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In November 2020, as the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic, a different kind of breakthrough captured global attention. Google DeepMind announced that its AlphaFold model had solved the protein-folding problem, one of biology’s most stubborn puzzles. The announcement was hailed as the scientific equivalent of a moon landing. Newsrooms called it a revolution that could…
The new species was discovered while surveying an endangered wildflower. Instagram@Bee.babette_performer As if deadly snakes, spiders and sharks were not enough, Australia now has a new creepy critter: a “lucifer” bee with devil-like horns. The species — dubbed Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer — was found in the state of Western Australia, Curtin University announced on Tuesday…
Read More “Australian scientists discover new ‘lucifer’ bee with devil-like horns” »
For many decades now, scientists and biologists have been trying to understand how the mesmerising patterns in animal coats emerge from a group of underdeveloped cells. The British mathematician Alan Turing proposed in the early 1950s that as cells and tissue develop, they produce certain molecules or chemical agents that diffuse into their surroundings, react…
Read More “Cell sizes, clumping finally explain how animals form sharp patterns” »
JWST observation of Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. (This article forms a part of the Science for All newsletter that takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! Subscribe now!) 3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through the Solar System, after 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. It was first…
For millions worldwide, waking up with stiff, aching fingers that take hours to loosen is a daily battle — one waged by their own immune system. This is rheumatoid arthritis, a condition where the body’s defences mistakenly attack the joints they’re meant to protect. Currently affecting about 18 million people worldwide, the Global Burden of…
Read More “Early immune changes hint at ways to prevent rheumatoid arthritis” »
The story so far: On November 10, New Delhi witnessed a massive explosion near the Red Fort complex. An i20 car parked at the signal of the complex exploded, destroying several nearby cars, buses, and the people inside them. As of now, 13 people have been confirmed dead. What do forensic experts do? Experts of…
Read More “What do forensic experts do after blasts? | Explained” »
The rare earth hypothesis was proposed in a 2000 book by palaeontologist Peter Ward and astronomer Donald Brownlee. It argues that while simple, microbial life may be common in the universe, complex, multicellular life is likely uncommon. The idea is rooted in a particular place in the universe meeting a chain of successive conditions. While…
Read More “What’s the status of the rare earth hypothesis? | Explained” »
Space is the vast area beyond the earth’s atmosphere, filled with stars, planets, and galaxies. In this airless environment, one of the most critical differences from life here is the absence of atmospheric pressure. Why is pressure important? The atmosphere is a thick layer of gases held around the earth by its gravity. It protects…
Read More “Why do astronauts wear pressurised suits? | Explained” »
UNESCO issued the first global normative framework on the ethics of neurotechnology on November 5; it is set to enter into force on November 12. This recommended standard is designed to maintain a balance between innovation and human rights to protect the human brain and brain-related data from misuse. Such misuse includes exploiting brain signals…
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For the Gaganyaan Crew Module, the parachute system comprises a total of 10 parachutes of four types. Photo: X/@isro The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently conducted an important test on main parachutes for the Gaganyaan Crew Module. The test was conducted at the Babina Field Firing Range (BFFR) in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi on November…
Read More “ISRO completes key test on main parachutes for Gaganyaan Crew Module” »