Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Indian students for their exceptional performance at the International Biology and Chemistry Olympiads, where they secured multiple medals, including Gold. Modi highlighted the global impact of India's youth and expressed pride in their scientific achievements, hoping to inspire more young minds.
The CBI has arrested a biology lecturer, part of the NTA's paper-setting committee, in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case. The arrest follows the questioning of key suspects and allegations of leaked questions being dictated to students for a fee.
A NITI Aayog report outlines India's potential to scale its bioeconomy to USD 691 billion by 2035 and USD 2.6 trillion by 2047, creating over 30 million high-value jobs. The report stresses the need for coordinated national execution, regulatory reforms, a strengthened talent pipeline, and a significant BioEconomy Growth Fund to achieve this vision, positioning India among the top biotechnology powers globally.
New research from NYU suggests that worrying about aging, particularly fears about declining health, may accelerate biological aging at the cellular level in women.
The Environment Ministry has designated the Natural History Museum (NHM) in Mizoram as India's 21st designated repository, significantly enhancing the country's biodiversity conservation and scientific infrastructure, particularly within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
Renowned conservation biologist Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, founder of Assam's biodiversity organisation Aaranyak, has been elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS), one of the highest international recognitions in natural history and biological sciences.
The NEET-UG re-exam was generally tougher than the previous one, with Physics identified as the most challenging and time-consuming section by both students and experts. While Biology was considered easier, Chemistry was moderate. Experts noted conceptual and lengthy questions in Physics and Chemistry, potentially leading to a lower cut-off.
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has chosen seven to eight biotechnology startups as the initial group to receive funding from the government's ~1 trillion Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, with an average investment of approximately ~25 crore per startup.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered that insects, including fruit flies and mosquitoes, respond predictably to humidity cycles, suggesting humidity acts as a 'zeitgeber' or time giver for their biological clocks. This finding has broad implications for understanding circadian rhythms across animal systems, as insects' survival is closely tied to hydration levels.
Scientists have detected erythrulose, a sugar found on Earth, in the interstellar medium, marking the first direct discovery of sugar in space. This finding, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that complex, biologically important molecules can form in space and may have contributed to the chemical ingredients necessary for early metabolic and replication processes on Earth, offering new insights into the origins of life.
Indian researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Research on Women's Health and IIT Bombay have developed an indigenous "placenta-on-chip" platform. This microphysiological system mimics the human placental barrier, reproducing essential functions like hormone production and nutrient transfer. It offers a simple, scalable tool for studying placental biology, pregnancy complications, and drug effects, aiming to reduce reliance on animal experimentation.
Healthy muscles do much more than enable movement. They are essential for maintaining metabolism, regulating blood sugar levels and supporting overall health.
A new study reveals that the impacts of invasive species on biodiversity are most severe in the Global South, challenging previous assumptions. Factors like rapidly developing economies, weak governance, and limited management capacity make these regions particularly vulnerable, leading to higher ecological and economic damages.
The Delhi police filed a 973-page chargesheet in a city court against Rahul Meena, the former domestic help accused in the rape and killing of the 22-year-old daughter of a senior IRS officer, officials said on Friday.
IIT Ropar's ANNAM.AI, in collaboration with Syngenta and Google, has launched 'HACK CORE 2026', a national AI hackathon. It invites innovators to develop AI-driven solutions for critical agricultural challenges like crop health, pest management, and climate-resilient farming, offering significant prizes and mentorship.
A Delhi court has granted permission to the National Investigating Agency (NIA) to cremate or dispose of the remains of 11 victims and the suicide bomber from the Red Fort car bomb explosion last November. The court emphasised dignified disposal respecting religious beliefs and sought a compliance report.
Senegal's football federation president, Abdoulaye Fall, has claimed the national team's doctor at the recent World Cup in North America was 'trained as a gynaecologist', raising concerns among players about medical support during their disappointing campaign. The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine has rejected these allegations as 'unfounded and defamatory'.
Rudi Garcia's comments about Senegal's tactical structure, along with other pundit remarks, have reignited scrutiny over racially coded language in World Cup commentary, drawing criticism from scholars and anti-racism advocates who argue such language perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Black players and African teams.
Delhi is set to establish its first underground Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) command centre at the new Delhi Fire Services headquarters, a facility designed to ensure uninterrupted coordination and protection for personnel during nuclear warfare, radiological leaks, or chemical disasters.
CAT and MBA expert and rediffGURU Patrick D'Souza explains how a simple daily reading habit can help aspirants clinch 99 percentile in the Common Admission Test this year.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 toppers are Punjab's Aryan Gupta and Haryana's Panshul Bansal, who secured joint All India Rank 1 with 715 out of 720 marks each.
A new study reveals that adults who experienced early childhood adversities may have increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity, a 'hypermetabolism' that, while initially a response to cellular stress, can be detrimental to long-term health. The research highlights how early life experiences translate into biological changes affecting physical and mental well-being.
A new study reveals that adults who experienced early childhood adversities may have increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity, a 'hypermetabolism' that, while initially a response to cellular stress, can be detrimental to long-term health. The research highlights how early life experiences translate into biological changes affecting physical and mental well-being.
A new study by King's College London and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has identified 74 genomic locations, including 39 new ones, linked to anxiety symptoms. Analysing data from nearly 700,000 people, the research highlights the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors in anxiety development and offers new insights into its biological underpinnings.
The US Supreme Court is poised to rule on the legality of state laws in West Virginia and Idaho that ban transgender student athletes from female sports teams. This contentious issue, deeply embedded in the nation's culture wars, challenges federal anti-discrimination laws and the Constitution's equal protection clause.
A study by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) suggests that a five-minute session of chanting 'Shanti mantra' or 'Mahamrityunjaya mantra' followed by rest can significantly reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac workload. The research indicates that mantra chanting activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting physiological relaxation and improved cardiovascular health.
Scientists at IIT Mandi have identified the cellular signature of anaesthesia in plants, a discovery that challenges conventional understanding of consciousness. Their research shows plants respond to anaesthetics in a synchronised manner, reorganising cellular nuclei despite lacking a brain or nervous system, suggesting a more sentient nature than previously believed and resonating with ancient Indian philosophical thought.
A Delhi-based couple filed a police complaint after a DNA test allegedly revealed that their twin born through an IVF procedure shares no genetic connection with either parent, raising questions about embryo-handling protocols at the hospital.
A recent study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has identified self-fertilisation, or uniparental reproduction, as a critical trait enabling plants to become invasive. Researchers examined 28 species from the daisy family, finding that all 11 invasive species studied could reproduce uniparentally, unlike most native and non-invasive alien species. This ability allows a single plant to establish new populations, displacing local flora and altering ecosystems, highlighting the importance of reproductive strategy in weed-risk assessment.
Police in Hyderabad rescued a 12-day-old male infant who was allegedly illegally sold for Rs 1.7 lakh to a childless couple through mediators. The transaction, which bypassed legal adoption procedures, was uncovered by the Child Welfare Department, leading to a 'Zero FIR' and ongoing investigation.
'How will this woman find her? And how does that affect her, because it's not a biological relationship.'
A new study has identified two distinct subtypes of autism, one with increased communication associated with immune-related systems and another with reduced connectivity linked to synaptic pathways. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, pave the way for more precise and personalised autism care and support.
Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has called for a shift away from chemical fertilisers in Punjab, warning that their overuse was degrading soil quality across the state.
A year after the devastating AI-171 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad, forensic scientists recount the immense emotional and scientific challenges faced in identifying the 260 victims. The director of Gujarat Directorate of Forensic Sciences, H P Sanghvi, shared the indelible image of a severed hand, symbolising the terror and the team's dedication.
Researchers have identified a new process, 'chronoferroptosis', where excess iron in neurons reduces their resilience to stress, increasing vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases. This discovery highlights iron accumulation as a critical target for predicting, preventing, and treating conditions like Alzheimer's.
More Indians are consciously choosing to remain child-free. From personal freedom and finances to climate anxiety and mental wellbeing, young couples and singles tell us why parenthood isn't part of their life plan.
Despite its uneven storytelling, Super Subbu deserves applause for turning India's discomfort with sex education into an entertaining, often insightful satire, notes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
A Pune-based college has announced disciplinary action against a biology lecturer arrested by the CBI for her alleged involvement in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. The lecturer, part of the NTA's paper-setting committee, is accused of leaking questions to students for a fee.
rediffGURU Nayagam PP guides aspirants on how to pick the right career course and college based on their entrance scores and aptitude.
Canadian deep-sea fossils push the origin of animal sex and movement back 567 million years, rewriting early evolutionary timelines.
