Opening to the past

An annual fair in a cave is a rallying point for Gond tribals

Astronomy's orginal rebel

Galileo upturned the Biblical theory of the universe On February 13, 1633, Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Catholic Church's inquisition committee. In 1609, the Italian astronomer had turned his spyglass to the skies and provided empirical proof for the Polish astronomer Nicolai Coppernicus' theory that Earth revolves around the Sun. This was heretical. Most people in Europe believed the Biblical theory that the Earth was the centre of the universe.

Chartbusters 28,000 BCE

Simon Thorne's music consistently challenges structures and norms. From dark, noisy Zappa inspired operas to serene Baroque chamber music to Miles Davis influenced be-bop, he has explored a variety of genres. Now he has tried to recreate the kind of music which he thinks the Neanderthals might have played. Thorne also suggests that Neanderthals might be responsible for the beginnings of music.

Science & Technology - Briefs

technology Mediaeval books dated by DNA testing

Mint tales

In October, there were reports of Europeans scurrying to Karl Marx to understand the financial crisis. If these news items are to be believed, Marx's critique of the banking system had become a big hit. Bankers, indeed, have taken a lot of flak for the global financial crisis. So it is refreshing to find someone springing to their defence. Far from being castigated, writes historian Niall Ferguson, financiers should be celebrated as the source of our wealth and prosperity.

Taxman's hedge

Searching for the great hedge in the UK, Dileep Chinchalker uncovers the story of a hedge that ran from Torbela near Rawalpindi to Calcutta in the 19th century

A great panic

Stub cut short

Smoking bans are hardly new--and rarely permanent On October 2, India joined a growing number of countries that have implemented far-reaching smoke-free legislation. But a look back reveals that tobacco bans are hardly new--and rarely permanent. Some of the earlier smoke-free legislations:

Unforbidden city

The software giant IBM has opened online doors to a virtual version of the famed Forbidden City in China that for centuries served as an exclusive realm for the country's emperors. The us-based technology colossus spent more than three years working with Chinese officials and Beijing Palace Museum to construct an interactive, animated replica of the 7.2 million sq-m walled fortress.

Colonial straitjacket