Society
Why mother language-based science education is essential
All people are touched by science; shouldn’t that be universally understood? Shouldn’t everyone take part in this?

EdPublica looks into the importance of mother language-based science education in the context of International Mother Language Day on February 21. We believe that the global fabric of linguistic diversity is facing a growing threat with the rapid disappearance of numerous languages over time.
Science is not democratic; it is an elitist activity…an Indian theoretical physicist once said. He means that science is not that democratic, so everyone does not need to learn, only the elite should learn. Does it make sense? All people are touched by science; shouldn’t that be universally understood? Shouldn’t everyone take part in this?
It should, but one big barrier is the language itself. Further democratising science education in the mother tongue will make this difficult topic more accessible to all.
The setting was a typical English-medium school in a rural village in the South Indian state of Kerala. The teacher seemed to be taking classes for 6th or 7th graders. She was reading the book in English without missing a single line. The teacher was very excited. However, the children’s body language did not show much enthusiasm. Many students’ expressions were just filled with a sense that they had heard something. The class was about light or something. The subject of the school visit was different, but I just talked to one or two of the children about what they were learning.

One has nothing to say about the rays of light taught by the teacher. They did not like any questions about what was said in class. A boy named Thomas (name changed) said, ‘Oh, I can’t understand any class in English, bro’.
It was a reality that most subjects taught in English were beyond the comprehension of the students there. Then the question is how to pass the examinations. “It’s a matter of just memorising and writing,” replied one of the boys. It was then that I remembered about the discussions of primary education, especially science education, in indigenous languages. Many children who pass with great marks in subjects including science have no understanding of basic science concepts. Those who are not good at memory are quickly labelled as dumb and will be marginalised in schools. This is not an isolated case but a common ‘phenomenon’ in third-world and developing countries where English is not the main language.
So, the question is: If you don’t understand, how can you learn?
The situation is deplorable if we consider how little practice there is in teaching science concepts in the mother language, particularly concerning children’s daily lives. Language is one of the main reasons why children don’t have a scientific approach to anything when they grow up.
India’s former President and eminent scientist, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, was once interacting with students at Dharampeeth Science College, Nagpur. The incident happened in 2011 or so. He encountered a question about how science learning can be made more creative. This was his answer: For a quick grasp of science-related concepts and greater creativity, teach children science in their mother language.

The same was repeated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018. The Prime Minister said that children should be taught science in their native languages. But how much the country is still succeeding in that is questionable. It is a relief that the new National Education Policy of India is all in that direction, but the fundamental change needs to come in the mindset of parents and teachers.
What do studies say?
UNESCO’s Global Monitoring Report (GMR) published a landmark study five years ago. It was released on February 21, International Mother Language Day. The study pointed out that providing primary education in a language other than their own can significantly affect the learning process of children.
French is the main language in many West African schools. It is an unfamiliar language to its children. “Naturally, their learning becomes difficult on many levels,” states UNESCO’s policy paper.
As the then UNESCO GMR Director Aaron Benavot told this writer regarding the report, “40 percent of the world’s population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand. Studying in a non-spoken language regularly sets a student back academically. It affects children from low-income families very deeply.”
UNESCO’s report points out that if children understand the medium of learning, their learning will improve. French is the main language in many West African schools. It is an unfamiliar language to its children. “Naturally, their learning becomes difficult on many levels,” states UNESCO’s policy paper. “Language and ethnicity can combine to produce complex patterns of compounded disadvantage. In Peru, the difference in test scores between indigenous and non-indigenous children in grade 2 is sizeable and increasing.”
Why the bilingual model matters
UNESCO states that children have reached better standards in countries where bilingual programmes have been implemented in the education system. By making learning in their mother tongue possible, children can score better in all subjects. Experts such as Aaron Benavot point to Guatemalan and Ethiopian case studies as proof of this. UNESCO studies say that promoting bilingual education is the best way, even if it is a bit expensive. A bilingual education programme with an emphasis on the mother tongue can make a big difference, although it will create complications in matters including teacher recruitment.
At the same time, just because the study is in the mother language does not necessarily mean that the children will have better scientific aptitude. On the other hand, if science is taught in the mother tongue, the chances of gaining expertise in science are very high. This is mentioned in the new education policy of India. The National Education Policy calls for the use of the local language as the medium of study up to grade 5.

Moreover, such a change is essential for the democratisation of science. Celebrated Indian physicist C V Raman once said that science should be taught in the mother tongue if science is not to be confined to the activities of the elite. Science should be accessible to all. Every human life is related to science. If they want to understand it, science must come to them in a language they know.
Our transition must be to schools that teach science in the language that children speak, beyond mere theories, and relate them to their lives on a practical level. Studies have shown that children become more empowered and confident when they learn in their own language. Because the mother tongue is also related to each person’s sense of identity.
Mother Language Day 2024
UNESCO has put forward a theme for International Mother Language Day celebration 2024 – “Multilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning”. Currently, 763 million adults lack basic literacy abilities, and 250 million children and young people do not attend school. UNESCO states that multilingual education is a key component of quality learning, and mother tongue education supports learning, literacy and the acquisition of additional languages.
Society
How Scientists and Investigators Decode Air Crashes — The Black Box and Beyond
The final report may take months, but it will be critical in issuing safety directives or revising standard procedures.

As rescue and recovery operations continue following the June 12, 2025, plane crash in Ahmedabad, aviation safety experts are now focusing on the technical investigation phase. With 241 lives lost, the search for the cause isn’t just about accountability—it’s about prevention.
The Black Box: Aviation’s Memory Keeper
1. What Is the Black Box?
Despite the name, the black box is actually orange — for visibility. It consists of two components:
- Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): Captures conversations and audio from the flight deck.
- Flight Data Recorder (FDR): Logs dozens to hundreds of parameters — speed, altitude, engine status, control inputs.
These devices are housed in titanium or steel and can withstand:
- Temperatures above 1,000°C
- Underwater pressures up to 20,000 feet
- Crashes with up to 3,600 G-force
They also emit underwater locator beacons for up to 30 days.
2. Forensic Engineering & Flight Reconstruction
Beyond black boxes, investigators use:
- Radar data and air traffic control logs
- Wreckage analysis for structural failure clues
- Satellite-based tracking systems like ADS-B
- Weather data for turbulence or wind shear insights
Forensic teams often reconstruct the flight path virtually or even physically using recovered debris to determine failure points.
3. Human Factors & AI in Modern Investigation
New tools like machine learning and human factors analysis are used to identify procedural errors or lapses in judgement.
In many modern investigations, AI helps:
- Filter large datasets (e.g., over 1,000 flight parameters per second)
- Detect patterns missed by the human eye
- Predict similar risk scenarios in future flights
What Happens Next in the Ahmedabad Crash?
Authorities, in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), are likely:
- Retrieving and analyzing the black box
- Interviewing air traffic controllers
- Reconstructing the aircraft’s final seconds using both data and simulation
The final report may take months, but it will be critical in issuing safety directives or revising standard procedures.
Society
Researchers Unveil Light-Speed AI Chip to Power Next-Gen Wireless and Edge Devices
This could transform the future of wireless communication and edge computing

In a breakthrough that could transform the future of wireless communication and edge computing, engineers at MIT have developed a novel AI hardware accelerator capable of processing wireless signals at the speed of light. The new optical chip, built for signal classification, achieves nanosecond-level performance—up to 100 times faster than conventional digital processors—while consuming dramatically less energy.
With wireless spectrum under growing strain from billions of connected devices, from teleworking laptops to smart sensors, managing bandwidth has become a critical challenge. Artificial intelligence offers a path forward, but most existing AI models are too slow and power-hungry to operate in real time on wireless devices.
The MIT solution, known as MAFT-ONN (Multiplicative Analog Frequency Transform Optical Neural Network), could be a game-changer.
“There are many applications that would be enabled by edge devices that are capable of analyzing wireless signals,” said Prof. Dirk Englund, senior author of the study, in a media statement. “What we’ve presented in our paper could open up many possibilities for real-time and reliable AI inference. This work is the beginning of something that could be quite impactful.”
Published in Science Advances, the research describes how MAFT-ONN classifies signals in just 120 nanoseconds, using a compact optical chip that performs deep-learning tasks using light rather than electricity. Unlike traditional systems that convert signals to images before processing, the MIT design processes raw wireless data directly in the frequency domain—eliminating delays and reducing energy usage.
“We can fit 10,000 neurons onto a single device and compute the necessary multiplications in a single shot,” said Ronald Davis III, lead author and recent MIT PhD graduate.
The device achieved over 85% accuracy in a single shot, and with multiple measurements, it converges to above 99% accuracy, making it both fast and reliable.
Beyond wireless communications, the technology holds promise for edge AI in autonomous vehicles, smart medical devices, and future 6G networks, where real-time response is critical. By embedding ultra-fast AI directly into devices, this innovation could help cars react to hazards instantly or allow pacemakers to adapt to a patient’s heart rhythm in real-time.
Future work will focus on scaling the chip with multiplexing schemes and expanding its ability to handle more complex AI tasks, including transformer models and large language models (LLMs).
Society
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: The Science Behind Aircraft Take-Off -Understanding the Physics of Flight
Take-off is one of the most critical phases of flight, relying on the precise orchestration of aerodynamics, propulsion, and control systems. Here’s how it works:

On June 12, 2025, a tragic aviation accident struck Ahmedabad, India when a regional passenger aircraft, Air India flight A1-171, crashed during take-off at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. According to preliminary reports, the incident resulted in over 200 confirmed casualties, including both passengers and crew members, and several others are critically injured. The aviation community and scientific world now turn their eyes not just toward the cause but also toward understanding the complex science behind what should have been a routine take-off.
How Do Aircraft Take Off?
Take-off is one of the most critical phases of flight, relying on the precise orchestration of aerodynamics, propulsion, and control systems. Here’s how it works:
1. Lift and Thrust
To leave the ground, an aircraft must generate lift, a force that counters gravity. This is achieved through the unique shape of the wing, called an airfoil, which creates a pressure difference — higher pressure under the wing and lower pressure above — according to Bernoulli’s Principle and Newton’s Third Law.
Simultaneously, engines provide thrust, propelling the aircraft forward. Most commercial jets use turbofan engines, which accelerate air through turbines to generate power.
2. Critical Speeds
Before takeoff, pilots calculate critical speeds:
- V1 (Decision Speed): The last moment a takeoff can be safely aborted.
- Vr (Rotation Speed): The speed at which the pilot begins to lift the nose.
- V2 (Takeoff Safety Speed): The speed needed to climb safely even if one engine fails.
If anything disrupts this process — like bird strikes, engine failure, or runway obstructions — the results can be catastrophic.

Environmental and Mechanical Challenges
Factors like wind shear, runway surface condition, mechanical integrity, or pilot error can interfere with safe take-off. Investigators will be analyzing these very aspects in the Ahmedabad case.
The Bigger Picture
Take-off accounts for a small fraction of total flight time but is disproportionately associated with accidents — approximately 14% of all aviation accidents occur during take-off or initial climb.
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