When on a beach or by a large water body, many of us would have seen a handful of crab species. It is an absolute delight to see these decapod (ten-footed) crustaceans dart across open patches of sand side ways, then stop abruptly only to dash away again! While many might associate crabs with the marine environment, there are approximately 13,000 known species of freshwater crabs in the world. In India, the state of Kerala boasts of the highest number of freshwater crab species, providing a home to 28 of the 94 known freshwater crab species.

Not every cat and mouse game ends with Jerry the mouse winning. And while it is true that a mouse will do everything it can to avoid being eaten by a cat, there exists a microscopic foe that is capable of making mice go against their instincts.

In nature, survival and reproduction are the two of the most effective drivers that shape animal behavior. In evolutionary biology, the individual who makes a larger contribution to the gene pool of the next generation is said to be ‘fitter’ than other individuals. When reproduction plays such an important role in the life cycle of an animal, it is obvious that a lot of energy goes into attracting and securing mates.

The brain is considered as the most complex organ, able to store and access huge data, and can even analyze, manipulate and draw from these memories. But how does the brain store all that information? Commonly held theories suggest, experiences cause neurons in the brain to fire and strengthen connections, while brain cells called engrams encode specific memories. They do this by triggering coordinated activity that represent a memory,in a set of these cells, helping in recalling a memory. In this new study, scientists show that engram cells can actually be identified.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one third of the world’s population is  infected with Tuberculosis (TB) . India accounts for the quarter of the world’s burden of TB and has the highest number of multidrug resistant TB  cases worldwide. While multidrug resistant TB poses a major challenge for healthcare providers worldwide, many steps have been taken to treat this form of disease and control its spread.

The story of the river Saraswati has captivated scholars and academicians alike. With no physical evidence, the memory of the extinct river has survived centuries, starting from its first mention in the Rigveda, through poems and stories. The river is said to have originated in the Himalayas and emptied in the Arabian sea near present day, Rann of Kachchh. Now a new study in the Rann of Kachchh has revealed some interesting evidence which could help us establish the story of Saraswati as myth or fact. 

Cloud computing has emerged as the preferred method for processing large amounts of data. It offers the luxury of processing all the data without owning large processors yourself, while the pay-as-you-use model, also allows for economical use of these resources. However, drawbacks such as latency in transferring the data and requirement of bandwidths have given rise to portable cloud computing devices, like Edge and Fog. Now, read about ECHO- a new software platform from IISc that allows you to build and customize applications for Internet of Things and Cyber Physical Systems.   

Red blood cells (RBC) are the primary carriers of oxygen in all the vertebrates They pick up oxygen from the lungs, flow through the circulatory system and deliver the oxygen to the different cells and tissues. White blood cells (WBC), on the other hand, are the bodies primary defense system. Produced in the bone marrow, WBC helps the body fight invaders, like virus and bacteria.

The warming climate has made the world panic. Although some countries are still skeptical, most scientists agree about the inevitable rise in the temperature of the planet by the year 2030. Several countries have already started a shift towards renewable sources, like solar and with the Paris agreement, the world joined this movement.

In 1959, Luna 1, a Soviet Union mission to the moon, successfully landed on the surface of the moon, kickstarting the space race between America and the Soviet that lasted for decades. Today, many countries are looking beyond our moon, and at moons of other planets like Jupiter and Saturn. Although, twelve astronauts have walked on its surface, manned missions to the moon came to a close in 1972. But the urge to study our closest neighbor never receded.