Author: Science India Bureau
In a significant breakthrough for breast cancer treatment, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) and the Bose Institute, Kolkata, have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel that enables localised and controlled drug delivery. This innovation not only enhances the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs but also reduces harmful side effects, marking a transformative step in oncological care. According to a statement released by IIT-G, the hydrogel acts as a stable reservoir for chemotherapy drugs, releasing them in a controlled manner specifically at the tumour site. This ensures that healthy tissues remain unharmed, a crucial advantage over conventional treatments like chemotherapy,…
The headquarters of Vijnana Bharati in the national capital moved to a new destination at South Extension I on 7 February. With the inauguration of its new four-storeyed office-cum-residence building — ‘Jayant Smriti’, the Vijnana Bharati enters a new phase with a plush office, reception, meeting rooms, conference hall, guest house, parking, pantry and what not. The headquarters — ‘Jayant Smriti’ — has been named in loving memory of the late Shri Jayant Sahasrabudhe, the former national organising secretary of VIBHA, who had spearheaded the relaunch of SCIENCE INDIA magazine in its new avatar in 2020. It was he who…
BUDDING INNOVATOR / SINDHOORA RAJA Sindhoora Raja, a sixteen-year-old innovator and research enthusiast from Bengaluru, was awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in New Delhi recently. She received the award for innovation from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She also had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi where he interacted with the winners. During their interaction, she explained her innovations in neurotechnology, and the Prime Minister encouraged her to continue her research. She recalls that receiving the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar was a moment of…
The work that had been initiated in 2012, came to fruition on 8 January 2024. On this day, at the Sidhu Kanu Birsa University in Purulia town, there was the virtual inauguration of an observatory stationed atop the Panchet Hill in the Garpanchakot area of Purulia district. Stationed at a height of 600 metres above the ground level, this will be a major observatory not only in eastern India, but also along the longitude of 86°E. The observatory has been set up by the S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata. Dr Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta, director of S N…
Image Courtesy: PIB Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 January announced the completion of the Genome India Project, describing it as an “important milestone in the biotechnology revolution” in the country, and unveiled the sequencing database of 10,000 Indians. In his video message, the PM congratulated the scientific community on the achievement and laid out a roadmap for India’s future in genomics. He praised the initiative as a testament to India’s scientific prowess and its vision for the future of healthcare and biotechnology. This initiative will also develop an ecosystem which would act as Knowledge Hub and Innovation Hub and…
YOUNG SCIENTIST/ Dr DIGENDRANATH SWAIN Dr Digendranath Swain, a senior researcher at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has recently been conferred the prestigious Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award. Presented by President Droupadi Murmu, the award recognises his remarkable contributions to the field of space science and technology. As a leading figure in structural engineering, Dr Swain has played a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and success of India’s ambitious space missions. At the heart of Dr Swain’s work lies his expertise in structural engineering for rocket components, with a…
TECH TALK /TRIGLYCERIDES DETECTOR In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the MEMS, Microfluidics, and Nanoelectronics (MMNE) Lab at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus, have introduced an innovative electrochemical biosensor designed to rapidly and cost-effectively detect triglycerides (TGs). TGs are a critical marker for assessing the risk of heart disease, and this new device promises to transform how we monitor and manage heart health. POINT-OF-CARE DIAGNOSTICS The primary aim of this biosensor is to revolutionise point-of-care diagnostics, offering a faster, more accessible method for testing triglyceride levels. Elevated TG levels are closely linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and…
PHOTO FEATURE The tenth edition of the India International Science Festival 2024 (30 November – 3 December) concluded successfully at IIT Guwahati. The four-day festival saw enthusiastic participation by people from all age groups, especially young science enthusiasts, and by people from all walks of life. With a packed melange of workshops, demonstrations, lectures, discussions, deliberations, Moon museum in the open and more, peppered with a medley of cultural performances, the festival became an affair to remember. This edition of the IISF, held at the sprawling IIT campus, was the first in northeast India. The photographs from the festival provide…
TECH TALK / PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, led by Prof Trilok Singh from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, have made a significant leap forward in solar cell technology. Their groundbreaking development of Perovskite solar cells promises to reduce production costs and streamline manufacturing, paving the way for broader adoption of solar technology worldwide. Published in the journal SMALL, this work presents a transformative approach to fabricating Perovskite cells under standard air conditions, eliminating the need for complex and costly anti-solvent methods traditionally used in production. The Perovskite solar cells developed…
YOUNG SCIENTIST: PROF RADHAKRISHNA GANTI Prof Radhakrishna Ganti of IIT Madras has been honoured with the prestigious Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar: Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering Sciences for his significant contributions to wireless communication systems, particularly in the field of 5G technology. He was conferred the award in August this year. His work has not only put India on the global 5G map but also laid the foundation for indigenous technological development in wireless systems. 5G FOR RURAL CONNECTIVITY In the early stages of 5G development, rural broadband was not a priority on the global agenda. Prof Ganti,…