NYT's profile of India's space startup scene
The New York Times published a 'profile' of the Indian spaceflight startup scene on July 4. The article is typical in that: a) by virtue of being published by one of the world's most-read…
A request to ISRO about Chandrayaan 3
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said its launch window for the Chandrayaan 3 mission is July 12-19. For now, the mission is expected to lift off on July 14 (at 2.35 pm IST). Chandray…
Hot in Ballia
More than half of the deaths reported during the heatwave in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar this week were reported from just one district in the former, called Ballia. On (or around) June 17, the medical su…
Finding, and losing, Majorana
I'm looking forward to breaking down and understanding a new paper in Physical Review B soon – the sort of work of condensed-matter physics that's complex enough to warrant a week-long dive in…
Refusing battles
"Pick your battles" is probably the most important thing I've learnt as a journalist. A lot of it is probably due to my firm belief that science has always been political, and getting pe…
Cyclone Biparjoy and Chennai
When is a natural disaster a natural disaster? It began raining in Chennai last evening and hasn't stopped as of this morning. But it's been intermittent, with highly variable intensity. In my…
Rob McKenna
Anyone who reads Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and doesn't come away thinking it belongs on the list of the best books they've read has to get themselves checked. I don't think this…
Unclear science
Scientific papers frequently have a line to this effect, often in the same syntax: "While we know X, why Y happens is unclear." The papers then proceed to elucidate Y. Sometimes a paper come…
Real heat
In the aftermath of Chicago's infamous week-long heatwave in July 1995, the city's residents, but including the mayor Richard Daley and his administration, couldn't believe that so many ha…
A new science page at The Hindu
Starting today, The Hindu has a new science page, available to read in the premium e-paper edition. It will be published on all days except Saturday. I will be anchoring the page from Monday to Thursd…
Notes for a ‘The Open Notebook’ report
I was quoted in a new reported feature in The Open Notebook, entitled 'Expanding the Geographical Borders of Your Source List'.…
A well-meaning manel is not a good panel
It's time the good intentions of the organisers cease to matter.…