Scientists have discovered a new species of subterranean, legless amphibian — commonly known as a caecilian from Maharashtra. The species named Gegeneophis chandgadi has been discovered by a multi-institutional team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), WRC Pune, Yashwantrao Chavan Mahavidyalaya (Halkarni), Savitribai Phule Pune University, and the Mhadei Research Centre (Goa). The...
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September 11, 2026September 11, 2026Science & Tech
Gaganyaan Episode 6: Life support: Living in space | The Scope
Three astronauts inside a sealed spacecraft cannot rely on Earth’s natural environment. In Episode 6 of The Scope: Gaganyaan — India’s Leap, we look at the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) that will help sustain the crew inside the Crew Module. From oxygen and carbon dioxide removal to temperature, humidity, pressure, water, waste...
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September 11, 2026September 11, 2026Science & Tech
Biotech sector steadily growing with over 1,100 startups in the last year: K. VijayRaghavan
Quality of education, regulatory frameworks governing the biotechnology sector, economic factors, global competition and the potential of AI to democratise spaces were some of the many topics discussed in a wide-ranging conversation at the Biotech Conclave 2026, presented by VIT Chennai in association with The Hindu, on Friday (September 11, 2026). Former principal scientific advisor...
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September 11, 2026September 11, 2026Science & Tech
The Hindu–VIT Conclave explores advances in biotechnology and healthcare
The Hindu–VIT Conclave 2026, hosted by VIT Chennai in partnership with The Hindu, brought together experts across academia, research, and investment to discuss advancements in biotechnology and healthcare. The session on technology application explored its use in medical education, healthcare, biobanking, and neuroinformatics. A second session focused on gene editing and precision medicine, highlighting their potential...
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September 11, 2026September 11, 2026Science & Tech
Ancient spice route may have shaped Keralam’s Malabari goat’s genetic legacy, study shows
Keralam’s ancient maritime connections may extend beyond spices, merchants and ports. A new study suggests that these trade networks may also have shaped the maternal genetic history of the Malabari goat, one of the State’s iconic indigenous breeds. Researchers from the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) have reported the first complete mitochondrial genome...
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September 11, 2026September 11, 2026Education, Science & Tech
Low funding for postdoc roles fuelling brain drain, govt. funds only 2,500 positions
Walk into MIT, Stanford, Caltech, or Bell Labs, and you will find Indian-origin scientists driving quantum computing, mRNA therapeutics, agentic AI, and graphics processor design. They run corporate research divisions, win Nobel Prizes, and turn lab prototypes into trillion-dollar companies. Their schooling, their instincts, their work ethic—all of them trace back to India. (Sign up...
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September 10, 2026September 10, 2026Science & Tech
Human activity has shaped the genetic diversity of dengue mosquitoes in India
From its roots in Africa, the dengue-spreading mosquito, Aedes aegypti, expanded its range in the 15th century, across the world, aided by the transatlantic slave trade between Africa, America and Europe. And by the late 19th century the insect, with its great environmental adaptability, reached India: in 2024 the country recorded around 2,50,000 dengue cases. Today, Aedes...
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September 10, 2026September 10, 2026Science & Tech
Urban demand is reorganising the global wildlife trafficking network
Some 2,000 km away from their natural habitat in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, five listless baby orangutans were found, bafflingly, in a forest in the middle of Odisha on Tuesday. Videos that were shared widely, showed the critically endangered apes, each around a year old, with limited mobility, huddled together, chomping on bananas...
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September 10, 2026September 10, 2026Environment, Science & Tech
Bamboo mass flowering and die-off can trigger ecological crisis and wildlife conflict, study warns
The synchronous mass flowering and subsequent die-off of bamboo across forest landscapes can trigger a chain of ecological shocks — from invasive weed outbreaks and intense wildfires to rodent population explosions and spikes in human-elephant conflict, a study by Dr. T.V. Sajeev of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi, Thrissur, Keralam, has warned. Published...
