ISRO, NASA launch historic NISAR satellite to revolutionize Earth observation
In the successful launch of a historic satellite mission being conducted jointly by Indian Space Research Organisation and America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, was sent to space yesterday onboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16 rocket from Sriharikota, according to an update provided by ISRO.
NISAR is the world’s first Earth observation satellite equipped with dual-frequency L- and S-band synthetic aperture radars. the 2,393-kg spacecraft will operate in a 747-kilometre Sun-synchronous orbit for at least three years.
NISAR will scan the globe every 12 days, providing high-resolution, all-weather imagery critical for tracking earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ice sheet movement, and environmental changes. The $1.5 billion mission, featuring a 12-meter deployable antenna and state-of-the-art SweepSAR technology, exemplifies a decade-long Indo-US partnership. SweepSAR stands for sweep synthetic aperture radar, and the technology enables both wide area coverage and fine spatial resolution in Earth observation.
All data will be freely accessible, supporting global disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, climate science, and sustainable development for both advanced and developing regions.
Harvard shrinks quantum computing with chip-thin metasurface
Harvard University researchers have engineered what they describe as an ultra-thin ‘metasurface’ that collapses complex quantum optical systems onto a single chip, according to a news post on the university’s website. The device, which leverages nanoscale structures to precisely control light, offers a compact replacement for bulky quantum setups used in photon-based information processing. This breakthrough, led by Professor Federico Capasso, could enable scalable, room-temperature quantum computing and networks, transforming the field with greater stability and manufacturability.
Columbia develops radiation-hardened chips for CERN’s particle collider
Columbia University researchers have developed next-generation radiation-hardened microchips designed for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, SciTech Daily reports. The chips are built to withstand intense radiation while maintaining high performance, crucial for capturing data from high-energy particle collisions. This technological leap, achieved by Columbia’s engineers, is poised to significantly boost the longevity and reliability of detectors, which are central to advancing research in particle physics.
Fal raises $125 million as AI infrastructure valuations surge
Fal, a San Francisco based provider of artificial intelligence infrastructure, has raised $125 million in a Series C funding round, valuing the company at $1.5 billion, Reuters reports. Led by Meritech and joined by Salesforce Ventures, Shopify Ventures, and Google AI Futures Fund, the investment reflects surging demand for generative AI models beyond text. Fal's technology powers enterprises to create tailored advertising assets and supports multimodal AI applications, marking its expansion in the rapidly growing generative media market.
Safe Security raises $70 million to build AI-powered cyber defense
Safe Security, an AI-led cyber risk management tools provider in Palo Alto, has raised $70 million in a Series C round led by Avataar Ventures, alongside Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, NextEquity Partners, and Prosperity7 Ventures, Economic Times reports. The funding will fuel expansion of research and development, particularly in autonomous agentic AI systems, as Safe pushes toward creating cyberAGI — an artificial general intelligence for cybersecurity. The company, founded by IIT Bombay alumni, helps major enterprises like Google and Fidelity assess and mitigate real-time cyber risks.
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