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Many of us who enjoy nature, wildlife or just being outdoors have one thing in common – we all love the sensorial experiences that the outdoors provides. Like the sight of the flowing river, the touch of cool breeze in the mountains, the smell of the forest, calls/ songs of the birds to name a few. These are seldom experienced in the confines of our homes, especially for the urban dweller, who is mostly locked away from nature while being hooked to the laptop, mobile and the headphones.

People have taken to various activities to experience the joy of being outdoors – hiking or trekking, bird watching, wildlife safari, etc. One would wonder, can we experience this buffet of sensory inputs even at night, when most of the world is sleeping? A simple answer to this question is, yes.

There are innumerable creatures that are active at night and are seldom seen during the daytime. For those living in cities, one would notice the occasional break in the silence of the night by screeches of Barn Owl, Moths fluttering around the bulbs, Bats flying around Singapore Cherry trees or the sparkle of the glow worm.

For the more adventurous and nature loving amongst us, venturing out in the dark in search of the nocturnal denizens of our planet (mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, frogs to name a few) is almost like awakening our sixth sense. There is always a degree of surprise, a hint of uncertainty of what the reward of being out would be at night.

To make the experience of exploring nature at night more productive, one needs to be equipped well.

Personally, I venture out at night looking for reptiles, insects etc. To enable one to see in the dark, having a good flashlight is a must. Flashlights with more than 1000 lumens should provide sufficient range and brightness for viewing at night. Other aspects that need to be taken care of are – size, battery life and type of battery. A small and handy flashlight provides comfort for long usage and having sufficient battery life is critical as one would typically be outdoors with no place to charge. Fenix and Nitecore are the best-selling brands in the market, both offering multiple models each varying to a certain degree in the above-mentioned features. The following models offer a good mix of these features: Nitecore (MH12V2, MH25GT, MH25S, MH12S) and Fenix (UC35V2).

Some of these flashlights also come with UV light feature, which is very helpful if one is interested to see Scorpions at night – as they glow under UV light (as shown above).

koral viper krishna murthy viper

A Bamboo Pit Viper clicked at Kolar
Photo Credit: Krishna Murthy

For those interested in keeping the hands free during the walk, Nitecore offers some of the best head torch models like HC60 and HC65, which you can buy online too.

For those interested in observing mammals at night, a pair of binoculars (with objective >40, which decides the amount of light the binoculars gather) along with a flashlight having a good range will be helpful. Personally, I use Carl Zeiss Terra 10×42, which is sleek and lightweight to carry around with the harness that comes along with it. One must also choose binocs that are water-resistant or waterproof, so that they can be carried even during rains. Other models in the same budget range include Nikon Monarch 7 (8×42).

Wait no more, prepare yourself to be surprised by what the darkness has to offer.


I am an engineer by profession and work for a semiconductor chip designing company. Outside of work, I try to find time to observe the natural history around us. With the advent of online platforms like eBird and iNaturalist, which are citizen science projects, I document my observations by uploading the sightings to these websites. I also try to encourage others to do so.

I would like to thank Shankar for providing suggestions on various tools for nocturnal observations.


This series is an initiative by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), under their programme ‘Nature Communications’ to encourage nature content in all Indian languages. To know more about birds and nature, join The Flock.


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Newly Detected Seaborgium-257 Offers Critical Data on Fission and Quantum Shell Effects

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Newly Detected Seaborgium-257 Offers Critical Data on Fission and Quantum Shell Effects

German Scientists at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung found a new superheavy isotope, 257Sg, named Seaborgium, which reveals unexpected details about the stability and nuclear fission. This study was published in Physical Review Letters and describes how this isotope, made by fusing chromium-52 with lead-206, survived for 12.6 milliseconds, longer than usual. The rare longevity and decay into 253Rf provide new indications of how K-quantum numbers or angular momentum impact the fission resistance. The findings fill in the gaps and give us an understanding of the effects of quantum shells in superheavy nuclei, which is crucial for preventing immediate disintegration.

Challenging Traditional Views on K-Quantum Numbers and Fission

As per the study by GSI, it challenges conservative views on how K-quantum numbers impact fission. Previously, it was found that the higher K values lead to greater fission hindrance, but after getting the findings from the GSI team, a more complex dynamic emerged. They found that K-quantum numbers offer hindrance to fission, but it is still ot known that it is how much, said Dr. Pavol Mosat, the study’s co-author.

Discovery of First K-Isomeric State in Seaborgium

An important milestone is the identification of the first K-isomeric state in seaborgium. In 259Sg, the scientists found that the conversion of the electron signal occurs 40 microseconds after the nuclear formation. This is clear evidence of the high angular momentum K-isomer. These states have longer lifetimes and friction in fission in a more effective way than their ground-state counterparts.

Implications for the Theorised Island of Stability

This discovery by the scientists provides key implications for the Island of stability, which has long been theorised. It is a region where superheavy elements could have comparatively long half-lives. If K-isomers are present in the still undiscovered elements such as 120, they can enable scientists in the detection of nuclei that would otherwise decay in just under one microsecond.

Synthesising 256Sg with Ultra-Fast Detection Systems

This team of German Scientists under GSI is now aiming to synthesise 256Sg, which might decay quicker than observed or predicted. Their success is dependent on the ultra-fast detection systems created by GSI, which are capable of capturing events within 100 nanoseconds. This continued research by the team may help in reshaping the search and studying the heaviest elements in the periodic table.

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NASA CODEX Telescope on ISS Reveals Hidden Secrets of the Sun’s Corona

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NASA CODEX Telescope on ISS Reveals Hidden Secrets of the Sun’s Corona

A mini solar telescope aboard the International Space Station caught the first-ever images, which reveal the subtle and never-seen changes in the outer atmosphere of the Sun. It is known as the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX) and has been designed to understand the solar corona, the outer layer of the Sun, in depth. This mini telescope functions like a coronagraph, which blocks the Sun’s disk to imitate the total solar eclipse. CODEX was delivered through SpaceX Dragon on November 5, 2024. It was mounted on the ISS using the Canadarm2 robotic arm on November 9, 2025.

Revolutionising Solar Observation

According to the report by NASA, the unique design of CODEX consists of an occulting disk the size of a tennis ball held by three arms made up of metal. It allows it to block the intense sunlight when imaging the faint corona. The first images were revealed on June 10, 2025, at the time of the American Astronomical Society’s meeting in Alaska. These comprised pictures of coronal streamers and footage of the temperature fluctuations in the outer corona over many days. This offers a fresh perspective on solar dynamics.

Measuring Solar Wind Like Never Before

CODEX is unlike the previous coronagraphs as it is the first to measure both the speed and temperature of the solar wind. There is a constant flow of superhot particles from the Sun. With the help of four narrowband filters, in which two are used for determining the temperature and two for speed, astronomers compare brightness to decode these properties, which helps in solving the mystery of how the solar wind reaches 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit.

Tackling the Solar Weather Challenge

To know the solar wind, it is crucial to predict the geomagnetic storms triggered by the coronal holes. Shortly, the storms observed on June 13, 2025 and June 25, 2025, caused auroras because of these events. After refining the analysis of solar wind, CODEX can help in mitigating and forecasting such kind of disturbances.

A Timely Launch Amid Solar Peak

NASA’s CODEX started operations at a suitable moment, just as the current solar maximum comes to its end. As the magnetic field of the Sun shifts during the solar battle zone, CODEX is ready to catch the critical data that can change our understanding of the weather in space.

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Rocket Lab Sets Record with ‘Symphony in the Stars’ Launch for Confidential Client

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Rocket Lab Sets Record with 'Symphony in the Stars' Launch for Confidential Client

Rocket Lab has launched the mysterious satellite on Saturday, June 28, 2025, making another milestone, as it is the first ever record of their missions. At 12:38 p.m. IST, the Electron rocket lifted from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia. The mission is known as “Symphony in the Stars,” and carried a single spacecraft above 650 kilometres above the Earth’s orbit. This satellite was deployed for a confidential commercial client, and the details are still not revealed. However, Rocket Lab has made a record by doing so.

Confidential Launch, Yet Revealed

As reported by Rocket Launch, it was the 68th Electron launch of Rocket Lab overall and the tenth mission of 2025. Even after its confidentiality, it was confirmed that it had successfully launched into space. Rocket Lab shared its news on social media regarding Mission Success and confirmed payload deployment. They further wrote, “Music to our ears for “Symphony in the stars.” It was one of the two missions dedicated to the same client, with the second launch to happen later in 2025.

This launch went through 48 hours after the “Get the Haw Outta Here mission.” This set a new record for the company. This different and every achievement highlights the reliability and ability of Electron Rocket Lab to offer responsive and repeatable access to space. It is a significant milestone, especially for the demand for fast satellite deployment continuity to arise.

Rocket Launch’s Occupied Month

It was a busy month for Rocket Launch as it went through the completion of four missions alone. Further, in the queue, after “Symphony in the Stars,” they launched “Full Stream Ahead,” then “The Mountain God Guards,” and “Get The Hawk Outta Here.” Every mission has supported commercial satellite operators, which demonstrates the versatility of Electron in rapid deployment schedules and handling.

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