Science 
Pure science with potential applications
Expanding peafowl distribution in Kerala
(0)Sanjo Jose and P O Nameer, from the Kerala Agricultural University were puzzled about increased sightings of peacocks in Kerala. Investigating into the environmental and climatic factors that increase distribution of peafowl, they find that the species may soon extent its territory in Kerala.
Elemental Carbon: Air quality indicator?
Aerosols of two and half and ten micrometres are considered as measures of air pollution. The proportion of elemental carbon in the aerosols that gets deposited in lungs may also need to be included, argue scientists.
What is good for farmers may be bad for fishermen
The variations in the flow of fresh water from rivers into estuaries change salinity and the prawns migrate into the sea. Damming rivers can change affect the life cycle of estuarine prawns, say researchers.
Mahabali in a Well: new snakehead fish
When people saw a new snakehead fish in a well in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, they were confused. Which is this strange fish? Scientists from the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Kochi now tell us the answer.
How do Bees see Colours?
Bees need to identify flowers. How do their compound eyes see the world? Do they see the flowers in the same colours as us? Researchers from Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, the University College and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram join hands to find out.
Bacteria to produce vanillin?
Shashwati Ghosh Sachan and team from the Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi report isolating a bacteria that can transform eugenol to vanillin. Food industries may start using the bacteria and reduce dependence on vanilla bean.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Palmyra sprouts biochar
S Ramaprabhu’s Alternative Energy & Nanotechnology Lab in IIT Madras reports a method to store hydrogen at room temperature. A step towards making vehicles running on hydrogen fuel.
Agrochemicals in Coffee Plantations: Health risks to frogs
Researchers from the Kuvempu University find that frog species diversity in coffee plantations that use chemical fertilisers and pesticides is lower than in those plantations that do not use agrochemicals.
Estimating Rainfall: A comparison of satellite data products
There are various satellite data products that can help predict rainfall. Which one is best for the purpose? M. Venkatarami Reddy, and Imranali M. Momin from the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, and Ashis K. Mitra and D. S. Pai from the India Meteorological Department investigates.
Subterranean Snakehead Fish: Floods reveal hidden ecosystem
Last year’s floods in Kerala brought out a new snakehead fish from the underground aquifers. 90% of the fish diversity in the Western Ghats is still unknown to science, say scientists. Kudos to the alertness of scientists in KUFOS Kochi that led to the identification of a new species of fish.
