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IISc Launches Brain Co-Processors Moonshot for Stroke Rehabilitation

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  The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has launched an ambitious “moonshot” project to develop brain co-processors that integrate neuromorphic hardware with artificial intelligence algorithms to enhance or restore brain function. The initiative is supported by the Pratiksha Trust, founded by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and Sudha Gopalakrishnan. A memorandum of understanding formalising the partnership was signed at IISc in the presence of senior institutional leaders and researchers. The project seeks to develop advanced neural technologies capable of decoding brain signals, processing them using AI systems and sending corrective signals back to the brain. Researchers believe the innovation could significantly improve cognitive rehabilitation, especially for stroke survivors who experience loss of motor functions. Concept of AI-Enabled Brain Co-Processors Brain co-processors are an emerging class of neurotechnology designed to augment or restore the brain’s...
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Cassava Brown Streak Disease Threatens Africa’s Staple Crop

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  A viral disease causing rot in cassava roots is raising alarm across sub-Saharan Africa, threatening a staple crop relied upon by millions for food security and income. Cassava, prized for its tolerance to drought and poor soils, serves as a critical safety net for vulnerable households. However, scientists warn that the spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) could severely undermine this resilience. Impact of Cassava Brown Streak Disease CBSD causes necrosis in cassava roots, often leading to total crop loss. The disease can remain hidden until harvest, when farmers discover discoloured, inedible roots. This delayed visibility worsens economic losses and food shortages. Although confined to Africa, CBSD remained largely endemic for over 70 years along coastal regions of Tanzania and Mozambique. It has since spread to Uganda and parts of East and Central Africa. Researchers now caution that West Africa — home to major cassava producers such as Nigeria and Ghana — could fac...
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Tamil Nadu Leads India in Deceased Organ Donation

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  Tamil Nadu has reaffirmed its position as India’s leading state in deceased organ donation, recording 57 deceased donors in the first two months of 2026 — nearly one donation a day. The programme is overseen by the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan), which has built a structured and transparent system over nearly two decades. Officials attribute the sustained rise to coordinated governance, public trust, and technological integration. Early Adoption and Institutional Framework Tamil Nadu began formalising its deceased organ donation system as early as 2008, at a time when awareness across India remained limited. The model integrates policymakers, healthcare administrators, technocrats, law enforcement agencies, media, and civil society groups. Although the programme slowed during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has since rebounded with renewed vigour. The framework ensures scientific allocation of organs, ethical counselling of families, and real-time coordination between tr...
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Micron Opens World’s Largest Semiconductor Clean Room in Gujarat

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  India took a major step in its semiconductor ambitions as Micron Technology commenced operations at its advanced memory ATMP facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The plant shipped its first finished DRAM module to Dell Technologies, marking the country’s entry into high-end semiconductor assembly and testing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the facility, which represents India’s first advanced memory Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) site. Largest Raised-Floor Clean Room Globally The Sanand unit houses a 500,000 square foot raised-floor clean room — the largest single semiconductor assembly clean room of its kind worldwide. Engineered specifically for Gujarat’s soil and climate conditions, the structure mitigates moisture-related risks. The clean room is rated Class 1000, allowing no more than 1,000 particles per cubic metre. Air is circulated 120 times per hour, significantly higher than pharmaceutical standards. This ensures protection of delicate integrated circ...
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DST Institute Develops Novel Biosurfactant from Ghee

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  An institute under India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) in North East India has synthesised a novel biosurfactant using natural substances, offering a potential alternative to synthetic surfactants widely used in cosmetics and medicines. The compound demonstrates promising antibacterial and cleansing properties, particularly against skin pathogens. The breakthrough was achieved by researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), led by Director Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee, along with Prof. M. R. Khan and senior research fellow Anushree Roy. Innovative Use of Probiotic and Ghee The team synthesised the biosurfactant using the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum JBC5. Ghee, a lipid-rich dairy product with deep cultural relevance in India, was used as the primary substrate. Production was optimised through response surface statistical analysis, enabling efficient yield of a lipopeptide biosurfactant. The approach highlights the po...
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India to Launch Free HPV Vaccination for 14-Year-Old Girls

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  The Union Health Ministry is set to roll out a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting 14-year-old girls. The vaccine will be voluntary and provided free of cost at government health facilities, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups. The initiative aims to significantly reduce the burden of cervical cancer, which remains a major public health concern in India. Use of Quadrivalent Gardasil Vaccine India will administer Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases, as well as types 6 and 11. Scientific evidence, both global and Indian, indicates that a single dose in the recommended age group offers robust and durable protection. The programme targets girls at 14 years of age, prior to potential exposure to the virus, when the vaccine provides maximum preventive benefit. Supplies have been secured through a globally supported procurement mechanism...
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Tetrodotoxin Suspected in Vizhinjam Seafood Deaths

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  Food safety authorities in Thiruvananthapuram are investigating a suspected case of marine neurotoxin poisoning after multiple people fell critically ill following consumption of seafood at a restaurant in Vizhinjam. Three members of a six-member family developed severe symptoms on the night of February 16, and two died within hours. Subsequently, six additional cases of acute illness were reported, all linked to the same establishment and date. Preliminary assessments have ruled out conventional food poisoning caused by spoilage or bacterial contamination. Investigators are now examining the possibility of contamination by a naturally occurring marine toxin, with tetrodotoxin (TTX) emerging as the primary suspect. Fish Roe Under Suspicion Authorities have identified fish roe as the likely source of exposure. All affected individuals had consumed this seafood delicacy. Fish roe can accumulate toxins if sourced from contaminated marine species. The clustering of cases and the rapi...
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