Scientific mop
Clearing oil spills on sea will be easier when the nanosponge developed by scientists from Rice and Penn Universities hits the market. It absorbs 100 times its weight in oil and can be reused
Ride with nature
People in Manipur may be growing their own bicycles if the newly designed ‘bamboo bicycle’ captures their imagination. For, bamboo grows in their backyard and cycling will address health and environmental issues, says Kavita Kanan Chandra
Age no bar
Assisted Reproductive Technology is changing the life of couples who lose children in accidents past their reproductive age. Now they become parents even in their sixties, says Jaideep Sarin
Diehard innovator
As a child, V Jayaprakash attended school for the free mid-day meals, but later developed a passion for science and innovation. Kavita Kanan Chandra met the maker of the portable smokeless stove, who has more innovations lined up for the future
Barefoot engineers
A soaring kite and a sewing machine inspired two brothers in rural Assam to fabricate a windmill to pump water. The windmills have helped the salt farmers in Gujarat, whose operational cost has reduced by 40 percent, says Kavita Kanan Chandra
Sensing touch
Engineers in the University of Pennsylvania have developed a belt-based sensor device called 'viSparsh' that helps visually disabled persons walk freely without hindrances, says Nikhil Walia
One for rural roads
When more SUVs are hitting the road, Abhinav Das plans to unveil his own RUV (Rural Utility Vehicle). Nikil Walia meets the 26-year-old from Delhi, who knows about the roads of rural India
Sun Teller
ATM card holders in villages that go without power for hours need not trek to towns to draw money. Indian start-up, Vortex, has come up with solar-powered Gramateller, says Shudip Talukdar
Biogas buses
As many as 120 Delhi buses may soon be running on biogas produced from a plant to be set up inside Kesopur Sewage Treatment Plant in West Delhi, says Ankur Paliwal
Torchbearers
The steely resolve of two Vidarbha farmers broke the myth that biogas plants will not work in their villages, which led to a proliferation of natural fuel making units, says Aparna Pallavi
Shooting guns
Turning murder weapons into productive tools is not just a lofty idea for Bihar police, who have been practising it by converting seized pistols into hoes and hedge clippers, says Imran Khan
The making of Jugnu
Fifty IIT-Kanpur students worked day and night to make Jugnu, a nanosat that was launched recently. It was built through out-of-the box thinking and plenty of sacrifice, recall the students
Cool deal
Now, you have a solar cap to keep you cool when you are out in the sun! At Rs.400 the cap has no recurring cost, since the tiny fan fitted in the cap runs on solar power, says Mauli Buch
Road to glory
A major plan is on the anvil to spruce up Bangalore roads to international standards. The unique public-private initiative will see the involvement of corporates like Biocon and Infosys
Historic launch
Chennai based SRM University is set to make history by launching a nano-satellite designed and built by its students to monitor greenhouse gases from Sriharikota today. A report