Research Matters

Study uses three-dimensional simulations to understand how flying insects navigate their terrain

In India, the school education system puts a higher emphasis on grades than on practical learning, thus encouraging practices like late-night studies and changes in eating and sleeping routines during weekdays and weekends. So how badly are India’s adolescents affected by this? In a recent study, researchers at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India, analysed the complex relationship between these lifestyle changes and the disruptions in the circadian cycles among students from classes IX, XII and the first year of college.

Researchers investigate the effects of dark matter particles on the growth of black hole shadows. 

“As the world confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity’s victory over smallpox is a reminder of what is possible when nations come together to fight a common health threat,” said Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in a recent media briefing.

A new international citizen science platform wants you to capture birdsongs in the dawn. 

In a recent study, researchers from Pune, along with their collaborators in Chennai and the USA, have assessed the functioning of lungs after successful tuberculosis (TB) treatment. The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, has shown the occurrence of lung defects and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after tuberculosis treatment. 

Being "environment friendly" or "eco-friendly" is the 'in thing' today. Aiming a zero-waste or vegan or carbon-neutral lifestyle are now trendy. The recent climate strikes and the declaration of a 'climate emergency' have raised awareness on environmental issues, motivating behavioural change in people towards sustainable lifestyles. However, do people tend to perceive themselves as better than others in living such a planet-friendly life? Yes, says a study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

In a series of studies, researchers have investigated how the Hemidactylus geckos, or leaf-toed geckos, evolved during the two periods of climate change.

In a recent study, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science and Education Research, Kolkata, have investigated the nest architecture of a species of Indian ant, called Diacamma indicum.

In a recent study published in the Behavioral Ecology journal, Dr Anand Krishnan from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, studied birds’ singing activity and changes in the community structure of singing birds, before and after the arrival of migrant birds. The findings serve as a framework for monitoring rapidly-changing urban habitats through vocal birds and their singing behaviour.