Human hair has become all the more valuable, according to a spate of recent studies finding diverse applications of keratin, a protein found in our hair, in tissue engineering and stem cell research. Gone are the days when discarded hair was used for wigs, making fertilizers or in construction materials. Now, researchers have demonstrated the use of keratin derived from human hair as a scaffold to grow cells in bioengineering. The easy availability o f human hair and keratin makes research in tissue engineering very inexpensive, claim the researchers.

Malaria, the biggest killer of all time, has a long association with humans. As we develop new strategies to combat the fatal disease, the parasite causing the disease gets stronger than ever. In this seemingly never-ending tussle, who ultimately wins the battle? The judgement, it seems, is not an easy one! On World Malaria Day, here is a brief insight into the details of this deadly disease. 

Science realises its complete potential when it is applied for the betterment of our lives. As a testimony to this, a group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science have developed innovative technologies that benefit milk producers and silk growers. Their innovations, which recently won the prestigious Gandhian Young Technological Innovation award, uses nanotechnology to detect melamine, an adulterant, in milk and image processing techniques to detect the quality of silk.

This year’s World Health Day focuses on Depression, a serious mental health condition that can damage a person’s quality of life, productivity, relationships, and worse - make them suicidal. India is one of the countries with the largest number of depressed people. Here is all you need to know about depression and the severity of the disease in the Indian context. With social awareness and timely help, there is hope to bring some cheer on the face of people with this mental condition.

Our nervous system is one of the most complex systems in our body. It consists of billions of nerve cells that work in tandem and processes billions and billions of calculations per second. But how are these neurons formed in our body and what controls them? In a recent study, scientists have discovered a molecule that they claim controls the mechanism in which nerve cells are formed. This study may help uncover some of the key aspects that can treat neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s.

A new study by researchers have now discovered the mechanism behind how statins, drugs used to treat high cholesterol in blood, could trigger insulin resistance and hence, diabetes. This study shows that statins increase the amount of fat stored in our cells that interferes with the functioning of insulin, the hormone responsible for absorbing glucose from food. The research opens up avenues for developing “super statins” without undesirable side effects.

Vitamin C, present is citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, is known to boost immunity and prevent our body from bacterial infections. But how does it do it? A new study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Science has now elucidated the mechanism behind why Vitamin C inhibits bacterial infections. This research also opens up possibilities for using Vitamin C in various therapeutic applications.

Saffron, the most expensive spice from the Middle East, is also well-known for its neuropsychological effects, apart from its culinary uses. Now, researchers from Savitribai Phule Pune University and University of Kansas Medical Centre have studied the potential of Safranal, a chemical present in saffron, for its anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting abilities.

In a pathbreaking research on anencephaly, a fatal birth defect where a baby is born without a major part of the brain and the skull, researchers from IISc and BMCRI have identified a genetic mutation that is responsible behind this condition. Technically called Tripartite Motif Containing 36 (TRIM36), this gene is responsible for the development of the nerve cells in a foetus. A modification to this, the scientists say, is to be blamed for anencephaly. 

A new study by scientists at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), has found a link between lower vitamin D levels and prevalence of hypertension in pregnant women. The research, building upon previous studies that showed a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and hypertension, has focused to see if this relationship holds true in pregnant women who are at a high risk of developing hypertension.