Besides enabling navigation, the atomic clock also provides precise timekeeping.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Friday successfully launched NVS-03, India’s next-generation navigation satellite, in a major boost to the country’s indigenous navigation capabilities.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) carrying the satellite lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). NVS-03 is a crucial addition to the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, India’s answer to GPS.

How NavIC’s new satellite will improve civilian navigation

The satellite carries an indigenous Rubidium atomic clock developed by the Space Applications Centre and will transmit signals in the L1, L5 and S bands. The inclusion of the L1 band makes the satellite compatible with modern civilian smartphone chipsets and wearable devices.

Besides enabling navigation, the atomic clock also provides precise timekeeping. Banks, stock exchanges and the armed forces rely on accurate time, and even small differences between time sources can affect their operations. India has also been working to establish an independent ground-based timekeeping system.

In June 2025, the government said it would stop relying on GPS, which is used by US government, for maintaining Indian Standard Time (IST) and switch to five atomic clocks installed in Guwahati, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Faridabad and Bhubaneswar. It said the clocks had been tested and that the system would become operational soon. Banks and businesses would be required to use the system once it was operational.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

Light has become more than a means of observation; it is a way to intervene, test, and uncover cause-and-effect relationships, said Nishith Gupta, professor of Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani.

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics”, has brought renewed attention to using light to investigate fundamental biological processes. These include memory formation, feelings, and behaviours relevant for neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as processes involved in infectious disease.

For Nishith Gupta, professor of Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, and founder of the Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), the recognition has a personal significance in his own scientific journey.

Mr. Gupta’s decades-long collaboration with Hegemann at Humboldt University of Berlin, where Hegemanna is Hertie Senior Professor of Neuroscience, helped extend optogenetic approaches beyond neuroscience into his study of Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite that infects humans, mammals, and birds.

Optogenetics enables scientists to control selected cells or biological processes using light-sensitive proteins.

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics”, has brought renewed attention to using light to investigate fundamental biological processes. These include memory formation, feelings, and behaviours relevant for neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as processes involved in infectious disease.

For Nishith Gupta, professor of Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, and founder of the Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), the recognition has a personal significance in his own scientific journey.

Mr. Gupta’s decades-long collaboration with Hegemann at Humboldt University of Berlin, where Hegemanna is Hertie Senior Professor of Neuroscience, helped extend optogenetic approaches beyond neuroscience into his study of Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite that infects humans, mammals, and birds.

Professor of Biological Sciences at BITS Pilani-Hyderabad Campus, Nishith Gupta with Peter Hegemann, 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate.

Optogenetics enables scientists to control selected cells or biological processes using light-sensitive proteins.

The Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine stated: “It all began with Peter Hegemann’s curiosity. He wondered how Chlamydomonas, a single-celled alga, is able to swim towards a light source. In the early 2000s, he and Georg Nagel discovered channelrhodopsin, an algal protein with unique properties, found on the surface of the cell. When it is illuminated by blue light, a channel opens through the protein. Charged ions then flow into the cell, creating an electrical impulse. They found that regardless of which cell they put the protein in, those cells became light sensitive.” In 2005, Deisseroth showed that introducing channelrhodopsin into rat neurons allowed blue light to trigger nerve signals. In 2007, he showed light-based control in mice.

In contrast, Mr. Gupta, Mr. Hegemann and others used light-regulated enzyme adenylate cyclase, which converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy of a living cell, to produce cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP). This molecule acts as messengers, helping transmit signals within cells.

Put simply, the researchers showed that light controls the enzyme, the enzyme produces cAMP, and cAMP helps regulate what happens inside the parasite (Toxoplasma gondii): how it enters cells, moves, and exits cells. This landmark study was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2013.

While Mr. Deisseroth, Mr. Hegemann, and Mr. Nagel’s optogenetics “solves one of humanity’s great mysteries, how our incredible brain works”, Mr. Gupta, Mr. Hegemann and others’ found light-regulated signalling to investigate parasite’s lifestyle, and infection.

Mr. Gupta says that working alongside Hegemann in Berlin, with their laboratories in neighbouring departments, was an important part of this scientific journey. Joint funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) supported their collaboration.

After Mr. Gupta relocated to India, Mr. Hegemann continued to support his research through Mr. Gupta’s Wellcome Trust–DBT Senior Fellowship project at BITS Pilani. Researchers from his team continued to visit Hegemann’s group in Berlin.

For Mr. Gupta, the Nobel Prize awarded to Mr. Hegemann and his fellow laureates underscores the far-reaching consequences of fundamental research. A protein that evolved to help an alga sense light has become a tool for probing the brain, investigating infection and understanding how cells function. He says the broader lesson is that technologies developed to answer one biological question can open entirely new avenues of research.

“Light has become more than a means of observation; it is a way to intervene, test, and uncover cause-and-effect relationships,” Mr. Gupta says.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The national winners included students from Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

A spider-shaped bomb-diffusing robot developed by students in Assam, affordable bone-conduction smart glasses designed by a Uttar Pradesh team and an urban air-purification concept from Gujarat were among the 10 national-level winners of the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, which entered the Guinness World Records as the “Largest Innovation Solution Competition” with 287,967 project submissions across both idea and prototype tracks.

The 10 winning teams received a combined cash prize of ₹17.50 lakh, while the nationwide initiative had an award pool of more than ₹1 crore across district, state and national levels.

The national awards comprised five winners in the prototype track, each receiving ₹2.5 lakh for their working models, and five in the idea track, each awarded ₹1 lakh to encourage further development of their concepts.

The idea track recognises students who present innovative concepts to address real-world problems, while the prototype track rewards teams that develop functional working models of their proposed solutions.

Union minister of state (MoS) for education Jayant Chaudhary felicitated the winning teams in New Delhi on Wednesday at an event in New Delhi and received the Guinness World Records certification for the initiative which Union education ministry hailed as “a historic milestone for school education and grassroots innovation in India”

Organised by the department of school education and literacy under the Union education ministry, in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the programme launched in September 2025 aims to encourage school students to identify real-world problems and develop solutions independently.

The winning projects addressed challenges spanning public safety, renewable energy, urban pollution, environmental sustainability and livelihoods.

A three-tier assessment process at the district, state and national levels, conducted by multidisciplinary expert panels, selected 10 national awardees, 100 state awardees and 1,000 district awardees.

The national winners included students from Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

The Assam team from PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, Tinsukia, won for “Vadiffuse”, a spider-shaped robot designed to diffuse bombs. Students from Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, were recognised for their project on renewable energy, while a team from PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Surat, Gujarat, developed the “Urban Breathing Pole”.

Students from Green Valley Educational Institute, Srinagar, won for “Guardian Bridge”. A team from De Nobili School, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, was recognised for a project exploring methane gas in the coal-mining region, titled “Dhanbad: The Burning Treasure and the Silent Methane Gas”.

Other winners included “EcoSync” from PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Adoor, Kerala; “WINDMINER”, an omnidirectional windmill, from Carmel Convent Senior Secondary School, Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh; and a tasar cocoon counting and quality-checking machine with segregation from DAV Public School, Unit-VIII, Odisha. An “Instant Thermo Flask” developed by students of Pathippaga Chemmal K Ganapathy Government Higher Secondary School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and “EchoLens”, affordable bone-conduction smart glasses developed by students of Step by Step School, Rohillapur, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, were among the top 10.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Indian pilot and fellow crew members receive the First Class Order of Zayed II after they helped overpower a co-pilot who attacked the captain aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and fellow flydubai crew members for their courage in protecting passengers during an attempted mid-air attack aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

The medals were presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, who commended the crew’s actions and sense of responsibility, Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Machchhar and the other crew members received the honour at a presidential reception.

The incident occurred on September 30 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, and suffered serious injuries. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

The co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, stabbed Machchhar and sent the aircraft plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar, who was covered in blood and lying on the floor, managed to draw on “the last moments of his energy” to click open the release on the cockpit door.

This allowed passengers and crew members to overpower the co-pilot. A second pair of flydubai pilots who were on board then took control and landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The Omani co-pilot was taken into custody. Machchhar was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment.

The crew successfully neutralised the cockpit attack, safeguarding passengers and ensuring the aircraft’s safe landing in Saudi Arabia.

The crew members thanked the UAE President and expressed pride in receiving the honour, which reflects his recognition of the values of service, dedication and commitment, the statement said.

The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; and several other officials.

The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates conferred by the President to honour individuals, diplomats, officials and crew members for distinguished service, courage or contributions to strengthening bilateral and international relations.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

BRICS Parliamentary Forum ends in Delhi with a declaration backing UNSC reform and zero tolerance for terror; Birla hands the chair to China for 2027.

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in Delhi on Tuesday with the adoption of a joint declaration backing reform of the United Nations Security Council, calling for zero tolerance for terrorism and greater representation of the Global South in global decision-making. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also handed over the forum’s chairship to China for the next BRICS summit in 2027.

“Permanent solutions to global challenges can only be forged through dialogue, not war; in peace, not conflict; and in collaboration, rather than competition,” Birla said in his address. He further called for a global framework based on respect for national sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes and equitable development opportunities.

The forum— held on October 26 and 27 under the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development”— brought together presiding officers and parliamentary representatives from BRICS member countries and partner nations. It focused on strengthening parliamentary institutions, the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies and sustainability. The forum was held during India’s 2026 BRICS chairship, which had the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The joint declaration reaffirmed the principles of the United Nations Charter and called for comprehensive UN reform, including the Security Council, to make the international system “more just, equitable, democratic, representative, effective, and efficient”.

“We look forward to strengthening BRICS interaction within international parliamentary fora, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to amplify the voice of the Global South,” the declaration said.

On counter-terrorism, the declaration strongly condemned the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed and called for action against cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens. It urged “zero tolerance for terrorism” and called for an end to double standards in counter-terrorism efforts.

The declaration also highlighted cooperation on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and proposed a digital public infrastructure repository for BRICS countries. “We emphasise the need to strengthen the digital sovereignty of BRICS member countries by protecting data privacy and security of personal information as well as by building resilient national technological ecosystems,” it added.

On climate change, member countries called for stronger mitigation and adaptation efforts. It called for stronger efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, while emphasising the “principle of common but differentiated responsibilities” in addressing climate change.

Member nations also expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and West Asia, urging restraint, protection of civilians and dialogue towards lasting peace. “We reaffirm our unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution, with the two States living side by side, in peace and security…” the declaration further said.

Emphasising the role of legislatures, Birla said parliaments must evolve beyond law-making to become more transparent, effective and citizen-centric institutions. He also highlighted the potential of AI and digital tools to improve parliamentary research, analysis and public engagement.

“Global peace truly means security, respect, justice, and the assurance of a better future for everyone—especially the younger generation,” Birla said, adding that future generations would judge current leaders by the safety and prosperity of the world they leave behind.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Farmer IDs are expected to enable ‘transparent, efficient and timely’ access for farmers to government schemes, bank credit, crop insurance, and disaster relief.

The Union Agriculture Ministry had created 11 crore unique digital identity cards for farmers as of Friday (October 23, 2026), five months ahead of a deadline set for March 31, 2027. The IDs are expected to enable “transparent, efficient and timely” access for farmers to government schemes, bank credit, crop insurance and disaster relief. It will also reduce paperwork and repeated verification, according to the government.

The milestone has been achieved under the Digital Agriculture Mission implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday (October 24, 2026). The creation of 11 crore Farmer IDs was successfully completed by the night of October 23, he said.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, State governments, and field-level officials worked in coordination to achieve it five months ahead of schedule,” Mr. Chouhan said, congratulating farmers across the country on the achievement. The Minister described the Farmer ID as their own digital identity, and an important step towards making agriculture more efficient, transparent and prosperous through modern technology.

“Earlier, farmers often had to provide documents repeatedly to access various benefits, resulting in a loss of both time and money. With Farmer IDs, access to several key services is expected to become simpler and more transparent,” the Minister said in a statement, adding that the initiative intends to improve transparency and accountability in agricultural service delivery, and ensure eligible farmers could access government support with fewer procedural hurdles.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

India’s UN mission hosted the 9th India-UN Development Partnership Fund annual event at UN headquarters on Thursday, with visiting MPs in attendance.

Representatives of several countries have hailed the impact of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, as New Delhi reaffirmed its commitment to sharing development experiences and supporting countries in the Global South.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN hosted the 9th edition of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund Annual Event Thursday at the UN headquarters in the presence of the visiting delegation of Members of Parliament.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation for their constant support.

“Heard moving accounts from the ground level of the impact of the projects. India remains committed to share its development experiences and extend a hand of friendship and support to friends and partners in the Global South,” Harish said.

He noted that in 2017, the Government of India had pledged a sum of 150 million dollars to assist the Global South to attain their development goals.

“The essence of this programme is to ensure national ownership, that the projects are nationally-driven and tailor-made as per the host countries’ requirements,” he said.

He said India’s approach to development cooperation is rooted in the civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam— that the world is one family.

“The India-UN Fund gives practical expression to this conviction by bringing together the priorities of developing countries, India’s commitment to South-South cooperation and the United Nations’ expertise and presence on the ground. At its heart is a simple principle that our partner countries determine their own development priorities,” he said

The Fund is designed to particularly assist the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, which reflects India’s determination to reach those facing acute development challenges.

As of now, India is halfway through with the allocation of about 82 million dollars that has assisted 94 projects in 64 member states.

At the event, several UN Ambassadors, including from the Global South, highlighted the impact of the fund and projects that have benefited from India’s support through the initiative.

Ambassador Jayantha Jayasuriya, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, said the “India-UN Fund caters to diversified thematic structures and these projects respond to needs identified by the countries themselves… its underlying philosophy is that respect for national priorities matters.”

Permanent Representative of Dominica Ambassador Philbert Aaron conveyed his country’s gratitude for the generous resources granted to the project in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“The identity of the Kalinago-based indigenous people who benefit from this project is important. Our President, who is the first female and a person of indigenous community, has attested to the value and importance of this generous grant from India to strengthen the livelihood of our community,”

Permanent Representative of Cuba Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán said that in an increasingly unjust international order, “the India-UN Fund form of cooperation is more necessary than ever to overcome structural inequalities, and expand opportunities to strengthen the collective voice of the Global South.”

He said that India’s leadership in the Global South “demonstrates the power of partnerships built on equality, mutual respect and shared aspirations for sustainable development.”

Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste Ambassador Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares said the India-UN Fund has become an important expression of solidarity among developing countries.

“For us, this approach is particularly meaningful as we benefited directly from this cooperation. Our experience with the Fund demonstrates how South-South Cooperation can translate shared commitments into meaningful opportunities for our people, particularly the younger generations,” Soares said.

Permanent Representative of Mozambique Ambassador Domingos Estêvão Fernandes said the Fund offers a concrete example of South-South cooperation grounded in national priorities, equality and non-interference. It also complements North-South cooperation.

“Mozambique commends India’s leadership in advancing South-South cooperation and partnership,” Fernandes said.

Permanent Representative of Tanzania Ambassador Togolani Edriss Mavura said his country expresses its sincere appreciation to India and the India-UN Fund for their continued support for sustainable development in Tanzania.

Tuvalu Permanent Representative Ambassador Tapugao Falefou said the Indian investment will certainly benefit hundreds of schools and institutions.

The project demonstrates the value of development that is responsive to national priorities and local needs

“Tuvalu remains deeply grateful to the Govt of India’s development assistance,” Falefou said.

Saint Lucia’s UN envoy Ambassador Menissa Rambally said the purpose of the Fund is multifaceted. It facilitates economic and social development across countries of the Global majority. The critical importance of the Fund is a beacon of distinction in capacity building in the Global majority.

“The support provided by the India-UN Fund is instrumental as countries seek to meet the challenges in myriad areas of economic and social development,” Rambally said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Mr. Sen is internationally recognised for his pioneering work on S-duality, the precise counting of black hole entropy and string field theory, which have helped shape modern string theory.

Professor Ashoke Sen has been awarded the Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, becoming the first Indian physicist to receive the honour, the Bengaluru-based ICTS said on Saturday (October 24, 2026).

Mr. Sen, an ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor, is internationally recognised for his pioneering work on S-duality, the precise counting of black hole entropy and string field theory, which have helped shape modern string theory, the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences said in a post on its website.

Mr. Sen delivered the 2026 Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity’, at Stockholm University’s AlbaNova Centre on October 22, the institute said.

He received the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics in 2012 for his contributions to establishing the unifying structure of string theory and the Dirac Medal in 2014, the ICTS said.

His other honours include the Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences in 2009, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1994, the ICTP Prize in 1989, the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2013.

Mr. Sen was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1998, it added.

ICTS Director Rajesh Gopakumar congratulated Mr. Sen, saying, “On behalf of all of us, very warm congratulations to Ashoke. It has been no less than wonderful having Ashoke with us and setting the tone for excellence here at ICTS.”

Named after Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein, the medal recognises distinguished contributions to physics. It was established in 1988, and previous recipients include Nobel laureates Chen-Ning Yang, Steven Weinberg and Hans Bethe, who received the medal in its first three years, respectively, the ICTS said.

The medal is awarded annually by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, according to the ICTS.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Tested in diabetic mice at ETH Zurich, the wireless device lowers blood glucose within 90 minutes, with researchers planning further miniaturisation before human trials.

An Indian scientist in Switzerland has helped design a tiny wirelessly powered implantable device that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream without external insulin or medication, promising a novel bioengineering route to diabetes control.

In diabetic mice, the device improved blood sugar levels within 90 minutes and reduced body weight and triglyceride levels without any detectable adverse effects during six weeks of treatment, Debasis Maity and his colleagues at ETH Zurich said on Thursday.

The device, implanted under the skin and connected to a continuous glucose monitor via a smartphone, automatically activates when blood sugar levels exceed a pre-set threshold, enabling targeted removal of glucose, the researchers said.

“These are proof-of-concept experiments in lab mice,” Maity, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, told The Telegraph in a telephone interview. “We would need to refine the technology and make the device even smaller before human trials.”

The International Diabetes Federation’s 2025 Atlas had estimated nearly 590 million adults worldwide, including over 90 million in India, living with diabetes, often coexisting with obesity. Current treatment relies largely on medications that lower glucose or body weight, but these therapies may produce side effects and typically involve lifelong treatment.

While some studies have suggested that diabetes and the dependence on medications could be potentially reversed through rigorous diet and lifestyle, poor adherence to the required regimens remains a major challenge in diabetes control.

The ETH team, supervised by Martin Fussenegger, professor of biotechnology and bioengineering, has developed an implant — housed in a 26mm by 14mm by 5mm casing — containing an electrocatalyst that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream at an adjustable rate.

The device could provide “a dose-controllable drug-free therapeutic alternative” for diabetes control, the scientists said in a paper set for publication in the US journal Science on Friday.

“The drug-free mode of action is relevant because current pharmacological therapies can be limited by adverse effects, tolerability, adherence, cost, and unresolved long-term safety questions,” they wrote.

An Indian scientist in Switzerland has helped design a tiny wirelessly powered implantable device that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream without external insulin or medication, promising a novel bioengineering route to diabetes control.

In diabetic mice, the device improved blood sugar levels within 90 minutes and reduced body weight and triglyceride levels without any detectable adverse effects during six weeks of treatment, Debasis Maity and his colleagues at ETH Zurich said on Thursday.

The device, implanted under the skin and connected to a continuous glucose monitor via a smartphone, automatically activates when blood sugar levels exceed a pre-set threshold, enabling targeted removal of glucose, the researchers said.

“These are proof-of-concept experiments in lab mice,” Maity, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, told The Telegraph in a telephone interview. “We would need to refine the technology and make the device even smaller before human trials.”

The International Diabetes Federation’s 2025 Atlas had estimated nearly 590 million adults worldwide, including over 90 million in India, living with diabetes, often coexisting with obesity. Current treatment relies largely on medications that lower glucose or body weight, but these therapies may produce side effects and typically involve lifelong treatment.

While some studies have suggested that diabetes and the dependence on medications could be potentially reversed through rigorous diet and lifestyle, poor adherence to the required regimens remains a major challenge in diabetes control.

The ETH team, supervised by Martin Fussenegger, professor of biotechnology and bioengineering, has developed an implant — housed in a 26mm by 14mm by 5mm casing — containing an electrocatalyst that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream at an adjustable rate.

The device could provide “a dose-controllable drug-free therapeutic alternative” for diabetes control, the scientists said in a paper set for publication in the US journal Science on Friday.

“The drug-free mode of action is relevant because current pharmacological therapies can be limited by adverse effects, tolerability, adherence, cost, and unresolved long-term safety questions,” they wrote.

Maity graduated from the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College in Calcutta and earned a PhD from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. He joined ETH six years ago and worked with Fussenegger on the development of implants to control metabolic disorders.

Their wirelessly powered implantable device contains tiny platinum-decorated gold particles embedded in a graphite base. The cluster of particles serves as an electrocatalyst that selectively converts glucose into gluconate, a compound rapidly excreted through the kidneys.

Since the device is electrically activated, the rate of glucose removal can be finely controlled. The implant, connected to a continuous glucose monitoring system, seeks to restore glucose balance by increasing removal when glucose levels exceed threshold levels but stopping as they reach target levels.

“At the current stage of the technology, we’ve demonstrated through lab experiments glucose clearance in approximately five litres of liquid, comparable to the typical blood volume in an adult human,” Maity said. The catalyst for those experiments measures 5cm by 5cm by 0.5cm.

He said future research will focus on efforts to miniaturise the implant and integrate it with an electrical power source such as a wireless charging system and a continuous glucose monitoring device.

“I think this is conceptually a fascinating idea — controlling glucose without drugs, without insulin, without lifestyle changes,” Ambrish Mithal, chair of endocrinology and diabetology at the Max Healthcare group in New Delhi who was not connected with the Swiss study, told this newspaper.

Mithal cautioned that something that works in lab mice need not always work in people, but he added: “this is the most novel thing I’ve seen this year on diabetes treatment strategies”.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)