New research reveals that a unique Indian skink species arrived on the subcontinent by rafting across the ocean from Southeast Asia millions of years ago, a journey made possible by fluctuating sea levels.
Image Credits: KV Gururaja
In the animal world, finding a mate, protecting territory and fending off competitors who vie for love are defining moments. Only those adept at the needed skills for these ‘do-or-die’ circumstances survive, reproduce and thrive. A few animals go the extra mile—sing a romantic song, flash their colours to scare competitors and also woo their mate, some chirp high loud to stand out in the crowd and some, like the dancing frogs, shake a leg!
Himalayan forest thrush (Zoothera salimalii), a songbird discovered in 2016 and named after Salim Ali, the renowned Indian ornithologist. [Image Credits: Craig Brelsford, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons]
Gold nanoparticles dispersed in water [Image Credits: Nikonianman / CC BY-SA 4.0]
Fireflies, also called jugnoo in Hindi are fascinating creatures that glow in the dark with unique patterns. Even though they are called ‘fireflies’, scientifically they are considered beetles from the Lampyridae family. The light that we see coming out of these insects is the result of bioluminescence, a phenomenon where an organism emits light through a chemical process.
Carnivorous plants may not be the first thing that comes to one’s mind when thinking about plants. But, these mysterious plants are a fantastic example of nature’s way to adapt to different environmental conditions.
Our body has a personal army of dedicated soldiers ready to defend us all the time—our immune system. Its combatants can fend off simple infections like a common cold or a sore throat, as well as life-threatening intruders like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes tuberculosis, or the virus that causes hepatitis. However, sometimes, the cells in our immune system go berserk and find an enemy within—they start attacking cells in our body!
Fertilisers provide nutrients to the soil and enrich its quality. But, increased application of chemical fertilisers to crops to meet the rising food demand has hampered the soil health by affecting its chemical composition as well as soil biodiversity. Moreover, when it rains, the fertilisers wash away from the soil and pollute surface water and groundwater. They also enter the human body through drinking water and the food we consume, having a detrimental effect on our health.
Insects encompass a few of the most intelligent animals such as bees which have the ability to solve problems, socialize, form memories and even use symbolic language to communicate. Plants and many of these insects have evolved together over 400 million years.
Bioluminescence is the ability of an organism to produce light. How does each animal use bioluminescence differently?
