Soumya Pillai covers environment and traffic in Delhi. A journalist for three years, she has grown up in and with Delhi, which is often reflected in the stories she does about life in the city. She also enjoys writing on social innovations.
Articles by Soumya Pillai
India launches first winter mission to Arctic
Union minister of earth sciences Kiren Rijiju said India’s winter expeditions to the Arctic will now be regularly undertaken annually,
Published on Dec 18, 2023 05:13 PM IST
Doctors find chocolate wrapper lodged in 8-year-old’s bronchus after prolonged pneumonia
The family initially thought the symptoms were of seasonal flu, but when the child failed to get better, they decided to seek medical help.
Published on Dec 18, 2023 04:11 PM IST
Turned away by three hospitals, 14-year-old cancer patient dies
The teenager’s family alleged Delhi government’s Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI), and the centre-run Safdarjung hospital and AIIMS refused treatment citing lack of medicines, beds
Updated on Dec 07, 2023 05:46 AM IST
Why Chandrayaan module return is key for future missions
These experiments also form the basis of sending humans to the moon and bringing them back safely—a mission recently approved by PM Modi, and expected to happen by 2040
Updated on Dec 06, 2023 01:34 PM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module moved from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit
“In another unique experiment, like the hop experiment on the Vikram Lander, the PM of Chandrayaan-3 was mobed from an orbit around Moon to an orbit around the Earth,” the statement said.
Updated on Dec 05, 2023 06:34 AM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
India’s first polarimetry mission may be launched this month: Isro
XPoSat mission is capable of simultaneous studies of temporal, spectral, and polarization features of the bright x-ray sources
Updated on Dec 04, 2023 08:50 AM IST
India’s first child liver transplant recipient in 1998 is now a doctor
Children who undergo liver transplants lead an active life and many patients continue to have great careers, they get married and have a completely normal life
Updated on Nov 15, 2023 08:15 PM IST
India-US space project NISAR trial done at Isro facility, launch likely in 2024
NISAR is a low earth orbit observatory jointly developed by NASA and Isro to map the globe in 12 days
Updated on Nov 15, 2023 04:20 PM IST
High exposure to bad air can worsen mental health, warn doctors
Pollution likely affects the part of the brain that regulates emotions, leading to or aggravating issues such as anxiety, depression and memory loss
Updated on Nov 15, 2023 05:16 AM IST
Doctors: Extreme exposure to firecrackers hazardous
Firecrackers emit high levels of ultrafine particulate matter, exceeding the national standard, causing immediate discomfort and long-term health problems.
Updated on Nov 14, 2023 02:49 AM IST
Japanese rover tests on track for lunar mission with India
The mission called LUPEX is for lunar surface exploration and subsurface water search. Rover has been equipped with instruments from JAXA, ISRO, NASA, and ESA.
Updated on Nov 12, 2023 03:08 AM IST
Centre to use Isro satellites for pollution monitoring
A senior official of MoES said they are already working with Isro to identify stubble-burning hotspots
Updated on Nov 11, 2023 05:36 AM IST
Payload on board Aditya-L1 captures first X-ray glimpse of solar flares
On September 2, Isro launched the Aditya-L1 spacecraft—the country’s maiden mission to study the Sun—from the spaceport in Sriharikota
Published on Nov 07, 2023 07:36 PM IST
Battle for breath: Vulnerable, sick queue up at Delhi ERs
Prolonged exposure to such high levels of air pollution can increase risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders
Updated on Nov 03, 2023 06:06 AM IST
Bad air behind anaemia, low birth weight in kids, finds study
The findings highlight that impacts of pollutants on children’s health were far more adverse as compared to finer particulate matter
Updated on Nov 02, 2023 05:38 AM IST
Isro analysing results from Gaganyan’s Saturday test
The Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, envisages to demonstrate of human spaceflight capability.
Updated on Oct 27, 2023 04:47 AM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Heatwave intensity set to spike, new hot spots likely: Govt study
Heatwave frequency will increase as much as four to seven times, the analysis by DST’s Mahamana Centre of Excellence in Climate Change Research has predicted, which could increase five to 10 times in the mid and long term
Updated on Oct 25, 2023 05:46 AM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Isro conducts test flight for Gaganyaan mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has successfully completed a test launch and recovery of a crew module for the Gaganyaan mission, bringing the country's first human space flight project one step closer to reality. The test involved simulating an emergency situation to ensure the crew module could safely remove itself from the test vehicle and land in the sea. Isro aims to launch an unmanned flight for the Gaganyaan mission in the first half of 2024, followed by a manned mission around 2025.
Updated on Oct 22, 2023 05:56 AM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Gaganyaan TV-D1 test successful after initial glitch
The lift-off was postponed twice from its initial launch time (8am) and was later temporarily put on hold five seconds before the lift-off due to a technical anomaly, which was rectified immediately before the take-off
Published on Oct 21, 2023 12:29 PM IST
Isro put on ‘hold’ Gaganyaan TV-D1 test flight over technical anomaly
Space Agency chief S Somanath said that the test flight would be rescheduled soon after checking the anomaly
Updated on Oct 21, 2023 09:59 AM IST
Key test today for India’s human spaceflight mission
Last-minute checks were on for a test flight that will enable the agency to carry out a series of safety tests for the Gaganyaan mission, one of the officials aware of the matter said
Updated on Oct 21, 2023 05:42 AM IST
Indo-Gangetic plains to undergo varied rainfall patters in future: Study
Rainfall patterns over the Indo-Gangetic plains will undergo significant changes in the coming years due to climate change.
Updated on Oct 18, 2023 04:50 AM IST
Aim for Indian on the Moon by 2040: Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set ambitious goals for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), including establishing an Indian Space Station by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040. The Prime Minister also called for the development of a roadmap for future Moon missions, the construction of a new launch pad, and the exploration of interplanetary missions. ISRO's crucial test flight for its first manned space mission, Gaganyaan, is scheduled for October 21.
Updated on Oct 18, 2023 05:58 AM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Space station by 2035, manned mission by 2040: PM Modi tells ISRO to aim high
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to aim for a manned mission to the Moon by 2040 and to establish an Indian Space Station by 2035. Modi also called for the development of a roadmap for future Moon missions, the construction of a new launch pad, and the setting up of human-centric laboratories. Isro's test flight for India's first human spaceflight, Gaganyaan, is scheduled for 21 October. The mission will demonstrate India's ability to send manned space missions.
Updated on Oct 17, 2023 08:33 PM IST
Record spike in aerosol in Hindu Kush region: Study
The increase in aerosols in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau region could be the reason behind increase in temperatures, altering rainfall patters and accelerating glacier retreat, a study by Isro’s Physical Research Laboratory has shown
Updated on Oct 13, 2023 06:20 AM IST
Server failure at Delhi AIIMS hits OPD, emergency operations
Doctors and administrative staff said that the servers crashed on Wednesday night, making it difficult for medics to access medical records and reports of patients
Updated on Oct 13, 2023 05:30 AM IST
AIIMS server down for nearly 12 hours, hospital claims “planned maintenance”
Doctors and administrative staff said servers crashed Wednesday night, making it difficult for medics to access medical records and patient reports
Updated on Oct 12, 2023 08:41 PM IST
Aditya-L1 goes through crucial manoeuvre: Isro
The space agency said the manoeuvre ensures that the spacecraft is on its intended path towards the Halo orbit insertion around L1.
Updated on Oct 09, 2023 04:17 AM IST
Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Gaganyaan: India's 1st manned mission abort test demo likely on October 25
A senior official from the Indian space agency said that the abort capability demonstration can be expected later in the month, if “all goes per plan”
Updated on Oct 07, 2023 02:36 AM IST
‘It could be a bad year if on-ground steps inadequate’: Nasa expert on farm fires
Predicting the pre-winter air quality crisis is difficult since there is wide variation in factors: whether farmers choose to burn the paddy residue is a key determinant, as is the sort of weather that prevails
Updated on Oct 03, 2023 05:20 AM IST