Science

A small mountain lizard discovered in the forests of western Thailand has given scientists an unusual opportunity to connect modern biodiversity research with popular culture. Researchers have identified the reptile as a previously unknown species and named it Acanthosaura syrax, after Syrax, the dragon associated with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon. But […]

A new development in cancer research is giving scientists fresh evidence that vaccines may one day be designed specifically around an individual patient’s tumour. A personalized mRNA vaccine developed for melanoma has shown promising results in a Phase III clinical trial, with the treatment reducing the risk of the cancer returning after treatment. The findings,

Skywatchers are preparing for one of August 2026’s most striking celestial events—a deep partial lunar eclipse that will take place on August 27–28. At the height of the eclipse, approximately 96.3% of the Moon’s disk will be inside Earth’s darkest shadow, making the event look remarkably close to a total lunar eclipse. Unlike a total

Astronomers have uncovered a fascinating explanation for mysterious radio bursts coming from pairs of stars. New supercomputer simulations suggest that certain white dwarf–red dwarf systems can generate powerful, highly organized beams of radio emission through interactions between their magnetic fields. The discovery provides a new understanding of a strange type of cosmic radio signal that

The India-US space partnership has reached an important milestone as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission completes its first year in orbit. Launched on July 30, 2025, aboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16, NISAR has now entered an important phase of scientific observation, generating data that can help researchers understand changes taking place across Earth’s surface. A

SpaceX has reached another major milestone in its rapidly expanding launch programme, completing its 100th Falcon-family mission of 2026 with the deployment of 27 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on August 22, carrying the latest batch of Starlink satellites. The mission added

A material that has long been treated mainly as an industrial waste product could become a valuable source of chemicals. Researchers have developed a new process that transforms one of the toughest forms of lignin into chemical building blocks used in products ranging from medicines to dyes and fertilisers. The work, carried out by researchers

Thunderstorms may be more than spectacular displays of lightning and sound. Scientists have discovered that powerful thunderclaps can send vibrations into the ground—and those natural signals can be used to investigate what lies beneath Earth’s surface. In a recent study, researchers used intense sound waves generated by thunder to create maps of shallow underground geology

Scientists in Hyderabad have uncovered a previously unknown biological mechanism that helps a dangerous fungus transform into giant cells, giving it an advantage against the human immune system. The discovery could eventually open a new direction for developing treatments against serious fungal infections. Researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have identified

A remarkable geological discovery in eastern India is giving scientists a new window into the planet’s distant biological past. Researchers have identified possible signs of ancient microbial activity preserved inside a layered rock estimated to be around 3.4 billion years old. The finding is attracting attention because it could help scientists understand when and how