From space to genes: The technologies to watch

Many of science’s most transformative discoveries, beginning with X-rays, are serendipitous and the consequence of unplanned detours rather than meticulously drafted roadmaps. As a result, it is impossible to make accurate predictions about scientific breakthroughs. However, huge technology projects do not happen by chance. They are planned years in advance. Therefore, we can anticipate some developments that are in store.Space technology: After a long pause since humans last walked on the Moon in 1972, NASA is again planning to send humans back to the Moon. As part of its Artemis programme, NASA intends to fly a crewed spacecraft around the Moon for the first time in 2026 after four decades.China, meanwhile, is preparing Chang’e-7 to explore the Moon’s south polar region, a site of intense interest because of its permanently shadowed craters that may harbour water ice. China is also expected to launch the Xuntian space telescope and conduct test flights of its next-generation crew vehicle, Mengzhou-1, and the Long March-10 rocket designed for human lunar missions.Beijing is also working on a planetary defence experiment modelled on NASA’s DART mission. It intends to send a spacecraft to collide head-on with the near-Earth asteroid 2015 XF261 to test the possibility of altering an asteroid’s trajectory. Such experiments have a dual promise — protecting the Earth from future impacts, the kind that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. A special class of asteroids is rich in rare earth elements, said to be crucial for Industrial Revolution 4.0. These missions provide the necessary groundwork for capturing kilometre-scale asteroids rich in minerals for commercial extraction.For India, 2026 will be pivotal for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. ISRO has announced a series of uncrewed precursor missions, including tests of the Vyommitra humanoid robot, crew escape systems, parachute deployments and a full uncrewed orbital flight of the Gaganyaan capsule.Commercial lunar landings and the maiden flights of new heavy launchers, such as Blue Origin’s New Glenn, are also expected to take place in 2026, making the year a crowded one for both public and private space actors. With India entering this arena in earnest, the global space race is likely to intensify.Nuclear technology: Indian nuclear efforts will reach a key milestone with the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam becoming operational. The reactor is expected to begin trial operations in early 2026 and move towards full commissioning by the end of the year. This reactor is a crucial stage in India’s indigenous three-stage nuclear power programme, aimed at eventually using the country’s abundant thorium reserves as fuel. If the PFBR performs as intended, it will mark a decisive step towards long-term energy security.Deep-sea mission: India’s deep-sea ambitions are also scheduled to move from the drawing board to the deep sea. Under the Samudrayaan Mission, the indigenously built Matsya-6000 submersible is expected to carry three researchers to depths of 6,000 metres. At such depths, pressure rises to about 600 times that at sea level, meaning that every square centimetre of the hull must withstand the equivalent of 600 kilograms of load. Designed using specialised titanium alloys, Matsya-6000 is intended to open a new window into the largely unexplored abyssal world.Weather forecasting: By combining artificial intelligence and machine learning with traditional physics-based models, India plans to roll out the Bharat Forecasting System in complete earnest by the end of 2026. Using supercomputers such as Pratyush and Mihir, the aim is to deliver local weather forecasts at six-kilometre resolution up to 10 days in advance. Such forecasts will help fine-tune disaster preparedness, the tourism industry and agricultural planning.Alternative energy: The pressure to move away from fossil fuels continues to shape the energy sector. India now ranks fourth globally in renewable energy capacity, fourth in wind power and third in solar power. Renewables account for just over half of India’s installed capacity of 484.82 GW, enabling it to meet its COP26 commitment five years ahead of the 2030 deadline. Solar energy is expected to grow further and India’s ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ objective as well as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) are expected to become more vigorous.Artificial intelligence: The technology is likely to evolve beyond today’s prompt-driven systems that rely on massive pre-existing datasets. Developers are working towards autonomous AI agents capable of planning and executing complex tasks, from booking tickets to managing logistics. Chinese efforts such as DeepSeek, built with relatively modest resources, point to a diversification of the AI landscape. Radical ‘Small Language Models’ perhaps will fructify. Systems that can operate fluently in languages beyond English, including Korean, are also expected to mature.Biotechnology: In the past few years, the focus has shifted from detecting genetic errors to correcting them. Just as a single letter change can transform the meaning of a word, small mutations in DNA lie behind many inherited disorders. Gene-editing therapies designed to repair these faults are moving from experimental trials towards limited clinical use. Initially, this tech will address a narrow set of single-gene error diseases. CRISPR-based techniques are also being used to develop drought-tolerant crops, a prospect with implications for food security in a warming climate.

From space to genes: The technologies to watch

For India, 2026 could mark decisive steps in spaceflight, nuclear energy and deep-sea exploration

TV Venkateswaran

From space to genes: The technologies to watch

For India, 2026 could mark decisive steps in spaceflight, nuclear energy and deep-sea exploration

TV Venkateswaran

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