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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Buildings & asphalt surfaces, not just climate, heating up Bengaluru, finds IISc study
Bengaluru: Bengaluru is warming up — and not just because of global climate change. A new scientific study has found that the city itself is becoming a heat trap because of the way its land is being used. This is called Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where temperatures inside the city are significantly higher than in nearby rural or forested areas. The reason? Concrete and asphalt surfaces absorb and store heat, while the loss of green spaces and waterbodies removes natural cooling systems. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) study is one of the first to provide micro-level data, showing exactly how land use choices at even the smallest scales — like an individual plot or street — can affect urban temperatures. If Bengaluru wants to stay liveable in the coming decades, reversing some of these trends is not optional; it's essential. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru What has changed in city? Researchers from IISc and partner institutes studied satellite images from 1973 to 2025 to map how Bengaluru's landscape has changed over the decades. The findings are stark: ■ Built-up areas have expanded by 1,078%. In 1973, just 7.9% of Bengaluru was built-up (meaning buildings, roads, and other paved areas). Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fernandina Beach: Here's The Average Price of a 6-Hour Gutter Upgrade Read More Undo by Taboola by Taboola In 2025, this reached 87.6%. ■ Vegetation cover has reduced by 88%. Parks, tree cover, and open green spaces have disappeared across large parts of the city. ■ Waterbodies have shrunk by 79%. The number of lakes has fallen from 756 in 1973 to 216 in 2023. Many remaining lakes are encroached or polluted. How much hotter is the city? The researchers used satellite-based thermal data to calculate Land Surface Temperature (LST) — the temperature of the ground, buildings, and other surfaces. ■ Maximum LST recorded: 48°C ■ Minimum LST recorded: 29.8°C ■ Average LST: 38.6°C What else was identified? ■ 15.4 sqkm of heat hotspots: Areas that regularly record very high temperatures. ■ 23.8 sqkm of heat sinks: Pockets that remain cooler, usually because of green cover or waterbodies. ■ 545.3 sqkm of the city face unfavourable ecological conditions due to high temperatures and poor thermal comfort. Why is this happening? Heat islands form because of how cities are built and planned. In Bengaluru: ■ Buildings, roads, and pavements absorb solar heat during the day and release it at night, keeping local temperatures high. ■ Trees and lakes, which usually cool the environment through shade and evaporation, have been removed or degraded. ■ The city's flat terrain means there is little natural drainage of hot air. Detailed land use & temperature findings The researchers went beyond broad city-level data and looked at micro-level patterns, even analysing land use within small plots, the size of an individual housing site. Their key findings include: ■ Barren land and fully urbanised areas are the hottest. Fully barren areas had an average surface temperature of 39.9°C; fully urban (concrete-heavy) ones recorded 39.7°C. ■ Vegetated areas and waterbodies are the coolest, while those dominated by waterbodies having temperatures of around 31°C. ■ Mixed-use areas (some vegetation, some built-up) have moderate temperatures. The more green space a plot retains, the cooler it stays. UHI impact on daily life ■ Higher electricity bills (more fans & air-conditioners). ■ Increased risk of heat stress and health problems, especially for the elderly and children. ■ More pollution, as heat worsens air quality. ■ Reduced quality of life, with fewer comfortable outdoor spaces. HOW TO IMPROVE The IISc researchers have made specific recommendations: ■ Policy suggestions — Retain at least 30% green space at the plot level. New buildings shouldn't cover the entire plot with concrete or structures. — Create mini-forests in each city ward. — Rejuvenate lakes and prevent further encroachments. — Connect scattered tree patches to create continuous green corridors. — Promote green roofs and walls. — Use reflective building materials to reduce heat absorption. ■ Planning & governance — Incorporate these findings into the upcoming Bengaluru Master Plan 2031. — Involve local communities in managing neighbourhood green spaces, parks, and lakes. — Strengthen decentralised governance as per the Nagarpalika Act, so local wards can manage their own green areas.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Forest dept & IISc experts take up Rs 4.7-crore study to reduce human-elephant conflict
Bengaluru: Exploring scientific solutions to reduce human-elephant conflict across Karnataka, the forest department Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for landscape-level conservation of Asian elephants. Renowned ecologist and elephant expert from IISc, Prof Raman Sukumar, and Karnataka chief wildlife warden Prabhash Chandra Ray signed the commencement of the Rs 4.7-crore project, fully funded by the forest department. Admitting an increase in elephant conflicts across Karnataka, forest minister Eshwar Khandre attributed the problem to urbanisation, which has resulted in the fragmentation of elephant habitats. "Expressways have come up on the elephant corridor, developmental works have come up. All these have pushed elephants out of forests into human habitats, forcing us to coexist with each other. There 's an urgent need to create awareness on how to coexist," he pointed out, stating that over 150 elephants in just Hassan and Kodagu are living outside of forests. Prof Sukumar said, "As instances of conflict are being reported everywhere, we need to scientifically understand why this is happening and then take management actions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 I migliori asset da tenere d'occhio prima della fine del 2025 eToro Market Updates Scopri di più Undo We can't eliminate the conflict completely, but we can bring it to a tolerable level. As part of the programme, scientific studies will be conducted in all elephant habitats, especially the Mysore elephant reserve, which has India's highest elephant population, and we'll look at a variety of management methods to mitigate conflicts. " You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The five-year study will address strengthening habitat connectivity by mapping elephant corridors and evaluating barriers using satellite telemetry, monitoring demographic and physiological health of jumbos, understanding behaviour and conflict propensity, elephant communication and acoustic monitoring, and predictive modelling of conflict hotspots. The project also involves a biannual review of the study, annual reports, and a real-time data dashboard.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Forest Department and IISc sign MoU to advance science-based conservation
In order to advance science-based conservation of the Asian elephant (elephas maximus), the Karnataka Forest Department and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Tuesday signed a MoU to implement a five-year collaborative project titled 'Landscape-Level Management of the Asian Elephant in the Mysore Elephant Reserve'. The collaboration aims to generate a robust scientific foundation for mitigating human-elephant conflict and ensuring long-term conservation of the Asian elephants across Karnataka's ecologically sensitive and conflict-prone regions. Integrated technology The project will integrate technologies such as satellite telemetry, camera traps, acoustic sensors, and agent-based models to inform targeted interventions and improve coexistence outcomes. The project will address six core objectives — strengthening habitat connectivity: mapping elephant corridors and evaluating barriers to movement using satellite telemetry, camera traps, and GIS models; monitoring demographic and physiological health: assessing population dynamics, body condition, and stress indicators through non-invasive sampling (e.g. dung hormone assays); understanding behaviour and conflict propensity: studying crop-raiding patterns, social learning, and identifying high-conflict individuals through social network analysis; elephant communication and acoustic monitoring: cataloguing elephant vocalisations, particularly in conflict contexts, to develop sound-based deterrents and warning systems; predictive modelling of conflict hotspots: integrating ecological and behavioural data to forecast future HEC zones under various land-use scenarios, and developing a 10-year Strategic management plan: creating a conflict mitigation toolbox (CMT) and strategic action plan (SAP) that informs policy and practice. ₹4.74 crore project The project will be executed between 2025–2029 and the total financial outlay is ₹4.74 crore, which will be funded by the Forest Department. Besides there would be biannual review meetings, annual reports, and a real-time data dashboard and the field sites will be spread across over 15 forest divisions and protected areas in southern Karnataka. 'Modern technology will be used to protect elephant corridors and habitats in order to control the increasing elephant-human conflict in the State and protect the crops of farmers on the edge of the forest areas,' said Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre. He further said that elephant-human conflict is common in Hassan and Kodagu, causing loss of life and crop damage, and the department is taking all possible steps to control it.
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First Post
21 hours ago
- Science
- First Post
Axiom-4 mission: The 7 India-specific experiments Shubhanshu Shukla did in space
Axiom-4 was not merely an exploratory mission but a thoroughly scientific mission as astronauts conducted a host of experiments in the space. Here are the seven Indian experiments that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla conducted at the International Space Sation (ISS). The main idea behind those experiments was to understand how space interacts with the life as we know it. read more Group Captain Shukla is the first Indian to go to the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian to go to space. (Photo: Nasa/PTI) Axiom-4 was not mere merely an exploratory mission, but a thoroughly scientific mission that saw more than 60 experiments conducted at the International Space Station (ISS). Seven of those experiments were designed by Indian institutes. With his flight to space, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla did not just script by becoming the first Indian to go to the ISS and only the second Indian to go to space, but he also laid the foundation for India's human spaceflight ambitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The experiments that Shukla and his fellow astronauts —Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary— conducted were intended to understand the effect of space's microgravity on humans and other living organisms. The idea was to understand how space interacts with life. ALSO READ: As Shubhanshu Shukla goes to space, India marks new chapter in spacefaring 'For India, the experiments at Axiom-4 will provide learnings that will go into supporting India's Gaganyaan, space station, and lunar landing programmes. Axiom-4 is a befitting follow-up to Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. Decade after mastering the basics, India has now advanced to bold scientific endeavours in space,' said Prof. Aloke Kumar, who heads a lab working on space applications at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Here are the seven Indian experiments that Shukla took with him to the ISS. An experiment to understand the impact of microgravity radiation edible microalgae developed by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB) and National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) An experiment for sprouting salad seeds in Space with relevance to crew nutrition developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad. An experiment to understand the survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptome of the eutardigrade paramacrobiotus, specially the BLR strain, in space, developed by IISc eutardigrade paramacrobiotus are a type of tardigrades, an eight-legged microorganism known for their extraordinary resilience, surviving in temperatures in the 0-150*C range and surviving radiation and even space vacuum. An experiment to understand the effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity developed by Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine under the DBT. An experiment to analyse human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity developed by IISc. An experiment to understand the comparative growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria on urea and nitrate in microgravity developed by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB). An experiment to understand the impact of microgravity on growth and yield parameters in food crop seeds developed by the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Dept. of Space, and College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University. Prof. Kumar of IISc Bengalore, who is also the MTech advisor of Shukla, previously told Firstpost that one needs to stay humble despite the excitement as space is completely unforgiving. 'The main purpose of Axiom 4 and other such missions is to learn about space. We should stay humble despite accomplishments as the space is completely unforgiving. We are aiming to learn as much as possible before taking major leaps like going to the Moon or setting up our space station,' said Kumar.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Immune cells' fat blocks brain's ability to clean Alzheimer's plaques
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder and a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behaviour. As symptoms become more severe, the disease can seriously affect a person's ability to perform tasks that would otherwise be deemed routine, like brushing teeth, making a meal or even recognising family members. For many years, the leading theory has been that Alzheimer's is caused when two harmful proteins called amyloid-beta and tau accumulate in the brain. This pile-up sets off a chain of events, eventually damaging nerve cells and leading to memory loss, confusion, and mood changes. This destruction doesn't happen overnight. It begins years, even decades before symptoms appear. In 2021, an estimated 57 million people worldwide were affected by dementia, with Alzheimer's contributing to 60-70% of the cases. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's but there are treatments that can slow symptoms and improve quality of life. It isn't surprising that in the ongoing search for answers, scientists are increasingly turning their attention from neurons to their lesser-known but equally critical neighbours: microglia, the brain's resident immune cells. In a new study published in Immunity, researchers led by Gaurav Chopra at Purdue University have uncovered how fat metabolism in microglia may be a key driver of disease progression. 'This study is pretty interesting and part of a growing body of studies indicating the role of fat metabolism problems in cells around amyloid plaques,' Indian Institute of Science professor Deepak Nair said. The lipid link In healthy brains, microglia serve as surveillance cells, clearing away waste products and toxic proteins like amyloid-beta (Aβ), the sticky molecule that forms the hallmark plaques in Alzheimer's. This clean-up process helps protect neurons from damage. But in Alzheimer's patients this mechanism fails. 'The big question was: how and why are microglia no longer able to eat up or clear these plaques?' said Priya Prakash, a co-lead author of the paper. 'This isn't a new observation. Dr. Alzheimer himself noted fat vacuoles in glial cells over a century ago, but their functional significance has remained unclear until now.' The study identified DGAT2, an enzyme that converts free fatty acids into triacylglycerols (TAGs), the main component of lipid droplets, as a key player. In both mouse models and post-mortem human brain samples from patients with late-stage Alzheimer's, the researchers found that microglia near amyloid plaques have high DGAT2 expression and are bloated with lipid droplets, particularly in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory. 'We see that the proximity of microglia to plaques correlates with lipid droplet size. The closer they are, the fatter they get,' Prakash noted. What causes the lipid overload? According to the study, Aβ exposure triggers a metabolic chain reaction. Microglia start converting free fatty acids into fats stored inside lipid droplets. Over time, this lipid build-up disrupts their ability to engulf and digest more Aβ, setting up a vicious cycle: more plaques lead to more fat, which leads to more dysfunction. The research team used advanced imaging, lipidomic analysis, and metabolomics to track how microglia's lipid profiles changed over time in response to Aβ exposure. Initially, microglia accumulated toxic free fatty acids. Later, with the help of the DGAT2 enzyme, they converted these fatty acids into triacylglycerols and stored them in lipid droplets. To test whether this lipid build-up could be reversed, the researchers used genetically engineered mice that mimicked human Alzheimer's, known as 5xFAD mice. Two methods were used to reduce DGAT2 activity: a pharmacological inhibitor, currently in clinical trials for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and a custom-designed PROTAC-like degrader that targets DGAT2 specifically in microglia. 'When we blocked DGAT2, we saw reduced fat accumulation in microglia and restoration of their ability to clear amyloid plaques. Even a one-week treatment in aged mice with heavy pathology drastically reduced the plaque burden by over 50% and significantly reduced neuronal damage markers,' Prakash said. However, Prof. Nair cautioned that the animal model used in this study is an accelerated Alzheimer's disease model that relies on Aβ pathology, so the findings may not be equally applicable to all forms or stages of the disease. A fat-filled puzzle Lipid droplets are not inherently bad. In fact, they help cells survive stress by safely storing excess fat. But in microglia that are chronically exposed to Aβ, this once-protective response turns harmful. The study's authors suggested that microglia sacrifice their protective immune function in exchange for lipid safety and that this trade-off may be a key step in Alzheimer's progression. The study also uncovered a notable sex-based difference: female mice accumulated more lipid droplets in their microglia and showed more severe microglial impairment than males. This echoed real-world data that show women face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. Because DGAT2 is expressed in many cell types throughout the body, targeting it systemically could lead to unwanted side effects. The team's microglia-specific degrader represents an early but promising step towards cell-selective therapy. 'This is a beautiful proof of concept,' Prof. Nair said. 'We've had over 100 drugs in clinical trials for Alzheimer's in the past 20 years, and very few have succeeded. The disease is complex in its origin — it's not caused by one thing.' While the amyloid cascade hypothesis has dominated the field for decades, more recent theories incorporate inflammation, tau protein tangles, metabolic dysfunction, and now, lipid metabolism. 'In brain diseases, homeostasis slowly breaks down until the system is overwhelmed,' Prof. Nair said. 'If we can control just three or four critical pathways, lipid metabolism being one of them, it might be enough to slow down that collapse. 'And slowing down matters. A five-year delay in Alzheimer's onset would significantly reduce the socioeconomic burden of the disease.' Manjeera Gowravaram has a PhD in RNA biochemistry and works as a freelance science writer.
