Tech

A new study using James Webb Space Telescope observations suggests mysterious “little red dots” in the early universe may be evidence of young supermassive black holes. Researchers analysed 217 objects, finding faint, compact host galaxies and clues about black hole-galaxy evolution

India is entering a new phase of human spaceflight and deep-space exploration, with missions including Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, Venus Orbiter Mission and reusable launch vehicles. The initiatives aim to strengthen human spaceflight, advanced technologies and India’s global space leadership

Scientists found that thunder-generated seismic waves, called “thunderquakes,” can help map Earth’s subsurface using existing fiber-optic cables. The technique could detect groundwater, sinkholes, fractures and contamination without drilling, offering a cost-effective method for monitoring geological hazards and infrastructure

India’s space economy has reached $9 billion and could grow to $40–45 billion over the next decade, driven by startups, private investment and policy reforms. Space startups have surged to around 440, while liberalised FDI and government funding strengthen private participation

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath greeted scientists and citizens on National Space Day, praising India’s achievements in space technology, research and innovation. He highlighted the sector’s role in advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat globally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked National Space Day by highlighting India’s growing global space presence, private-sector potential and Gen Z’s technological contributions. He said the space sector is vital to achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, while ISRO continues inspiring future scientists

The Central government has reportedly asked Google to take down Firebase accounts impersonating banks and financial institutions. I4C flagged 57 pages, including phishing sites allegedly used to steal credit card details and OTPs and defraud users.

Google has announced a one-year free AI Plus subscription for eligible college students in India, offering access to advanced AI tools, Gemini Omni, higher usage limits, 400 GB storage, and a dedicated student hub with personalised study features.

Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar testified that Instagram took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach toward users under 13, prioritising engagement over safety. He alleged Meta knew children were using the platform and lacked adequate age-detection goals and safeguards

Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot removed a failed space-to-ground antenna from the International Space Station during a six-hour-23-minute spacewalk but could not install its replacement due to delays. NASA said the installation will be completed during a future spacewalk, planned for August 25

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh defended data-centre projects in Visakhapatnam, rejecting concerns over their water and environmental impact. He said the proposed 6.5 GW ecosystem would use industrial water from Polavaram, while new cooling technologies could reduce consumption. Critics continue opposing the projects

Meta is intensifying efforts to curb the spread and reappearance of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across its platforms in India amid ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The company is working to prevent resurfacing of flagged content, while the government has reiterated that platforms risk losing safe harbour protections if they fail to comply with Indian law.

Fintech major Razorpay has launched Razorpay Vulcan, India’s first transformer‑based AI payments foundation model built with NVIDIA and AWS. The model aims to reduce payment failures, enhance fraud detection, and improve transaction routing across India’s diverse digital ecosystem.

TCS and Google Cloud have launched a Gemini Experience Center in Mexico City, their second in Latin America and ninth globally. The facility will use AI agents and industry-specific solutions to help organisations improve innovation, productivity and data-driven decision-making.

HCLTech has clarified that its initial probe found no evidence of a breach in its systems or client engagements after a hacker group claimed exposure of employee-related data. The company said the information appears limited and dated, and it continues to investigate. The statement follows a similar clarification by TCS, which also reported no credible breach evidence.

WhatsApp users across several countries reported disruptions affecting photos, videos, stickers, GIFs and other media, while text messaging largely continued. Outage reports emerged in India, Britain, France and other countries, with users reporting failed uploads despite troubleshooting attempts

India is preparing for the first test of the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile system, a domestically developed weapon that will form a crucial part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Sudarshan Chakra mission — a two-phase plan to build a multilayered national defence umbrella against aerial threats by 2035.

Kerala Police registered a cyber fraud case after an AI-generated fake video impersonating ADGP P Vijayan circulated on Facebook, falsely promoting an old currency note scam. Police are investigating the account, possible victims and whether similar deepfake videos targeted other officials

NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir completed a six-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station, installing hardware for future roll-out solar arrays. The mission upgrades the station’s power systems and supports long-term operations, including preparations for controlled deorbit

WhatsApp has begun testing an optional date-of-birth feature for a limited number of users in India as it prepares for compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The feature is voluntary during the testing phase and will not affect users' experience.

Microsoft has launched its India South Central cloud region in Hyderabad, expanding to four regions across the country. The facility, built with three Availability Zones, strengthens Microsoft’s AI and cloud infrastructure amid surging enterprise demand.

Meta revealed that its AI model Muse Spark 1.1 accessed the internet and exploited a vulnerability in an external service during cybersecurity testing due to a misconfigured environment. The incident adds to growing concerns over AI models' capabilities and safety controls

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologised to the Indian government over the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content, and operational lapses on the company’s platforms. Government sources said authorities warned Meta that its role in selecting and distributing content could disqualify it from “safe harbour” protections under the IT Act.

Noise has entered India's screenless wearable segment with the launch of the REP Band, offering subscription-free health monitoring, AI-powered wellness insights and continuous biometric tracking. The lightweight wearable is tailored for Indian users and is priced at Rs 9,999 as a special introductory offer.