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.

Tuberculosis or TB is a disease known to mankind since our existence on Earth. In spite of that, our fight against this deadly disease still continues. A major breakthrough in this fight is the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB, in the 19th century. World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated commemorating that significant day, when Robert Koch discovered this deadly bacteria that has now become stronger than ever, and standing tall against all odds in this fight. Will we ever succeed? Only time can tell.

What do a spell of rain, an overcast of clouds, a lovely breeze, a scorching sun or a thunderstorm tell about the future? Today, on the occasion of World Meteorological Day, here is an insight into humanity’s journey towards understanding the dynamics of weather. It’s never been an easy one. As we uncover factors that spill some clues on what to expect, Nature throws a grand surprise and yet another difficult challenge, making weather forecasting meteorology more exciting than ever. 

Did you know Down;s syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in humans? Characterized by physical and mental disorders of varying degree, this disorder is seen in 1 per 800 births in India and these numbers are set to increase. But what causes Down’s syndrome in the first place and how is it treated? On this World Down Syndrome Day, here is a all you need to know about this disorder and how you can help those affected by the same. 

Did you know that the mouth, which is the gateway to our digestive health, is one of the most neglected parts of the body? With a zillion bacteria that call it home, our moth, teeth and tongue have a lot to endure. On the event of World Oral Health Day, lets understand the oral health situation in the country and resolve to keep our mouth clean and healthy.

Autophagy, or self-eating, is a process where cells in our body devour some of the cell components to replenish their nutrient supply during severe shortage.  This process, though sounds gruesome, is essential for our survival and any defect in this mechanism could lead to neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Several research, inspired by Nobel Laureate Prof. Yoshinori Ohsumi’s work on autophagy, has now uncovered new dimensions on our understanding of how cells function.

The Internet has revolutionised our way of life, enabling things that were hard to imagine earlier. With the Internet, one can work sitting at home, doctors can treat patients anywhere in the world, and with the advent of smartphones, simple activities like commuting has a whole new meaning. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have redefined communication and made reaching out to a large number of people very easy. Any of us can be an ‘influencer’ with the potential to be heard by millions of people.

If you have ever visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (JNP) in Bengaluru, you are sure to be mesmerized by the art of story telling in the recorded videos played during the shows and the cartoons on display. If there is one person that has to be credited to introducing this uniqueness to the planetarium, it is definitely Prof. C V Vishveshwara, famously called the ‘black hole man of India’.

The 3rd of March every year was declared World Wildlife Day by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the signing of the landmark Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. Aimed at celebrating and raising awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants, the day is a chance for us to think about the major threats to wildlife including habitat change, over-exploitation and illicit trafficking.

This year’s National Science Day, celebrated to commemorate the discovery of Dr. C V Raman’s ‘Raman Effect’, is themed around ‘Science and Technology for Specially Abled Persons’. One billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability today, and the prevalence of disability is highest in developing countries like India. A report by World Bank estimates that about 110-190 million of them experience significant disabilities.  ‘Persons with disabilities’ or PwDs include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which may hinder their full and effective participation in the society.