Research

Indian researchers have identified a new mechanism that could help reduce energy consumption in future

Surha Tal is especially important because of its avifaunal richness. The sanctuary attracts migratory birds as well as resident species, making it a valuable habitat in the Gangetic plains. Such wetlands serve as resting, feeding and breeding spaces for birds that move across long distances. They also support local biodiversity throughout the year. In a region shaped by agriculture, rivers, settlements and seasonal water movement, a protected wetland becomes a refuge for life.

The discovery was made by researchers associated with the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata. The study was carried out by Bristi Roy, Oishik Kar and Jayita Sengupta, with scientific guidance from senior ZSI experts including Dhriti Banerjee and Atanu Naskar. The findings were published in the European Journal of Taxonomy, giving the discovery international scientific recognition.

The Sun’s outer layers behave like a vast ocean of moving plasma. Energy produced deep inside the Sun travels outward through convection, creating visible surface patterns. Smaller cells appear as granulation, while much larger structures form what scientists call supergranulation. These supergranular network cells are enormous by earthly standards, measuring around 30,000 km across, with cooler lane-like regions of nearly 6,000 km. Each network cell survives for roughly 24 hours, constantly reshaping the solar surface.

The research focuses on molybdenum carbide, written as Mo₂C, an earth-abundant material studied as a catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. This reaction is a key step in water electrolysis, where electricity is used to split water and release hydrogen. Green hydrogen becomes especially important when the electricity used in this process comes from renewable sources such as solar, wind or hydropower.

Mesalina lizards are small, swift, day-active reptiles usually associated with arid and semi-arid regions. They are adapted to dry terrain, open ground, sparse vegetation and harsh desert conditions. Until now, the presence of this genus in India remained uncertain. A historical reference by British zoologist Malcolm A. Smith in 1935 had mentioned Mesalina watsonana from Jaisalmer, but that record lacked specimen-based confirmation. The new discovery from Bikaner now provides verified scientific evidence that Mesalina occurs in India.

Majuli occupies a unique place in India’s geography and culture. Located within the powerful river system of the Brahmaputra and Subansiri, it is known for its living cultural heritage, tribal settlements and Neo-Vaishnavite traditions. At the same time, the island has been deeply shaped by floods, erosion and changing river courses. Its landscape carries both civilisational richness and ecological vulnerability, making it one of the most important riverine regions for studying climate adaptation.

The discovery was made from Kiphire district in Nagaland, a part of the eastern Himalayan and Indo-Burma biodiversity landscape. This region is known for its forested hills, streams, waterfalls and moist habitats that support a rich variety of amphibians. Cascade frogs usually live around fast-flowing hill streams and waterfalls, where they cling to wet rocks, breed in flowing water and depend on clean aquatic ecosystems for survival.

The project has been approved under the Telecom Technology Development Fund through Digital Bharat Nidhi. SAMEER Kolkata, an autonomous research and development organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is working with the three IITs on a testbed that explores one of the most advanced frontiers in future wireless communication: the terahertz band.