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...
Tag: Science
New species of legless amphibian discovered from Maharashrtra
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Science Snapshots: September 13, 2026
Human drug use began millennia earlier than believed Researchers examined the teeth of two ancient hunter-gatherers from Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating back as far as 25,000 years, and found unusual, deep grooves in the teeth caused by sucking on betel nuts. Chemical analyses confirmed the presence of arecoline, the main stimulant in betel nuts, suggesting these...
Reality check: study finds far fewer genes truly linked to cerebral palsy
The world’s most common childhood disability, cerebral palsy, has long been associated with birth complications like premature birth, infection, lack of oxygen, and perinatal stroke. But population studies suggest those factors account for only a fraction of cases. To fill this diagnostic void, modern medicine has routinely turned to gene sequencing to hunt for a...
