India educates more women scientists than almost any country on earth. It then systematically fails to keep them. This is not an accident of culture but a failure of institutional design. And it will not change until we stop asking women to adapt and start demanding that institutions transform.
Posted on in Science, Leadership, Women in Science, Teaching & School Education
When an artery is blocked, the body can forge new pathways for blood to flow around the damaged tissue. Soumyashree Das, Assistant Professor at NCBS-TIFR, studies how these collateral arteries form, exploring the biology of vascular regeneration and the genetic mechanisms that could one day improve recovery from heart attacks and strokes.
Posted on in Developmental Biology, Cell Biology & Molecular Biology
Working in a zoo reveals the unseen science behind animal welfare. From reading behaviour and understanding visitor responses to designing enrichment and naturalistic enclosures, good zoo management is about preserving choice and wellbeing. For biologist Shweta Mukundan, observing animals has transformed how she understands captivity, conservation, and care.
Posted on in Ecology, Conservation Biology & Wildlife Biology
India's landmark PreVenTB trial shows that developing an effective TB vaccine is more complex than expected. Although both vaccine candidates proved safe, only limited protection was observed. The study highlights why nutrition, living conditions, and stronger public health systems must remain central to India's TB elimination strategy.
Posted on in Microbiology & Science
Viruses are far more than agents of disease. Tracing their discovery, extraordinary diversity, and mysterious evolutionary origins, this article explores how viruses challenge our understanding of life itself. From ancient giant viruses to the debate over a possible fourth domain of life, it reveals why these microscopic entities remain one of biology's greatest enigmas.
What if a gene behaves the same in a mouse and a human, but leads to entirely different outcomes? At BRIC-inStem, Bhavana Muralidharan is uncovering how unique regulatory networks shape the human brain, challenging long-held assumptions in biology while advancing our understanding of neurodevelopment, mental health, and precision medicine.
Viruses are far more than agents of disease. Tracing their discovery, extraordinary diversity, and mysterious evolutionary origins, this article explores how viruses challenge our understanding of life itself. From ancient giant viruses to the debate over a possible fourth domain of life, it reveals why these microscopic entities remain one of biology's greatest enigmas.