AI makes huge progress predicting how proteins fold – one of biology’s greatest challenges – promising rapid drug development

This can be used to solve the protein misfolding associated with many diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease

Coal mining and India’s tribal peoples: Inequality as the death knell of community

Mining and land dispossession produce new, profound inequalities within Adivasi communities, which erode their traditional egalitarian values

‘WTF?’: Newly discovered ghostly circles in the sky can’t be explained by current theories, and astronomers are excited

WTF? is a picture of a ghostly circle of radio emission, hanging out in space like a cosmic smoke-ring. It had not been seen before, and nobody knew what it was  

Can we compromise on procreation in the wake of climate change

In the context of climate change, too much harsh knowledge about environmental tragedies is creating a sense of hopelessness and helplessness in some individuals, instead of motivating them to act in more responsible ways

Smell good, breathe bad: How scented products add to air pollution

Use of hair sprays, hand sanitisers etc emit the same amount of chemical vapours as petroleum from vehicles, even though 15 times more petroleum is burned as fuel

How peasants are an indelible part of Sikh theology, history and tradition

The latest protests against the new farm laws only validate the importance of the peasant in Sikh religion and society

Pfizer vaccine has just been approved: here’s what the next few months will look like

Even if you have been vaccinated, you should still wear a mask, work from home if you can, and practice social distancing

Why India should not reopen schools and colleges during COVID-19 pandemic

The Centre and state governments should refrain from doing so in the light of new studies highlighting COVID-19 cases among children

National Education Policy: Why education must be anchored in quality and equity

States support, corporate commitments and value addition by other stakeholders can usher in a major transformation in education

It’s sugar, honey; and it’s a crime

Tests from a German laboratory found that Indian honey is adulterated with sugar syrup

Old vaccines for new infections: What we discovered

Studies have showed that several vaccines, including that for polio and tuberculosis, have several non-specific effects

When do politicians get to think?

The people’s representative is facing a paradox: Of keeping away from people due to COVID-19. A good vision is needed to make good politics

World AIDS Day: Battles won and lost hold valuable lessons for managing COVID-19

Resources have helped reduce morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income regions. AIDS-related deaths have declined worldwide by 39% since 2010  

Fatal shark attacks are at a record high. ‘Deterrent’ devices can help, but some may be nothing but snake oil

If you are looking to purchase a shark deterrent, look for those that have been independently tested in the field and found to have an actual deterrent effect

Harnessing people’s power for climate action

As people join hands to increase awareness on climate change and call for action to reduce its impacts, we need to vouch for local solutions that are simple, cost effective and allow communities to engage and deliver

Biden’s cabinet picks are globally respected, but one obstacle remains for the US to ‘lead the world’ again

If the Democrats can’t gain control of the Senate by winning the two run-off elections in Georgia in early January, the Republican-led chamber will likely aim to block Biden’s aims of resuming a constructive global role

How FRA helped India’s forest communities during COVID-19

Stories of hope have been reported from across the tribal areas of how communities survived due to FRA even as attempts have been made to dilute it

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: How global and local experience would play out in WTO top job

Okonjo-Iweala would be in a position to use her multifaceted experiences to energise the WTO’s 164 members to work harder to achieve the value of the multilateral trade systems  

One-fifth of ecosystems in danger of collapse – here’s what that might look like

Recovering an ecosystem’s original state may be impossible because the external conditions that it depended upon simply no longer exist

As cobalt demand booms, companies must do more to protect Congolese miners

Mining method adopted in Congo comes with major human rights risks such as child labour and dangerous working conditions. Fatal accidents in unsafe tunnels occur frequently

Canada’s latest climate plan bets on expensive and unproven carbon capture technologies

Bill C-12, if passed, commits Canada to “binding” targets every five years as of 2030 with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050