DNP unit welcomes two more GIB chicks
2
Jaisalmer: Scientists at the
Wildlife Institute of India
(WII) have successfully bred two more
Great Indian Bustard
(GIB) chicks through
artificial insemination
at the Sudasari Center of Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
This achievement marks the sixth chick born entirely through artificial methods under the project.
The latest additions to the endangered species arrived when a chick hatched Thursday from an egg laid by female bustard "Sharky," followed by another successful hatching on April 27 from female "Aman." These births are part of a larger success story, with the project welcoming 15 new chicks in 2025 alone.
Dr Suthirto Dutta, GIB specialist and coordinator at WII, said that four captive-bred chicks were added to the population in the last two weeks, with successful hatchings on April 19, 23, 27, and May 1. The breakthrough was achieved using artificial insemination technology and expertise gained from Abu Dhabi's International Fund for Houbara Conservation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Regain confidence with WAYT-less®. This Rapid Dissolve Tablet could support your weight loss.
Nu Image Medical
Shop Now
Undo
"This is not just a biological experiment's success but a milestone in giving a new lease of life to this rare bird on the brink of extinction," said Dutta.
BM Gupta, deputy conservator of forests at DNP, confirmed that sperm from a male GIB named "Tom" at the Ramdevra Breeding Center was used to successfully inseminate both females. The total population at WII's Ramdevra and Sudasari breeding centres has now reached 59 birds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
India developing three types of small modular reactors: Jitendra Singh
Union minister Jitendra Singh NEWS DELHI: India is developing three different types of small modular reactors (SMRs), including one dedicated to the production of hydrogen, mostly in the form of captive plants for energy-intensive industries, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Singh said the three types of SMRs, 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), 55 MWe SMR and 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor, for the production of hydrogen are being designed and developed indigenously. "In-principle approval has been obtained for the construction of these demonstration reactors. These demonstration reactors are likely to be constructed in 60 to 72 months after receipt of administrative sanction of projects," he said. The minister said the lead units of BSMR and SMR are planned to be installed at Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sites in collaboration with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). "An estimate prepared based on the experience of setting up of 220 MWe plants indicates that the overall cost for the lead unit of 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) will be about Rs 5,750 crore," said Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office that oversees the DAE. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon | Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret Paras The Florett Book Now Undo A 5 MWth high temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (GCR) is also planned to be used exclusively for hydrogen production by coupling with a suitable thermochemical hydrogen production process, he said. The potential thermo-chemical technologies for hydrogen production, such as Copper-Chloride (Cu-Cl) and Iodine-Sulphur (I-S) cycles, have already been developed and demonstrated by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Singh said. Necessary technology for the deployment of these reactors is available in the country and the majority of equipment is within the manufacturing capability of the Indian industry with technological handholding by the DAE, he said. "These plants are designed & developed considering deployment as captive power plants, repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based plants and hydrogen production to support the transport sector with the prime objective of decarbonisation," Singh said. Presently, the installed nuclear power capacity in the country comprises 25 reactors with a total capacity of 8,880 MW, including RAPS-1 (100 MW), which is under long-term shutdown. Two units of 700 MWe each - Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) 3 and 4 and one 700 MWe unit at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP-7) have already commenced commercial operation. At present, 18 reactors with a total capacity of 13,600 MW, including 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor implemented by BHAVINI, are at various stages of implementation. On the progressive completion of these units, the installed nuclear power capacity will reach 22,480 MW, Singh said. PTI
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Meta's mind-reading wristband lets you control computers with just a thought
Meta has unveiled a revolutionary wristband that reads electrical signals from your muscles to control computers without lifting a finger. The experimental device, detailed in a research paper published Wednesday in Nature journal, can move cursors, open apps, and even type letters in the air simply by detecting what you intend to do, before you actually do it. The prototype looks like an oversized smartwatch, wearing which users can navigate their laptop screen with a gentle wrist turn, launch desktop applications by tapping thumb to forefinger, or write messages by tracing letters in the air as if holding an invisible pencil. According to the New York Times, the technology reads electrical signals that pulse through forearm muscles when fingers move. Unlike Elon Musk's Neuralink, which requires surgical brain implants, Meta's approach is refreshingly simple. Anyone can strap on the rectangular wristwatch-sized device and start using it immediately. Meta's implementation of mind-control technology uses surface electromyography to detect muscle signals from outside the skin, no surgery needed. How Meta's gesture control technology actually works by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo The wristband uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to capture electrical signals generated by neurons in the spinal cord before they reach muscle fibers. These signals are strong enough to read through skin and move faster than actual muscle movement, allowing the device to predict actions milliseconds before they happen. The breakthrough lies in Meta's ability to isolate individual muscle fiber activity at what Reardon calls "the atomic level of the nervous system." When you think about moving your finger, your brain sends electrical commands through alpha motor neurons that connect directly to specific muscle fibers. Because these neural signals are so strong when they reach the muscles, the wristband's sensors can detect them through the skin without needing brain surgery. The device can read these signals even when only a tiny number of fibers activate, allowing users to control computers through pure intention rather than physical movement. "You don't have to actually move," Thomas Reardon, Meta's vice president of research leading the project, told the Times. "You just have to intend the move." The team trained artificial intelligence on data from 10,000 volunteers to identify common electrical patterns, making the device work immediately for new users without calibration. AI breakthrough solves decades-old problems Meta says it used artificial intelligence to analyse muscle signal patterns. After collecting data from 10,000 volunteers, researchers used neural networks to identify common electrical patterns that work across different users. "Out of the box, it can work with a new user it has never seen data for," explained Patrick Kaifosh , director of research science at Meta's Reality Labs. This AI breakthrough solved the decades-old calibration problem that killed earlier devices like the discontinued Myo armband. The company has already demonstrated the wristband's commercial potential by pairing it with experimental smart glasses last fall. The combination allows users to take photos, record videos, play music, and access verbal descriptions of their surroundings, all through simple hand gestures. This integration points to Meta's future strategy, with plans to integrate the wristband into products over the next few years, potentially starting with their smart glasses. The technology also opens up transformative possibilities for people with disabilities. Carnegie Mellon researchers are testing the wristband with spinal cord injury patients who retain some muscle activity but can't fully use their hands. Even with complete hand paralysis, the device can interpret intended actions from minimal muscle fiber activation, providing new pathways for digital interaction. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Cancer-fighting gut bacteria that can absorb forever chemicals in the body discovered by scientists from Cambridge University
In a promising breakthrough, scientists from the University of Cambridge have discovered that certain strains of healthy gut bacteria may help rid the body of toxic 'forever chemicals,' compounds linked to cancer, infertility, and hormonal disorders. These harmful chemicals, officially known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are nearly impossible to break down and have been found to accumulate in human tissues for decades. According to a study published in Nature Microbiology, researchers identified nine strains of human gut bacteria capable of absorbing and flushing out PFAS, potentially reducing their concentration in the body by as much as 74 percent. The findings raise new hope for a microbial-based detox strategy against one of the most persistent health threats in modern environments. Cancer risk from forever chemicals in human body PFAS are man-made chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, fast food wrappers, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foams. Due to their durability, they do not break down naturally in the environment or the human body. Over time, these chemicals accumulate in vital organs and have been linked to serious health conditions, including liver damage, birth defects, hormone disruption, and various cancers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Anne Hegerty And Her Partner, Who You Will Easily Recognize Sport Pirate Undo The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a common PFAS, as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it has sufficient evidence of causing cancer in humans. Another PFAS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), is listed as a Group 2 carcinogen, indicating possible cancer risk in animals. Gut bacteria offer a possible defense To explore how the gut microbiome might influence PFAS detoxification, researchers introduced 38 strains of healthy human gut bacteria into lab mice. Within minutes of PFAS exposure, mice carrying the bacteria showed up to 74 percent more PFAS excreted in stool compared to those without the bacteria. 'We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations,' said Dr. Kiran Patil, senior author and toxicologist at the University of Cambridge, in a statement reported by Daily Mail. 'Due to aggregation of PFAS in clumps inside their cells, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects.' Which bacteria work best? Among the bacteria studied, Odoribacter splanchnicus showed the strongest potential to lower PFAS levels. This microbe produces butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid known to support both metabolism and immune function. Over a 24-hour period, nine strains of bacteria were observed to significantly reduce PFAS levels: PFNA levels dropped by 25 to 74 percent PFOA levels decreased by 23 to 58 percent The research suggests that PFAS latch onto bacterial cells during digestion and are expelled through stool, an elimination route often overlooked in toxicology. Next step: Probiotic supplements The Cambridge team is now developing probiotic supplements aimed at increasing levels of these PFAS-binding bacteria in the human gut. 'The reality is that PFAS are already in the environment and in our bodies, and we need to try and mitigate their impact on our health now,' said Dr. Indra Roux, co-author from the University of Cambridge's MRC Toxicology Unit. 'We haven't found a way to destroy PFAS, but our findings open the possibility of developing ways to get them out of our bodies where they do the most harm.' Gut health as a weapon against toxic chemicals Unlike traditional methods that focus on filtering PFAS from water or limiting exposure, this study introduces the possibility of a biological detox method. It also builds on prior research showing that fiber-rich diets can help reduce PFAS levels by promoting the excretion of bile acids, another substance PFAS tends to bind with in the digestive tract. This study is among the first to show that PFAS can be actively removed from the body by natural means, rather than passively accumulating over time. A new approach to an old problem Though the study was conducted on mice, researchers plan to move toward human trials and commercial probiotic solutions. If successful, this approach could transform how we manage toxic chemical exposure, especially for vulnerable populations. This discovery marks an exciting step forward in the battle against environmental contaminants, with gut bacteria offering a powerful new ally in protecting human health.
