In 1957, an Indian plastic-packaging maker chronicled the happy fate of a hosiery brand that had begun wrapping its products in plastic. The result, he wrote in an Indian daily, was a 65% jump in sales. Paper, wood, aluminium, tin and other containers had been on the market for decades, but were opaque. “It is...
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April 22, 2026April 22, 2026Science & Tech
Societies embrace gene therapy but resist genetic change in crops
This article is part of Examined World, a contemplative series exploring what the sciences reveal about us. Our debates and discussions on technology are currently dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). Conversations around this subject are rarely about whether AI will envelop our lives or not, but about how and when it will do so.
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April 22, 2026April 22, 2026Environment, Science & Tech
Extreme heat threatens global food systems, UN agencies warn
Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report by the U.N.’s food and weather agencies. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and...
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April 22, 2026April 22, 2026Science & Tech
Science Quiz on rivers and cities
Science Quiz on rivers and cities Name this iconic city of 32 million in China located where the Jialing and Yangtze rivers come together. START THE QUIZ
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April 22, 2026April 22, 2026Science & Tech
Lunar governance should be multilateral
The NASA Apollo 8 mission to the moon captured the iconic earthrise image the same year in which U.S. forces were responsible for the My Lai massacre in Vietnam. Similarly, on April 6, as the crew of the NASA Artemis II mission swung around the moon in their spacecraft, they photographed the earth rising above...
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April 21, 2026April 21, 2026Science & Tech
New molecular pathways contributing to cardiovascular disease in Indians found
With 1 in 10 adults in India living with diabetes, and 62% of all deaths in the country due to cardiovascular disease, research has now begun to focus on tracing the genetic mechanisms that predispose Indians to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. A new paper on this subject from the U.S., by Dharambir...
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April 21, 2026April 21, 2026Health, Science & Tech
UTIs, tooth decay: how common infections may be fast-tracking dementia
For decades, medical science has viewed dementia as a slow-burning fire fuelled by genetics and lifestyle. However, a recent, compelling study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that more sudden events occurring externally may shape the timeline of cognitive decline. Specifically, cases of severe cystitis (bladder infections) and even tooth decay have been identified as accelerants...
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April 21, 2026April 21, 2026Science & Tech
Hahnöfersand bone: of contention
Researchers recently reevaluated a famous fossil known as the Hahnöfersand frontal bone. It was first found in Germany in 1973, with scientists dating the bone to 36,000 years ago. Scientists’ early descriptions of the bone suggested that, going by its robust appearance, the individual who had it was a hybrid between a Neanderthal and a...
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April 21, 2026April 21, 2026Science & Tech
Peripheral neuropathy: why only some mutations cause disease
Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPN) are cruel genetic diseases that affect around 1 in 2,500 individuals. A person affected by IPN develops high foot arches, curled toes, thin calves, and walks awkwardly or trips. Their fingers may become clawed and, because they lose sensation, they may not notice minor injuries. In some cases, the weakness of...
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April 20, 2026April 20, 2026Science & Tech
In Focus podcast | Can a cancer therapy help treat autoimmune diseases?
CAR-T cell therapy, a breakthrough treatment that has transformed certain cancer outcomes, is now showing early promise in tackling autoimmune diseases. In a recent case in Germany, a patient with multiple severe autoimmune conditions entered treatment-free remission after receiving the therapy, raising fresh questions about its potential beyond cancer. In this episode, we break down...
