Archives April 2026

Apr 25: Marking 25 years of promoting Indian classical arts, Swaranjali Delhi, in association with Tatvaa Arts and RMS Audio, presents Colours of India 2026 Hyderabad — an evening celebrating the richness of Indian classical vocal, instrumental music, and dance.

The event will be held today, Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the B M Birla Auditorium, Birla Science Centre complex, Adarsh Nagar, Hyderabad.

The program is structured in two sessions, bringing together acclaimed artists and promising institutions from across the country.

Session 1 will feature a group presentation by Rhythm Dance Academy, Vocal & Sitar recital by Akshay Vat Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Vocal performances by students of Shanti Swaroop Gurukulam, Raageshree Academy, and Swarasya Gurukulam, and a Taal Vadya ensemble by the disciples of Shri Gajender Shewalker.

Session 2 showcases eminent solo artists: Vid. B Pavan Singh on Carnatic Violin, Smt. Hemangi Bhagat with Hindustani Vocal, and Shri Rampaparnna Bhattacharjee on Sitar.

The event will be anchored by Smt. Sikha Nath. Co-artists for the evening include Shri Susamoy Mishra, Shri Vivek Kayal, Shri Rahul Deshpande, and Shri Rama Krishna.

The event is supported by RMS Audio and Shreyas Webmedia Solutions.

Event Details: 

Date: Saturday, 25 April 2026 
Time: 2:00 PM 
Venue: B M Birla Auditorium, Birla Science Centre complex, Adarsh Nagar, Hyderabad – 500063 
Entry: All are cordially invitedFor media queries, interviews, or passes, please contact: 
Swaranjali / Tatvaa Arts / RMS Audio 
Phone: 9910300319, 8142803372, 9246109975, 8920265508, 9949700611 
Website: www.swaranjali.org

Mumbai, Apr 25: special evening filled with compassion, courage, and humanity: For the first time, the DKMS Gala took place in Germany—the very place where the organization’s history began in 1991. More than 400 dedicated supporters gathered at the Haus der Kunst in Munich to show solidarity with patients. The event was an overwhelming success, raising more than 1.5 million euros for lifesaving work in the fight against blood cancer.

The hosts of the evening were Dr. Peter Harf, founder of DKMS and member of the Board of Trustees, along with his daughters Katharina Harf, Chair of the DKMS Foundation Board, and Viktoria von Wulffen, member of the Board of Trustees.

mong the prominent guests of the evening, which was hosted by Katharina Harf, were Francis Fulton-Smith, Uschi Glas, Joshua Kimmich, Joachim Löw, and Richy Müller.

A key part of the program was the auction, moderated by Barbara Schöneberger and Nils Ole Oermann. What made it special was that the bids supported specific DKMS projects—such as providing sick children in India with access to so-called MRD diagnostics. This is a highly sensitive test capable of detecting even the smallest remaining leukemia cells.

The DKMS Gala builds on successful events in New York and London and now brings this special commitment to Germany for the first time—the place where it all began 35 years ago. The goal of the evening was to raise lifesaving awareness and generate vital funds to further advance DKMS’s international dedication to overcome blood cancer.

The event was held under the patronage of Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder, who said: “For 35 years, DKMS has stood for solidarity in action and genuine social cohesion. This work deserves the highest respect. That is why, as Minister-President, I have wholeheartedly taken on the patronage of the first DKMS Gala in Germany.”

A legacy that saves lives worldwide

DKMS was founded in 1991 by Peter Harf—prompted by his wife Mechtild’s diagnosis with leukemia. At the time, a bone marrow transplant was her only chance for a cure. A personal promise to his wife, who died from a relapse, gave rise to a global movement. To this day, this legacy continues to save lives around the globe. More than 13 million potential stem cell donors are now registered at seven locations across five continents, having made more than 135,000 second chances at life possible. An emotional film commemorated Mechtild Harf and her story. “When we started, it was a very personal mission—driven by the desire to save lives. Today, especially on an evening like this, when we come together to remember while also offering hope, I am once again deeply aware of what has grown from it,” says Peter Harf. “Remembering Mechtild touches me deeply—and at the same time, it fills me with great gratitude to see that our loss has turned into a global movement that gives so many people a second chance at life.”

Moving first meeting with the lifesaver

A particularly moving moment was the first in-person meeting between the cured patient Eva from Thessaloniki and her lifesaver Sabrina from Braunfels in Germany. Sabrina had already registered as a donor at the age of 17—inspired by her parents’ commitment. Years later, she received the news that she was a potential match. Even when it became clear that a bone marrow donation was necessary, she decided without hesitation to help. Through her selflessness, she gave Eva a future. “A courageous decision turned into hope, hope turned into life—and a bond has formed between two strangers that will last forever. For me personally, this brings things full circle,” says Katharina Harf. “When I was young myself, I lost my mother to leukemia. Seeing that a child today has the chance to grow up, laugh, and dream is a deeply moving moment. It shows what is possible when people stand up for one another—even across all borders.” 

Eva was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2022. After an initially successful treatment, she suffered a relapse and had to temporarily move to Athens with her family to receive a lifesaving stem cell transplant. Today, Eva is healthy, full of energy, and back in school. She traveled to Munich specifically for the gala, accompanied by her parents.

At the end of the evening, music star LP took the stage. LP has supported DKMS for years and was met with cheers and thunderous applause. 

All proceeds from the evening go toward DKMS’s global work—from registering new donors and funding medical research to improving access to transplantation for patients.

Markus Söder concludes: “I am particularly pleased that Bavaria is playing a pioneering role here: Last year, more people registered as potential stem cell donors here than in any other federal state. That is a strong sign and makes it clear: Together, we can save lives and give hope—in Bavaria, throughout Germany, and worldwide. Support DKMS by registering or donating and help advance this lifesaving work.” 

The DKMS Gala 2026 thus stands for far more than a festive evening: It is a powerful signal in the fight against blood cancer—and a call to save lives together.

The DKMS also received special support from the Aschenbrenner family, the Randlkofer family, Dallmayr, Douglas, JAB, and Porsche, whose commitment made for an unforgettable evening for the guests and supported the work of the DKMS.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for their tremendous commitment!

Bhubaneswar,Apr25(BNP): In a significant academic achievement, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology has improved its standing in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2026, securing the 169th position among leading universities across Asia. The institution has also emerged as the top-ranked university in Eastern India and holds the 6th position among all public and private universities in the country.

This marks a notable rise from last year’s ranking of 184th in Asia, reflecting KIIT’s consistent progress in academic excellence and global competitiveness. Adding to its achievements, KIIT has also been recognised as the second-best institution in the Sports Science category by Times Higher Education.

The rankings are based on key performance indicators such as teaching quality, research output, knowledge transfer, and international outlook. KIIT’s strong performance across these parameters highlights its commitment to innovation, quality education, and global engagement.

Despite being a relatively young institution—established 28 years ago and functioning as a university for just 22 years—KIIT has successfully met the rigorous evaluation criteria, surpassing several well-established institutions across Asia. This achievement has brought pride to both the state and the nation.

Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, congratulated the faculty, staff, and students for their collective efforts and dedication. He also expressed confidence that the university will continue to scale greater heights in the coming years.

KIIT’s consistent presence in global rankings, including those by Times Higher Education, QS, and other reputed agencies, underscores its growing stature as a centre of excellence in higher education and its contribution to enhancing India’s academic reputation on the global stage.

When it comes to package delivery, early isn’t always better.

A new study from researchers at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business finds that when a package that’s ordered online is delivered earlier than the promised delivery date, the purchaser is apt to give it fewer stars when they leave an online review.

The finding surprised researchers Salar Nozari and Soogand Alavi, assistant professors of marketing. While the impact of delivery performance on how consumers rate a company’s service quality is well known, the authors didn’t expect that early or late deliveries would actually impact perceptions of the product itself. Even more interesting, they said that while we might expect that customers to ding a product in their rating for arriving late, they didn’t think they would also penalize a product for arriving early.

The two researchers analyzed online reviews of 11 million products left over the course of a year on an e-commerce platform. They found that when the delivery was made later than the platform promised, it led to a loss of .4 stars on average for products compared to on-time deliveries, presumably because the customer wasn’t happy about waiting. 

But when the delivery came before the window, the recipient also dinged the product, by an average of .2 stars. The authors said that while that might seem small on a single review, it quickly impacts the product average rating after numerous reviews and could eventually reduce sales.  

Why such counter-intuitive annoyance for an early delivery? Nozari and Alavi said it could be that the early delivery interrupted the customer’s time needed to justify purchasing the product. The researchers said that customers often use the time between purchase and acquisition to justify buying the product. If the platform says the product will be delivered Friday morning, they implicitly use the time before delivery to come to terms with their purchase, a process called cognitive dissonance theory.

But when the product comes Thursday afternoon, that early delivery stops the mental process so now they’re uneasy about the purchase and that’s reflected in the downgraded review. They said financial compensation can minimize the damage, so businesses can give a gift card or a discount on the customer’s next purchase if the delivery is late. 

Nozari and Alavi said one exception to this is food deliveries, which customers are usually more familiar with and so an early delivery doesn’t cause discomfort. 

Apr 25: Mammals and dinosaurs coexisted on Earth until a catastrophic event 66 million years ago killed 75% of life on the planet. Despite the devastation, some animals survived, including rodent-like mammals in the Cimolodon genus. These creatures are part of the multituberculates, a group that arose during the Jurassic Period and survived over 100 million years before going extinct. Studying these animals helps researchers better understand how mammals survived the mass extinction event and then diversified into the variety of mammals around today.

A research team led by the University of Washington has identified a new species in the Cimolodon genus from a fossil the team discovered at a research site in Baja California. The researchers estimate that this fossil is about 75 million years old. The new species, named Cimolodon desosai, was about the size of a golden hamster, the researchers said. It likely scampered on the ground and in trees and ate fruits and insects.

The researchers published these findings April 22 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

“The genus Cimolodon was a pretty common mammal during the Late Cretaceous, the last epoch of the Age of Dinosaurs. Cimolodon fossils have been found throughout western North America, from western Canada down through Mexico,” said senior author Gregory Wilson Mantilla, a UW professor of biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Burke Museum. “This new species, Cimolodon desosai, was ancestral to the species that survived the extinction event. It and its descendants were relatively small and omnivorous — two traits that were advantageous for surviving.” 

When Wilson Mantilla and his team discovered the fossil in 2009, they found teeth, a skull, jaws and parts of the skeleton, including a femur and an ulna. 

“It’s very hard to find fossils at this site compared to other areas,” Wilson Mantilla said. “At first, my field assistant found just a little tooth poking out. If he had just found that, I would have been over the moon. But then when we looked inside the crack of the rock, we could see there was more bone.”

The fact that the researchers uncovered more than just teeth for C. desosai means that they can better understand its size and shape and how it likely moved. It also helps fill out the picture of this genus and the habitat in which it lived, and contributes to a better understanding of the multituberculate group in general.

The researchers used digital imaging and a tool called micro-computed tomography, or micro-CT, to get high resolution images of the fossil. Then the team compared the teeth of C. desosai to those of its cousins in the Cimolodon genus to establish it as a new species. 

“That far back in time everything is named based on their tooth characteristics,” Wilson Mantilla said. “If you find a skeleton that’s missing teeth, sometimes it’s hard to attach it to a name.”

The team named this species after Michael de Sosa VI, the field assistant who first found it, because de Sosa died while they were still analyzing the fossil.

“He was a great field assistant, and he was like a little brother to me,” Wilson Mantilla said. “It’s a great specimen to be associated with.”

Additional co-authors are Isiah Newbins, UW doctoral student in biology, David Fastovsky at the University of Rhode Island; Yue Zhang, who completed this research as a UW postdoctoral fellow in biology; Meng Chen, who completed this research as a UW doctoral student in biology; and Marisol Montellano-Ballesteros and Dalia García Alcántara at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 

This research was funded by UC MEXUS-CONACYT, Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico PAPIIT IN111209-2, the UW College of Arts and Sciences, the UW Department of Biology and the American Philosophical Society.

New Delhi, Apr 25 (BNP): As large parts of the country continue to reel under intense heatwave conditions, there are encouraging indications of an early onset of the southwest monsoon this year. According to projections and global weather models, the monsoon is likely to reach India’s southern coast, particularly Kerala, between May 27 and 29, offering much-needed relief from soaring temperatures.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heatwave conditions may persist in the coming days, with temperatures across several northern, central, and eastern regions hovering between 43°C and 44°C. However, forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts indicate a favourable shift in weather patterns, suggesting an early advancement of the monsoon system.

Early Signals from Andaman Region
Meteorological projections suggest that the monsoon could first reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 18 and 25. Thereafter, moisture-laden winds are expected to intensify over the Arabian Sea, triggering rainfall across southern states, including parts of Tamil Nadu, by the last week of May.

Favourable Conditions Strengthen Outlook
Experts note that strengthening westerly winds and easing concerns over El Niño are contributing to a more optimistic monsoon outlook. While precise onset dates remain subject to further monitoring, early indicators point towards above-normal rainfall in southern regions during the initial phase of the season.

Meteorologists add that clearer projections are expected by early May. Current trends, however, align with last year’s pattern of an early monsoon onset, raising the possibility of another ahead-of-schedule transition into the rainy season.

Relief for Heat-Hit Regions, Boost for Agriculture
An early monsoon is expected to provide significant relief to heat-affected regions, particularly along the southwest coast. Beyond easing temperatures, timely rainfall will play a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities, especially the upcoming sowing season.

Weather assessments also indicate a gradual build-up of rain-bearing clouds along the Kerala coastline towards the end of May, reinforcing expectations of an early onset. Authorities and citizens are advised to stay updated with official forecasts as the monsoon system progresses.

NEW DELHI,Apr25(BNP): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe heatwave alert for large parts of the country, as maximum temperatures have surged beyond 40°C in at least 17 cities across central, western, and northern regions. States affected include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

According to the latest IMD data, peak afternoon temperatures have exceeded 43°C in several areas, with extreme conditions reported in Wardha and Jharsuguda, where temperatures touched as high as 44.6°C. The combination of intense solar radiation, dry “loo” winds, and high humidity in coastal belts has significantly increased the risk of heat-related illnesses.

The IMD has cautioned that heatwave conditions are likely to persist and intensify over the next 3–4 days, particularly across northern and central India, including Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to safety advisories.

Key Public Safety Advisories:

Avoid Outdoor Exposure: Citizens are strongly advised to remain indoors, especially between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, when temperatures peak.
Stay Hydrated: Regular intake of water, ORS, and other fluids is essential to prevent dehydration.
Protect Vulnerable Groups: Special care should be taken for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Wear Protective Clothing: Use lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored cotton garments to minimize heat absorption.

In response to the escalating heat conditions, the Government of Odisha has initiated precautionary measures, including restricted outdoor work during peak hours in certain regions.

The IMD has reiterated the importance of community awareness and preparedness to mitigate the adverse impacts of the ongoing heatwave. Citizens are encouraged to follow official updates and take all necessary precautions to ensure safety during this period of extreme weather.

Minneapolis, April 25: A three-week heat acclimation intervention helped female athletes better tolerate heat and may be helpful for maintaining an unfatigued “race pace,” known as durability. Although the findings fell short of the study’s main goal of showing statistically significant improvements in durability, researchers say the study offers a useful protocol for heat adaptation that is practical to implement as a complement to standard training.  Researchers will present their work this week at the 2026 American Physiology Summit in Minneapolis. The Summit is the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS).

“The heating protocol we used appeared to elicit meaningful adaptations for heat preparedness, while modest or equivocal changes were observed in our metric of durability. This heat protocol was designed specifically for athletes to maintain normal training while undergoing the intervention and may be useful for implementation at many levels of sport,” said the study’s first author Katie Lucernoni, MS, a PhD candidate at the University of Oregon.

Durability is an emerging area of focus for athletic performance. To measure durability, researchers compare an athlete’s performance (such as race pace, or the highest steady state an athlete can maintain during running) in an ideal or rested state versus their performance after fatiguing exercise. A lower margin of difference means the athlete is more durable or resilient in the face of fatigue.

Previous studies have shown durability improvements with interventions such as strength training, carbohydrate ingestion and the use of “super shoes.” In the new work, researchers sought to find out if heat acclimation could bring similar benefits.

The researchers tested their protocol in 23 endurance-trained female runners, with half assigned to a heat protocol and half serving as controls. Each group trained for two 30-minute sessions per week for three weeks. The control group trained in normal conditions, while the heat acclimation group trained in progressively hotter conditions each week: just over 100°F the first week, 104°F the second week and nearly 108°F the third week. The heat acclimation group also spent two additional 30-minute sessions in a hot tub each week at close to 106°F.

All participants underwent durability tests before and after the training. There was a trend toward improved durability in the heat acclimation group compared with controls, although the difference did not reach the threshold for statistical significance. This group also appeared to experience fatigue differently after the heat protocol, suggesting the protocol may still confer meaningful performance-based adaptations. In the heat tolerance tests a 30-minute run at 100°F the heat acclimation group had a lower peak core body temperature, lower peak heart rate and increased sweat rate after their three-week training, while the control group showed no such improvements. This demonstrates that the protocol successfully improved athletes’ heat tolerance.

Researchers noted that it is possible that a more intensive study protocol may have resulted in more discernable drops in race pace after the heating intervention.

 

The Sombrero galaxy is a galactic masterpiece that captivates scientists and astronomy enthusiasts alike. Its intricate system of globular star clusters lends insight into stellar populations, and astronomers are intrigued by the supermassive black hole at its center. Its distinctive visual features and relative brightness make it a favorite among amateur astronomers. The fascinating story of its discovery, involving three esteemed astronomers, has earned it a spot on one of the most important lists of deep sky objects. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic galaxies in the night sky.

Messier 104 resides approximately 30 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo (see finder chart). Spanning an impressive 50,000 light-years across, it is among the largest objects of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster. Despite its grandeur, it appears relatively dim in the night sky — just below the threshold of naked-eye visibility, though it can be observed with a small telescope or binoculars.

This image was captured with the 570-megapixel Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

The incredible resolution of DECam reveals the Sombrero Galaxy’s striking features. At its core is an intensely bright nucleus, which is surrounded by a swarm of around 2000 globular star clusters. A thin, dark band of cold dust and hydrogen gas traces the perimeter of the disk, where most of the galaxy’s star formation takes place. The moniker “Sombrero Galaxy” comes from its striking resemblance to a sombrero, with its pronounced central bulge and dark dust trail that resemble the lofty crown and expansive brim of the traditional Mexican hat.

Also visible in this image is the galaxy’s enormous glowing halo, which appears to stretch over three times the width of the Sombrero itself. This may be the first time the halo has been captured with this level of detail and at this large a scale. DECam’s incredible sensitivity also captured a sweeping stellar stream extending from the south side of the galaxy. The halo and the stellar stream are populated with stars that have been torn from their home galaxies, hinting at a past galactic merger between the Sombrero and a smaller satellite galaxy.

The story of Messier 104’s discovery is intertwined with the endeavors of several prominent astronomers. It was initially spotted by the French astronomer and comet hunter Pierre Méchain in 1781 when he was an associate of the renowned comet hunter Charles Messier. At that time, Messier was compiling a list of non-cometary celestial objects, now famously known as the Messier Catalogue, to aid other astronomers in distinguishing these objects from passing comets.

Interestingly, Messier 104 did not find its place in the original publication of Messier’s list. However, it was later discovered that Messier added it by hand to his personal copy. Independently, in 1784, the well-known astronomer William Herschel also stumbled upon this remarkable galaxy and designated it as H I.43.

It wasn’t until French astronomer Camille Flammarion’s subsequent confirmation that these two independent discoveries were the same object that Messier 104 officially earned its place in the Messier Catalogue in 1921. Thus, through the collaborative efforts of these astronomers across different eras, the Sombrero Galaxy has become a celebrated addition to our knowledge of deep sky objects.

Its alluring visual characteristics, coupled with its accessibility to amateur equipment, contribute to Messier 104’s popularity among stargazers. Amateur astronomers often enjoy observing and photographing the Sombrero Galaxy, making it a prime target for citizen science projects and public outreach efforts. It is an excellent subject for sharing the wonders of the Universe with the public and fostering engagement with astronomy and science.