In a landmark moment for India's space ambitions, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission , marking the country's return to human spaceflight after a 41-year hiatus . This historic launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has not only reignited national pride but also officially kickstarted India’s human spaceflight programme . The mission, operated by Axiom Space , includes a four-member international crew that will spend 14 days in orbit , conducting scientific research, outreach programs, and various commercial activities. This momentous occasion places India among a select group of nations capable of sending humans into space and reflects the growing prowess of the Indian space sector . A New Chapter: Shubhanshu Shukla and India’s Astronautical Comeback The last Indian to go to space was Rakesh Sharma in 1984, aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11. Now, in 2025, Shubhanshu...
Multi-Principal Element Alloy (MPEA): A Breakthrough in Fatigue Resistance Introduction Materials science has always sought to push the boundaries of strength, durability, and resilience. Traditional alloys, usually composed of one or two principal elements, have long been the foundation of industrial applications. However, a revolutionary approach in metallurgy, known as Multi-Principal Element Alloys (MPEAs), has emerged as a game-changer. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore have recently developed a fatigue-resistant MPEA, challenging the long-standing belief that increasing strength compromises fatigue life. This blog delves into the significance, characteristics, applications, and groundbreaking findings related to MPEAs. Understanding Multi-Principal Element Alloys (MPEAs) MPEAs, also referred to as Compositionally Complex Alloys (CCAs), are a new class of materials designed with multiple principal elements rather than being dominated by one or two....