The capability of an autonomous machine depends on the quality of its perception. A drone that cannot reliably assess its surroundings is unable to navigate a disputed border, inspect pipelines, or track a target. Perception, which is a combination of sensors and intelligence for their interpretation, is one of the most complex challenges in robotics.
Paar Autonomy, a startup founded in Bengaluru in 2024, is developing this level of perception for unmanned vehicles operating in the air, on land, and at sea. Founder Vignesh Jayaraman, a robotics engineer who studied at the University of Washington in St. Louis, previously led product development at Asteria Aerospace, a well-known drone manufacturer in India.
Proximity to the industry and observation of what Indian drone manufacturers relied on and where they faced difficulties convinced him that a domestic alternative could be effective. He leads the company as the sole founder, working with a small team of perception, computer vision, and mechatronics engineers.
Paar's core product is a gyro-stabilized camera system with multiple sensors. This hardware is designed to provide the unmanned vehicle with so-called 'superhuman perception': stable, high-quality imagery in challenging conditions. Combined with agent AI, the system allows drones, ground robots, and surface vessels to detect threats, maneuver autonomously, and react without constant human control.
Unlike most competitors who develop solutions for only one domain, Paar's stack functions across all three domains. In defense and law enforcement sectors, these systems are offered for border monitoring, surveillance, and target tracking on drones, ground vehicles, and boats. For industrial applications, the same technology can be used to inspect power grids, pipelines, and construction sites, eliminating people from dangerous areas and reducing costs for routine inspection.
Since the company sells its products in both the defense and industrial sectors, it is not dependent on any single procurement cycle. Currently, Paar is pre-revenue. Its immediate goal is to establish a production line for large-scale manufacturing of perception systems, followed by providing samples for testing to defense clients and government agencies. These pilot projects will allow the technology to be tested in real-world conditions before securing large orders.
Revenue is currently minimal, which is normal at this stage. The market is vast: according to the company, the global drone defense market could reach $6 billion by 2030, with ground and maritime systems adding another $4–5 billion. A similar perception challenge exists in industrial inspection.
In September 2025, Paar raised 3.5 crore rupees in a pre-seed funding round led by Venture Catalysts, bringing the total amount to approximately $397,000 across two rounds. These funds are being directed towards establishing the first production line, as well as hiring personnel in engineering, AI, robotics, and business development. The founder's ambition is for India to become a supplier of autonomous systems, not just a buyer, with further development into export-ready products.
Brazil recorded the third-highest volume of ransomware attacks globally in June, according to data provided by the Ransomware.live platform. This initiative was created by Julien Mousqueton, CISO of Cohesity, a company focused on data security that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI).
During the month, 23 incidents were counted in Brazilian territory. With this record, Brazil placed behind only the United States and Germany. This is the first time the country has entered the top ten most affected since the platform began collecting data in January.
Ransomware.live constantly monitors leak sites operated by ransomware groups to identify and document new victims. Ransomware attacks function by employing malicious software that prevents users or organizations from accessing their systems. Subsequently, criminals demand a ransom to restore access, often under the threat of permanently exposing or deleting the data.
According to the survey, the United States led the ranking for June with 199 cases, followed by Germany, which accumulated 49 attacks. Brazil holds the third position with 23 attacks, surpassing the United Kingdom, which reported 21 occurrences. India and Canada tied with 20 cases each.
The other countries completing the top ten are: France with 15 cases, Italy with 15, Mexico with 14, and Thailand with 13.
Gustavo Leite, Vice President of Cohesity for Latin America, interpreted the inclusion of Brazil, India, and Thailand among the main targets as a possible sign of a change in the tactics of criminal groups. He assessed that the recent rise of these countries as identified targets may be the result of an intentional strategy aimed at jurisdictions that demonstrate lower preparedness in incident response and collaboration with security agencies.
Globally, the survey indicated a total of 708 ransomware victims in June. Although this number represents a decrease of 10.5% compared to the 791 victims registered in May, Cohesity emphasizes that the overall volume remains very high compared to the last twelve months, highlighting the continuous intensity of the threat.
Victim records over the last twelve months showed the following totals: July 2025 with 547; August 2025 with 530; September 2025 with 598; October 2025 with 839; November 2025 with 717; December 2025 with 882; January with 702; February with 784; March with 844; April with 870; May with 791 and June with 708.
In terms of sectors, the B2B market remained the most impacted sector by ransomware attacks in June, totaling 123 victims. There was a reduction of 23.1% in this segment compared to the 160 cases registered in May. Subsequent sectors include Manufacturing, with 83 victims (a drop of 19.4%); Technology, with 56 (a drop of 21.1%); Consumer Services, with 53 (showing an increase of 1.9%); Health, with 52 (a drop of 23.5%); Agriculture and Food Production, with 36 (a drop of 7.7%); Construction, with 27 (a drop of 15.6%); Transport and Logistics, with 26 (a drop of 25.7%); Financial Services, with 25 (a drop of 26.5%), and Education, with 24 (a drop of 14.3%).
Among all analyzed categories, Consumer Services was the only sector to register growth compared to the previous month, rising from 52 to 53 victims, corresponding to an increase of 1.9%.
Cohesity publishes the Ransomware.live figures monthly. The company states that its services are used by clients in more than 140 countries, covering 70% of the companies listed in the Fortune Global 500.
The recent detection of a sugar molecule in the interstellar medium could be a significant step forward in understanding the chemical evolution of the Milky Way and the origin of life on Earth. The presence of erythrose—a four-carbon sugar—was recorded in deep space in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.
According to the National Observatory (NO), this discovery is the result of research in astrobiology—the science that studies the emergence, evolution, and distribution of life in the Universe. This topic will be discussed at the VI National Observatory School of Astrobiology (AstrobiON), which will take place from September 14 to 17. Registration for the event is open until September 4.
Marcelo Borges Fernandes, a researcher at the National Observatory and coordinator of the VI AstrobiON, emphasized that this discovery strengthens the importance of astrochemistry for comprehending the genesis of life. He noted that the detection of complex chemical components in deep space is directly related to the goals of astrobiology and the content being prepared for this AstrobiON session.
According to Fernandes, the goal of the school is to bring students and researchers up to date with the latest data on this topic. He added that they want to demonstrate how astrochemistry and the evolution of the Milky Way are linked to the appearance of life in space, inviting participants to discuss these new frontiers.
The identified molecule is erythrose, a sugar composed of four carbon atoms. Although this substance is known on Earth due to its presence in berries such as raspberries, its significance in space is much greater. The National Observatory indicates that researchers studying the origin of life aim to understand how the chemistry of the Universe can lead to the formation of ribose—a five-carbon sugar that is part of the structure of RNA and DNA.
The identification of erythrose proves that the existing chemistry in space is capable of creating increasingly long and complex carbon chains entirely abiotically, meaning without the involvement of living organisms. According to NO, this process represents an important chemical stage that could potentially lead to the emergence of life.
Despite the interstellar medium being extremely cold and rarefied, vast molecular clouds in the central part of the Milky Way function as natural laboratories and stellar nurseries where chemical reactions occur. To identify erythrose, a team led by astrochemist Isaskun Jimenez-Sierra from the Spanish Center for Astrobiology used two radio telescopes pointed at the center of the galaxy. The applied method was based on the spectroscopy of rotational molecular transitions.
Molecules constantly rotate and vibrate, emitting or absorbing radiation at specific frequencies. These frequencies serve as a unique 'fingerprint' for each chemical substance. Researchers detected this radiation emanating from the nebula and compared the signal with data previously obtained in ground laboratories where erythrose had already been studied. According to NO, the result showed a perfect match between the electromagnetic signature registered in space and the signature of the known molecule.
Despite confirming the presence of erythrose, the study revealed a paradox that challenges current models of astrochemistry. The radio telescopes clearly identified the four-carbon sugar but did not detect significant quantities of smaller sugars consisting only of three carbon atoms, which should theoretically be more common.
For Fernandes, this absence represents a serious scientific problem. He noted that this 'molecular vacuum' complicates the understanding of how organic matter accumulates and develops in space. In the researcher's opinion, current theories suggest that smaller molecules should appear more frequently. This paradox, he said, is the kind of real and intriguing problem they enjoy discussing at AstrobiON, as it demonstrates that there are mechanisms of molecular synthesis in the interstellar medium that still need to be deciphered.
Confirming the possibility of forming complex sugar molecules in space, even before the birth of stars and planets, also changes the perception of the origin of ingredients necessary for life. The National Observatory reports that estimates suggest that primitive Earth could have received up to 50 million tons of these sugars during the period known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, when the planet was frequently bombarded by meteorites and comets.
For scientists, if the fundamental components for the formation of RNA and DNA are present in molecular clouds distributed throughout the Milky Way, the probability increases that the so-called 'recipe for life' is also delivered to other forming planetary systems. This discovery reinforces the importance of astrobiology for understanding how complex organic molecules arise in the Universe and how they might contribute to the emergence of life in different parts of the galaxy.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Tech Mahindra, stated that artificial intelligence (AI) will not destroy the IT services sector but rather make it more significant. Speaking to shareholders at Tech Mahindra's 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM), he dispelled concerns that the rise of AI would lead to a decline in IT services in India.
Mahindra emphasized that while the role of IT services will change, it will not diminish. He noted that over four decades, Tech Mahindra has successfully adapted to new technological cycles, customer expectations, and global realities. In his view, the coming phase could be the most important, as AI challenges old models but simultaneously opens one of the industry's largest opportunities—helping enterprises and governments transform information into tangible impact.
He compared AI to smartphones, explaining that smartphones are indispensable because of their applications and connectivity. Similarly, in the age of AI, companies like Tech Mahindra provide the necessary 'support layer,' turning powerful technology into an intelligent business partner that delivers real value. Mahindra also highlighted the complexity of implementing AI in a corporate environment. He added that the true distinction of an enterprise lies in its own 'alpha'—that is, its data, workflows, judgment, and industry knowledge. Tech Mahindra's task, he said, is to help preserve this 'alpha' through platforms, solutions, and workflows that surround the AI model.
Mahindra mentioned the company's recent successes, which demonstrate margin expansion despite market volatility, under the leadership of CEO and MD Mohit Joshi. He reported that the company's deals have exceeded one billion dollars in consecutive quarters. The Chairman noted that clients will need partners who understand that transformation through AI is not just a technological project, but a change in business processes, talent, and operating model. His vision is that future enterprises will combine human judgment enhanced by AI capabilities, rather than consisting solely of humans or AI. To realize this concept, the company launched Project Helix, under which 'Vector Squads' combine human expertise with AI agents, much like two strands of DNA, integrating industry knowledge, engineering depth, governance, and responsible AI principles within the context of each client.
Furthermore, Mahindra called on India not to remain merely a consumer of foreign intelligence developments but to become their creator, shaper, and trusted implementer. He pointed to India's unique advantage, which he termed 'negation-driven innovation.' He cited the example of the PARAM supercomputer: when India was denied access to Cray systems in the 1980s, C-DAC created its own machine in three years for less cost. Over ten years, India exported supercomputers. This same instinct, in his opinion, should be applied to sovereign AI: this is not about isolation or dependence, but about creating one's own trusted and governed critical AI systems. In this context, Mahindra stressed that Tech Mahindra's choice within India's AI Mission is a responsibility the company takes very seriously.
