Can Sarnath come into its own with Unesco tag?

Sarnath officially received the Unesco World Heritage Site tag on July 25. While often treated as a short stopover near Varanasi, this new status could help the site become a standalone destination. Experts say the recognition will boost tourism and conservation, finally giving this important Buddhist centre its own identity.

Oldest direct proof of life on 3.5-billion-year-old rock found 20km south of Jamshedpur

Scientists found the oldest direct proof of life on a 3.5-billion-year-old rock 20km south of Jamshedpur. Trisrota Chaudhuri of the GSI discovered black microbial mats in chert near Bhitardari. "The chemical signatures suggest that by 3.5 billion years ago, life forms were already using sophisticated ways of turning carbon," she said.

The forces that trigger earthquakes

Plate tectonics load faults over centuries, but other factors trigger the final break. A June 2026 paper found the southern San Andreas and San Jacinto faults are critically loaded. Lead author Liliane Burkhard said the fault system is "critically loaded." Small stress changes can then cause a major earthquake to start.

After January launch vehicle debacle, GISAT-1A take-off in September to end ISRO's seven-month operational hiatus

The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the GISAT-1A satellite in the first week of September. This mission ends a seven-month operational hiatus following several launch vehicle setbacks. Officials said the satellite is designed to image large areas for monitoring natural disasters, agriculture, and forestry from its new orbit.

How rugged gullies protect hidden rainforests in the Greater Blue Mountains

Researchers found hidden rainforests in the rugged gullies of the Greater Blue Mountains. A study showed these areas contain unique vegetation often misclassified as eucalypt forests. Dr. Eli Bendall said, "These rainforests do not respond well to fire." New maps will now help protect these ancient, high-diversity plant systems effectively.

Labrador Sea a key player in providing oxygen for deep North Atlantic life

Cornell University researchers found the Labrador Sea provides vital oxygen for deep North Atlantic life. Published in Nature Geoscience on Aug. 17, the study shows how surface waters mix to sustain ecosystems. First author Una Miller said, "We found that the Labrador Sea exports enough oxygen to meet the biological need."

Researchers identify ways to reduce the lag between biodiversity data and action

Researchers from six projects identified ways to reduce the lag between biodiversity data and action. They said, "The lag from field to information is not a single technical problem but a systemic one." Experts found that outdated software and limited staff often slow down the flow of important environmental information.

A weakening Atlantic Ocean current system could accelerate Earth's warming

New research shows a weakening Atlantic Ocean current system could accelerate Earth’s warming. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation acts like a heat valve for the planet. Christo Buizert said, "The AMOC works like a heat valve that controls the energy budget of the planet." A weaker system traps more heat globally.

Time-gating technique sees through deep tissue, dense fog, and other obstacles

University of Rochester researchers developed a low-cost imaging system that sees through deep tissue and dense fog. The technology uses a time-gating technique to convert near-infrared light into clear images. Lead author Yang Xu said, "In this case, we use light to control light." This innovation could improve cancer detection.

NASA's falling telescope and its saviour spacecraft captured behind each other - Video

Astronomers captured a video of NASA’s LINK spacecraft and the Swift observatory moving in the same orbit. LINK launched in July to save the 22-year-old telescope from crashing. Although LINK faced technical issues, new software helped it regain stability. It must reach the observatory before October to prevent a crash.

50-year-mystery solved: Physicists find rare 'glueball' particle with no matter and pure force

Scientists at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II found a rare glueball particle made purely of force. This discovery solves a 50-year mystery about subatomic states. Physicist Jin Shan said the discovery "vastly expands the boundaries of our understanding of the physical world." It confirms theories about how particles interact.

Anomalous quantum oscillations reveal new physics in a topological insulator

A study in Nature Communications shows unusual quantum oscillations in the topological insulator zirconium pentatelluride. Researchers used extreme magnetic fields and low temperatures to observe electrons. Julio Larrea Jiménez said, "This work expands our understanding of electron transport in exotic phases of matter." These findings reveal new physics in solids.