Category: Science

The study, which analysed whole genome sequences from captive and wild elephant blood samples, offers new hope for the species’ future by identifying key populations that need tailored conservation strategies. | Photo Credit: File photo The existence of five genetically-distinct populations of Asian elephants in India, more than previously thought, has been revealed in a…

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The Indian wild ass, locally called khur, has outlasted predators such as cheetah and lion. | Photo Credit: Getty Images The Rann of Kutch evolved when waters of the Arabian Sea made incursions into this region 150-200 million years ago. Geological upheavals led to the rise of a landmass that cut off the Kutch basin…

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New research suggests that pigs may function as a transmission vehicle for a strain of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) common in rats that has recently been found to infect humans. The Rocahepevirus ratti strain is called “rat HEV” because rats are the primary reservoir of the virus. Since the first human case was reported in a person with…

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Multiple behavioural studies have suggested that face selectivity might be an inborn feature of the brain. Both newborn human babies and newly hatched domestic chicks that have never seen faces before show spontaneous attraction toward face-like stimuli composed of three dark features representing eyes and a mouth/beak. Researchers uncovered a population of neurons that respond…

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Sale of antibiotics through hospitals and medical stores across Kerala reduced by ₹1,000 crore in the last year | Photo Credit: iStockphoto With the successful launch of Operation Amrith (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention for Total Health) to completely stop the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics without prescriptions by the end of 2024, Kerala has seen a sharp decline…

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