Genes required for learning, memory, aggression and other complex behaviours originated around 650 million years ago, says a study published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers from the University of Leicester, UK, said that monoamines such as serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline that act as neurotransmitters in the nervous system play a role in complex behaviour and functions such as learning and memory, and processes such as sleep and feeding. The researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of these genes using computational methods, and showed that most of
India’s third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3 will leave imprints of India’s State Emblem - an adaptation of Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath - and the ISRO logo on the Moon's surface. The imprints will be left behind by the rover's rear wheels, said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in a video. Launched on July 14, Chandrayaan-3 is on its 40-day journey towards the Moon. The mission comes after Chandrayaan-2 mission, which failed to soft land on the lunar surface about four years ago in September 2019. The prime objectives of the new lunar mission are to exhib
A team of scientists from Harvard Medical School has identified a combination of drugs that can reverse the aging process within a week. Genetics Professor David Sinclair and his team at Harvard Medical School have developed chemical cocktails containing five to seven agents known for their treatment of various physical and mental disorders. Through extensive research on mice and monkeys spanning over three years, they have successfully identified molecules that can reverse cellular ageing and revive human cells. The discovery promises potential rejuvenation possibilities for combating the
The agriculture sector in India can be transformed by promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, says the World Economic Forum while unveiling a report on July 20 in Hyderabad. Releasing the phase-1 report of the ‘Saagu Baagu’ (‘agriculture advancement’ in the Telugu language) being implemented by the Telangana government in collaboration with it, the WEF said its AI for Agriculture Innovation (AI4AI) initiative has helped more than 7,000 chilli farmers get access to agritech services in the first phase. In the project’s pilot phase, the
In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers have found that wearable movement-tracking devices, such as smartwatches with accelerometers, can identify Parkinson’s disease long before it is clinically diagnosed. A team of researchers came to this conclusion by analysing more than 1,03,000 people who wore medical-grade wearables for seven days. The researchers found that a decrease in movement speed could be observed several years before a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The accelerometer data proved to be a better yardstick than other models based on medica
Mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches will be largely banned from classrooms in the Netherlands from January 1, 2024, the Dutch government has said, in a bid to limit distractions during lessons. Devices will only be allowed if they are specifically needed, for example during lessons on digital skills, for medical reasons or for people with disabilities, said the country’s education minister in a statement. The ban is the result of an agreement between the ministry, schools and related organisations. Schools can find their own way to organise the ban, Robbert Dijkgraaf said, but leg
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT, has said the India Mobile Congress (IMC) will have five partner countries, which IMC will decide in consultation with the External Affairs Ministry. The theme of the IMC this year will be Global Digital Innovation. The union minister expects many industries to be associated with the event and emerge as India’s premier technology event. Organised by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), IMC will be held from October 27 to 29 at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
India is poised to become the world’s largest market for wearables in 2023, according to market research firm IDC. Out of the 504.1 million units of wearables expected to be shipped globally this year, India is expected to account for 130-135 million units, accounting for 26 percent of the total units shipped around the world. Last year, the Indian market shipped 100 million units out of a total of 492 million units, second only to China and North America. Another research firm, Counterpoint in a report in May said that the Indian wearables market registered a growth of 121 percent ye
The United States has destroyed the last of its declared chemical weapons stockpile, a White House statement said on July 7. The US had a September 30 deadline to eliminate its remaining chemical weapons under the international Chemical Weapons Convention. These weapons were first used in modern warfare in World War I, when they were estimated to have killed at least 100,000 people, by Iraq during its conflict with Iran in the 1980s, and in the Syrian war. US workers at the Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in southern Colorado began destroying chemical weapons in 2016, and on June 22, complet
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s second attempt at a soft landing on the Moon, Chandrayaan-3, is set to launch at 2.30 pm IST on July 14. The Chandrayaan-3 mission will be launched into space by the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-III), earlier known as the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Mark-III. This will be the fourth operational mission for the launch vehicle. It is powered by two S2000 solid rocket boosters that will provide the thrust required for takeoff. Once the solid boosters separate from the launch vehicle, it will be powered by the L110 liquid stage. Aft