Category: RECORDS, INDIA (National)

** Comprehensive guide to South Indian wildlife launched

Naturalists Surya Ramachandran and David Raju talk about their latest book that covers 2,000-odd species endemic to South India

When David Raju shadowed dragonflies as a child in his hometown in Kottayam, Kerala, little did anyone realise his fascination for insects would become his profession.

“A wildlife enthusiast spoke at my college and I realised I knew so many species by sight even though I didn’t know their names. It piqued my interest and I began hanging around at Nature clubs to learn more,” says David Raju, 35, discussing his foray into the world of wild animals.

** KL University students develop e-bike with wireless charging

Students from KL Deemed to be University have developed a unique e-Bike (electric bike) with wireless charging technology. The innovative prototype was developed by a team of six third and fourth year students from the electrical and electronics engineering department of KL College of Engineering along with a few university alumni members. 

Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

** Udupi cuisine becomes India’s weapon of choice to extend soft-power in Asia

Udupi cuisine is taking Hong Kong by storm as Asian residents in the gleaming metropolis and beyond bite into India’s spicy south Indian delicacies, which are extending India’s soft-power across the globe.

** Chandrayaan instrument helps unravel the mysteries of solar corona

An instrument on board India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission has provided outstanding science results on the solar corona and heliophysics, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

Though we have a fairly good understanding of the origin of energy and other various aspects of the Sun, several potentially life-changing phenomena still remain a mystery, notes the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency.

** Jadeja displaces Holder as top Test all-rounder

Jadeja is two points ahead of Holder (384) while England all-rounder Ben Stokes is third on 377 points.

India’s Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday dislodged West Indian Jason Holder as the world’s top all-rounder in the latest ICC Test rankings.

Jadeja is two points ahead of Holder (384) while England all-rounder Ben Stokes is third on 377 points.

Another Indian, Ravichandran Ashwin is at fourth with 353 points, followed by Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh (338).

Ashwin remained at second spot in the bowlers’ rankings on 850 points, below Pat Cummins (908) of Australia. Tim Southee (830) of New Zealand is third.

** New species of skittering frog discovered from surroundings of Thattekkad bird sanctuary

Species named ‘Euphlyctis Kerala’ in honour of the remarkable biodiversity of the State

A new species of skittering frog has been identified from the surroundings of the Thattekkad bird sanctuary.

A team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Mount Carmel College (MCC), Bengaluru, and National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, made the discovery.

** Cochin International Airport wins honour in airport service quality

The Airport Council International, a global body of airport operators, established the Roll of Excellence recognition to airports which, in the opinion of the passengers ascertained through a survey, consistently delivered excellent services, says a CIAL press release

The Cochin International Airport has won the Airport Council International (ACI) Director General’s Roll of Excellence honour in Airport Service Quality.

The ACI, a global body of airport operators, established the Roll of Excellence recognition to airports which, in the opinion of the passengers ascertained through a survey, consistently delivered excellent services, said a CIAL press release here.

** UoH research finds ways to improve yield of pigeon pea

It is a primary protein source for people across the world, more so in India

Research results of the research scholars at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) could lead to improved yields of pigeon pea, which is considered as a primary protein source for people across the world and more so in India.

Pigeon pea (known as kandulu in Telugu and toor daal in Hindi) is a climate-smart pulse crop of Indian origin and is widely grown in the tropical drylands around the globe. A research team led by former UoH Vice-Chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile in a three-year collaboration with two groups in the United Kingdom (Prof. Philip Poole’s group at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, and Dr. Andrew Neal at Rothamsted Research) has made a major breakthrough in plant symbiosis studies related to pigeon pea.

** Trials for India’s first medical drone delivery service begins in Karnataka

India’s first drone delivery service, that specialises in medical supplies, will begin operating in Karnataka soon. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s green signal is awaited, Throttle Aerospace Systems (TAS) CEO Nagendran Kandasamy said.

The trial, which started on Monday and continued till Tuesday, was successful, Kandasamy said. He said India’s first official beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) medical drone delivery experiment started in Sembhukha Nagar of Gowribidanur taluk in Chikballapur and the trial will continue for 30 to 40 days.