Author: Dr Anand Mali
Wally Funk became the oldest person to reach space on Tuesday – some 60 years after first undergoing astronaut training. Wally has a long career as an aviator and has finally succeeded in realizing her dream of reaching outer space. She has spent six decades of her life exploring the sky. Wally had undergone astronaut training in the 1960s but did not qualify because of her status as a woman. Wally Funk was passionate about aviation since childhood and took her first flying lesson at the age of 9. When she was 16, she joined the Flying Susie’s program at…
Facebook-owned instant messaging app WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature that will allow a user to join a group video or voice call even after it has started. And, one will be able to see the new participants in a video call screen the way one sees on various communication apps. This will help users join a group call even if they initially miss a call when their phone rings. The update also brings an easy way to let users drop-off and rejoin a group WhatsApp call – as far as the call is going on. Joinable calls allow…
Farhan Akhtar underwent a major physical transformation for his role as boxer Aziz Ali in his recently-released film Toofaan. The actor, on Monday, shared his journey of becoming the great Aziz Ali by gaining and shedding weight over the span of 18 months. He posted a picture collage featuring three photos of himself – first from when he weighed 69 kg, second when he was 85 kg and third from the time when he reduced his weight to 76 kg. “The many shapes and sizes of Ajju aka Aziz aka Toofaan,” wrote Farhan Akhtar in the caption and added: “What…
Ishan Kishan had a starring debut in India’s convincing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the limited-overs series as the star wicket-keeper batsman became the first Indian to hit a six-off on his first ball in ODI cricket. Before going out to bat in his debut ODI against Sri Lanka, young Ishan Kishan had announced in the dressing room that he would hit the first ball for a six, irrespective of the bowler and where the ball would be pitched. And he did what he had promised by hitting a six off Dhananjaya De Silva, the…
We have all seen wonderful houses that have lost their charm because a busy highway or road, or electricity pylons have been built nearby. But the story of this ‘Nail House’ in Guangzhou, China is beyond anything we could have imagined After ten years of dispute with the government, Chinese government has now built a bridge around a tiny house in Guangzhou after its ‘stubborn’ owner refused to sell the property to the government for the past 10 years. Pressed between the two wings of the motorway highway, Haizhuyong Bridge, the property is called the ‘nail house’ or ‘dingzihu’ in…
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic came into being last year, wearing a face mask has become a norm. However, despite repeated tutorials on how to wear a face mask properly (yes, some people required tutorials), it seems like the concept is lost on some. Making matters worse even as the third wave is expected to hit India more harshly than the horrifying second one, a Uttarakhand minister was photographed sitting in a meeting with his face mask hanging off his toe. Now, due to obvious reasons, the photo has gone viral and minister Swami Yatishwaranand has received backlash for his…
A Christian group has taken objection to the title of a book written by actress Kareena Kapoor and filed a police complaint in Beed city of Maharashtra against her and two others on Wednesday, accusing them of hurting religious sentiments of the community, an official said. Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh president Ashish Shinde submitted the complaint at the Shivaji Nagar Police Station in Beed over the book, which has a second author. In the complaint, Shinde has referred to the title of the book, Pregnancy Bible, authored by Kareena Kapoor and Aditi Shah Bhimjani, and published by Juggernaut Books. The…
A unique case has come to light from Rajasthan. Purkharam, who lives in the Nagaur district of Jodhpur, sleeps for 300 days a year. The family members feed and bathe him while he is asleep. 42-year-old Purkharam is suffering from a very rare disease called Axis Hypersomnia. According to doctors, it is a rare psychological disease seen in very few people across the world. While people are usually advised to sleep for six to eight hours a day, Purkharam sleeps for 25 days at a stretch. He was diagnosed with the rare disorder 23 years ago. Purkharam has his own…
The Gandhinagar Capital railway station, the country’s first redeveloped station set to be inaugurated this week, will provide an airport-like experience to passengers with facilities .Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the station on July 16. Its redevelopment was conceptualised in 2016 as part of the railways’ ambitious project to transform stations into world-class 24×7 transport and business hubs. These hubs are to be called “Railopolis” and aim offer great business opportunities and attract huge investments. The officials said , the upgraded station has an interfaith prayer hall – a first for the country’s vast railway network – a column-free,…
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on successfully conducting the third long-duration “hot test” of Vikas engine, as part of the engine qualification requirements for the Gaganyaan Programme. ISRO on Wednesday successfully conducted the third long-duration hot test of the liquid propellant Vikas Engine for the core L110 liquid stage of the human-rated GSLV MkIII vehicle. Replying to a tweet by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the engine test, Mr Musk just wrote one word – “Congratulations!” with India’s flag emoticon. ISRO said the engine was fired for 240 seconds…