New fungicide is eco-benign
Scientists are thrilled by the discovery that fungal enzymes called chitinases are environment friendly fungicides.
Study finds sperm count decreasing worldwide
Scientists cannot explain why both the quality and quantity of sperm have been dropping since the 1940s. Indications are pollutants may be …
Neptune factor
Scientists discover "chimneys" on the sea floor, hope to get an insight into how the ecosystem works
Wings of change
Researchers are trying to end malaria at its very root: by genetically modifying mosquitoes that carry the disease
Water current
Hydroelectricity can now be generated without the need of costly civil works and installation of complex machinery
Conversing on conservation
Battles Over Nature: Science and the Politics of Conservation Editors: Mahesh Rangarajan and Vasant Saberwal Publisher: Permanent Black Delhi Rs …
Promises kept and not kept
Book>> An Eye for Excellence 50 Innovative Years of IIT Kanpur Harper Collins, Delhi Price Rs 495
New graphene-based material developed for medical implants
Biometallic implants have become popular as a means to repair, restructure or replace damaged or diseased parts in orthopaedic and dental procedures
Why there are fewer women in science
This field and participation of women in it is a reflection of society, which hasn’t considered investing time or money in the gender’…
India to send manned mission to space within 40 months
This feat has only been achieved by three countries till now—the United States, Russia and China
Africa fails its young scientists by not investing in their innovations
Unless African governments put their money where their mouths are, innovative advances from young scientists on the continent will be stifled
The world of french fries and potato salad
The potato, native to South America, invaded England in 1588, the year Elizabeth I's devil-may-care sea-dogs vanquished the Spanish Armada. It …
The red tape vs Kanis
The forest department reserves the right to conserve arogyapacha, and prevents Kanis from selling it outside
The miracle-makers
Scientists are only now finding out the Kanis' knowledge of herbal remedies. The most outstanding find so far is arogyapacha
Flying high and low
Small wonders from our scientists: ultra-small aircraft that will fly into hazardous areas and bring back data
Where are the heroes?
Book>> Destination Moon by Pallav Bagla and Subhadra Menon Harper Collins New Delhi 2008, Rs 195
Here is what Indian scientists achieved in 2018
Here is a collection of 15 such stories that gives a glimpse of important developments reported by Indian scientists during the year.
Explained: Works of 3 evolutionary scientists that got them a Nobel
One Briton and two American scientists bag the prestigious award for their work that is meant to create cleaner fuels and treat diseases
Glimpses from the 104th Indian Science Congress
Every year, scientific from across the country gather at the Indian Science Congress to deliberate on a a theme. Down To Earth was present at the …
Celebrated minds
In 2016, many Indian-origin scientists made it big and got international acclaim for their work. From genetics to nanoelectronics, these …
An uncelebrated genius
Book>> Plague And Cholera • by Patrick Deville • Little Brown • US $17
Space mirror "illumines" Europe by night
A Russian attempt to light up the night by using sunlight reflected from a huge space-based mirror failed to come up to expectations but could …
Rat chronicles
The tiny rodents that most people link only to pestilence and crop destruction have fascinated Ishwar Prakash -- one of that rare breed: a rat …
From permafrost microbes to survivor songbirds: Research projects are also victims of COVID-19
Ornithologists are committed to determining why North America lost 3 bln birds in last 50 years, and seamless records of individual birds’ …
Mangrove fungi that munches on polythene
Isolated from India’s West Coast, the fungi can potentially help degrade polythene