International Academic Excellence Awards

  Researchers have discovered three previously unknown species of meadow katydids in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the region’s rich but understudied insect biodiversity. The findings emerged from extensive field surveys conducted across diverse habitats of the Kashmir Valley and adjoining mountain ranges, challenging earlier assumptions that only one species of this genus existed in the region. Discovery Led by Aligarh Muslim University Team The study was led by Muzamil Syed Shah along with entomologists from Aligarh Muslim University. The team identified three new species belonging to the genus “Conocephalus”, commonly known as meadow katydids or long-horned grasshoppers. The species have been named “Conocephalus usmanii”, “Conocephalus nagariensis”, and “Conocephalus ganderbali”, each reflecting either the locality of discovery or eminent contributors to Indian entomology. Role of Kashmir’s Complex Geography Prior to this research, the mountainous Kashmir region was believed t...

  Scientists at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum recently uncovered a mistake that dates back decades involving a poison frog specimen from Peru. The frog had been incorrectly identified and designated as a holotype, which is the single preserved specimen used to officially define a species. While modern taxonomy may also rely on supporting materials such as photographs or genetic information, the holotype remains the primary reference point. Why Holotypes Matter in Species Science "When you describe a species, you assign one specimen that bears the name of that species," said lead author Ana Motta, collection manager of herpetology at the Biodiversity Institute. "If I find something else later that looks like that species, I need to go to the holotype and compare things to know if that new population belongs to that species or is something else. So, the holotype is the specimen that represents the species." This system ens...

  Every two minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman dies of cervical cancer — a statistic that starkly captures one of global health’s most persistent failures. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, despite being both preventable and treatable. The tragedy lies not in medical ignorance, but in unequal access — to vaccines, screening, and timely treatment — especially in low- and middle-income countries. What exactly is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer begins in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Unlike many aggressive cancers, it does not appear overnight. It develops slowly, over years, starting with abnormal changes in cervical cells known as precancerous lesions. If these abnormal cells are detected early, they can be treated easily. When they are not, the disease progresses, invades surrounding tissues, and can spread to distant organs — making treatment far ...

  In a landmark development for global blood disorder care , the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first-ever oral pill for treating anaemia in adults with thalassemia. Health experts have described the decision as a potential game changer that could significantly reduce dependence on lifelong blood transfusions for patients suffering from this inherited condition. FDA Approval Marks Historic First The FDA has approved mitapivat, to be marketed under the brand name Aqvesme, for adults with alpha- or beta-thalassemia. It is the first medicine authorised for both transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent forms of the disease. Until now, thalassemia management has largely relied on regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, often starting from early childhood. How Mitapivat Works Mitapivat is a first-in-class pyruvate kinase activator that targets the metabolic dysfunction inside red blood cells. In thalassemia patients, red blood cells are fragile...

  Lead exposure remains one of the most under-recognised public health emergencies in India and climate change is quietly making it worse. While the phase-out of leaded petrol and incremental regulation have reduced some risks, there is still no safe level of lead in the human body. Even minimal exposure can irreversibly damage children’s brains, impair learning, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. As climate extremes intensify, they are disturbing old reservoirs of lead in soil, water, housing and waste, compounding a crisis that already affects millions of Indians. Why lead exposure remains a silent crisis in India Despite decades of awareness, lead exposure persists through multiple pathways — contaminated drinking water, food grown in polluted soil, household dust, lead-based paints, informal recycling, and unmanaged industrial and electronic waste. According to estimates by “UNICEF” and “Pure Earth”, around half of Indian children have blood lead le...

  A silent ecological invasion is unfolding across vast regions of the world, driven by “ Lantana camara ”, an aggressive invasive weed now entrenched across tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones. Easily recognised by its brightly coloured, bouquet-like flowers and strong scent, the plant has spread across millions of hectares, posing serious threats to biodiversity, agriculture and forest ecosystems. A Plant Built to Dominate Lantana camara spreads rapidly due to a combination of biological advantages. It releases chemicals into the soil that suppress the growth of neighbouring plants, a process known as allelopathy. Its leaves, flowers and berries are toxic to livestock, yet attractive to birds, insects and monkeys that disperse its seeds over long distances. Deep, spreading roots extract scarce water and nutrients, while a resin-coated leaf surface reduces moisture loss, allowing the plant to thrive in drought-prone and degraded soils. From Ornamental Shrub to Global Me...

  How does nearly two metres of DNA fit inside a cell nucleus just a few micrometres wide and how does that same packing decide which genes a cell can use? A new study published in “Science” offers a striking answer: even a difference of just a few DNA “letters” in spacing can fundamentally change how our genome behaves. Why DNA Packing Matters Beyond Storage Inside human cells, DNA is not loose or floating freely. Instead, it is wrapped around bead-like proteins called histones, forming repeating units known as nucleosomes. These nucleosomes are connected by short stretches of exposed DNA, together forming a complex structure called chromatin. This arrangement does more than save space. Chromatin’s physical organisation determines whether genes are accessible to the cellular machinery that reads them, or tightly packed and effectively switched off. Loosely organised regions tend to be active; densely packed regions are usually silent. How cells control this balance has been a cen...