Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has sparked new debate after fresh observations of comet 3I/ATLAS showed unusual changes in its tail. The Nordic Optical Telescope in Spain found that the comet’s anti-solar tail had reversed direction, now pointing away from the Sun. Loeb suggested the shift could be a sign of “controlled manoeuvring,” hinting it might be an alien spacecraft slowing down. Scientists say 3I/ATLAS, first detected in July 2025, likely came from outside our solar system. While Loeb’s theory drew attention, NASA and other experts believe it behaves like a natural comet, posing no danger to Earth. (PC: NDTV)

ISRO Chief V Narayanan said that India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is 90% complete. Speaking at a science event, he shared that most key systems — including the crew escape, parachute, and environmental control systems — are ready. Before sending astronauts, ISRO will conduct three uncrewed test missions. The first test will carry Vyommitra, a female robot astronaut. The final human mission is planned for early 2027. In August, ISRO successfully tested the parachute system during an air drop trial, marking a major step toward India’s goal of sending humans to space safely. (PC: NDTV)

For Diwali, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared a mesmerizing video of India glowing at night from space. The clip, posted on X, moves from southwest to northeast, showing Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and New Delhi sparkling. Shukla described it as “like watching a living galaxy” and called it “Diwali of Earth.” The video also shows flashes of lightning across central India and the Bay of Bengal. As the spacecraft moves north, the dark Himalayas appear, followed by an orbital sunrise. Millions watched in awe, seeing India’s festival of lights from a unique space perspective. (PC: X)

India's Chandrayaan-2 orbiter made a groundbreaking observation of a massive solar eruption's impact on the Moon's tenuous atmosphere. The CHACE-2 instrument detected a sharp rise in lunar exosphere pressure and density increasing by over an order of magnitude when a coronal mass ejection (CME) struck on May 10, 2024. This marks the first recorded direct impact of a CME on the Moon's atmospheric boundary. High-energy solar particles knocked off surface atoms and molecules, forming part of the exosphere. The findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, confirm theoretical models and provide crucial insights for future lunar mission planning, as the Moon lacks magnetic field protection from solar activity.

India's Chandrayaan-2 mission has achieved a significant milestone by making the first-ever observation of the Sun's Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) effects on the Moon. Utilizing its onboard instrument, Chadrayan's Atmospheric Compositional Explorer-2 (CHACE-2), the orbiter detected a substantial increase in the total pressure of the lunar exosphere during a CME event on May 10, 2024. This enhancement, over an order of magnitude, aligns with theoretical models and provides critical insights into the Moon's fragile atmosphere and the broader impacts of space weather. These findings are pivotal for future lunar exploration and base construction.

Scientists are raising alarms as Starlink satellites increasingly fall back to Earth, with one to two re-entries daily they are potentially rising to five amid expanding satellite constellations from SpaceX, Amazon, and China. Over 8,000 Starlink satellites currently orbit Earth, with projections nearing 50,000 total in low-Earth orbit. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell warns this surge risks triggering Kessler syndrome, a chain reaction of space debris collisions that could render parts of orbit unusable. The ongoing solar maximum worsens decay, as solar flares expand Earth’s atmosphere, dragging satellites down. While Starlink has revolutionized connectivity, experts stress urgent global coordination to manage orbital congestion and prevent catastrophic debris escalation. (PC: X & NDTV)

Renewable energy surpassed coal as the world's leading electricity source in the first half of this year, marking a historic milestone according to global energy think tank Ember. This unprecedented shift is being driven by countries like China, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, which are rapidly expanding their renewable energy capacity. The achievement represents a significant turning point in the global energy transition away from fossil fuels. However, the progress isn't uniform worldwide as the United States and Europe have increased their reliance on gas and coal during the same period. This divergence highlights the uneven pace of the renewable energy transition across different regions despite the overall global shift toward cleaner power sources.

A near-complete 185-million-year-old fossil discovered on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new ichthyosaur species, Xiphodracon goldencapensis — meaning “sword dragon of Dorset.” Measuring about 3 meters, the marine reptile had a long sword-like snout and enormous eye sockets. Ichthyosaur experts Dr. Dean Lomax and Prof. Judy Massare confirmed the find, calling it a missing link in ichthyosaur evolution. Fossil hunter Chris Moore discovered it at Golden Cap in 2001. Scientists say marks on the skull suggest the creature was killed by a larger ichthyosaur. The specimen is housed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. (PC: BBC)

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These structures have spaces that can trap gases and chemicals, helping tackle climate change and plastic pollution. The scientists’ research began decades ago and could capture carbon dioxide from power plants or break down harmful chemicals. MOFs are still small-scale but may be mass-produced in the future. The winners will share 11 million Swedish kronor (£872,000). Experts say their work shows how chemistry can address the planet’s biggest problems. (PC: BBC)

Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell from the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan, have won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine. They were honored for discovering how the body prevents the immune system from attacking itself, a process called peripheral immune tolerance. Their research explained how regulatory T cells and the Foxp3 gene control immune balance, helping prevent autoimmune diseases. The Nobel Committee said their work led to new treatments for cancer and autoimmune disorders. The winners will share the $1.2 million prize. The award ceremony will take place on December 10 in Stockholm, Sweden. (PC: NBC News)