Research Matters

16/09/2025

𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 & 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝

A groundbreaking study on BRICS economies challenges conventional wisdom about public debt. Researchers found that for these nations, the critical debt-to-GDP threshold where economic growth starts to suffer is around 45%, significantly lower than the often-cited 90%. The study also highlights the immense power of foreign direct investment, trade openness, and managed inflation in driving long-term economic prosperity. These findings offer crucial guidance for policymakers aiming to foster sustainable development and improve living standards across these influential economies.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/new-debt-threshold-revealed-brics-nations-could-foster-economic-growth to deep-dive!
@ಅನುಸರಿಸುವರು @ಪ್ರಮುಖಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳು IISER Bhopal

15/09/2025

𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲!

A new AI tool, DrugProtAI, is poised to revolutionize how we find new medicines! Addressing the high failure rate in drug development, this innovative system accurately predicts which proteins in the human body can be targeted by drugs. By analyzing 183 diverse protein features and using a smart partitioning method, DrugProtAI achieved impressive accuracy in blind tests, even on newly approved drugs. It also provides crucial insights into why certain proteins are druggable, making the drug discovery process more efficient and interpretable. This could save years and billions in research, bringing life-saving treatments to patients faster.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/drugprotai-iit-bombay-predicts-protein-druggability-unprecedented-accuracy to deep-dive!
IIT Bombay Department of biosciences and bioengineering IIT Bombay

A novel AI tool, DrugProtAI, promises to transform drug development by accurately identifying proteins that can be targeted by medicines, addressing a major hurdle in clinical research.

13/09/2025

𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔: 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑷𝒖𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅?

A new study by researchers at IIT Bombay and the University of Hyderabad analyzed 40 years of data from India's semi-arid tropics, revealing that farm productivity depends less on size and more on access to crucial resources like inputs, credit, and markets. The long-standing inverse relationship between farm size and productivity was found to be less significant than previously thought and has weakened over time, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of smallholders.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/do-small-farms-outperform-big-ones-study-reveals-changes-over-40-years-india to deep-dive!
IIT Bombay University of Hyderabad

Analysing data from 1975 to 2014, a study examining changes through three waves over 40 years by researchers at IIT Bombay and the University of Hyderabad found that productivity in India's semi-arid tropics depends less on farm size and more on access to inputs, credit, and markets.

12/09/2025

𝗘𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀: 𝗔 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Imagine a bustling tropical rainforest in India, 40 million years ago, teeming with diverse life from towering trees to tiny insects, all preserved in golden amber. New research published in iScience reveals this incredible Eocene ecosystem, detailing how complex interactions between plants and arthropods, from pollinators to decomposers, allowed biodiversity to flourish under stable, warm climates. This deep-time perspective offers vital clues for how our modern rainforests might adapt to ongoing climate change, emphasizing the critical need to protect not just species, but their intricate ecological relationships.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/eocene-fossils-reveal-how-complex-life-thrived-tropical-india to deep-dive!

India's Eocene rainforests, preserved in amber, offer a vivid window into how intricate ecological webs sustained biodiversity through past climate shifts, providing crucial insights for our warming world.

11/09/2025

𝐓𝐨𝐚𝐝'𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭: 𝐀 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

The Asian Common Toad, a familiar brown sight across Asia, has a surprising secret. While its widespread presence has made it an invasive threat in places like Madagascar, its mating ritual is a marvel of nature. With the first monsoon rains, males shed their dull appearance, turning a vibrant yellow. This isn't just for show; new research reveals this dynamic color change is a crucial visual signal, helping them quickly distinguish females from other males in the chaotic, time-limited breeding frenzy. It's a brilliant strategy for rapid mate recognition.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/how-colour-changing-helps-male-asian-common-toads-avoid-other-males-mating-frenzy to deep-dive!

In the chaotic phenomenon of explosive toad breeding, males' ability to rapidly change from brown to bright yellow acts as a crucial visual signal, helping them avoid other males.

10/09/2025

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀!
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝟯𝟳 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁!

𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠’𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨: An Earth-image decoder that works with natural language, a detailed map of the groundwater and heavy metal pollution spots in Kannur, Kerala, a mathematically designed wave breaker to protect coastal structures, feral dogs Vs vultures at carcass dumping sites, and lessons from a ten-year study of young adults living with cancer.

In our Regional Section, we have stories in Hindi and Marathi. There is also STEM news from other Indian media outlets and public STEM events to attend. Don’t forget to check out Scidle - the science wordle, for a new science word every day.

Read: https://researchmatters.substack.com/p/ai-remote-sensing-groundwater-mapping, subscribe and do share amongst your network!

09/09/2025

𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞-𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

A groundbreaking study from India offers a comprehensive look at the long-term outcomes and unique challenges faced by adolescents and young adults battling bone sarcomas. Using novel, cost-effective treatment protocols, researchers have achieved survival rates comparable to international standards, even in low-income and middle-income countries. The study also sheds light on critical psychosocial burdens, including job interruptions and fertility concerns, emphasizing the need for holistic patient support.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/ten-year-study-psychosocial-burden-bone-sarcomas-young-adults-offers-hope-and-presents to deep-dive!

A decade long study of adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 39 years who had histopathologically confirmed, high-grade bone sarcomas on their treatment regime and social relationships offers unprecedented insights.

06/09/2025

𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

Imagine floating cities or airports that can better withstand powerful ocean waves. Researchers have developed a new model showing how porous walls, combined with understanding seabed slopes, can significantly reduce the forces acting on these massive structures. This breakthrough could lead to safer and more resilient offshore engineering solutions for everything from floating bridges to entire floating communities.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/new-research-porous-walls-could-help-shield-structures-sea to deep-dive!
IIT Guwahati

New research reveals how specially designed porous walls can significantly reduce the impact of ocean waves on floating structures, paving the way for safer and more resilient offshore engineering.

05/09/2025

𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐫

A recent study by researchers from Kannur University, PSG College of Arts and Science, and Karpagam Institute of Technology has uncovered significant heavy metal pollution in the groundwater of the Kannur region in Kerala, India. The team identified alarming levels of lead and arsenic in certain areas, with some concentrations exceeding WHO drinking water guidelines. This critical research, which combines laboratory analysis with statistical and GIS mapping tools, provides local authorities with the precise data needed to implement targeted and effective public health interventions.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/novel-mapping-method-track-kannurs-groundwater-quality-and-heavy-metal-pollution to deep-dive!
Kannur university palayad campus Karpagam Institute of Technology

Researchers have developed a Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HMPI) for the groundwater in Kannur, Kerala, and created a spatial map of groundwater using GIS data.

04/09/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐈

Researchers from IIT Bombay have unveiled AMVG, a groundbreaking AI model designed to interpret complex satellite and drone imagery using natural language. This advancement significantly improves object identification, even with ambiguous prompts, and holds immense potential for disaster response, urban planning, and security. The model's open-source availability is set to accelerate research and development in this critical field.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/say-it-spot-it-new-model-decodes-earth-images-natural-language to deep-dive!

IIT Bombay researchers build a new model, named AMVG, that bridges the gap between how humans prompt and how machines analyse satellite or remote sensing imagery.

02/09/2025

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

New research reveals the incredible adaptability of tigers navigating landscapes shared with humans. From their early explorations to establishing territories, these majestic big cats dynamically adjust their movements based on age, habitat, and human presence. Scientists used GPS tracking and sophisticated modeling to uncover how factors like temperature and human density influence whether a tiger is resting, foraging, or traveling. This vital understanding is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and fostering sustainable coexistence.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/tigers-move-secret-lives-big-cats-human-dominated-world to deep-dive!

University of Maryland Swansea University Cardiff University

Tigers are master adapters, dynamically shifting their movements to survive in landscapes shared with humans, from cautious exploration as youngsters to strategic navigation as adults.

01/09/2025

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬

A fascinating new study uncovers how sand d**es, formed during powerful earthquakes, act as geological time capsules. Researchers found that the intense friction from liquefied sand surging upwards generates enough heat to reset the luminescence signals within mineral grains. This "viscous heating" allows for direct and precise dating of prehistoric seismic events, offering critical insights into our planet's turbulent history and improving seismic hazard assessments. This method overcomes limitations of previous dating techniques.

Read: https://researchmatters.in/news/sand-d**es-reset-their-internal-clocks-during-powerful-earthquakes-shows-new-study to deep-dive!

@@ Gandhinagar

The new study presents a method for predicting the age of the quake that caused a sand d**e using a phenomenon known as luminescence dating.