Episode 54: This week in India's science: 9 June 2025

Host: Subhra Priyadarshini; Sound editing: Prince George

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Hello and welcome back to This Week in India’s Science, brought to you by Nature India. I’m Subhra Priyadarshini.

This week, we take you from the Moon’s ancient past to India’s experiments at the International Space Station, from courtroom debates on genetically modified crops to a conservation story that’s turning heads around the world. India’s scientific landscape is shifting fast — and we’re here to unpack the stories that matter.

Let’s start with the Moon.

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India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission continues to yield scientific gold — or in this case, sulphur.

Researchers have published their first peer-reviewed analysis of soil samples gathered by the Pragyan rover from the Moon’s south pole. The big surprise? High concentrations of sulphur — and significantly lower-than-expected levels of sodium and potassium than samples collected by the Apollo 16 and Luna 20  missions.

Why is this exciting?

Because the composition doesn’t match what we’d expect from typical lunar surface rocks. In fact, it may offer direct evidence of deep mantle material — stuff that came up from the Moon’s interior during a giant ancient collision known as the South Pole–Aitken impact.

Read the full highlight of this research by scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, led by Rishitosh Sinha on Nature India this week.

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Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot turned astronaut, is set to fly on Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station later this month. He will perform experiments on cyanobacteria growth, seed sprouting, and screen-based cognitive workload in microgravity .

In his words: “In microgravity, even simple experiments can reveal big insights.”

Nature India’s Sahana Ghosh interviewed Shukla this week to find out how Shukla’s flight will mark a major step forward for India’s crewed spaceflight Gaganyaan’s ambitions and expand our understanding of space biology and human performance.

Read the full interview on Nature India this week to learn more about the mission and what’s riding aboard.

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Back on earth, in July 2024, India’s Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on GM mustard, with both judges urging the government to create a comprehensive national policy for GM crops, including public consultation. For over two decades, Bt cotton has thrived in India — but food‑crop GMOs remain stalled.

Experts say a transparent, science-guided policy — including data-sharing and stakeholder input — could break the logjam and help boost yields, adapt to climate change, and support small farmers.

This may be a turning point. If India can marry scientific innovation with public trust, it could reclaim a leadership role in sustainable crop development — and feed a growing population more securely.

The Supreme Court’s decision reopens debate on how to integrate biotechnology with public trust, says Rohini Sreevathsa in a commentary this week on Nature India.

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And finally, a story that brings hope — and a few stripes of pride.

India has reported a sharp rise in its tiger population, now estimated at 3682 wild tigers, up from around 1,700 in 2010. That means India is now home to nearly three-quarters of the world’s wild tigers. The data comes from India’s 2022 Tiger Census, which used thousands of camera traps and on-ground surveys across more than 120,000 square kilometres.

What’s behind the surge?

Experts credit a decade of focused conservation efforts, including expanded protected zones, community engagement programs, and better conflict management in human–wildlife zones.

But the growth isn’t uniform. Some habitats — like parts of the Western Ghats — are near ecological capacity. Others — like the eastern states — have room for recovery but still face threats from deforestation and mining.

Still, the overall trend is encouraging.

The challenge ahead? To keep protecting these animals without displacing communities, and to ensure genetic diversity within fragmented populations. Dive deeper into the full article by Papiya Bhattacharya on Nature India this week.

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And that’s a wrap on this week’s top science stories from India.

We looked at moon rocks with strange chemistry, a pilot-turned-astronaut taking India to orbit, a renewed national debate on GM crops, and the country’s proudest conservation success.

You can read more on all these stories — and explore our latest science coverage — at nature.com/natindia.

I’m Subhra Priyadarshini, and you’ve been listening to This Week in India’s Science on the Nature India podcast.

Catch you next week.