Category: Science

Science

Merck-Tinkle comic book targets healthy eating practices among young readers

November 15, 2024 admin

School students at the Safe Food, Safe Future event with Dr. Veena Panicker, Head – BioMonitoring India, Merck Life Sciences and Dinesh Raveendraraju, Scientist at Merck Life Science. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Meet Captain Khau, aka Rishi, who is on a mission to demystify the microbial contamination of food during his summer vacation. His first case:…

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The Science Quiz: Happy Children’s Day

November 15, 2024 admin

Questions: 1. The philosopher John Locke floated a theory called ______ ____. It held that at birth, the mind of a child was blank and that it was the duty of adults to populate it with the ‘right’ thoughts and ideas. Fill the blanks. 2. A common biological definition of childhood is that it’s the…

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On the heels of World Diabetes Day, the story of insulin discovery and the Flame of Hope

November 15, 2024 admin

In human physiology, the endocrine glands act by releasing chemical messengers called hormones. They are produced in extraordinarily small quantities, ranging from 10−9 to 10−12 grams. They travel through the bloodstream to influence distant organs and tissues, guiding bodily functions. Nervous and endocrine systems carry out a common mandate: to transmit the brain’s instructions to peripheral organs and tissues. Unlike the nervous system, which operates through a network…

Science

Sci-Five | The Hindu Science Quiz: on semi-conductors

November 14, 2024 admin

Sci-Five | The Hindu Science Quiz: on semi-conductors Semiconductor chips are seen on a printed circuit board. File START THE QUIZ 1 / 5 | What is a semi-conductor? A material that is a perfect insulator A material with electrical conductivity between that of metals and insulators A type of metal used in computers A…

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Infosys Science Foundation announces prize winners for 2024

November 14, 2024 admin

A file photo of Infosys co-founders N. R. Narayana Murthy and S. Gopalakrishnan, addressing mediapersons regarding the changes in the Infosys Prize, at Infosys Science Foundation (ISF), Jayanagar, in Bengaluru on May 15, 2024. | Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) announced the winners of the Infosys Prize 2024 in six…

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IIT Kharagpur-led study says tropical rainforests could survive global warming

November 14, 2024 admin

Western Ghats from a view point at Agumbe, in Tirthahalli taluk of Shimoga district, which is called “Cherrapunjee of the South”. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR Tropical rainforests like the Amazon and Western Ghats, considered lungs of the planet, is likely to survive future global warming, according to a study led by Indian Institute…

Science

If 23andMe goes bust, what happens to its DNA database?

November 13, 2024 admin

Since it was founded nearly two decades ago, 23andMe has grown into one of the largest biotechnology companies in the world. Millions of people have used its simple genetic testing service, which involves ordering a saliva test, spitting into a tube, and sending it back to the company for a detailed DNA analysis. But now…

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Study reveals how 3D environments affect bacterial growth and survival

November 13, 2024 admin

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: file photo A new study from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) has shed light on how three-dimensional (3D) environments influence bacterial growth and survival. By creating 3D models that mimic natural settings like mucus and soil, researchers discovered that the shape of bacteria plays…

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Team at Kolkata institute engineers bacteria to solve maths problems

November 13, 2024 admin

At the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, synthetic biologist Sangram Bagh has a major and somewhat unusual goal: to build intelligent bacteria. Despite being single-celled, bacteria are very sensitive and responsive to their environments. Organisms that are generally called intelligent — including dolphins, chimpanzees, octopuses, crows, and humans — are on the other hand…

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Microplastics promote cloud formation, with likely effects on weather and climate

November 12, 2024 admin

Clouds are pictured over the residential buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 11, 2024. | Photo Credit: Reuters Clouds form when water vapor – an invisible gas in the atmosphere – sticks to tiny floating particles, such as dust, and turns into…

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