The passing of scientific threads
India lost two eminent scientists last fortnight. While Yash Pal was a scientific communicator par excellence, P M Bhargava laid the foundation …
God’s Invincible Laddoo
Tirupati temple wins its Geographical Indications case on a specious logic; registry order sidesteps fundamental issues
Putting out new shoots
Whether it's increasing yields, cutting growth time of plants, increasing their resistance to disease or preserving genetic resources, scientists …
Why scientists don’t back Novartis claim
As Novartis’ Indian patent case reaches end, a reminder of how scientists view unfair patents
Myriad gains, we all lose
The US appeals court has upheld the patents for isolated human genes, ignoring scientists’ warning that it would obstruct vital research …
The other side of nitrogen
Excess of any thing is bad, and nitrogen is no exception. The benevolent gas is actually responsible for immense ecological damage
Sunil Shaunak on ethical medicine, patent laws
Sunil Shaunak of Imperial College, London, is pioneering 'ethical pharmaceuticals'. He talks to Subhra Priyadarshini about his work, evergreening …
Written in the ice
Welcome to Sheba. Here, 50 scientists will endure extreme weather conditions to better understand the Arctic climate and global warming
Historian Heather Goodall on indigenous people, water in Australia
Heather Goodall, a historian at the University of Technology, Sydney, has a special interest in Australia's indigenous people--especially their …
Bee confused
Far from being avid shift workers, young honeybees are quite hopeless when it comes to timekeeping
Delhi University's gene mystery
Department of Science and Technology has no idea where GM lines in a high-profile case came from and who gave permission for research
Toxic tides
Phytoplankton are wrecking marine ecology as scientists struggle to find a way to stop further attacks
Anders Levermann on geopolitics of climate change
Professor at Germanys Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Anders Levermanns interests range from monsoon in India to glacier …
Rogue GM crops wreak havoc
Monsanto’s unauthorised GM wheat in the US has spooked the world, but contamination is widespread
Test drive to Mars
India’s first inter-planetary flight is now well on its way. Once the satellite orbits the Red Planet, the country will become the fourth …
Environet
This column will bring you an update on various groups and individuals working in fields related to environment, development and the sciences. …
Pollution and plants
Ecologists reveal that trees are precise indicators of environmental health, as they show specific symptoms with an increase in air pollution
Small in size, big problem
Nanoparticles, as tiny as a billionth of a metre, pose a challenge to scientists and regulatory authorities alike. It may also be a huge health …
Rice fields as carbon sinks
A study by Indian scientists finds lowland flooded rice ecosystems can store vast amounts of carbon but the jury is still out on whether these …
Why experts want GM freeze
Say regulatory system has grave deficiencies; challenge agriculture ministry’s claims
Passive neighbour
India remains indifferent as China builds dams on upper reaches of Brahmaputra
GM food debate hots up again
Gilles-Eric Seralini, one of the first scientists to warn the world about the dangers of genetically modified food, counters pro-GM scientists in …
Plastic Peril
Waste management is key to keeping the oceans free of plastic waste, new research suggests
Shrouded in controversy
A mountaineering expedition into the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve revives the debate on ecotourism and people's rights over forests.
Getting more with less
System of crop intensification, specially in rice, has shown sizeable savings in water and seed usage. Yet its adoption has not spread despite …