NASA chief Jared Isaacman on Saturday (February 21, 2026) ruled out a March launch for Artemis 2, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, citing technical issues. Workers detected a problem with helium flow to the massive SLS rocket that will “take the March launch window out of consideration,”...
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February 21, 2026February 21, 2026Environment, Science & Tech
Why has NGT cleared the Nicobar project? | Explained
The story so far: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently concluded a high-stakes legal battle over the ‘Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island’, and ruled that all environment safeguards are in place for the Great Nicobar Island Project. This integrated project, estimated to cost ₹80,000-90,000 crore, has been at the centre of a debate between...
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February 21, 2026February 21, 2026Environment, Science & Tech
India among four nations driving most global pesticide toxicity: study
India is among just four countries that contribute almost 70% to the world’s total applied toxicity (TAT) in the form of pesticide, which is directed at agricultural pests, but in affect unleashes huge collateral damage among “non-target” species (that is, species that pesticides claimed as collateral). In 2022, at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, countries...
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February 21, 2026February 21, 2026Science & Tech
NASA report recalls dysfunction, heated emotions during Boeing’s botched Starliner flight
NASA on Thursday (February 19, 2026) released a sweeping report on Boeing’s botched Starliner mission that left two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station for nearly a year, detailing communication breakdowns and “unprofessional behavior” as the agency and its longtime contractor struggled to agree on how to safely return the crew to Earth. NASA...
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February 20, 2026February 20, 2026Science & Tech
Observations by Aditya-L1 help decode unusual dawn-time geomagnetic disturbances during strong solar storms
Observations and measurements made by India’s maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, have helped to decode the unusual dawn-time geomagnetic disturbances during strong solar storms. Geomagnetic storms are large disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field caused by changes in the solar wind- a continuous flow of charged particles released from the Sun. “When sudden increases or decreases in...
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February 20, 2026February 20, 2026Environment, Science & Tech
238 bird species spotted in Thiruvananthapuram district during Great Backyard Bird Count and Campus Bird Count
A total of 238 bird species were documented across Thiruvananthapuram district during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), an annual four-day global citizen science initiative held from February 13 to 16. Endemic species such as Grey-fronted Green-Pigeon, Malabar Imperial-Pigeon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Flameback, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Woodshrike, Malabar Starling, Nilgiri Flowerpecker were listed from...
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February 20, 2026February 20, 2026Health, Science & Tech
FDA will drop two-study requirement for new drug approvals, aiming to speed access
The Food and Drug Administration plans to drop its longtime standard of requiring two rigorous studies to win approval for new drugs, the latest change from Trump administration officials vowing to speed up the availability of certain medical products. Going forward, the FDA’s “default position” will be to require one study for new drugs and...
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February 20, 2026February 20, 2026Science & Tech
NASA conducts successful rehearsal of Artemis 2 lunar launch
NASA on Thursday (February 19, 2026) said it successfully rehearsed the launch of its massive SLS rocket, which will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Technical problems in early February cut short an earlier so-called wet dress rehearsal of the launch of the Artemis 2 mission. But on...
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February 20, 2026February 20, 2026Science & Tech
The biology of belief, optimism, and good health
Helen Keller, the American author and activist who was deaf and blind, became an international symbol of human potential. She wrote, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Optimism can be defined as maintaining positive expectations for the future. It is a human trait that has...
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February 20, 2026February 20, 2026Science & Tech
Trump says he doesn’t know if aliens are real but directs government to release files on UFOs, more
President Donald Trump said on Thursday (February 19, 2026) that he’s directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of “tremendous interest.” Mr. Trump made the announcement in a social media post hours after he accused former President Barack Obama of disclosing “classified information” when...
