🔭 NIT Srinagar gets advanced space observatory 🔭

J K NIT Srinagar is set to launch its campus-based observatory, making it the first NIT with such a setup. This facility, the Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA), is located in Srinagar. It features a 14-inch Celestron C14 EdgeHD Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and will open on Tuesday. The centrepiece will enable advanced observations ranging from planets to distant galaxies, developed with IIA Bengaluru. NSOAA aims to boost experiential science education and outreach in Jammu and Kashmir.

🏊 Indian swimmers face rough patch at Asian Games 🏊

Indian swimmers experienced a tough day at the Asian Games on Monday, September 21, 2026. Srihari Nataraj finished 10th in the men's 50m backstroke final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Nataraj clocked 25.52 seconds, while Vedaant Madhavan missed the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final. This comes after China's Xu Jiayu set a new Asian Games record in the same event. Vedaant will still compete in the 200m freestyle on September 23 and the 200m backstroke on September 25.

🛰️ Mars rover gives scientists a Martian peek

NASA's Curiosity rover recently sent back ground-level views of the red planet from Mont Mercou. The rover operated in Gale Crater, climbing Aeolis Mons with sedimentary rock layers dating back 3.5 billion years. It has drilled into clay-rich mudstone, finding organic molecules suggesting ancient habitable conditions. Scientists are now debating the best targets to analyze the polygons covering the Martian surface. These findings help track the mission's goals, with new data arriving for the next shift on Monday. 🛰️

🧐 HC rejects CBI probe over cash found at judge's house

The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition demanding a CBI probe into unaccounted cash found at former judge Yashwant Varma's residence. The cash was allegedly recovered in March 2025 when emergency services responded to a fire at his Delhi home. An inquiry committee in August found that unexplained bundles of Rs 500 were recovered and Varma gave misleading explanations. The petitioner sought investigation into the cash's source, ownership, and disappearance. The Supreme Court had previously dismissed a similar plea, calling it for "cheap publicity." 🧐

🌿 Vines aren't just stealing food, they're stealing genes too

Dodders, parasitic vines, have been discovered to steal not only nutrients from their hosts but also their genes. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan found that dodders acquired a gene for making sesamin from a host plant long ago. This gene, CYP81Q, was likely horizontally transferred from another flowering plant in the order Lamiales between 50 and 32 million years ago. The transferred gene was extensively remodeled over millions of years while remaining functional in the dodder genome. This shows parasitic plants expand capabilities by acquiring and reshaping host genes. 🌿

😠 Protest clashes over sports quota teacher hiring

Violence erupted outside the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh office in Vijayawada on Monday due to a protest over teacher hiring. The YSRCP and sports-quota teachers staged rival demonstrations at the SAAP office. The controversy involves 372 appointments made under the Mega DSC-2025 sports quota, which invited applications for 421 posts on May 1, 2025. YSRCP leaders demanded a CBI probe, alleging fake certificates were used for jobs. The government stated it is individually examining certificate eligibility and will take action if violations are found. 😠

🚨 CJP founder slams Election Commission over alleged bias

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, has publicly criticized the Election Commission of India. He specifically named Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in his allegations. Dipke claims there is bias favoring the BJP within the electoral body. This criticism suggests serious concerns regarding the impartiality of the election process. The matter is expected to draw further scrutiny from political observers.

💡 Teen inventor turns heat into cool educational toys

Canadian teenager Ann Makosinski first invented a flashlight powered by body heat back in 2013. She created this device in Canada after hearing about power shortages in the Philippines. The flashlight won at the 2013 Google Science Fair and the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Now 29, she is making colourful toys to teach kids about renewable energy sources. Her aim is to inspire young girls globally to become creative inventors themselves. 💡

✨ FASTag users can now switch banks easily

Nitin Gadkari launched 'OneTag' allowing FASTag users to switch issuer banks without replacing the physical tag. This facility was launched by the Union Minister at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. The process requires a fresh KYC, and the old wallet balance will be refunded after successful portability. Users can access this feature via NHAI’s Rajmargyatra mobile application. The Tag ID and vehicle registration number will remain unchanged post-switch. 💳

🏚️ 179-year-old family farm demolished for housing

Bulldozers recently demolished an old barn on a long-held family farm in West Bend, Wisconsin. The Muth family, who farmed the land since 1847, saw this as the start of its new life. The property is now being cleared for a new housing development featuring about 400 multifamily residences. This change sparks concerns among neighbors regarding increased traffic on River Road. The family's connection to the area also included running a gas station for 21 years before selling it in 2018. 🚜

😨 Gangster's Brother Targeted in Sonipat Attack

Eight to ten rounds were fired at a bulletproof Scorpio carrying Ravindra Pugthala's brother and relatives in Sonipat's Gohana area on Monday. The incident occurred near Khar Khoda Mor while the occupants were returning home after a court hearing. Police are investigating a potential land dispute involving Ravindra from Barota and the suspects. Investigators are examining CCTV footage to trace how the attackers followed the Scorpio from court. The occupants escaped unharmed thanks to the vehicle's protection. 😨