A new review reveals that rising global temperatures, increased pollution, and extreme weather events are driving a global surge in eye diseases, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and challenging healthcare systems.

Research Matters

Hey busy bee, which colour do you choose?

A colourful platter never fails to stimulate your appetite, right? The moment your eyes sense so many dishes laid out beautifully, the stomach starts to growl, and you want to grab a bite! But, you owe most of the food that you eat to insects that pollinate the grains, vegetables and fruits, thus ensuring there is food for all. Have you ever thought how these insects, which feed us, find their food? How do they decide which flower to forage? Do they also look for colours like us?

Tired of mobile network issues indoors? A new visible light communication technique may be the answer

Researchers from Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, and Northumbria University, UK are studying relay-assisted visible light communications to improve the indoor coverage of mobile network connectivity. Their new technique turns mobile phones into relays, forwarding data from the transmitter to the end user.

From mice to men--Researchers study mouse hepatitis virus to find cures for neurodegenerative diseases in humans

The brain is an extremely delicate organ that, like a glass artefact, needs many layers to protect it from injury. Besides the skull, the brain has three protective tissue layers called meninges. They form a protective covering around the entire central nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord, and help to regulate different functions of the brain.

Adding organic fertilisers to rice plantations - a boon or a bane?

Rice is the most widely consumed staple cereal in Asia and is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production. Paddy fields are at the eye of a storm as they are a significant contributor of greenhouse gases (GHG) like methane that are known to contribute towards global warming. The warm, waterlogged soil conditions in rice fields promote the growth of microorganisms that release carbon-dioxide and transform it into methane. One way to manage this is by increasing the ability of the soil to store more organic carbon.

For Namesake: The frog classification debate--Minervarya or Fejervarya?

A new study by scientists from Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany, University of Delhi, Delhi, India, Hiroshima University, Japan, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, Bangladesh, Sorbonne Universités, France, and North-West University, South Africa has modified the classification of Asian frogs of the genus Fejervarya and related genera from the family Dicroglossidae.

Scientists explore anti-cancer properties of traditional Siddha medicine, Pattu Karuppu

The allopathic system of medicine that treats symptoms of diseases using drugs came into existence in the 19th century. Before that, traditional medicines were common in many Asian countries, including India. A common drawback of allopathic medications is their undesired side effects caused by the adverse reactions of specific drug compounds with parts of our body. This has now rekindled interests among scientists in many traditional forms of medicine which are known to have no side effects.

Lessons learnt from GetThereBus: A real time passenger information app that failed

A team of researchers from University of Aberdeen, UK, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, People’s Republic of China, and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai have looked at the effects of availability of a smartphone based real time passenger information system on a passenger’s willingness to use public transport. Their studies reveal that although there was an initial excitement for the app, there were insufficient users required to scale up.

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