India News : Indian scientists have developed a miniature computer designed to orbit the Moon and probe the mysteries of the Cosmic Dawn—the universe’s first light, when the earliest stars and galaxies were born.
The Cosmic Dawn marks the transformative era that changed the face of the cosmos forever. Scientists believe studying this elusive period could unlock vital clues about the structure of today’s universe. But detecting its faint signals has always been a challenge.
To tackle this, researchers at the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, have built an experimental instrument called PRATUSH (Probing Reionization of the Universe Using Signal from Hydrogen). It aims to capture ultra-weak 21 cm radio waves emitted by hydrogen atoms billions of years ago, revealing how the first stars formed and reshaped the universe.
Since Earth’s radio noise makes such detection nearly impossible, the probe will orbit the Moon’s far side—shielded from terrestrial interference.
The heart of PRATUSH is its ultra-compact digital receiver system powered by a Raspberry Pi computer, no bigger than a credit card. This tiny device will control antennas, receivers, and custom chips with precision, despite its size.
India’s innovation could open a new frontier in cosmology and strengthen the country’s role in the global space research race.
