Category: Science

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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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Recycling happens only when there is a steady demand for the recycled pellets. | Photo Credit: StickerIt/Unsplash A: ‘Plastics’ is an umbrella term for various materials with some similar properties. Each type of plastic has a different polymer structure and set of additives. These differences decide how a piece of plastic behaves when it is…

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In every living being through history, stress from a perceived threat has automatically and immediately triggered an avalanche of reactions. ‘Fight or flight’ is an example of the choices these life-forms have confronted. Every bodily function that isn’t essential for survival is moved to the sidelines as the being prepares to respond. All available resources…

Read More “Stress primes neural hub to trigger freezing to new, unrelated fear cues” »