Recently, our research on the impacts of air pollution on pollinators was featured on Rajya Sabha TV, the official cable television network channel of the Upper House of the Parliament of India. Watch it here!
Woodpeckers of Western Ghats: The stem borer trackers
by Santosh Rajus – Woodpeckers have been one of my favorite birds from childhood since it was very rare to spot one and it was one of the first birds I saw making holes on huge and strong trees in search of food. 25 years later, I have gotten to observe so many different species of woodpeckers and I have…
The irony of “Bird Brain”
by Hinal Kharva – It’s high time that we don’t use the term “Bird Brain” for calling someone stupid. Well, a recent study in journal Science this week showed that birds like crows show higher intelligence and consciousness (awareness of one’s own existence and surroundings) like humans and monkeys. Ugh, I have been waiting to say “birds are so smart’’. …
How irresponsible is your shimmer?
by Aditi Mishra : Are you a fan of glitter, or how about cosmetics? The glimmer or radiant shimmer? How about a minty fresh toothpaste with crystals promising a pearly smile, or the paint of your SUV? Mica is the magic ingredient behind all of these. It is an element indispensable for modern life. It is present in electronics, in…
The Flying Roomba
by Pavan Kaushik : It has been nearly four years since I dumped wet waste into garbage. Every bit of the “trash” was converted into flying micro roombas that clean the world. I got a home composter call “kambha“. Kambha means a pillar in Kannada due to the composters resemblance to a tiered pillar. The way it works is, you…
NICE on the Cover of PNAS and in News Across the World!
The NICE Group is pleased to announce our recent article by Geetha et al. on the impact of India’s urban air pollution on wild pollinators is featured on the cover of this week’s edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA! You can read the article at: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/08/04/2009074117
Plastic Pollution in the Age of Covid-19
“Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” –Mahatma Gandhi by Anshika Singh : Today, the world has changed itself in a way which none of us ever imagined. With the global COVID-19 crisis impacting us at individual, community, population, ecosystem…
Chemistry and Coronavirus
by Srinivas Rao : It’s really hard to believe how an obscure, creepy virus has put the entire world into panic and stress. Yes! This is a crucial period for all of us to stay safe, mentally strong and physically healthy. The pandemic has changed both work life and home life and this reminds us how cautiously we have to…
Beauty and the beast (Sucker/survival of the fitter?)
by Geetha G T – Our gardens are incomplete without a rose plant. Roses have for quite some time been cherished for their appearance and their broadly aesthetic aroma. As one of the most common flowers to grace any garden, it’s no big surprise that roses have prevailed for a long time with a range of colors and fragrances. ಯಾರಿಗೆ…
Words
by Shannon – We are living in strange times. I realize that under a horrific global crisis this is an understatement, but times are also extremely strange for scientists. Just yesterday I found this discussion from a relative on my Facebook feed: Now, I’m not going to discuss the efficacy of hydroxycloroquine for treating COVID-19. As I joke to my…
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