Thorns in different plant species have always been an interesting subject for botanists. Be it rose plants or cactus, they use thorns to protect themselves from herbivorous animals. It was long unknown to researchers about the genetic development of thorns in plants. This has been clarified recently through the discovery of how genetic mutations can…
Experiencing a Giant Sequoia is more than just an experience with nature; it’s an experience of sheer impossibility. Within the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, a veritable forest full of these ancient giants defies our understanding of biology and the scale of living organisms. Consider how truly large an organism must be to exceed the…
Quote of the day by Rosalind Franklin (Image source: Britannica) Some scientists stand out not only for their discoveries, but also for how clearly they saw responsibility and progress. One such person was Rosalind Franklin. She was famous for her groundbreaking work on DNA structure, and she also believed strongly that scientific work should have…
BENGALURU: In the race to find safer and cheaper alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, scientists in Bengaluru may have found a promising step forward, by fixing a problem that has long held aluminium batteries back.A research team led by Kavita Pandey of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), a Department of Science and…
BENGALURU: When the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) wrapped up its high-altitude human behaviour simulation near Leh on April 9, much of the focus was on what it could reveal about crew psychology. Less visible was the role played by a Bengaluru-based firm that enabled the exercise on…
Quote of the day by Aristotle (Image source: Wikipedia) Anger is a common feeling that people of all ages and in all situations have. It happens all the time, like when people argue at home, disagree at work, have trouble travelling, or even just misunderstand each other. Anger is a normal reaction for people, but…
The BBC recreated the controversial 1974 Stanford prison experiment in The Experiment to explore human obedience/ screengrab Youtube The idea of recreating one of psychology’s most controversial experiments for television should have been unworkable from the outset. When the BBC announced in 2002 that it would run a controlled prison simulation as a documentary series,…
Scientists have found a new species of mahogany in Zanzibar. This represents a significant finding for those working on rare forests in East Africa. But there is an ominous warning that only 30 adult trees of this new mahogany species exist in the wild. This means that the newly found plant has been critically endangered…
It can be rather soothing to hear singing birds throughout the day, even more so if you can hear them from inside your house. While it might seem like just an enjoyable experience, studies suggest that there is more to it than meets the eye when it comes to its impact on your psychological state….
An AI-generated image shows four Artemis II astronauts in front of a green screen Astronauts from Artemis II may have safely returned after completing their lunar mission, but that hasn’t stopped conspiracy theorists from spinning fresh claims.Hashtags such as “fake space” and “fake NASA” have gained traction online since the lunar fly-by sent the four-member…
