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India is a country whose population largely depends on agriculture, with 50% of its population being employed in agriculture, and revenue from agriculture and other allied fields contributing 13.7% of our country’s GDP.

Organic farming, a method of farming that uses no artificial pesticides or fertilisers, is a re-emerging practice in agriculture and is seen as a new hope in times where our lands are ravaged by chemical fertilizers. Following this method has multiple benefits among which maintaining soil health is one. But how much of ‘good’ does it do to soil? A new research has now studies the various long and short term effects of organic farming on soil health and has found that in comparison with conventional farming methods,  organic farming results in better soil health as indicated by its physical, chemical and biological properties 

Cancer, described as the ‘emperor of all maladies’ by Siddharth Mukherjee’s book by the same name, is a disease which needs no introduction.

Earthen pots or matkas have been used to store and cool water since time immemorial. But how do they keep water cool?

India’s premier institutes like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are the most sought after institutes in the country that attract the best of the talent from across the country. But how do these national institutes compare with those in Singapore, a major hub of education in Asia?

Ramganga, one of the tributaries of the hallowed river Ganges, originates in Uttarakhand flowing through Corbett National Park and Uttar Pradesh. As a tributary to the Ganges, Ramganga also shares the divine status and hosts the annual Ganga Dussehra festival.

The intricate working of human cells has been a fascinating subject and every now and then we have a new research throwing light on how cells and their constituents help form what we know as ‘life’. Now, a new study has explored the organization and function of mitochondria, a cell organelle responsible for providing the cells with energy that they need,  in the context of early embryonic development. The researchers have shown how mitochondria move about in the cells using the cytoskeleton and help in formation of different cells from the blastoderm.

Thrips is the common name given to insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera. These tiny insects are seen in aggregates on various plant parts. They have unique asymmetrical mouthparts which they use to feed on plant matter. Most species are herbivorous, but some predatory species have been recorded as well.

The Western Ghats in India has been a hotspot for many a diverse and unique forms of life. The dense rainforests and tropical climate have assisted in the diversification of species, many of which are yet to be found. The latest addition to this growing list is Nasikabatrachus bhupathi, an underground dwelling frog that surface only for a few days every year, to mate. The species was found along the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, which receives rainfall during the northeast monsoon unlike the other parts of the ghats, and could be a primary reason for the differences in the species found in the different places. 

The Indian Institute of Technology’s (IIT) are autonomous public institutions of higher education, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in engineering and related domains. IIT Kharagpur was the first institute to be set up, followed by in Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and Delhi.