Science News

Astronomers discovered that TOI-2535 b, a planet located 1,000 light-years from Earth, has mysteriously disappeared from view after repeatedly passing in front of its star. Dubbed as the “disappearing planet”, it is not believed to have vanished physically. Scientists suspect an unidentified object tugging at it altered its orbit, making it no longer visible where it was previously observed.

Swiss researchers have identified a biomarker that can detect date-rape drug GHB in urine for up to 72 hours after ingestion, extending the usual 12-hour detection window. The biomarker is a compound of GHB and a sugar thought to be ribose, known as GHB-pentos. The date rape drug is excreted rapidly from blood and urine, leaving little time to test.

Delhi-based Class 12 student Krish Aggarwal has won the 2026 Diana Award for developing a ₹140 technology with Class 11 student Samarth Meattle that can turn ordinary fans into air purifiers. Their tech, named Project Vayu, aims to make air purification more accessible in classrooms. Project Vayu has copyrighted the design and doesn’t charge for distributing purifiers to schools.

The WMO warned that Earth's energy imbalance reached a 65-year record in 2025. Greenhouse gases are trapping excess heat, 90% of which is absorbed by oceans. The WMO further said that 2026 is on track to be the 10th consecutive year of record ocean warmth. It added that 146.5 million people in India faced extreme heat during April 2026.

India and Norway discussed joint research to convert industrial and construction waste into building materials at the India-Norway Dialogue on 'Waste to Resource Solutions', held at India Habitat Centre. Organised by CSIR, SINTEF and Norway's Research Council, the dialogue identified pilot projects, joint research proposals and technical guidelines as priority cooperation areas under their Green Strategic Partnership.

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon demonstrated how astronauts measure their body mass despite being weightless in space. In a video, he showed a device with a calibrated spring that oscillates at different frequencies depending on a person's mass. Menon said he had lost 2 kg since arriving in space and astronauts can initially lose around 10% of body mass.

The fossil of a giant rat believed to have weighed around 30 kg has been discovered in Thailand's southern Krabi province. Named Sirindhorn's Giant Rat, the fossil dates back 33-35 million years and was found in the Bang Mak coal basin. "It tells a lot about the diversity of life in the past," a researcher said.

A study of 2,912 Israeli adults found that people who believed they would be remembered after death tended to report better mental health. They also reported fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, fewer sleep problems, along with lower levels of problematic substance use and addictive behaviours. The findings were published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

NASA is accepting astronaut applications until December 3, its USAJOBS posting says, offering a salary of $164,395 (around ₹1.5 crore) a year. Applicants must be US citizens with a master's degree in a STEM field or an approved alternative and three years of experience. NASA picked 10 astronauts from over 8,000 applicants in its last selection, announced in September 2025.