's Brahmos missile failed to hit targets in trial operations as the US shut off GPS satellites without any warning. Such unsavoury incidents necessitated the need for NavIC. Its resilience and reliability were ably tested during Operation Sindhoor,' Air Marshal Gokhale said.
Mint
23-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Indias biotech sector grew nearly fivefold in past decade: DBT Secretary
New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI) India's biotechnology sector has expanded rapidly in the past decade, with its bioeconomy growing from USD 35.5 billion in 2014 to USD 165.7 billion in 2024, according to Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT). He said the sector is now aiming for a USD 300 billion target by 2030, as scientific advances begin to translate into industrial and public health gains. "Biotechnology is no longer a fringe discipline, it's now a strategic driver for India's economic and health priorities," Gokhale said at a press conference highlighting 11 years of DBT's achievements. Among the standout initiatives is GenomeIndia, a nationwide effort to sequence the genomes of 10,000 individuals from 99 population groups, he said. The data, released earlier this year, is expected to inform personalised medicine and help researchers develop diagnostics tailored to Indian populations. Gokhale also highlighted India's first in-human gene therapy trial using a lentiviral vector for Severe Hemophilia A. India's vaccine response, Gokhale said, demonstrated the capacity of the DBT-backed innovation ecosystem. Under "Mission COVID Suraksha", five COVID-19 vaccines developed with DBT support received emergency approvals, including GEMCOVAC-19, the world's first thermostable mRNA vaccine. Other products include the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine and CERVAVAC, India's first indigenous quadrivalent HPV vaccine, now part of the National Immunization Programme, according to document shared at the briefing. Indian scientists contributed to decoding the complex genome of bread wheat, a global staple crop, and published a reference genome with 94 per cent coverage. Other research showed how Mycobacterium tuberculosis can infect liver cells and undermine TB treatment efficacy, while a study on taurine levels suggested amino acid may influence aging. Gokhale said India's biotech startup landscape has changed dramatically, with over 10,000 startups now in the sector, up from a few hundred a decade ago. Over 800 biotech products have emerged in this period. Through BIRAC, DBT has helped set up 95 bio-incubators across 21 states. Infrastructure investments include India's first dedicated biomanufacturing institute in Mohali and vaccine testing labs notified as Central Drug Laboratories. Speed breeding facilities have also been established to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. The BioE3 policy, approved by the Cabinet in 2024, is aimed at fostering high-performance biomanufacturing aligned with Net Zero targets.
Scroll.in
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
TMC MP Saket Gokhale publicly apologises to ex-diplomat, 10 months after Delhi HC order
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Tuesday issued a public apology to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri in compliance with a July 2024 Delhi High Court order about a series of defamatory comments that he had posted on social media in 2021. In the apology, Gokhale said that a series of tweets that he put about Puri on June 13, 2021 and June 23, 2021 contained 'wrong and unverified allegations' about property that she had purchased. — Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) June 9, 2025 In July 2024, the Delhi High Court ruled that Gokhale made 'incorrect, false and untrue' allegations about Puri, including claims that she had purchased property in Switzerland with disproportionate assets. Puri had sued Gokhale, alleging that his social media posts were 'defamatory, malicious and based on false information'. In its verdict, the court had ordered Gokhale to apologise in a leading English daily and on his X handle. He was also directed to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages. Gokhale subsequently sought to recall the July 2024 order, arguing that it was issued ex parte, or in his absence, after his counsel stopped appearing. Meanwhile, Puri approached the High Court to demand that the order be enforced. She also filed a contempt of court case against Gokhale for not complying with the order. In response, Gokhale's lawyer proposed submitting an apology in a sealed cover until his plea challenging the High Court's order was decided. However, Justice Anish Dayal on May 9 dismissed the request and ordered Gokhale to issue a public apology in two weeks – or by May 23. After repeated non compliance, on May 28, the court issued a show cause notice to Gokhale asking why he should not be sent to jail for failing to comply with its orders. 'If you don't publish then we will issue orders of detention,' the court had said. Puri, a former assistant secretary-general at the United Nations and wife of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, had filed the defamation case in 2021. She argued that her reputation was tarnished by Gokhale's 'reckless and false allegations' regarding an apartment in Geneva. Gokhale had questioned how Puri could afford the property on her income as a former Indian Foreign Service officer on deputation to the UN Conference on Trade and Development. He had also tagged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in his posts, calling for an Enforcement Directorate inquiry in the matter.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
TMC MP Saket Gokhale issues public apology amid Delhi HC action on defamatory tweets
New Delhi [India], June 10 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Saket Gokhale on Tuesday publicly apologised to former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri for a series of defamatory tweets posted in June 2021 regarding her property purchase abroad. In his statement, shared on his official X account, Gokhale expressed regret for making wrong and unverified allegations and acknowledged the harm caused by his remarks. 'I unconditionally apologise for having put-out a series of tweets against Amb. Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri on 13th and 23rd June 2021, which tweets contained wrong and unverified allegations in relation to the purchase of property by Amb. Puri abroad, which I sincerely regret'- Saket Gokhale stated Gokhale's apology follows a Delhi High Court order requiring him to publicly apologise to Ms Puri. The court also barred him from making further remarks against the former diplomat, the wife of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. His apology follows recent legal action by the Delhi High Court, which issued a notice directing him to explain why he should not face civil imprisonment for failing to comply with a previous court order requiring him to apologise and pay Rs 50 lakh in damages. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, presiding over the hearing of an execution petition filed by Puri, emphasised that despite multiple extensions, Gokhale had failed to honour the July 1, 2024, ruling and a subsequent directive on May 9, 2025. The High Court had previously ordered the attachment of Gokhale's Salary of Rs 1,90,000 per month until the full amount of Rs 50 lakh was paid. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Puri, argued that Gokhale had disregarded the judicial process and failed to disclose key directives to the court. (ANI)
