Research

News on Science, Technology and Research in India

Data Security Experts Red Flag Zoom App

Data security researchers claim there are huge security and privacy concerns in video conferencing app Zoom. Citizens Lab, which had earlier exposed lacunae in messaging platform WhatsApp, identified a serious security issue with Zoom’s ‘Waiting Room’ feature.

DST Approves Funding for Developing A Gel for Nasal Passage as Prevention for COVID 19

The funding will help the team from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay develop a gel that can be applied to nasal passage, which is a major entry point of the corona virus. This solution is not only expected to protect the safety of health workers, but can also lead to reduction in community transmission of COVID-19, thereby helping disease management.

Pink Supermoon Going to Appear in India on April 8

While everyone in India right now is in lockdown till April 14, In between an interesting celestial event is going to happen from April 7 to April 8. Back on March 5 this year, NASA published an article confirming a Supermoon going to appear this year from April 7 moonrise to April 8 morning. In India, we will able to see the same event at 8:05 am IST on April 8.

Smart Roads: How RoadBounce can Fix Roads and Save Lives

This is the aim of RoadBounce, a new technology created by Pune-based Definitics Software Solutions. “When you’re in your car on the road, you expect to have a smooth, safe, pothole-free ride. But this expectation is not met in many places in the world,” says founder Ranjeet Deshmukh. “On the other hand, road authorities always struggle to collect the data they need to find and fix dangerous road conditions.”

India’s First Paper-Strip Test for Covid-19, CSIR Lab Makes a Breakthrough

“We have been working on this tool for around two years. But, in late January, when the outbreak hit its peak in China, we began testing it to see if it can work for Covid-19. It took us around two months to come up with these results,” said Dr Debjyoti Chakraborty, from the Institute of Genomic and Integrative Biology (IGIB), CSIR’s premier laboratory in New Delhi.

Indian Scientists Develop New Drought Tolerant Chickpea Variety

A group of scientists from Department of Biotechnology’s New Delhi-based National Institute of Plant Genome Research, University of Hyderabad and Indian Institute of Pulses Research has raised a genetically modified chickpea variety that shows high drought tolerance and high iron and zinc content in seeds by reducing the level of a plant growth substance called cytokinin in the root.