The International Energy Agency (IEA) releases its annual report on global electricity systems and markets: Electricity 2026.

Key Findings of the Report

• Accelerating Demand: Global electricity demand is forecast to grow at 3.6% annually through 2030, outpacing GDP growth, driven by electric vehicles, data centres, and air conditioning.
• Clean Supply Dominance: Low-emissions sources (renewables and nuclear) are set to meet all additional demand, accounting for nearly half of global generation by 2030.
• Emissions Plateau: Global power sector CO₂ emissions are expected to plateau.

A new study has shown a gentler way to recover lab-grown T-cells without damaging them. 

About T-cells

• They are white blood cells that detect infections and abnormal cells like cancer.
• They either kill diseased cells directly or activate other immune cells.
• Their precision makes them central to modern immunotherapy.

What is CAR T-cell therapy?

• Doctors collect T-cells from a patient’s blood.
• In the lab, these cells are genetically modified to carry Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs).
• CARs act like targeting systems, helping T-cells recognise cancer cells.
• The engineered cells are multiplied and infused back into the patient.

A team led by a scholar from the US has unearthed a largely intact human burial site from Neolithic and later periods, in Ballari district of Karnataka.

About Neolithic Age

• It was the final stage of the Stone Age.
• It was characterized by stone tools shaped by polishing or grinding, dependence on domesticated plants and animals, settlement in permanent villages, and the appearance of pottery and weaving.
• Neolithic cultures of India were contemporary with Harappan, Chalcolithic and microlith-using hunter-gatherers.
• Neolithic sites in India: Kashmir (Burzahom), Vindhyan region of Prayagraj, Mirzapur and the Belan river valley, The area of northern part of Bihar, Central Eastern region, Assam and the sub-Himalayan region, Peninsular India etc.

In a study scientists observed a reversible phase transition from superfluid to supersolid for the first time ever.

• It will help understand quantum phase transitions, explore new states of matter, advance quantum materials science etc.

About Phases of matter

• There are four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas and plasma.
• But there are other possibilities such as,
  • Superfluid: A rare quantum state of matter in which a fluid flows without any friction or viscosity.
  • Supersolids: Rare and exotic quantum state of matter that behave like a solid and a superfluid at the same time.

The Tamil Nadu government has issued a notice against a batch of Almond Kit syrup found adulterated with ethylene glycol.

About Ethylene Glycol (EG)

• It is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, and water-soluble organic compound.
• Used as:
  • An antifreeze and coolant in automotive and industrial applications.
  • An ingredient in hydraulic fluids, printing inks, and paint solvents.
  • A reagent in making polyesters, explosives and synthetic waxes.
• It is highly poisonous and potentially fatal for animals or humans.
  • Automotive antifreeze, containing 95% ethylene glycol, is the most common source of EG poisoning.

Delhi High court said the “safe harbour” protections available to intermediaries under Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 do not shield platforms from participating in the Sahyog portal.

• Section 79 grants immunity to digital platforms (intermediaries) from liability for third-party content, provided they act as neutral hosts.

About Sahyog Portal

• Mission: To create an effective framework and ecosystem for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of Cybercrime.
• Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
• Functions:
  • Automate the process of sending notices to intermediaries by the Appropriate Government or its agency under IT Act, 2000.
  • Facilitate removal or disabling of access to any information, data or communication link being used to commit an unlawful act.
  • Bring together all Authorized Agencies and all the intermediaries on one platform.

Indian aerospace firm Azista Space successfully demonstrated "in-orbit snooping" (or "space watch") by capturing images of the International Space Station.

• This strengthens the country’s space situational awareness capabilities.

About Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

• It is a comprehensive monitoring, tracking, and prediction of man-made satellites, space debris, and natural objects (like asteroids) in Earth’s orbit.
• Significance: Ensure the safety and sustainability of space activities by analysing potential collisions and enabling avoidance maneuvers.
• Initiatives of ISRO: 
  • NEtwork for space objects TRacking and Analysis (NETRA) project
  • IS4OM (Space Situational Awareness Control Centre) at Bengaluru.