IT/Technology
![]() Biotech Bets Get Bolder in IndiaBy Peerzada Abrar/ The Economic Times
Turning seaweed into bio fuel was an idea so audacious that most people who heard of it dismissed it as a pipe dream. But for a group of tenacious students at IIT-Madras the naysayers were no deterrent. In just four years, the team of five has successfully transformed a futuristic idea into a new business venture. “The thought of failure didn’t come to me. I saw it as a huge opportunity to apply what I had learnt,” said Sri Sailaja Nori, 25, cofounder of Sea6 Energy, the Bangalore-based startup which has struck a partnership with global industrial enzyme maker Novozymes to create new products to enhance the process of converting seaweed into ethanol. In addition, Sea6 has also developed technology to generate natural gas from the same process. |
![]() Charge Your Smartphone with Solar PowerBy ZEESHAN PATEL & HARSIMRAN JULKA/ The Economic Times
During field visits to the outskirts of Bangalore as a consultant in 2012, Gandharv Bakshi’s mobile phone would constantly run out of power. A casual mention of his frustrations to fashion designer wife led to the emergence of Lumos Design Technology—which makes bags with an inbuilt battery that can power mobile devices through solar power. |
![]() Across the universe, with an appBy Gagandeep Singh Sapra/ The Hindustan Times
I suppose we began the quest when we sang “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” From the world of nursery rhymes to trendy TV series and movies such as the Big Bang theory and Star Trek and to India’s own baby steps in exploring Mars, gazing into the vast universe is now a part of our curiosity cult. |
![]() Indigenous 'eye-in-the-sky' being developed for Indian Air ForceBy Gulshan Luthra
An indigenous AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), that enables the Indian Air Force (IAF) look up to 400 km into Pakistan and China while remaining in the safety of its own airspace, should be available by about 2020, its developer says. |
![]() Agni-IV long-ranged missile test successful, ready for inductionBy Rajat Pandit/ Times of India
India on Monday test-fired its second-most ambitious nuclear missile in the making, the new-generation Agni-IV with a strike range of 4,000 km, and promptly declared it was ready for induction. The over 5,000 km Agni-V missile, in turn, will be tested for the third time later this year. |
![]() Google eating into Wikipedia page views?By Subodh Verma/ Times of India
Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia used by millions around the world, lost nearly 10 per cent of its page-views last year. That's a decline of about 2 billion between December 2012 and December 2013. It's most popular versions are leading the slide: page-views of the English Wikipedia declined by 12 per cent, those of German version slid by 17 per cent and the Japanese version lost 9 per cent. |
![]() Son of the soil keeps things cool with his indigenous gadgetBy Vivek Sinha/ Hindustan Times
The devastating earthquake of 2001 destroyed thousands of homes in western Indian state of Gujarat, but the destruction sparked an idea in the mind of Mansukhbhai Prajapati. |
![]() A machine that kills grain killersBy Nachiket Kelkar/ Hindustan Times
Foodgrain output in India touched an all-time high of 259.29 million tonnes in 2011-12, according to agriculture ministry data. But, according to UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the country wastes about 20 million tonnes of just wheat each year, due to inadequate storage infrastructure. |
![]() Here comes India's first gun for womenBy Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui/ The Times of India
Giving more power to women to defend themselves and as a tribute to December 2012 ganrape victim Nirbhaya, the Indian Ordnance Factory, Kanpur, has manufactured Nirbheek, a .32 bore light weight revolver, India's first firearm designed for women. At 500 grams, it is also the first IOF handgun made of titanium alloy. |
![]() A seeing eye app for indoor useBy Manu P Toms/ Hindustan Times
Dhruv Jain dreams of making systems and devices that enhance mobility and communication for people with disabilities. And it is not an idle dream, he is well on his way to realising it. |