New Photodetector, Subsurface Ocean, New Catalyst, Rock Glaciers, Railway Scheduling and more...
Weekly Newsletter | Issue #12 - 19 Mar, 2025
Greetings from Research Matters!
Do you have a research publication or upcoming events you would like us to cover in the newsletter? Email us at editors@researchmatters.in.
This week, check out our comic about sentient photons' journey from Betelgeuse to a telescope on Earth. It shows how objects are as old as they are far while looking out into the universe.
On this week's stories - a new ultrafast, self-powered photodetector; the role of the subsurface ocean in tropical cyclones; a new nickel-cobalt catalyst to convert carbon dioxide into methane; mapping rock glaciers in Western Himalayas; and Railway scheduling. Check out our regional section for stories in Hindi, Marathi and Kannada. We also have a podcast in Kannada in collaboration with Janasuddi. There are also stories from other media and events happening this week. Don’t forget to check out Scidle - the science wordle, for a new science word every day.
Stories in this edition
A novel self-powered, fast-performance photodetector from IIT Delhi | IIT Delhi
A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has created a cutting-edge photodetector that could greatly enhance high-speed optical communication.
Subsurface ocean's influence on tropical cyclone formation | Princeton University, IIT Bombay, Chinese Academy of Sciences, others
An international collaboration looks at the role of the subsurface ocean, especially a depth referred to as 26 °C isothermal depth, in the birth of tropical cyclones.
New Nickel-Cobalt catalyst to convert carbon dioxide into cleaner fuel | BITS Pilani, Sorbonne Université
Scientists have developed a novel nickel and cobalt catalyst that is extremely efficient at converting carbon dioxide into methane.
A detailed map of Rock Glaciers in the Western Himalayas | University of Kashmir, IIT Bombay, IISER Pune, IIT Roorkee
A new study brings attention to a different type of glacier - Rock glaciers, which are landforms composed of rocks and ice, and their importance.
How Researchers Are Optimising Indian Railways—Without Touching Train or Track | IIT Bombay
Here’s how IIT Bombay and Indian Railway researchers are making Indian railways more efficient by grouping non-daily trains together for the timetabling process.
The Photon's Guide to the Galaxy
Science Games & Puzzles
Try the science wordle game - Scidle, and share your score with the world!
Regional
Hindi (हिन्दी):
जल में स्थित भारी धातुओं को खोजने में सक्षम आईआईटी मुंबई का अनोखा संवेदक
Marathi(मराठी):
पाण्यातील हानिकारक जड धातू शोधणारा आयआयटी मुंबईचा अभिनव संवेदक
Kannada(ಕನ್ನಡ)
ಯುರೇನಿಯಂ ಗಿರಣಿಗಳ ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ಇಟ್ಟಿಗೆ: ಭಾಭಾ ಅಣುಶಕ್ತಿ ಸಂಶೋದನಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರದ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳ ಶೋಧ
Brought to you in collaboration with Janasuddi by Dr Kollegala Sharma and team.
Research Beat | Research-based news in other media
What Is Slowing India's Rocketship In Space Economy? New Report Says... - NDTV
Research Misconduct in Indian Universities: Gaming the System - The Wire
ISRO SpaDex successfully completes undocking, sets stage for Chandrayaan-4 - Hindustan Times
Why India’s Best Researchers Often Fail To Build Real-World Technologies - Swarajya
Aditya-L1 mission: scientists observe a flareless coronal mass ejection - The Hindu
AIRSA urges CSIR to raise scientist positions age limit to 40 for fairer opportunities - The Hindu
‘There is very little understanding and tolerance for snakes’ - The Hindu
Bengaluru museums transform into dynamic learning spaces - Deccan Herald
At sundown, a sea of turtles - Deccan Herald
Shivkumar Kalyanaraman Takes Charge As CEO Of Anusandhan National Research Foundation | NDTV Profit
Events
Hackathon: RHAPSODY 3.0 presents CYBERTRAIL: The Ultimate CTF Challenge | IISc - 21-22 March 2025
Online Panel Discussion: Uninsured - Extreme Weather Events | CSE - 21 March 2025
Lecture: Recasting the Iron Age: Coastal Tamil Urn Burial Sites and Harappan Links | SGB - 21 March 2025
Kaapi with Kuriosity: Curation as Misinformation | ICTS - 22 March 2025
Programmes on Art, Technology, Nanobots and more | SGB - 22-23 March 2025
Lecture: Beyond the Horizon: Testing the black hole paradigm | ICTS - 24 March 2025
Colloquium: Dark Energy Dynamics, Spatial Curvature, Neither, or Both? | ICTS - 24 March 2025