Research

Hence, to fill this research gap, the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) carried out investigations on a well-dated (10 AMS 14C dates) sediment core recovered from the Deoria Tal (Lake) of Garhwal Himalaya for providing a high resolution (centennial-to millennial-scale) pollen-based record of vegetation dynamics, hydroclimate change and the ISM variability spanning the mid-Holocene to present.

The research team includes Muthuvel Arumugam, Sangeswari Thirukumar, Kanchana Shanthakumar, Parthasarathy Varadarajan and Ajithkumar Thankappanpillai. Most of the inventors are associated with Annamalai University’s Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, while Ajithkumar is affiliated with the ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources. The university is listed as the patent applicant.

Researchers recorded 37 fruit fly species belonging to several genera and 16 subgenera across forest, orchard and vegetable habitats in Ri-Bhoi district. The two species described as new to science were named Zeugodacus umiam, after the Umiam region where the research was conducted, and Zeugodacus nasivittatus, whose name refers to its distinctive physical markings.

Blue Straggler Stars (BSS) are a peculiar class of stars found in star clusters that appear hotter, brighter, and more massive than their peers, and have long puzzled astronomers seeking to understand their origin and evolution.

As the world race toward cleaner energy storage, aqueous batteries are gaining attention as a safe, low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion systems. Among them, the electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB) stands out for its high theoretical energy density, low-cost, and water-based chemistry.

The latest figures were presented in a written reply to the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary on July 23, 2026. According to the reply, the monitored lakes are located across the Himalayan river basins associated with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, along with the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Friction and wear are major causes of energy loss and equipment failure in industries worldwide. Developing advanced lubricants that can effectively minimize these losses is therefore a key scientific and technological challenge. While castor oil is an attractive renewable and biodegradable lubricant, its performance can be further enhanced using suitable additives.

The study offers a global, long-term perspective of aerosols that can help refine climate models and improve predictions.