In 1907, a chemist was chasing a shellac substitute when a hard resin changed the age of plasticIn an unassuming quest for new industrial materials, Leo Baekeland ignited a transformative shift. His pursuit of a shellac alternative led...
04 Jun, 2026, 05.29 PM IST
In 1844, Horace Wells watched a laughing-gas stunt hide pain in plain sight, and it wasn’t just a party trick: It changed anesthesiaPicture the year 1844: a dentist named Horace Wells observes a surreal scene where a man inhaling nitrous oxide, famed for inducing laughte...
30 May, 2026, 02.54 PM IST
In 1933, one unexpected waxy deposit inside a reactor helped create modern plastic foreverA chance discovery in a 1933 laboratory experiment led to polyethylene, a plastic now vital for packaging and industry. Chemists Eric Fawce...
20 May, 2026, 04.45 PM IST
A 16-year-old South African teen turned orange peels into a material that could help farms save waterA young South African inventor has captured global attention with a groundbreaking idea. She has developed a material from orange peels tha...
20 May, 2026, 04.25 PM IST
In 1826, John Walker scraped chemicals off a stick,and the accident helped create the modern matchstickIn 1826, John Walker accidentally invented the friction match. This discovery changed how people made fire. Before matches, starting a fire...
19 May, 2026, 06.21 PM IST
Scientists say dogs can smell each other’s emotions, and react differently to joy or stressDogs possess a remarkable ability to detect and respond to the emotions of other dogs through smell. Scientific studies reveal that canine ...
19 May, 2026, 06.19 PM IST
In 1938, Roy Plunkett investigated a blocked gas cylinder during routine lab work: The waxy residue inside became Teflon and reshaped industrial chemistryThe year was 1938 when a gas cylinder unexpectedly jammed, leading chemist Roy Plunkett to stumble upon a curious white material. This rema...
18 May, 2026, 04.29 PM IST
A construction site buried by Mount Vesuvius may have finally explained why Roman concrete lasted for thousands of yearsAncient Roman concrete's remarkable durability, long attributed to luck, is now understood as a result of a sophisticated "hot mixing" proc...
11 May, 2026, 05.22 PM IST
In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev fell asleep while organizing chemical elements: and woke up with the periodic tableIn the 1860s, Dmitri Mendeleev revolutionized chemistry by organizing elements into a periodic table. His audacious act of leaving empty sp...
09 May, 2026, 06.20 PM IST
In 1856, William Henry Perkin Failed a Chemistry Experiment and Found a Purple Residue Instead: Leading to the Establishment of the First Synthetic Dye IndustryA failed experiment in 1856 led to a remarkable discovery. William Perkin found a substance that stained fabrics a vibrant purple. This led...
05 May, 2026, 06.39 PM IST
Why Putting a Bowl of Salt in Your Room Can Quietly Reduce DampnessDiscover a simple trick to combat dampness in your home. A bowl of salt, a time-tested solution, effectively absorbs excess moisture. Scien...
18 Apr, 2026, 01.03 PM IST
IIT Guwahati researchers claim new method to delay onset of Alzheimer'sThe reasearch team proposed the application of a low-voltage electric field, and the use of ‘trojan peptides’ to arrest aggregation of neur...
20 May, 2020, 03.43 PM IST
Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan to deliver lecture in Delhi on January 8The event is aimed at motivating young Indian students to plan their careers effectively by interacting with speakers from the UK.
28 Dec, 2015, 01.47 PM IST
Royal Society seeks greater interaction between India and UKBritain's prestigious Royal Society will try to foster greater interaction between India and the UK, said India-born Nobel Laureate Venkatr...
25 Jun, 2015, 11.06 PM IST
Indian-origin Nobel laureate Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan to head Royal Society in UKIndia-born Nobel laureate Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has been confirmed as president elect of Britain's prestigious Royal Society.
20 Mar, 2015, 12.56 AM IST
Hyderabad scientist Dr B Mahipal Reddy gets Royal Society fellowshipSome of his contributions are already implemented in the chemical industry and some more are at different stages of exploitation.
05 Sep, 2014, 05.02 PM IST
Cipla Chairman Yusuf Hamied donates Rs 8 crore for chemistry educationHamied has donated Rs eight crore to it to support an innovative chemistry education programme in India for less advantaged school students.
10 Feb, 2014, 08.59 PM IST