How insects traverse impossible distances Somewhere over the Indian Ocean, the globe skimmer (Pantala flavescens) flaps its delicate golden wings, beginning a remarkable relay journey covering up to 14,000-18,000 km between India and Africa. These small insect travellers measure about 4-5 cm in length and are no heavier than a paper clip, yet they […]
Demystifying nature’s oldest pigment producers In Shantanu Shukla’s lab, dissecting insects is routine. The well-lit room, located in the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics (DBG), IISc, is filled with young scientists studying scale insects – tiny plant vampires that feed on the plant phloem sap. The team investigates the intimate relationship between insects […]
Designing an electric future A quiet hum is redefining mobility. More than a century ago, the rhythm of modern travel was measured by hoofbeats – the rhythmic sound of iron shoes on cobbled streets. Then came the gas-chugging Internal Combustion (IC) engines, whose roars marked a revolution of speed and power. Now, mankind stands […]
Hunting strategies of predatory bacteria In 1900, a young medical student named Alexander Fleming was studying at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London. Fleming also served in the London Scottish Regiment of the Territorial Army, where he became an expert marksman. His talent for shooting caught the eye of the captain of St […]
