Science News

Researchers have found a molecular link between hunger and the formation of "reward" memories associated with alcohol addiction. They identified hunger-responsive neurons in the fruit fly brain. The team found that hunger in food-deprived flies activated neurons containing octopamine, a neurotransmitter similar to human norepinephrine, that influences whether alcohol is remembered as rewarding.

India handed over a second 11-tonne consignment of medical supplies to Kenya on Monday to bolster its Ebola preparedness. The package includes PPE kits, powered air-purifying respirators, biosafety cabinets, and cold-chain refrigerators. The aid was received by Kenya's Public Health Principal Secretary. Kenya has confirmed eight Ebola infections, including a hospital worker testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain.

Researchers at McGill University have found that the gas orbiting Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, is rich in metals. The metal enrichment probably resulted from stars that exploded and released material into the black hole's surroundings over time, they said. In astronomy, metals include any element heavier than helium and hydrogen.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Coral Sea on Tuesday at 09:50 IST, at a depth of 23 km, according to India's National Centre for Seismology. The epicentre was located at 13.976°S, 165.554°E, near Vanuatu. No casualties or major structural damage have been reported so far.

India's first underwater human spaceflight mission is scheduled to take place in December 2026 in Gujarat and is expected to run for 24 hours, followed by a 72-hour trial in March 2027. The mission will study human response to isolated and confined environments by recreating conditions astronauts experience in space. It will help researchers test equipment for future space missions.

A new study in the Journal of Cultural Heritage finds adult men made only ~45% of China's Terracotta Warriors. Using a Bayesian mixture model on ancient fingerprints, researchers estimate women comprised ~33% and juveniles under 15 ~22% of the workforce, challenging long-held assumptions that Qin imperial labour was exclusively adult male.

India's MNRE is working with the Finance Ministry to bring agrivoltaics under a Centre-supported scheme, possibly PM-KUSUM, to offset the 25-30% higher cost of elevated solar installations over farmland. Secretary Santosh Sarangi said states like Odisha, MP and Maharashtra have shown interest. IARI research suggests vegetables and horticultural crops suit the model best.

The Orionid meteor shower will peak overnight on October 21–22, producing around 10–20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. In India, the best time to watch it will be between 3:30 am and 5:15 am IST on October 22, after the Moon sets. The annual shower is caused by debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.

A new study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has found that large-scale wind patterns along the monsoon trough influence storm electrification. Using dual-pol radar and lightning networks, researchers found that lightning requires specific reflectivity thresholds above the freezing level to transform weather forecasting.

Earth's climate system is moving deeper into "uncharted territory", with seven of 16 climate-related planetary vital signs now at record extremes, a study found. Concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide all hit record levels in 2026, it said. Fossil fuel consumption rose by 0.9% in 2025, with oil, coal, and gas all reaching record highs, the study added.