Latest inventions in science and technology
e-MERLIN
- Context : A team of astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), carried out observations of nearby galaxies using the e-MERLIN radio telescope array.
- The study represents one of the first statistically complete, high-resolution radio surveys designed to detect faint black hole activity in nearby galaxies.
About e-MERLIN
- e-MERLIN (Enhanced Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network) is a network of seven radio telescopes spread over 217 km across Great Britain.
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- The telescopes are linked through a high-speed optical fibre network to the Jodrell Bank Observatory, which serves as its central headquarters.
- Unlike optical telescopes that rely on visible light, radio telescopes can observe invisible gas clouds, enabling them to study regions of space hidden behind cosmic dust.
- e-MERLIN provides an angular resolution that is comparable to that of the Hubble Space Telescope, making it highly effective for detailed astronomical observations.
- It also serves as the core component of the European Very Long Baseline Interferometer Network (EVN).
European Very Long Baseline Interferometer Network (EVN)
- The EVN is an international network of radio telescopes located mainly across Europe and Asia.
- By combining observations from multiple telescopes, it performs extremely high-angular-resolution studies of radio-emitting celestial objects, allowing astronomers to examine distant cosmic sources in great detail.
Space
Mission Drishti
- Context: The Bengaluru-based space start-up GalaxEye has lost contact with Mission Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, as it encountered an anomaly following a geomagnetic solar storm.
About Mission Drishti
- Mission Drishti was launched on May 3, 2026.
- Mission Drishti is the world’s first multi-sensor Earth Observation (EO) satellite.
- It is India’s largest privately built satellite and the highest-resolution satellite developed in the country.
- The mission is being developed by GalaxEye, a Bengaluru-based space startup.
Key Features
- It is the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, combining Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors on a single satellite.
- EO sensors capture high-quality images during daylight and clear weather.
- SAR sensors use radar signals to capture images day or night and in all weather conditions, including through clouds.
- It is designed as a remote-sensing Earth observation satellite, providing high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution for accurate imaging.
- Weight: 190 kg.
- Image Resolution: 1.5 metres.
Applications
- Mission Drishti will support governments, defence agencies and industries in: Border surveillance, Disaster management, Defence and security, Infrastructure monitoring, Agriculture, Financial and insurance assessments, Advanced geospatial analysis across various sectors.
