Technology trail to the gene grail
First detected in the late 1980s, the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 became evident in mid-2012. The technology’s promise in curing chronic and …
WIPO’s piracy blacklist is flawed
Why is the UN body putting a stamp of approval on a system that is patently unjust and dangerous
Nasa's planet hunting mission finds three new 'worlds'
The team hopes research will reveal more planets, one of which may have the ability to form water and be habitable
Bet your brain
The market is flooded with brain boosters, even though there is little evidence to show for it
An ode to the cloudy skies
We asked our readers to send photographs of clouds. In response, we received a stunning collection of evocative clicks with clouds as the …
Robots develop new semiconductor materials in tests that are 10 times faster & greener
With the technology, scientists have been able to develop alloys with perovskites materials that can improve solar cells
James Webb Telescope captures clearest view of Neptune’s rings after 3 decades
Webb images vividly display Neptune’s fainter dust bands in addition to many brilliant, narrow rings
Helping cells become better protein factories could improve gene therapies and other treatments — a new technique shows how
Gene therapy involves replacing a defective gene with a functioning one that can direct cells to produce missing or dysfunctional proteins
My PhD supervisor just won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for designing a safer, cheaper and faster way to build molecules and make medicine
How do chemists make the correct version of a molecule so that drugs work as intended
India an overperformer in frontier tech among developing countries: UN report
Several developing countries showed stronger capabilities to use and adapt frontier technologies above their GDPs, but were lagging behind
Innovation may not be the answer to India’s development challenges
India ranks second among middle income countries on ‘quality of innovation’
IIIT-Hyderabad creates the first Indian brain atlas
The researchers in IIIT have also revealed that the Indian brain is smaller compared to others
Nasa unveils the stellar cosmos
Here are some of the images the American space agency selected to feature “our fascinating universe”
How are planets named?
Let's find out how a minor planet was named after Indian classical singer Pandit Jasraj
Mangalyaan: Still in orbit after half a decade
One of the most cost-effective missions of its kind, Mangalyaan will keep orbiting Mars for some more time
‘We expect to find more interstellar comets in the future’
Nasa scientist Davide Farnocchia, who was one of the first to make observations about the new interstellar comet, speaks to Down To Earth
Risks associated with Artificial Intelligence worrying
And yet the concerns have not cast their shadow over India since AI research is still in its infancy in the country
MIT researchers synthesise the blackest material on planet
The new substance is made from carbon nanotubes and the MIT researchers said it can absorb 99.996% of light
‘Rejuvenation treatment can delay onset of heart diseases, cancer’
Steve Horvath, a geneticist who was able to reverse nine people’s biological clock recently, spoke to Down To Earth about the study
A pirate loved by academics
Alexandra Elbakyan's Sci-Hub is putting up a spirited fight against publishers who shackle science behind high cost paywalls
How did gold and silver come into existence?
As we celebrate Dhanteras, auspicious for purchasing gold and silver, here's some perspective on where these metals originated
Ice Man of Ladakh: Chewang Norphel who builds artificial glaciers
Mr. Norphel is a retired civil engineer from Ladakh. He is popularly known as 'Ice Man of Ladakh' as his innovative method of water conservation …
Seeking a fair price for drugs
The WHO is working on finding a fair pricing model for medicines but will Big Pharma accept it?
Watch: an atlas for the visually impaired
National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) released an atlas for the visually impaired earlier this month. Down To Earth enquires …
Sister Solar System and Earth's cousins
After discovering Earth-like planets in 2014 and 2015, the NASA took a step towards finding life outside our own solar system by discovering a …