New, first-of-its-kind species of parasitic wasp discovered in Assam’s Dibru-Saikhowa National Park | Research Matters

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India have discovered a new species of parasitic wasp in the forests of Assam. Their discovery marks the first time this rare group of insects has ever been of...

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New study shows how a common parasite hijacks our immune system, and how an experimental drug could stop it | Research Matters

Researchers have uncovered how one of the world's most widespread parasites manipulates the human immune system to guarantee its own survival, offering a promising new strategy to fight the infection....

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New seismic tool from IIT Madras to test the safety of India's ageing dams | Research Matters

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed a first-of-its-kind computer programme designed to evaluate the earthquake vulnerability of India's vast network of more...

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Diatoms show how pollution outweighs the monsoon floods in rivers, especially closer to cities | Research Matters

Researchers from Agharkar Research Institute have found that chronic urban pollution is overpowering the monsoon's natural flushing power, permanently altering microscopic life in one of the world’s m...

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180 ecologists sound alarm on unprecedented 'Super' El Niño threat to India’s ecosystems | Research Matters

Over 180 of India’s ecological researchers have issued an urgent appeal to peers, government agencies, and funding bodies to prepare quickly for a looming Super El Niño. Released in September 2026, th...

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IISc scientists control human cell division with a flashing blue light | Research Matters

In a major leap for synthetic biology, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have found a way to control human cell division with flashes of blue light. The team has succe...

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A novel, etch-free method to fabricate high-performance terahertz superconducting metamaterials | Research Matters

An international team of researchers, including those from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, and PSL Research University, France, and the Uni...

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Game theory-based ecological model shows how adapting behaviour helps species persist | Research Matters

In an increasingly unpredictable world, survival in the wild depends on how quickly a species can change its social strategies. Researchers have developed a new mathematical model demonstrating that w...

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The Yamuna’s Blind Spot: Why Delhi’s Drinking Water is Stuck in a Chemistry Loop | Research Matters

Every year during peak winter and early summer (October to April, flow in the Yamuna river drops sharply and ammonia concentration increases. These ammonia spikes pose a direct threat to Delhi’s water...

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Dual drivers of urban warming and population growth are intensifying heat exposure across India | Research Matters

Urban heatwaves have emerged as one of the deadliest natural hazards in contemporary India, driven by the dual forces of anthropogenic climate change and rapid urbanization. While the broader meteorol...

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IIT Kharagpur study warns a digital exclusion trap is leaving behind India’s women entrepreneurs | Research Matters

Women entrepreneurs across India are launching small businesses at a record-breaking pace, yet a new study warns they are being caught in a digital exclusion trap that prevents them from accessing the...

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India contributes 0.05°C to global warming; Recent energy boom and farming driving emissions | Research Matters

India’s historical contribution to global warming has reached approximately 0.05°C, according to a new study that highlights how the nation’s climate impact differs significantly from that of older in...

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New species of rare underground-dwelling caecilian identified in a backyard in Maharashtra | Research Matters

Scientists have discovered a new species of legless, worm-like amphibian from a rural village in Maharashtra. The creature, named Gegeneophis chandgadi, was found by a team of researchers from the Zoo...

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Curtains of plasma could explain the mysterious swirling solar spicules on the Sun’s surface | Research Matters

Researchers have discovered that the thousands of thin, jet-like structures seen emanating from the Sun’s surface may be a trick of perspective. For decades, scientists have observed spicules, towerin...

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Survival of India's big five depends on creating and safeguarding critical corridors | Research Matters

In the dense forests of southern India, a struggle for space is unfolding. Scientists have completed a landmark study identifying the routes taken by five of the region's most iconic large mammals: th...

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TikTok tip-off leads to discovery of new species of blind eel from underground borewell in Bihar | Research Matters

Researchers have discovered a new species of blind, underground fish in northern India, and they have social media to thank for the lead. The tiny creature, named Gangaichthys indonepalicus, is a type...

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Great Indian Bustard, Microcredit and Poverty, Smooth Coated Otter, Billion-Year-Old Rift, and more...

Weekly Newsletter | Issue #88 - 02 September 26

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New species of stingless bee discovered in Nagaland | Research Matters

Scientists have discovered a new species of stingless honey bee living nearly a meter beneath the soil in the hills of Northeast India. A team of researchers from the University of Agricultural Scienc...

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A billion-year-old rift and an ancient sea created the modern landscape of the Chhattisgarh Basin in Central India | Research Matters

Mapping the 1.4-billion-year evolution of the Chhattisgarh basin, revealing how a dramatic tectonic rift transformed into a stable prehistoric sea during Earth’s ancient supercontinent era.

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Mapping the Shadows: Scientists Uncover Critical Safe Havens for India’s Vanishing Smooth-Coated Otters in the Ganga Basin | Research Matters

A recent eight-year survey across 7,680 kilometres of the Ganga River Basin reveals that a staggering 0.26% of the region serves as highly suitable habitat for the vulnerable Smooth-coated otter. Rese...

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Beyond Cash: How Microloans in India Protect Families from Future Poverty | Research Matters

A new study by IIT Bombay researchers reveals how microcredit from MFIs and Self-Help Groups tackles multidimensional poverty and builds long-term resilience across India.

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Saving India's Heaviest Flying Bird: New Mapping Reveals Safe Havens for the Great Indian Bustard | Research Matters

A new study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) uses satellite tracking and spatial modelling to pinpoint critical survival habitats for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard across the ...

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Beyond Haber-Bosch: New solar-powered technique for ammonia production | Research Matters

Researchers have developed a tin-engineered catalyst that produces ammonia from nitrogen and water using solar energy with ten times the efficiency of previous materials.

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New species of Leopard’s bane discovered in Tawang; first of its kind from Northeast India | Research Matters

Researchers from the CSIR-IHBT have announced the discovery of a new species of the sunflower family, Doronicum sanctum, in the high-altitude wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh.

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Engineering resilient prosthetics for India’s tropical heat | Research Matters

Researchers have developed a specialised UV-resistant silicone formulation that maintains mechanical integrity and biocompatibility while strongly resisting degradation under extreme tropical weatheri...

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Charred remains of ancient seeds from Bihar trace the 3,000-year journey of India’s agriculture | Research Matters

Researchers have uncovered a continuous 3,000-year record of farming in eastern India, revealing how ancient communities transitioned to intensive rice cultivation and adapted to a changing climate th...

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BITS Pilani scientists develop novel bioink for 3D-printed tissue scaffolds and customised tablets | Research Matters

Researchers have successfully used low-cost, regulatory-approved polymers to create 3D-printed skin scaffolds and chewable drug tablets, potentially revolutionising personalised medical treatments.

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