The Life of Science

The Life of Science

articles by The Life of Science

Lifestyle

Why are there so few trans, gender non-conforming and non-binary people in STEM? Inaccessibility, harassment are hurdles

Trans, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary people live largely in oblivion, and the lack of supportive systems, affirmative action, mentors and role models keeps younger individuals from coming to STEM.

science

Solar Superflares: Indian scientists prove 'superflares' exist by examining meteorites

For years, astronomers wondered whether the Sun is a special star — a star sans superflares. All that changed earlier this year, thanks to a meteorite called Efremovka and some neat detective work from a group of scientists including Kuljeet Kaur Marhas, a planetary scientist at Physical Research Laboratory

India

Women in Science: Biochemist Sandhya Visweswariah’s gusto for research and affirmative action

Sandhya Visweswariah is internationally recognised as a world expert in gut disease. She chairs two biological research labs at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and has received several grants, fellowships and awards.

India

Women in Science: Suhita Nadkarni on studying the brain, making the shift from Physics to Neurobiology

Suhita Nadkarni started off as a physicist, but she soon learnt the value of being an insider — using neuroscience rather than physics to understand the brain

Life

Women in Science: Prerna Sharma on uncovering the mysteries of cells with Physics

Prerna Sharma on how theory and experiments go hand-in-hand, and the alarmingly low number of Indian women in Physics

Life

Women in Science: Molecular biophysicist R Mahalakshmi on solving the century-old protein-folding problem

But how do proteins fold? What decides their structure and what makes them stay folded? Mahalakshmi is one of the many scientists in the world trying to solve the century-old protein-folding problem.

India

Women in Science: Aparna Mukherjee on why we need unique approach to diagnose paediatric tuberculosis

In this podcast by The Life of Science, Aparna Mukherjee talks about developing blood-based tests to monitor the outcome of tuberculosis treatment in young patients

Life

Women in Science: Sucharita Sambashivaiah on understanding and preventing Type 2 diabetes in India

Sucharita Sambashivaiah's goal is to understand the working of Type 2 Diabetes and she does this with her team of MDs, PhDs, dieticians, field scientists, exercise trainers, staff nurses and technicians.

Life

Women in Science: Nutritionist Suparna Ghosh-Jerath researches forgotten foods for public health policy recommendations

Suparna Ghosh-Jerath is a nutritionist who studies nutrition of indigenous foods. Based on her research she makes recommendations to the public health policies of India for reviving local food systems.

Life

Women in Science: Neurobiologist Pinky Kain studies how fruit flies make feeding decisions and process taste

Dr Pinky Kain studies fruit flies to answer how ‘taste’ is processed by our brain

Life

Women in Science: Bushra Ateeq on identifying biomarkers for prostate cancer, improving lives of patients

Bushra Ateeq is perturbed that very little is known about mutations and alterations carried by people within the Indian subcontinent. This is the scenario that her team wants to change.

Life

Watch: Nanotoxicologist Madhu Khatri talks about the early influences that shaped her research

Panjab University's Madhu Khatri emphasised the importance of support systems in order to balance work and life

Life

Women in Science: Aparna Rao is looking for ways to counter the irreversible effects of glaucoma

Aparna Rao is working on finding a cure for glaucoma — among the most mysterious and deadly diseases to affect the human eye.

Life

Women in Science: Ecologist Uma Ramakrishnan explains her work in tiger conservation

Ecologist Uma Ramakrishnan on how she made wildlife conservation her life's work

Life

Women in Science: Aparna Mukherjee studies if a simple blood test could monitor TB treatment for children

At the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), clinician-scientist Aparna Mukherjee is working on the research and development of blood-based tests to manage TB treatment for children

Life

Women in Science: Ecologist Farah Ishtiaq on studying the spread of malaria in birds

Farah Ishtiaq wants to find out how malaria is introduced and if it spreads the same way in birds as it spreads in humans

Life

Women in Science: Physicist Prerna Sharma on unlocking the mysteries of cell structures with her research

Prerna Sharma is taking forward a niche area of academics, while also challenging popular notions of being a physics nerd in India

Life

Women in Science: Sreelaja Nair on learning about the early stages of life, working with zebrafish

Embryologist Sreelaja Nair talks about the research she conducts at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, to understand how life begins from a single cell

Life

Women in Science: Deepa Subramanyam on the 'stemness' of human cells, discrimination in academia

Deepa Subramanyam's research helps us understand what makes stem cells different from the specialised cells in our body

Life

Women in Science: Mahak Sharma on the structure of cells, and why women scientists need supportive families

Mahak Sharma talks about how cargo is trafficked inside cells, and why parents should not curb the creativity of their children