The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands and a Indian union territory situated 1200 kms from the easternmost boundary of the Indian peninsula. Although some distance from the mainland, scientists have now found evidence for the effects the islands and the surrounding Andaman sea have on the climate on the mainland. Using satellite data and computer simulations, the scientists have established the area as an important contributor to the Indian Monsoon and as one which requires further study.
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Chlorella pyrenoidosa is a type of freshwater algae found around the world. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, and in recent times, emerged as a leading candidate for the production of biodiesels. Toxic algal blooms, can be seen covering ponds and lakes, and happens due to a rapid growth of algae in the waterbody.
When on a beach or by a large water body, many of us would have seen a handful of crab species. It is an absolute delight to see these decapod (ten-footed) crustaceans dart across open patches of sand side ways, then stop abruptly only to dash away again!
Captivity and confinement has had devastating effects on humans and the same can be true in the case of wild animals, especially the big cats. In this new study, scientists observe the hormones produced by captive big cats, like the Bengal Tiger or Leopard, to measure the amount of stress they endure during captivity. The study also throws light on stereotypy - a coping mechanism developed by captive animals, and its relation to the amount of stress they experience.
The brain is considered as the most complex organ, able to store and access huge data, and can even analyze, manipulate and draw from these memories. But how does the brain store all that information? Commonly held theories suggest, experiences cause neurons in the brain to fire and strengthen connections, while brain cells called engrams encode specific memories. They do this by triggering coordinated activity that represent a memory,in a set of these cells, helping in recalling a memory. In this new study, scientists show that engram cells can actually be identified.
In nature, survival and reproduction are the two of the most effective drivers that shape animal behavior. In evolutionary biology, the individual who makes a larger contribution to the gene pool of the next generation is said to be ‘fitter’ than other individuals.
Not every cat and mouse game ends with Jerry the mouse winning. And while it is true that a mouse will do everything it can to avoid being eaten by a cat, there exists a microscopic foe that is capable of making mice go against their instincts.
The story of the river Saraswati has captivated scholars and academicians alike. With no physical evidence, the memory of the extinct river has survived centuries, starting from its first mention in the Rigveda, through poems and stories. The river is said to have originated in the Himalayas and emptied in the Arabian sea near present day, Rann of Kachchh. Now a new study in the Rann of Kachchh has revealed some interesting evidence which could help us establish the story of Saraswati as myth or fact.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one third of the world’s population is infected with Tuberculosis (TB) . India accounts for the quarter of the world’s burden of TB and has the highest number of multidrug resistant TB cases worldwide.
Red blood cells (RBC) are the primary carriers of oxygen in all the vertebrates They pick up oxygen from the lungs, flow through the circulatory system and deliver the oxygen to the different cells and tissues. White blood cells (WBC), on the other hand, are the bodies primary defense system.