India produces a large amount of agricultural products due to its fertile soil and dependable rainfall patterns. Any harm to the soil would affect the lives of millions in the country. Soil erosion due to rainfall is one such threat. In an first of its kind study an international team of scientists have designed a global map of soil erosivity to devise mechanisms to protect our soils from erosion due to rainfall.
The study from IISc found a previously unidentified yeast-like symbiont inside the lac insect Kerria lacca, which gives the insect its distinctive red colour and, may also provide other nutrients in return for shelter.