As young physicists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai circa 1981, Alak Ray and Prajval Shastri experienced an exciting era in the life of the institute, set up by visionary scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha in 1945. Read more
Remember the 2015 movie ‘The Intern’ where Robert De Nero plays a 70-year-old who discovers that ‘retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be’. In the movie, Nero joins an online fashion site as an intern, learning things he never did in his entire career. Read more
One of the key government departments of India credited with heralding the era of adventure and entrepreneurship in the country’s science – the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) – is entering its youthful years. Thirty, as they say, is the new twenty. Read more
Last night when news of APJ Abdul Kalam’s death spread thick and fast on social media – many heartbroken with the scientist/ex-President’s death and many wishing the news wasn’t true – one thing became clear. That this was not just the death of a scientist, a leading light of India’s space programme, or of the ‘People’s President’ – it was the demise of an adorable, all-round-good-natured, immensely accessible human being, rooted in his humble beginnings and untouched by the highs that fame brought. Read more
The arrest of an Indian molecular biologist on flimsy grounds has irked the scientific community of the country. Partho Sarothi Ray is under arrest and subsequent detention since April 8, 2012, along with some others for peacefully protesting against the eviction of slum dwellers in the West Bengal state capital Kolkata. He has been charged under a number of sections under the Indian Penal Code, which his supporters say hold no ground. Read more
The scare is that tying the petticoat under the traditional Indian women’s wear — the sari — too tightly and at the same place repeatedly might lead to skin cancer. The scare, obviously, is over rated. Any drawstring clothing — a pyajama, a salwar or a petticoat — could trigger this condition. The debate over whether this cancer should or shouldn’t be called ‘saree cancer’ refuses to die in the media[1], [2], [3], [4]. This, even four months after doctors reported a couple of cases of cancer triggered by unhealthy petticoat tying in the Journal of Indian Medical Association (JIMA). Read more
Indigenus discusses people and events making news in the Indian scientific community. Join in to brew a debate on the future of Indian science or just to catch the buzz from seminars you missed out on. If you wish to initiate a discussion or send feedback, please e-mail indigenus@nature.com
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