Introduction: A Nuclear Vision for Viksit Bharat@2047 As India marches toward its ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, energy security stands as a pivotal pillar in the vision of Viksit Bharat . Amid the global climate crisis and rising energy demands, nuclear power has re-emerged as a compelling solution. India’s commitment to achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 is both visionary and necessary—but achieving this requires a strategic shift in policy, participation, and international cooperation. While India’s nuclear energy sector has traditionally been a tightly controlled domain under government monopoly—primarily led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) —it is now imperative to welcome private sector investments and foreign partnerships. A reformed nuclear ecosystem can unlock the full potential of atomic energy as a clean, reliable, and scalable contributor to India’s net-zero aspiration...
NASA's James Webb Telescope Observes Disintegrating Exoplanets
In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has, for the first time, directly observed two exoplanets in the process of disintegration. These observations provide unprecedented insights into the internal compositions and life cycles of distant worlds.
Key Observations:
Identification of Disintegrating Exoplanets:
- The JWST has detected two exoplanets exhibiting significant mass loss, shedding their outer layers into space.
- The JWST has detected two exoplanets exhibiting significant mass loss, shedding their outer layers into space.
Mechanism of Disintegration:
- The intense heat from the host stars causes the planets' surfaces to vaporize, leading to the formation of tails composed of gas and dust, reminiscent of comets.
Scientific Significance:
- These observations offer a rare opportunity to study the internal compositions of exoplanets, enhancing our understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
Collaborative Efforts:
- The discoveries were made possible through the combined efforts of the JWST and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which monitored thousands of stars for periodic light dips indicative of planetary transits.
- The discoveries were made possible through the combined efforts of the JWST and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which monitored thousands of stars for periodic light dips indicative of planetary transits.
These findings mark a significant milestone in exoplanetary science, shedding light on the dynamic and often volatile nature of planetary systems beyond our own.