Subhra Priyadarshini

New Delhi

Science scribe, podcaster, multimedia dabbler, AI explorer, keen birder, Chief Editor @NatureInd. Stress-averse, believe in kindness and civil discourse.

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Articles

India to begin construction of gravitational wave project

1 week ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

After nearly a decade of planning, lobbying, and fine-tuning, the Indian government has greenlit the full-scale construction of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory-India (LIGO-India), a world-class gravitational wave observatory. With a formal tender for civil and vacuum works issued this week and a ₹1600 crore (~$190 million USD) construction budget now unlocked, India’s contribution to the global hunt for gravitational waves is shifting from blueprints to brick and steel.
The future of conservation lies in listening, not just science

1 week ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

Conservation science follows a top-down model where experts design projects, collect data, and draft policies while Indigenous communities, the stewards of biodiversity, are left out of decision-making. A new global framework1 challenges this approach and argues that conservation will only succeed if local communities are treated as equal partners in research.
Episode 46: This week in India's science: 14 April 2025

1 week ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

Host: Subhra Priyadarshini; Sound editing: Prince GeorgeHello, I am Subhra Priyadarshini, your host on This Week in India's Science. Here’s a quick roundup of the most important science news from India brought to you every week by Nature India. *****Leather is prized for its durability and luxury appeal. But it has always been better suited to colder climates. What if your favourite leather jacket could keep you cool instead of warm?
Reinventing leather for a warmer world

2 weeks ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

Leather is synonymous with durability, luxury, and function, but is mostly worn in colder climates. In tropics and deserts, leather clothes are impractical. Now, scientists in India and Egypt have developed a ‘cool leather’ suitable for warmer climates1. Researchers from CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI) in India and the Desert Research Centre in Cairo, Egypt have created a smart leather that defies traditional thermoregulation.
Episode 45: This week in India's science: 7 April 2025

2 weeks ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

Host: Subhra Priyadarshini; Sound editing: Prince GeorgeThis Week in India's Science, your weekly audio digest from Nature India. I’m your host, Subhra Priyadarshini. Each week, we bring you a quick roundup of the most important science news from India — perfect for busy listeners on the go. Here are this week’s science headlines from Nature India. Researchers in Tamil Nadu are decoding ancient secrets with aritificial intelligence.
Episode 44: This week in India's science: 31 March 2025

3 weeks ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

Welcome to "This Week in India's Science," a new weekly audio digest from Nature India. I'm your host, Subhra Priyadarshini, Chief Editor of Nature India. Staying updated on the latest scientific developments can be difficult. This podcast brings to you a concise overview of the most important science news from India, perfect for those who may not have the time to read all our stories, or for listeners on the go.
Lifeline on wheels for elephants

1 month ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

A wildlife NGO in Assam has launched India’s first elephant mobile clinic to provide urgent medical care to distressed and captive elephants. Haathi Sewa (Hindi for elephant care) was launched during an international elephant health and treatment camp at Kaziranga National Park in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department. The camp saw veterinarians conduct health assessments on more than 50 elephants, including animals used in anti-poaching patrols and forest conservation efforts.
Episode 42: Biolore: India's most aggressive botanical invaders

1 month ago | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

Thpodcast series presents lesser-known stories from the history of biological sciences in India. This richly researched audio retrospect draws on expert insights, science archives, oral histories, literature reviews and field reportage. delves into foundational science, analyzing its lasting impact on humankind. In this episode of experts Ankila Hiremath, Manzoor Shah, and Ninad Mungi uncover the hidden impact of invasive plant species on India’s biodiversity.
Fruit flies will be passengers on India’s crewed spaceflight

Jan 19, 2025 | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

India’s first crewed space flight Gaganyaan will carry fruit flies to shed light on how space travel affects the biology of living organisms. Space travel exposes organisms to an extraordinary array of stressors, from microgravity and radiation to disrupted circadian rhythms and altered diets. Over time, these conditions can wreak havoc on physiology, accelerating aging, weakening muscles, and altering metabolic processes.
Using maths to identify health risks from plastics

Dec 31, 2024 | nature.com | Subhra Priyadarshini

While the visible toll of plastic waste on ecosystems is well known, the chemical additives embedded in plastics have remained a challenge for scientists to map. Areejit Samal, and his team at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc) in Chennai, have created a framework to understand the impact of these plastic additives — from flame retardants to pigments — using computational toxicology to assess their potential health risks.