Viruses are both the villains and heroes of life as we know it
There is mounting evidence that the viruses that infect plants and animals are also a major source of genetic innovation in these organisms
Lucy in the sky: Things to know about NASA mission to Jupiter’s Trojans
NASA’s Lucy mission is going where no one else has before. It aims to look back into the origins of the solar system through Trojans
Udhampur gets earthquake observatory
New seismological observatory will help further strengthen the region’s earthquake monitoring
Stockholm+50: Is science for just solutions
If science-policy interfaces are to deliver just and effective solutions to climate change, they must involve indigenous peoples and local communities
Scientists image mysterious rock zone 3,000 km beneath Earth’s surface
They found that the speed of earthquake waves travelling through the base of the structure could be 40 per cent slower than the surrounding regions
Your phone and your brain - what we know so far
The evidence indicates that there’s still a lot of uncertainty about the long-term impacts of digital device use on cognition
Developing economies risk exclusion as ‘age of AI’ dawns
Artificial intelligence is set to be a multi-trillion dollar industry by 2030, but developing economies risk falling behind unless changes are …
How did continents form? Giant meteorite impacts could be responsible, says study
Understanding the formation and evolution of continents is important as it is the key to reserves of metals such as lithium, tin and nickel
Researchers develop antimicrobial coating from agricultural waste
The researchers used lignin, a complex, woody biopolymer that is left over as stubble post-harvest
People are complaining about Mercury in retrograde. But what does it actually mean?
Humans found out retrograde motion was an optical illusion 500 years ago. However, the pseudoscientific practice of astrology continues to …
Boom boom boom — like a heartbeat: Scientists pick up mysterious fast radio bursts
Properties of the signal suggest that the source lives in a very turbulent environment inside its galaxy
Our expertise and observations complemented those from Europe: Gopakumar Achamveedu
Down To Earth speaks to Gopakumar Achamveedu from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, who is part of the international team of …
Disaster, opulence and the merciless ocean: Why the Titanic disaster continues to enthral
Titanic movies and exhibitions are popular because audiences enjoy the voyeurism of gazing at the ship’s beautiful furnishings, the …
How do you vaccinate a honeybee? 6 questions answered about a new tool for protecting pollinators
Honeybees face many urgent threats, including Varroa mites, climate change and poor nutrition, which makes this vaccine an exciting new development
Gregory XIII: How religious need spurred the reformist pope to recalculate time 440 years ago
The early arrival of Easter because of the long Julian Calendar necessitated the formation of a new calendar
Science and Engineering Research Board awards national post-doctoral fellowships to 301 researchers
These fellowships supports young budding researchers to establish themselves as independent scientists
Fossil footprints prove humans populated the Americas thousands of years earlier than we thought
Until now, scientists believed humans only travelled south into the Americas when this ice barrier began to melt, at the earliest, 16,500 years ago
Can DNA tests find our soulmate? We study sex and sexuality — and think the idea is ridiculous
There is no compelling evidence as to whether or not DNA matching can support a more fulfilling love life
Europe is recruiting astronauts: Here is what it takes to become one
Recruiting new astronauts is the first step into this new era of human space exploration. Many people may have dreamed of becoming an astronaut …
5 twinkling galaxies help us uncover the mystery of the Milky Way’s missing matter
But about half of matter in our galaxy is too dark to be detected. It takes the form of cold, dark clumps of gas, in which lies Milky Way’s&…
Assault on open access to science in India
Elsevier, Wiley and American Chemical Society have pleaded in front of Delhi High Court that ISPs block Sci-Hub and Libgen websites in India
Stormwater harvesting in parks and open spaces: Managing Delhi’s water woes
Water-sensitive urban design and planning approach, which mimics the natural water cycle, can help fix water systems in the city
Venus might have microbial life in its atmosphere, study shows
Phosphine gas, made up of hydrogen and phosphorus, hass been found in the planet’s clouds, a marker for the existence of microbes that can …
What it would be like to live permanently in Antarctica
It's not only the physical challenges but also the mental side of living in Antarctica that would make a permanent human settlement there …
Sun’s magnetic field flips the script: New study places origin closer to the surface
Discovery could help accurately forecast intensity of solar flares