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Shaastra Magazine

High quality, India-centric reportage on science, technology & innovation. An IIT Madras initiative

IIT Madras Shaastra is a science magazine that provides an India-centric reportage of science and technology. As a knowledge platform, it aims to fill the gap in science and technology coverage through well-researched, in-depth articles. The magazine features the best of global R&D for science enthusiasts who would like to stay abreast of the trends in the industry. The rich, robustly researched,

insightful and informative content featured in Shaastra are presented by the best science writing professional journalists in the country. Pioneered by IIT Madras, each issue of Shaastra features a several original long-form articles, interviews, guest columns by newsmakers in the field of science and technology, profiles, book reviews and is fast emerging as a one-stop platform for sound science-related information. It is a great resource for your students to stay connected to the latest trends in science, technology and innovation.

09/07/2025

From Lead to Gold? Science Just Did That.

What ancient alchemists only dreamed of, modern physics has made (briefly) real.
At CERN, scientists used a particle accelerator to smash lead atoms together — knocking out 3 protons and creating actual gold. 💥🥇

Sure, the result was just 29 trillionths of a gram, and lasted only a fraction of a second — but it’s a golden leap in understanding how particles interact and transform.

🔬 Transmutation: not myth, but cutting-edge science.

To learn more about such cutting edge innovation subscribe to shaastra magazine right now: https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/subscriptions

# innovation

07/07/2025

Quality Over Quantity: Why India’s research needs smart spending, not just more spending.
A strategic approach can turn fewer resources into world-class innovation — says Swami Subramaniam in our latest Shaastra guest column.

🧠 Want to know how smarter choices can transform India’s research landscape?

👉 Subscribe to Shaastra and read the full column:
🔗 https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/subscriptions

03/07/2025

Good soil, bad soil — what’s the difference?
It might come down to the tiny microbes working beneath the surface!

🔬Researchers are now turning to microbial solutions to restore soil health, enhance nutrient availability, and boost crop productivity 🌾.
Healthy soil = healthier harvests = better food security.

Science is literally digging deep to help us grow better!

Subscribe to Shaastra to know more : https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/subscriptions

01/07/2025

Has rains always messed up your plans? You’re not alone!

As monsoon patterns shift rapidly due to climate change, our old forecasting systems are struggling to keep up. ⛈️📉
But there’s hope—new research and advanced tech are stepping in to deliver more accurate and timely forecasts. ☔📡

So maybe that picnic doesn’t have to get rained out next time. 😉

Read the full story in Shaashtra Magazine IIT Madras: https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/current-issue

09/06/2025

Faster, Safer Rabies Testing, Thanks to a Pseudovirus
A new diagnostic tool from Indian researchers could make post-rabies-vaccination testing quicker and more reliable — potentially transforming how we combat a disease that claims over 20,000 lives in India each year.

Read the full story in Shaastra Magazine IIT Madras
🖋️ G.S. Mudur

📩 Subscribe for more science-powered solutions from India and beyond: https://lnkd.in/gEYeK6eQ

05/06/2025

At , we don’t just spotlight problems—we spotlight scientific solutions.
🌍 Plastic pollution is among the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Micro and nano plastics have made their way into oceans, food chains, and even the human brain. But simply saying no to plastic isn’t the answer.
Plastics are versatile, durable, and deeply embedded in modern life. The real challenge lies in how we manage end-of-lifeplastic waste, and how we can bring it back into the —without letting it degrade into the environment.

This , we turn our attention to the science behind the solutions.

In a detailed feature, Associate Editor Rekha Dixit explores how researchers in India and around the world are addressing the plastic problem—through physical and chemical processes, biotechnology, and by developing sustainable alternatives.

🔬 Science is rising to the challenge. Read how, in our latest edition.
https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/

04/06/2025

Brick by brick, science builds the future of space settlements.
IISc researchers are using bacteria slurries and soil simulants to repair lunar and Martian bricks—paving the way for structures that can survive extreme extraterrestrial conditions.

Featured in
Penned by

🔗 Read more: https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/

02/06/2025

Macro issues,Micro solutions, Shaastra Magazine, May edition

Bioremediation harnesses the power of microbes to tackle large-scale water pollution—affordable, sustainable, and effective.
Discover how the right microbes make all the difference.

Penned by Manupriya .

Follow and subscribe here: https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/
current-issue

28/05/2025

Banking on Seeds, Shaastra Magazine, MAY edition
From black rice to superfood millet, researchers and farmers are preserving India’s agricultural heritage by conserving traditional crop varieties—many of which are nutrient-rich and climate-resilient.

Penned by Pallab Roygupta

Follow and subscribe here: https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/current-issue

22/05/2025

A Bowl of Plastic, Anyone? 🌍 Penned by Rekha Dixit

Did you know that microplastics have been silently contaminating our freshwater systems for over 50 years?
From caddisfly larvae unknowingly using microplastics to build their homes, to cutting-edge hydrogel filters that remove 93% of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in lab conditions — this story dives deep into the invisible plastic crisis.
Scientists worldwide are in a race to detect, eliminate, and biodegrade these tiny threats. From reusable hydrogels to polymer-eating enzymes, seaweed-based alternatives, and robotic 3D-printing systems that upcycle waste — the fight is on.

- But not all plastics are the same. Some break down into toxic fragments that stay for decades. Others, if handled right, offer new life as safe, sustainable materials.
- While innovation offers hope, the article also urges policy shifts, stricter regulations, and collective responsibility to truly tackle the root of the plastic problem.

📰 Read the full story in our latest issue — a fascinating exploration of science and sustainability at its intersection.

✨ Subscribe to Shaastra Magazine for more stories like this — where tech meets truth. 🔗 https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/subscriptions

 

20/05/2025

COVER STORY | SHAASTRA ISSUE 04
SCIENCE REVISION

As India lays the groundwork for a new research foundation, it’s time to look back at the model that inspired it: Vannevar Bush’s visionary framework that made the U.S. a global leader in science and technology. From the creation of the NSF to India’s own Scientific Policy Resolution of 1958, this story explores how nations build innovation ecosystems—and what India can learn as it reimagines its research future.

Written by Hari Pulakkat, this cover story traces the journey from post-war science policy in the U.S. to the challenges and evolution of Indian research institutions like TIFR, CSIR, IITs, and IISERs.

🧪 Why did America surge ahead in tech and science?
📉 Why didn’t India’s early research efforts lead to similar outcomes?
🔁 What needs to change in India’s system today?

Tap into the full story and more insights in Shaastra Issue 04.
👉 Subscribe now to read more such deeply reported cover stories that connect science, policy, and progress.
🔗 https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/subscriptions

17/05/2025

Fascinating insights from Fields Medalist Shing-Tung Yau on the intersection of AI, mathematics, and physics.While AI excels at processing data and uncovering patterns, Yau draws a line when it comes to true conceptual breakthroughs—especially those driven by the beauty and intuition at the heart of mathematics.
As AI transforms how we approach research, Yau’s perspective is a timely reminder: human curiosity and creativity remain irreplaceable.

📖 Read the full interview in Shaastra, the science and tech magazine from IIT Madras.
🔗 https://shaastramag.iitm.ac.in/subscriptions

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