The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) is expected to fast-track plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. The reactor is said to be part of the country’s broader ambitions to set up a permanent base for humans to live on the lunar surface.

Plans to expedite the lunar reactor emerged after US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been appointed as the temporary head of Nasa by President Donald Trump, sent a directive to the space agency.

In the directive, Duffy has ordered Nasa to call for proposals from commercial companies to build a reactor on the moon that could generate at least 100 kilowatts of power, according to a report by Politico.

In a significant step forward in the global fight against antibiotic resistance, IIT-Roorkee researchers have developed a new drug candidate, Compound 3b, that can restore the effectiveness of a potent antibiotic against deadly drug-resistant bacteria, an official release said.

Led by Ranjana Pathania from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, an IIT Roorkee team including Mangal Singh and Perwez Bakht, along with Norwegian collaborator Annette Bayer and her team from UiT Tromso, has designed a novel molecule that works alongside the antibiotic Meropenem to treat infections caused by KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, a superbug listed among the World Health Organization's top-priority threats, the release said.

Tata Group’s satellite communication arm, Nelco on Monday said that it has signed an agreement with Eutelsat to roll out OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services across India.

Under the pact, Nelco will work with OneWeb India Communications, Eutelsat’s local operating entity, to provide secure, low-latency satellite internet for customers on land, at sea, and in the air. The service will cover India’s landmass, territorial waters, and remote regions, enabling a range of government and enterprise applications.

The move aims to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure, bolster national security, and extend reliable connectivity to underserved and hard-to-reach areas. Nelco said it is prepared to offer the service as soon as OneWeb’s LEO network becomes commercially operational in the country.

In a groundbreaking display of collective innovation, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, today hosted ‘Mega Tinkering Day’, India’s largest-ever school-based tinkering event, bringing together students from over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across all 35 states and union territories.

Held virtually and simultaneously in schools nationwide, the event saw participation of 4,73,350 students from 9467 ATL equipped schools who engaged in a hands-on project to design and build a DIY vacuum cleaner, using everyday materials available in their labs. The activity was guided by a step-by-step instructional session streamed online, enabling students to learn scientific concepts and collaborate in real time no matter where they were.

Schools from Northern most region of India like Leh, Ladakh & Kargil, Kashmir, from Remotest villages of Aspirational Districts like Virudhunagar, North East regions like Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and from southern regions like Kanniyakumari, & westernmost regions of Bhuj & Kutchh. AIM team also joined the action, tinkering side-by-side with students across India and built a vacuum cleaner too.

North Korea has denounced a major joint exercise planned by the South Korean and U.S. militaries as “direct military provocation” and warned of counteraction, despite signs of easing tension across the border under a new leader in Seoul.

North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol said its military has an “absolute mission” to defend national security against the large-scale 11-day drills by South Korea and the United States, which he said posed a real and dangerous threat.

“The armed forces of the DPRK will cope with the war drills of the U.S. and the (South) with thoroughgoing and resolute counteraction posture and strictly exercise the sovereign right,” No said in a statement issued via the KCNA state news agency on Monday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched 'Operation Alert' along the Rajasthan border to strengthen security measures ahead of Independence Day, with intensified patrols, drills, and a review of standard operating procedures to counter potential threats, a senior official said.

Speaking to ANI, BSF DIG sector south, MK Negi, said, "The operation Alert commenced on 11 August and will continue until 12 am on 17 August. During the operation, we will implement strict border management and rehearse and improve our SOPs and drills. We are reviewing all SOPs, instructions, and drills to prepare for border management and upcoming challenges."

India is set to host the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Mumbai from August 11 to 21 with over 300 high school students from 64 countries. Organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a division of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the event will begin with an opening ceremony on August 12 at the Jio World Convention Centre.

The ceremony will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the presence of guests including principal scientific advisor Ajay Sood and Ajit Kembhavi, former vice president of the International Astronomical Union. The closing ceremony, scheduled for August 21 at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, will be presided over by ISRO chairman V Narayanan and Anil Kakodkar, chancellor of the Homi Bhabha National Institute.

New Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2025 for his terrific performance both as a batter and a leader of a young Indian side against England, where India drew the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (five-match Test series) 2-2, the governing body announced on Tuesday.

Apart from Gill, England captain Ben Stokes and South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder were also nominated for the ICC Player of the Month award for July.

ICC released a statement which read, “India’s Shubman Gill has landed the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2025 following his heroics against England in a thrilling Test series, after facing stiff competition from England Test skipper Ben Stokes and South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.”

Jharkhand Women’s Hockey team emerged as Champions consecutively in the second year in the 15th Junior National Women’s Hockey Championship, defeating Hockey Haryana by 2-1 in the finals.

The championship was being organised at Kakinanda in Andhra Pradesh from August 1-12. Sweety Dungdung and Shanti Kimari hit two goals for Jharkhand in the 10th and 12th minute of the match. Sweety Dungdung also became the highest goal scorer in the Championship with a total of 5 goals.

Jharkhand Womens Hockey team has won the Junior National championship for four times in the year 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2025. Adding another feather to their cap, the Womens Hockey team of Jharkhand has won the National Championship in all three categories viz Senior, Junior and Sub-junior in this year 2025

India’s Namrata Batra has scripted history by winning a silver medal in the women’s 52 kg final at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China today. The 24-year-old, who won silver at the Asian Championships last year and is a four-time national champion, went down 2-0 to local favourite Mengyue Chen in the final. It was India’s first-ever medal in wushu at the World Games and the country’s second podium finish at the ongoing edition after Rishabh Yadav’s bronze in men’s compound archery. Namrata’s campaign began with a 2-0 win over Lebanon’s Barbara El Rassi in the quarter-finals, followed by another 2-0 victory over Krizan Faith Collado of the Philippines in the semis. India have now won a total of seven medals in World Games history – one gold, two silvers and four bronzes.