
CSIR IICT ex-chief scientist awarded Raja Ramanna Chair (RRC)
Ms. Vardhireddy, with a foundational background in physics from Savitribai Phule Pune University, began her research journey in materials science, eventually becoming a pioneering figure in chemical sensors. She played a key role in developing sensors for detection of toxic and explosive gases, such as a low-temperature H₂S sensor for use in nuclear reactors, a room-temperature hydrogen sensor (recognised as breakthrough research by Ames Laboratory, USA), and a carbon monoxide sensor to prevent poisoning in oxygen-deficient environments encountered by defense personnel, said a press release.
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NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
Adani Ports Unveils Steel Slag Road in Hazira, World's 1st In A Private Port
New Delhi: In a landmark step for green infrastructure, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has inaugurated the world's first steel slag road at any port, setting a new global benchmark in circular economy-led development. Spanning 1.1 km within Hazira Port, this sustainable road connects the Multi-Purpose Berth (MPB-1) to the coal yard. It uses processed steel slag aggregates - a byproduct of steel manufacturing - demonstrating how industrial waste can be repurposed into high-performance, durable infrastructure. The project was developed as part of Phase-II of the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal (BGCT) expansion in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. The road's flexible pavement design, curated by CSIR-CRRI, enhances load-bearing capacity and longevity while cutting down on construction costs and environmental impact. The initiative aligns with the 'waste to wealth' mission and reinforces APSEZ's commitment to environmentally conscious port development. The road was formally inaugurated at Hazira Port by Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member (Science and Technology), NITI Aayog, in the presence of Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director-General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, and Dr Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-CRRI and President, Indian Roads Congress. Also present were Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist and inventor of steel slag road technology; Anand Marathe, COO, Adani Hazira Port Ltd, and other dignitaries and scientists. This marks India's third steel slag road, but the first ever constructed inside a port globally, placing India and APSEZ at the forefront of sustainable maritime infrastructure. With this initiative, APSEZ continues to lead the transformation of India's logistics sector, blending innovation, industrial ecology, and infrastructure resilience in service of national growth.


The Hindu
15 hours ago
- The Hindu
High-quality diet may have led to bigger human brain: CSIR-CCMB-led international study reveals genetic link between diet and brain size
Our ancestors' shift to higher-quality diets, especially with use of fire and consumption of meat and fruits, had likely triggered genetic changes and may have paved the way for the dramatic expansion of the human brain, deduce researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) here in Hyderabad. A ground-breaking international study published in the latest issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, involving scientists from the United States and China, has uncovered the genetic mechanisms linking diet quality and brain size in primates, shedding new light on how some species, especially humans, evolved to have such large and complex brains. It reveals that the quality of food primates eat influences not just their energy levels but also the way their brains evolve at the genetic level. The research team, including CCMB's Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) Chief Scientist Govindhaswamy Umapathy (senior author), Vinay Teja Potharlanka (first author) and others, including Shao Y, Wu D, Banda N and DeCasien A., had analysed over 8,000 genes from 50 whole genomes across primate species to understand how brain size co-evolved with diet and to identify the specific genes that may have helped make it happen. Energy intensive organs Brain is one of the most energy-hungry organs in the body. In humans, the brain consumes nearly 20% of the total energy, despite accounting for just 2% of body weight. For many years, scientists have wondered how such an organ could have evolved and why some species have bigger brains than others. A key idea is that better-quality diets those rich in fruits, seeds, and animal protein provide more energy, allowing for the development of larger brains. But until now, no one had clearly shown how this plays out at the genetic level. Digging Into the Data Researchers combined genetic, ecological, and anatomical data in a novel way by measuring the size of brains and bodies in different primates and used published information on diet composition to create a Diet Quality Index (DQI). They then looked at how quickly brain-related genes evolved in each species using the 'dN/dS' ratio method, which tracks evolutionary changes in gene sequences. Using sophisticated statistical tools that account for evolutionary relationships between species, the team identified hundreds of genes whose evolution was closely linked to diet and brain size. Genes That Build Brains—and Process Energy Many genes linked to larger brains were involved in neurogenesis (brain cell development) and are also known to be involved in human brain disorders such as autism and microcephaly. However, several key genes were also involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism — the body's way of processing fats and sugars. These include genes like 'ELOVL6', which helps process fatty acids, and 'EEF1A2', which is involved in brain development and linked to neurological conditions. 'This supports the idea that better diets provided the fuel for building bigger brains. Energy metabolism genes and brain development genes are working hand-in-hand. This link is deeply embedded in the genome,' said Dr. Umapathy. Two-Way Evolution The study's best-fitting model showed that diet quality influences brain size in two ways — directly by providing energy and nutrients, and indirectly by affecting which genes were under evolutionary pressure. 'It's a feedback loop. Better brains help find better food, and better food helps build better brains. Evolution worked through genes to reinforce this loop,' said Vinay Teja Potharlanka. Interestingly, some of the same genes that aided brain expansion may have also increased the risk for certain neurodevelopmental conditions, highlighting a potential evolutionary trade-off. Implications for Human Evolution Although the study did not include modern humans, the findings offer powerful insights into our evolutionary past. The team hopes future research will explore how other lifestyle and social factors like group size, parenting style, or movement patterns may have influenced brain evolution in primates. The full dataset and analysis code have been made publicly available, encouraging further exploration into the complex relationship between ecology, genetics, and cognition.


The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
‘Ensure new technologies are used for betterment of society, IIIT-D'
Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) N. Kalaiselvi has said that India had made significant achievements in the field of science and technology and called on the students particularly technical students to ensure that new technologies were put to use for the betterment of the society. Delivering the convocation address at the seventh annual convocation of Indian Institute of Information technology(IIIT) in Dharwad on Friday, she said that engineering students should try to align themselves with the goals of 'Vikasit Bharat' by adapting to new and emerging technologies. Ms. Kalaiselvi said that in the knowledge-driven era and only those possessing exquisite skills had a fare chance to excel and that was the reason why more emphasis was being laid on helping students acquire more skills. It was necessary for the students to adapt various skills along with achieving excellence in their academics to shape a better career. Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIIT-Dharwad Shridhar Vembu asked the students to be cautious about the paradigm shift in Information Technology and all other areas due to advent of Artificial intelligence. Be vigilant and adaptable to newer technologies and challenges ahead, he said. Referring to how handloom industry changed with the advent of powerlooms, he asked the IT professionals to consider the fact that once powerful coding machines arrived, there would be less demand for coding professionals and they would have to look for other alternatives. Taking the example of a school being run in Tamil Nadu that helped students develop self confidence, self discovery and self respect, he called on the students to imbibe all these qualities to succeed in life. Director of IIIT-Dharwad S.R. Mahadeva Prasanna provided a brief report of the achievements of the institute. Gold medallists During the convocation, topper of the institute, Amrit Anand from Department of ECE was honoured with the President of India Gold Medal and also Institute Gold medal. Prerana Bhat from DSAI and Karthik Avinash from CSE was honoured with the Institute Gold Medals, Aarsh Desai with Director's Gold medal. Enduri Jahnvi was adjudged Best outgoing girl student. In all 257 students including 132 students of Computer Science, 70 of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, 55 of Electronics and Communication Engineering were awarded degrees during the convocation.