Cell Biologist

  A viral outbreak inside Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home in West Bengal has raised serious public health concerns after 92 inmates were infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) between August 2025 and March 2026. Official records indicate that seven inmates died due to complications linked to the infection. The cases highlight the health risks associated with overcrowded prison facilities and the challenges of controlling infectious diseases in closed institutional environments. Seven inmates die during infection period According to official documents, four inmates died at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital while three others died at the Jalpaiguri District Hospital during treatment. The most recent fatality occurred on March 6 when 48-year-old inmate Deben Mondal died after being admitted to Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital on March 2. Authorities stated that while several infected inmates recovered, nearly half of the affected prisoners required segreg...

  Botanists from Gauhati University have discovered a new plant species in the grasslands of Manas National Park in Assam and named it after renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the region and adds to the growing list of plant species identified from the ecologically significant national park. Discovery in Manas National Park The newly identified plant has been named “Osbeckia zubeengargiana” and belongs to the Melastomataceae family. The discovery was made by researchers Barnali Das and Namita Nath from Gauhati University along with Prasobh Pulpra from NSS College in Kerala. The plant was documented during botanical surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025 in the grasslands of Manas National Park, located in Assam’s Baksa district. The findings were published in the scientific journal “Phytotaxa”, which focuses on plant taxonomy and biodiversity research. Features of the newly identified species According to researchers, the plant ...

  Scientists have discovered a new species of flying reptile after analysing a rare fossilised regurgitate, commonly referred to as dinosaur vomit. The specimen, dated to about 100 million years ago, was recovered from the Romualdo Formation in brazil/">Brazil’s Araripe Basin. Named “Bakiribu waridza”, the species represents the first extinct animal to be scientifically described entirely from fossilised regurgitated material. Rare Fossil Discovery in Brazil The discovery was made in the Santana Group geological formation, a fossil-rich region in northeastern Brazil known for preserving ancient organisms in exceptional detail. Researchers found bones belonging to two individuals of the newly identified pterosaur species along with four fossilised fish inside the regurgitated material. The findings were documented in a study published in the journal “Scientific Reports”, highlighting an unusual preservation process rarely seen in palaeontology. How Fossilised Vomit Preserved the...

  Scientists have identified a new ancient reptile species that lived in what is now the United States around 225–201 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. The discovery was made by palaeontologists from the University of Washington and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle. Fossils of the species were found in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park, a region known for rich deposits of fossilised wood and prehistoric remains. The research provides new insights into the evolution of early archosaurs and the diversity of reptile species that existed alongside early dinosaurs. Discovery in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park The newly identified reptile species has been named “Sonselasuchus cedrus”. Fossil remains were recovered from Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, an area famous for its well-preserved Triassic fossils. Since 2014, researchers have collected nearly 950 fossil specimens linked to this species. The large number of foss...

  Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed an innovative method to convert plastic waste into acetic acid , the main component of vinegar, using only sunlight. The breakthrough offers a promising solution to tackle plastic pollution while producing a valuable industrial chemical. The technique relies on a light-driven chemical reaction that breaks down plastic materials into useful compounds without requiring extreme heat or toxic chemicals. Sunlight-Powered Plastic Conversion The research team, led by Professor Yimin Wu, designed a system that uses photocatalysis to break plastic waste into smaller molecular components. In this process, sunlight acts as the primary energy source to trigger chemical reactions that transform plastic polymers into acetic acid. The reaction takes place at room temperature, making it more energy-efficient than traditional chemical recycling methods. This sunlight-driven approach also avoids the release of additional carbon dio...

  Marine science researchers from Berhampur University have recorded the presence of a rare shrimp-like marine amphipod species in Indian waters for the first time. The discovery was made at Arjyapalli in Odisha’s Ganjam district during a field survey of rocky coastal habitats. The species, identified as “Stenothoe lowryi”, was previously reported only from Malaysia, and its distribution in other regions had remained largely unknown until now. Discovery by Berhampur University Researchers The discovery was led by Shesdev Patro, Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine Science at Berhampur University. The research was carried out under the Mukhyamantri Research Innovation Extramural Programme (MRIEP) funded by the Odisha State Higher Education Council for the 2024–25 academic year. During fieldwork conducted in January last year, researchers collected eight specimens from rocky coastal habitats at Arjyapalli. Detailed analysis later confirmed the specimens as “Stenothoe lowry...