Science 
Pure science with potential applications
Salinity Tolerant Pearl Millet: Role of MicroRNA
(0)Pearl millet is more tolerant to soil salinity than most other crops. Scientists from ICRISAT Hyderabad along with researchers from other parts of the world have now started uncovering the secrets of the success of survival of the crop under salinity. One more step towards sustainable agriculture under the threat of increasing soil salinity.
Epidemiology of TB: Mathematics of transmission
Tuberculosis occurrence rates seem to pulsate in time, according to a stochastic model of TB transmission. Researchers from JNU, New Delhi inquire to seek solutions. Read on.
Stress tolerant crops: genes generate increased yield
Drought, salinity and heat reduce crop yield. Is there a way to make crops tolerant to these abiotic stresses? Neelam Mishra from St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru explores in collaboration with colleagues from the US and China.
Expanding peafowl distribution in Kerala
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.
