Science & Technology in Everyday Life

Indian scientists at the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru have made a major advance in quantum technology by developing methods to generate and certify truly random numbers using a general-purpose quantum computer. This achievement, led by physicist Urbasi Sinha, is the first of its kind ready for real-world use and could lead to unbreakable digital security systems, especially as quantum computers threaten current encryption methods.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the India Mobile Congress 2025 that India's indigenous 4G technology stack is now ready for export, showcasing the country's telecom self-reliance. This move aims to provide an alternative to China's Digital Silk Road expansion in developing nations, where India has joined the elite group of five countries (Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, China, and India) that have developed their own 4G stack.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their groundbreaking discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit. This recognition comes for experiments conducted in the 1980s that showed quantum effects—usually seen only in tiny particles—can occur in larger, hand-held systems, opening doors to advanced technologies like quantum computers and sensors.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to three scientists—Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi—for their groundbreaking work in developing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). This recognition highlights how these innovative materials, which create vast empty spaces within molecular structures, are transforming applications in carbon capture, water harvesting, and clean energy storage, addressing key global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been conducting crucial simulation missions in Bengaluru using a static mock-up simulator to prepare astronaut-designates for India's maiden human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan programme. These simulations, allowing astronauts to experience spacecraft-like conditions for extended periods, are part of the final preparations ahead of the first uncrewed test flight (G1) scheduled for December 2025, featuring the humanoid robot Vyommitra. This development underscores India's push towards self-reliance in space exploration, with the crewed mission now targeted for 2027.