New ride sharing algorithm promises better deal for riders and drivers
Researchers at IIT-Delhi have developed an algorithm that can guide taxi drivers to take a route where they can find more commuters for sharing
MIT scientists built biggest-ever carbon nanotube computer chip
The carbon nanotubes can conduct electricity much faster, are 10 times more energy-efficient and could also be seen as a greener option compared …
Can DNA tests find our soulmate? We study sex and sexuality — and think the idea is ridiculous
There is no compelling evidence as to whether or not DNA matching can support a more fulfilling love life
European-origin pathogen poses big threat to potato crop in India
Scientists at West Bengal State University have found 19 unique and highly aggressive variants of Phytophthora infestans, a microorganism that …
Did scientists just discover the largest organ of your body?
Interstitium—fluid-filled spaces within and between tissues all over our body spaces—could be bigger than skin
Develop simplest methods to communicate science to the unreached: experts
They also call for setting up Science Centres in remote areas to communicate the basic concepts of science to the rural population
Scientists image mysterious rock zone 3,000 km beneath Earth’s surface
They found that the speed of earthquake waves travelling through the base of the structure could be 40 per cent slower than the surrounding regions
Developing economies risk exclusion as ‘age of AI’ dawns
Artificial intelligence is set to be a multi-trillion dollar industry by 2030, but developing economies risk falling behind unless changes are …
Warning: This planet is protected by video surveillance
Spying from space has lifted the veil over the battlefield, diffusing the fog of war and lessening the utility of aggression
His master's
Research on guns that recognise the owner's voice, touch and even fingerprints is expected to revolutionise sharpshooting by the US police
Odyssey of a disease
From sheep to cattle and then to human beings, spongiform encephalopathies, a group of fatal brain maladies, have caught the attention of …
Born in a dish
The birth of a mouse in a petri dish -the end result of the use of an effective technique to manipulate oocytes -heralds a new era in …
Welcome home, stranger!
Certain sensors in the mother's immune system are desensitised to make it possible for her body to accept the 'alien' within: her child
Exerting pressure
Are exercises like brisk walking and cycling safe for people suffering from acute hypertension? Yes, says a recent study. High blood pressure and …
Papermaking at your doorstep
Although papermaking has traditionally been located in urban settings, technological innovations brought about by an NGO brings a new trade to …
Cleaning the microbe way
Even the tiniest microbes could help spruce up our foul environment when let loose on domestic waste. Researchers in Delhi are now advocating the …
Our expertise and observations complemented those from Europe: Gopakumar Achamveedu
Down To Earth speaks to Gopakumar Achamveedu from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, who is part of the international team of …
Disaster, opulence and the merciless ocean: Why the Titanic disaster continues to enthral
Titanic movies and exhibitions are popular because audiences enjoy the voyeurism of gazing at the ship’s beautiful furnishings, the …
People are complaining about Mercury in retrograde. But what does it actually mean?
Humans found out retrograde motion was an optical illusion 500 years ago. However, the pseudoscientific practice of astrology continues to …
Vertebrates received genes for vision from bacteria, finds study
The researchers, however, could not identify the bacteria that transferred its gene to vertebrates.
PV Satheesh demystified science through Krishi Vigyan Kendra
PV Satheesh, founder of Deccan Development Society, encouraged us to understand wisdom of local women & experts, writes scientist
How do you vaccinate a honeybee? 6 questions answered about a new tool for protecting pollinators
Honeybees face many urgent threats, including Varroa mites, climate change and poor nutrition, which makes this vaccine an exciting new development
Gregory XIII: How religious need spurred the reformist pope to recalculate time 440 years ago
The early arrival of Easter because of the long Julian Calendar necessitated the formation of a new calendar
Science and Engineering Research Board awards national post-doctoral fellowships to 301 researchers
These fellowships supports young budding researchers to establish themselves as independent scientists
How did continents form? Giant meteorite impacts could be responsible, says study
Understanding the formation and evolution of continents is important as it is the key to reserves of metals such as lithium, tin and nickel