The Insects that Zombifies it's Prey

Abdus Shakur

Insects - the tiny buddies which often we fail to notice are omnipresent, surviving the scorching sand of Thar desert to the freezing temperatures of Antarctic ice. According to scientists, there are around 5.5 million species of Insects and 80% of them are yet to be discovered. Insects can be grouped based on their mode of acquiring nutrients like Herbivores (Aphids, Grasshoppers), Carnivores (Dragonflies, Tiger beetles), Decomposers (Termites, Dung Beetles), some are parasitic (Flea, Lice). Lot of studies on insects concentrate around the economically important groups like pests, parasites often not giving importance to others such as prey, predators, decomposers who deserve attention. One such group that has received less attention are the parasitoids.

ChemWorld: Materials, Biology and Curiosity

Dr. Soumyakanti Adhikari

Chemical science has the ability to transform molecules to novel materials in one hand and create building blocks of life on the other hand. Indeed, it is such a subject, which occupies the central position in the axis that connects materials and biology. Producing novel and smart materials through green chemical route and utilizing these materials for modern and upcoming technologies are the key aspects for a sustainable (future) world. One of the prime aims and challenges, for the chemists of this era, is to avoid environmentally hazardous substances in the process of fabrication of useful material right from the precursor to the end product. Unlike other areas of science, chemistry does not begin with high-value (Mega) projects, rather it emerges from a small laboratory and bit-by-bit builds chemical/pharmaceutical/fertilizer industries.

The Peregrination of Iron Ore : From the Mines of Orissa to Industries

Muskan Singh

Possessing an important position on India’s map, Orissa’s rich mineral resources contain 28% of Iron ore, 59%of Bauxite, 24% of Coal and 98% of chromite of total mineral deposit of India. This has attracted many metallurgical and mining companies to Orissa, such as Tata Steel, Jindal, and so on. Rayagada areas, Joda Barbil area, Rajgangpur Area, Hirakud area are some of the industrially active zones of Orissa. The districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jajpur are rich in iron ore deposits.

Evolution of Organometallic Compounds

Sayoni Goswami

Just like many other scientific discoveries, the discovery of organometallic compounds was an accident and it has proved to be one of the very significant discoveries in the scientific world. Organometallics constitute a class of compounds which contain at least one metal to carbon bond in which the carbon is a part of an organic group.

The Unknown Force of Life

Sayantan Sarkar

There is an eternal quest to answer this very question- What is the Nature of Life? There exists a prevalent philosophy which states that living organisms are fundamentally and inherently different from non-living matter because of the existence of some non-physical factor, some kind of distinct fluid or spirit which distinguishes living entities from non-living ones.

Illustrating Women’s Career Pathway in Chemistry : Insights from Kerala for Future Policies - V. Jithin

“How many female chemists can you name?”

“If I tell you to name a few key people in Chemistry in our country or your state, what will be the percentage of women on that list?”

“How many Chemistry graduates actually stay in the field and contribute to society, whether it is in academia or the industrial sector?”

A Cosmetic Chronicle

Anjali Rajput

The relentless pursuit of beauty through different ages has been motivated by diverse desires. Back when polygamy was the norm and men enjoyed a higher social status, visual appeal was an opportunity to better living standards. For some higher-ups, certain beauty practices were a distinction of their political upstanding. Today, beauty is a tool to explore one's individuality- an art of self-expression.

But irrespective of the era or the cause, a definite effect that these practices never failed at drawing out from its observers was admiration.

And at the end of the day, isn't a little admiration all that we really need?