New light on black holes
Researchers almost catch a glimpse of the ravenous vortexes in the Universe which don't even let light escape their gravitational grip
The story of how Cambridge bounced back
A simple tale of how one of the world’s greatest centres of knowledge got to where it is today
A Neanderthal tooth discovered in Serbia reveals human migration history
The Neanderthals were a group of ancient humans who lived in western Eurasia during the Pleistocene epoch
Immortality is mathematically impossible, new research finds
A mathematical equation has proven that controlling one of the two major changes in a cell—decay or cancerous growth—enhances the …
Fabric of the byte
The development of technology and its relations with society and culture hold contemporary lessons for India
Why we shouldn’t mess with nature’s logic about the length of our eyelashes
Very little is known about our eyelashes, but they do serve a purpose. They keep our eyes from drying out and accumulating dirt
Microsoft's dubious ways on piracy
The Mumbai High Court severely censures Microsoft for false claims and suppression of facts in its latest case on software piracy
Making sense of sexual swings
Is your sexual preference only a result of your genes or do environment and culture also influence it?
Indigenous radar to track monsoon winds now functional
CUSAT ST-205 Radar is specifically designed to scan the stratosphere which is the upper skies
Scientists unveil the genome of India’s national bird
The analysis reveals 99 genes that are unique to peacocks and could be responsible for peacock’s feathers and its long life span
Microneedle-based system can take pain away from vaccinations
BITS Pilani scientists developed a microneedle, which unlike a syringe needle, doesn’t cause much injury as they need minimal invasion of …
Earthworm gut may offer new ways of efficient recycling of organic waste
Earthworm gut provides an ideal environment to nurture a variety of cellulose-degrading bacteria because of which they are able to convert …
Tinkering with root hair may help boost crop yields
Researchers are exploring mechanisms adopted by plants to survive in low phosphate soils to figure out if they can enhance survival in poor water …
Scientists find probiotic yeast strain to fight phosphorus deficiency
Humans and non-ruminant animals lack an enzyme called phytase that converts phytate into free phosphorus
Scientists confirm Bael extracts can neutralise cobra venom
Researchers found that the extracts inhibited destruction of red blood cells and action of acetylcholinesterase blockers induced by the venom
The physical Net
Book>> Tubes, A Journey to the Center of the Internet • by Andrew Blum • Penguin • Rs 499
Quake Escape
Geoscientist Harsh Gupta speaks to Dinsa Sachan on the need for an early warning system for earthquakes
Cyber dystopia
Book>> The Filter Bubble, What the Internet is Hiding From You • by Eli Pariser • Penguin Books • US $25
Satellite link
Book>> Moon: A Brief History • by Bernd Brunner • Yale University Press • Rs 1,000
Old shine
Indian scientists have found a chemical that cleans antique metallic objets d'art without damaging the patina
Mushroom boom
Indian farmers are busy harvesting the booming demand for mushrooms. The problem is that it is a delicacy that is rather fastidious about its …
Light information
Optic fibres enable transmission of information at the speed of light and without any interference
Mars' water connection
Channels and valleys observed on the Martian surface and meteorites of Martian origin indicate that once there might have been water on the planet
Automatic warning
Posting humans to inhospitable sites in the Himalaya to monitor snow and wind patterns may soon be unnecessary
Ironing out pollution
A recently-developed cheap and environmentally-benign iron compound helps dispose of polluting nitrogen oxides