Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has for the third consecutive year, bagged the top rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) which was announced by the Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri. Prakash Javadekar on 03 March 2018.

Silver nanoparticles are nanoparticles of silver whose size varies from 1 nm to 100 nm. They are commonly used in the manufacture of about 200 consumer products, including clothing and cosmetics. While their antibacterial properties are hailed, reckless dumping of these nanoparticles is reported to pollute water and soil due to formation of toxins like silver sulfide.

After the devastating Tsunami in 2004, various measures have been taken by the Government of India to be more prepared in the future. Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS) is one such effort undertaken by  Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical devices that use the power of respiring microbes to convert organic matter into electrical energy. Thus, they can help treat wastewater and also generate electricity. Realising the vast potential these cells have, scientists are finding ways to improve their performance and efficiency.

In a new study, researchers have developed a low-cost and eco-friendly method to extract gold from electronic waste using the leaves of the plant Lagerstroemia speciosa, commonly called the Pride of India. They have applied the principle of biosorption—the ability of biological materials in an aqueous solution to bind with heavy metals—to extract gold from wastewater.

Power cuts in many parts of the country are so commonplace that we have learnt to accept and adapt to the erratic supply, no matter how frustrating. With summer rearing its fiery head, the threat of sitting in sweltering heat without fans or air-conditioners is a nightmare. A recent UN report found that 10% of people from developing countries have no access to electricity!

In a new study, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, have found that ten confined water molecules play a significant role in keeping the insulin molecules together. In their findings published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry, the researchers have used computer models to study how water molecules help in stabilising the structure of insulin for storage in our body.

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) celebrated its 6th Foundation Day on Tuesday, March 20th, at the India Habitat centre in New Delhi. This year, the theme for the Foundation Day celebration was ‘Sustaining Innovation: A market driven pathway’. The event saw a participation from large number of dignitaries from the industry and academia, public and private sector, policy makers and national and international organizations.

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, study how speech recognition software can be improved by modelling it to be more like the brain, such that it works well even in the presence of background noise. 

In today’s gadget-filled world of cameras, cell phones, smart watches and other lightweight and wearable devices, thin film transistors are commonplace. They are made by stacking thin layers of semiconductors, insulators and metals. In a study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, have explored how creating textures in metal films used in such transistors could help make them easy to control.