Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru University, National Institute of Plant Genome Research and CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, India, have identified a new strain of bacteria, β-proteobacterium Pandoraea, that can help break up lignin and decompose it. The bacterial strain produces polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) which have the potential to replace conventional plastics.
A team of researchers have discovered a new species of ginger hidden in the lush, remote Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. Named Parakaempferia alba, the plant was identified by researchers from the CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology and local colleges. The discovery, published in the Nordic Journal of Botany, marks a major milestone for the region’s biodiversity, as it is only the second species ever found within its specific genus.
