The gut microbiomes of eight tribal populations across India have a unique diversity shaped by their traditional diets, and are distinct from those observed in industrialised settings, researchers have reported in Gut Microbiomes. The effects of probiotics depend on a population’s diet and gut composition, and the study offers a baseline for India’s tribal communities....
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August 6, 2026August 6, 2026Science & Tech
Why Kerala is witnessing a decline in winter migratory birds
From the Arctic, northern Eurasia and wetlands of Central Asia, flocks of migratory birds undertake journeys spanning thousands of kilometres to reach Kerala’s coasts, wetlands and forests every year. Among them are Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii) and Tibetan Sand Plover (Anarhynchus atrifrons), which descend on sandy stretches of Vellanathuruthu in Kollam, and Northern Pintail...
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August 6, 2026August 6, 2026Health, Science & Tech
U.S. FDA approves first mRNA flu shot from Moderna
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna’s flu vaccine for people aged 50 and older, the company said on Wednesday (August 5, 2026), marking the first approval of a messenger RNA-based vaccine for seasonal flu. The shot, mFlusiva, was given a traditional approval for adults aged 50 to 64, and an accelerated approval...
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August 6, 2026August 6, 2026Health, Science & Tech
What does the new research on Vitamin B12-based therapy for brain cancer reveal?
Despite decades of research, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) still remains one of the deadliest types of brain cancers. While treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy exist and have improved over time, the outcomes for patients remain generally poor. One of the major obstacles to treatment lies in the brain’s natural protection – the blood-brain barrier (BBB)...
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August 6, 2026August 6, 2026Science & Tech
Space Wrap: Historic Vikram-1 launch puts Indian spaceflight back on track
Five minutes past noon on July 18, the launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota roared back to life after a gap of 187 days. The last launch from the space port was on January 12, 2026, involving the PSLV-C62 mission carrying the EOS-N1 earth observation satellite, which failed to complete its intended...
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August 5, 2026August 5, 2026Science & Tech
Quantum shift: On private industry and national research spending
The Department of Science and Technology’s latest figures on India’s research profile record a milestone. In 2023-24, private industry accounted for 51.8% of national research spending — a first in India’s history — overtaking all tiers of government combined for the first time. Moreover, industry now employs more core researchers than government institutions. Transport firms...
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August 5, 2026August 5, 2026Science & Tech
SpaceX rocket stage believed to have slammed into Moon
A four-tonne piece of a SpaceX rocket was believed to have unintentionally crashed into the Moon on Wednesday (August 5, 2026), a collision that posed no danger to Earth but is expected to leave behind a lunar crater. While there is not yet official confirmation that the Falcon 9 upper stage struck the lunar surface,...
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August 5, 2026August 5, 2026Science & Tech
How excessive police force turns peaceful marches into medical crises
When 23-year-old Arhaan (name changed to protect identity) reached his accommodation after attending the Cockroach Janta Party protest march in New Delhi on July 20, his ears kept ringing with pain when he closed his eyes. He remembers it started when a canister had burst with a loud sound near his head when he was...
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August 5, 2026August 5, 2026Science & Tech
‘Ghost particles’ signature can track where spent nuclear fuel goes
In the high-stakes world of preventing governments from secretly developing atom bombs, the ability of inspectors to check what happens inside a reactor core — without stepping foot inside the highly radioactive structure — is a holy grail. For many decades, International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have used cameras and close inspections to ensure operators...
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August 4, 2026August 4, 2026Science & Tech
Private colleges account for 54% of 1.36 lakh MBBS seats in India
Private medical colleges continue to account for a majority of the MBBS seats offered in India, with 73,643 private college seats (54%) compared with 63,296 government-run college seats (46%), according to the National Medical Commission’s 2026-27 seat matrix released recently for the academic year 2026-27. Of the 9,911 MBBS seats added for the 2026-27 academic...
