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Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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What ISRO’s new spy satellite can do, and how it can penetrate clouds

With ISRO’s launch of its new spy satellite, ThePrint takes a look at RISAT-2B's functioning and use, and how it will be affected by clouds.

Simply elegant, Morse code marks 175 years and counting

In emergency situations, Morse code can be the only mode of communications that will get through.

Urban India has a huge Vitamin D deficiency problem as people hide from the sun

Doctors say at least 80% of urban population suffers from deficiency of Vitamin D, vital for absorption of calcium. Its deficiency makes the body vulnerable to diseases such as cancer.

A blood test can predict dementia. Trouble is, there’s no cure

The increasing demand for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis leaves room for digital biomarkers as millions are already affected and many more still undiagnosed.

ISRO to launch radar earth imaging satellite RISAT-2B Wednesday from Sriharikota

Data from ISRO's RISAT-2B satellite will find applications in the fields of agriculture, forestry and disaster management.

Test for ‘fat gene’? Results are worse than worthless

A genetic test for predicting obesity is highly inaccurate and will warp children's views on their body image since many think they’re fat when in fact they're healthy.

Climate extremes are slashing rice & maize yields, threatening global food supply: Study

Australian researchers find that adverse weather causes nearly 50% of global yield losses for maize and spring wheat, 25% for rice and 20% for soybeans.

A glacial lake in PoK is threatening people, and could mean the Indus river basin is drying

Shishpar Glacier in the geologically-volatile Karakoram mountains has surged, blocking another glacier nearby and creating a lake that could spell disaster.

Sunscreen won’t save dark-skinned people from melanoma

The notion that regular application of sunscreen will reduce an already extremely rare occurrence is nonsensical.

A multibillion-dollar race is on to replace the egg

The market for egg alternatives is growing with fake egg whites, vegan eggs, and eggs made from any number of ingredients decidedly unrelated to chickens.

On Camera

Tirupati controversy shows temples can’t run as public sector units. They must be privatised

A private temple could make crores by selling better laddus and investing in goshalas and captive production units to control quality.

After a brief surge, private investment & hiring has again turned cautious. Focus is on cutting debt

Financial year 2022-23 saw private investments & hiring surge, but since then firms are using cash to reduce debt. General elections didn’t help matters, either.

Indian envoy in Oman dons Army combat print for photo ops, sparks controversy

Ambassador Amit Narang wore combat uniform at closing ceremony of India-Oman joint military exercise. Only serving personnel can wear service uniforms, say veterans.

Islam doesn’t kill democracy. The army-Islam combo does

How come Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and Sri Lanka remain constitutional, democratic and stable despite Islam and Buddhism respectively, but Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar don’t?