Infosys Prize

10/07/2026

India has taken an interesting step in clean energy research with the inauguration of the world's first nuclear-assisted hydrogen production facility at Kalpakkam. Instead of relying mainly on electricity to produce hydrogen, the pilot plant uses heat generated by a nuclear reactor, making the process more energy efficient while keeping carbon emissions low.

The facility is currently a technology demonstrator, designed to test and refine this approach before it is scaled up. If successful, it could support cleaner hydrogen production for industries where cutting carbon emissions remains a challenge.

It's an encouraging example of how advances in nuclear science can contribute beyond electricity generation, opening up new possibilities for clean energy research.

Scientists say using nuclear reactor heat instead of electrolysis can make hydrogen production more energy efficient while maintaining a carbon footprint comparable to green hydrogen.

09/07/2026

An Indian team of researchers has discovered a rare "bow and arrow" radio galaxy nearly 2 billion light-years away from Earth.

Researchers believe the unusual shape is the result of the galaxy moving through a dense cluster of galaxies. As it travels, the surrounding material bends its jets, creating this distinctive structure.

Studying such systems helps scientists understand how galaxies evolve in crowded cosmic environments and how black hole activity interacts with surrounding matter. Observations like this also provide clues about the conditions of intergalactic space, including density, temperature, and magnetic fields, which are otherwise difficult to measure directly.

Indian researchers unveil RAD-BAARG, a rare bow-and-arrow radio galaxy, 2 billion light-years away, showcasing unique cosmic structures.

09/07/2026

Congratulations to Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, Infosys Prize 2015 Laureate in Engineering and Computer Science, on his appointment as Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

A distinguished materials scientist and theoretical physicist, Prof. Waghmare has made significant contributions to the understanding of materials through computational science. His research has focused on studying materials at the atomic scale, with practical applications in electronics, energy, and emerging technologies.

We extend our warmest congratulations and wish him every success as he takes on this important responsibility in strengthening India's science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.

Read more about Prof. Waghmare’s work: https://www.infosysprize.org/laureates/2015/umesh-waghmare.html

08/07/2026

Prof. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Jury Chair for the Physical Sciences category of the Infosys Prize 2026.

One of the world's leading astronomers and a professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Caltech, Prof. Kulkarni is known for his work on a wide range of astronomical phenomena, including millisecond pulsars, brown dwarfs, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other transient events in the night sky.

Through projects such as the Palomar Transient Factory and the Zwicky Transient Facility, he helped create systems that scan the sky night after night, catching everything from stellar explosions to other rare celestial events that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Born in Maharashtra, Prof. Kulkarni studied at IIT Delhi before earning his PhD from UC Berkeley. In 2024, he was awarded the Shaw Prize in Astronomy for his contributions to the study of pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other transient astronomical phenomena.

In 2026, he was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal, the Society's highest honor. He is only the second Indian to receive the medal, after Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

We are delighted to welcome him back as Jury Chair. His scientific achievements, pioneering vision, and decades of leadership in astronomy bring invaluable perspective to the jury.

Read more about Prof. Kulkarni's work: https://www.infosysprize.org/jury/2026/shrinivas-kulkarni.html

07/07/2026

Which part of the human body grows fastest?

A) Fingernails

B) Hair

C) Bone Marrow

D) Skin

Comment your answer below!

06/07/2026

At the 2013 Infosys Prize ceremony, former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan shared his thoughts on the role of science in building a better future.

Introduced by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Trustee of the Infosys Science Foundation and Chairman of Infosys, Mr. Annan spoke about why scientific research, innovation, education, and global collaboration are essential to tackling challenges such as climate change, public health, and sustainable development.

Watch his full address on the Infosys Prize YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4qBXRg3klI

N. R. Narayana Murthy, Trustee ISF and Chairman of Infosys, introd...

03/07/2026

Sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins.

By slowing their heart rate, sloths can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, while most dolphins typically surface after around 10 minutes. Not bad for one of nature's slowest animals!

Discover how sloths hold their breath 4x longer than dolphins. Learn the surprising science behind sloth metabolism and underwater adaptations.

02/07/2026

Revisit Dr. Manmohan Singh's address at the 2010 Infosys Prize ceremony, where he speaks about the importance of making quality education accessible to all. His remarks touch on the lasting impact of scholarships, the need to support young learners from every section of society, and why investing in education is essential for building a stronger future.

Watch the full address on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apOGlcO3H3s

Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, addresses the gathering.

01/07/2026

Prof. Jayathi Y. Murthy, Jury Chair for the Engineering and Computer Science category of the Infosys Prize 2026.

An accomplished engineer, researcher, educator, and academic leader, Prof. Murthy currently serves as the President of Oregon State University. She is widely recognized for her contributions to mechanical engineering, particularly in heat transfer, computational fluid dynamics, and micro-scale thermal systems. She has authored more than 330 technical publications and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020 for her pioneering work in numerical methods for heat, mass, and momentum transport.

A few milestones from her remarkable journey:

- One of the first women to study Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
- The first woman Dean of UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.
- The first Indian-born President of Oregon State University.
- Worked in both academia and industry, helping develop computational fluid dynamics software whose foundations continue to be used today.

Throughout her career, Prof. Murthy has championed access to engineering education, strengthened pathways for future researchers, and helped support the next generation of engineers and scientists.

We are delighted to welcome her back as Jury Chair, where her extensive experience and longstanding dedication to advancing engineering and scientific research will help recognize and celebrate exceptional achievements in the field.

Read more about Prof. Murthy’s work: https://www.infosysprize.org/jury/2026/jayathi-y-murthy.html

30/06/2026

Which of these is NOT found in space?

A) Water

B) Alcohol

C) Diamonds

D) Wood

Comment your answer below!