A: Yes, and the reason is not just psychological. Researchers know of at least three reasons. First, the human body adjusts surprisingly quickly to temperature. However, this also means that after even one or two cooler days, you may lose a bit of heat adaptation as your blood vessels are less prepared to expand and...
Category: Science & Tech
Air pollution cut India’s solar power output by 9.6% in 2023, study says
Aerosols in the air reduced the amount of solar power generated in India by 9.6% in 2023, equivalent to around 15 terawatt-hours (TWh), according to a new analysis published in Nature Sustainability. The same study reported that the global average loss due to the same cause in 2023 was 5.8%. Between 2017 and 2023, pollution-related...
The ice apple is more than just a seasonal delicacy
Come the summer months, April through August, and the fruit market across India is replete with the fruit ice apple, called ‘nungu’ in Tamil, ‘munjulu’ in Telugu, ‘tadgola’ in Hindi, and ‘taal’ in Bengali. It is largely found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and in West Bengal. Once you peel its outer skin, you...
How do lightning rods prevent lightning strikes from reaching people?
Climate change is making lightning strikes around the world more common and deadlier. Every year, around 24,000 people around the world are killed by such strikes; in India, lightning strikes killed 2,887 people in 2022. There have been petitions to declare this phenomenon a natural disaster in India so that its survivors can access institutional...
India-Nordic Summit Highlights India’s Growing Global Role
India’s growing influence on the global stage was strongly highlighted during the India-Nordic Summit, where Denmark’s Prime Minister described India as “one of the biggest powers in the world” during discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit brought together leaders from Nordic countries including Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland to strengthen cooperation with...
India home to 191 species of cockroaches, 60% of them are endemic, says ZSI study
India is home to 191 species of cockroaches and 119 of these species (more than 60% of the species) are endemic to India, a recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) highlighted. Endemism is the ecological state where a species or taxonomic group is native to a single, highly defined geographic location. The publication...
PM Modi Concludes Italy Visit, Focuses on Strengthening India-Italy Relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his official visit to Italy after holding key discussions in Rome aimed at boosting trade, investment, and strategic cooperation between India and Italy. During the visit, PM Modi met Italian leaders and senior officials to discuss strengthening bilateral ties in areas including defense, clean energy, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, and...
Indian researcher names newly discovered galaxy structure after Manipur’s Loktak Lake
An Indian researcher based in Japan has named a newly discovered large structure of galaxies after Manipur’s Loktak Lake, seeking to “immortalise” the northeastern state’s identity in the cosmos. Dr. Ronaldo Laishram, who led an international research team as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), said the structure was studied...
Power Cuts Rise Across India as Electricity Demand Hits Record High
India is facing increasing power cuts as extreme summer heat pushes electricity demand to record-breaking levels across the country. Several major cities, including Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and parts of northern India, have reported frequent outages due to the massive rise in air conditioner and cooling appliance usage. According to power authorities, India’s electricity demand has...
The physics of thermometers, temperatures and cold atoms
People from Bengaluru should not be allowed to complain about their weather turning hot. The other day, as a namma friend called to express disappointment over their daytime temperatures reaching as high as 33 degrees, I wondered in what Awadhi words should I inform her about the pleasant 42 degrees here in Kanpur. The baked earth, the...
