Research

A team at the Indian Institute of Technology of Bombay (IIT-B) has developed a “smart stethoscope” that can listen to heartbeats from a distance and record them, minimising the risk of healthcare professionals contracting the novel coronavirus from patients. The data or the auscultated sound from a patient’s chest is wirelessly sent to the doctor using Bluetooth, doing away with the need to go near to take readings, according to members of the team.

National Innovation Foundation India (NIF) has brought out an indigenous herbal medication (dewormer) in form of commercial product for livestock owners as an alternate to chemical method of treatment of worm.

“Longleng, named after a district in Nagaland, was radio-tagged in November 2016 and has so far provided 9623 locations,” informed scientist Dr. Suresh Kumar of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.

Researchers from Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, have made computer based designs of nano-materials with superhigh piezoelectricity which can be the building blocks of futuristic nano-electronics for applications like ultrathin, next-generation nano-transistors.

Scientists at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India have designed and developed a highly efficient superabsorbent material for liquid respiratory and other body fluid solidification and disinfection for the safe management of infected respiratory secretions.

“This will help us to understand the evolution of the virus, how dynamic is it and how fast it imitates. This study will help us to know how fast it evolves and what are the future aspects of it” said Dr Rakesh Mishra, Director, CCMB while speaking with India Science Wire.

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.

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.

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.

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.”