-
Detecting Kala-Azar Parasite: Novel Method Developed by Researchers from University of Dhaka
In the tropical region, a neglected life-threatening disease is visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. This disease is prevalent in approximately 60 countries worldwide, including Bangladesh. The Mymensingh belt in Bangladesh, in particular, has a higher incidence of this disease. In the country, 45 districts are in the endemic stage of kala-azar. Research indicates that…
-
CAM-SUST Researchers Detect Preliminary Asteroid
Researchers from CAM-SUST, the Copernicus Astronomical Memorial of the SUST (Shahjalal University of Science and Technology), have identified a preliminary asteroid by analyzing raw space images provided by NASA. Small stone-like objects orbiting the sun are generally known as asteroids. Their size range can be from small dust particles to 600 miles in diameter. Typically,…
-
Beyond Boundaries: How Our Brain Construct Spatial Maps
When you visit a new city for the first time, you have to roam around for a while to find destination. In a new neighborhood, you often find yourself repeatedly checking Google Maps or asking locals, “Hey, which way is this place?” Instead of reaching your destination, you sometimes lose your way! However, your brain…
-
Parasitic Tale: The Jewel Wasp and its ‘Zombie’ Cockroach
The scientific name of the creature is Ampulex compressa. The common name is the Jewel Wasp, or in Bengali, it is known as “Jewel Bolta (জুয়েল বোলতা).” It is mainly found in the African and Asian tropics. Its length is around one inch or slightly smaller. The exterior of its body has a beautiful coloration.…
-
Neuralink’s Ambitious Journey: Exploring the Potential and Challenges of Brain-Computer Interfaces
The human brain is the most complex biological structure known to date. We still don’t fully understand how our brain works. However, advancements in neuroscience have not halted. From ~4,000 BCE to the present, researchers have continuously achieved new milestones in neuroscientific research. Neuroscientists have made significant progress in mapping the intricate functions of over…
-
Virgin Birth in the Animal Kingdom: A Comparative Exploration of Asexual Reproduction
“Virgin Birth,” meaning giving birth to offspring without mating with a male, has been a mythical story and historical account associated with various ancient deities like Mars from Roman mythology, Horus from ancient Egyptian mythology, Kuanyin from ancient Chinese mythology, and Jesus in some Abrahamic religion. All of them were believed to have been born…
-
Chimpanzees and Us: How Genetic Evidence Reveals Shared Ancestry
We share common ancestry with chimpanzees. And the shared ancestry becomes not only obvious in the anatomy but also in the DNA level. Today, let’s set out on a journey to explore the connection with our closest relatives. In our search for proof of an ancestral link with our fellow cousins, the chimpanzees, let’s methodically…
-
“Prophetic circumcision” during sleep – A case of paraphimosis
1. Next to the village school, Alif is playing cricket. He is a young child; he will turn six to seven years old next month. He’s been playing with his friends for quite a while. The evening has come, and now his grandfather is taking him home. After arriving at the house, Alif sits down…
-
Botanists Uncover Genetic Basis for Color Evolution in Monkeyflowers
Monkeyflowers are a type of plant that comes in a variety of colors, ranging from yellow to pink to deep red-orange. However, some species of monkeyflowers lost their yellow pigment about 5 million years ago. In a recent study published in the scientific journal Science, researchers from the University of Connecticut explain the genetic changes…