Day: 9 July 2024

Scientists have explored the implications for the plasma composition of astrophysical jets, outflows of ionized matter that are emitted as extended beams from celestial objects such as black holes, neutron stars and pulsars. Despite years of research, it is not known what type of matter astrophysical jets are made of – whether they are made of bare electrons or protons or whether positively charged electrons called positrons are also present. Knowing the jet structure is important because it will allow pinpointing the exact physical process operating near black holes and…

Agnibaan, an innovative two-stage orbital launch vehicle powered by India's first patented single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine developed and incubated at IIT Madras, was launched on 30 May 2024. This is a significant milestone for the country's space eco-system. The state-of-the-art launch vehicle paves the way for continued missions for India and also makes the country a commercial hub in the space sector. The launch vehicle has been developed by Agnikul, a startup in space-technology. Agnikul is incubated at the Incubation Cell of IIT Madras (a TBI supported by the Department…