Thorns in different plant species have always been an interesting subject for botanists. Be it rose plants or cactus, they use thorns to protect themselves from herbivorous animals. It was long unknown to researchers about the genetic development of thorns in plants. This has been clarified recently through the discovery of how genetic mutations can…
Experiencing a Giant Sequoia is more than just an experience with nature; it’s an experience of sheer impossibility. Within the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, a veritable forest full of these ancient giants defies our understanding of biology and the scale of living organisms. Consider how truly large an organism must be to exceed the…
NEW DELHI: Amid a fragile ceasefire after the failed peace talks in Islamabad, one of Iran’s best-known filmmakers, Majid Majidi, told TOI from Tehran—where he has stepped away from cinema and dived into relief work, attaching himself with the Iranian Red Crescent — that the war he witnessed firsthand has irrevocably reshaped everyday life across…
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed his attack on Pope Leo XIV, escalating an unusual public clash between the White House and the Vatican that has unsettled sections of his conservative support base.Posting on social media, Trump said, “Will someone please tell Pope Leo that for Iran to have a nuclear bomb is absolutely…
Saudi Arabia announces tough penalties for Hajj 1447 permit violations. As preparations intensify for Hajj 1447 AH, Saudi Arabia has laid out a stringent penalty framework aimed at regulating pilgrim movement and preventing unauthorised participation. The Ministry of Interior’s latest announcement makes it clear that both individuals and facilitators who bypass permit rules will face…
TOI Correspondent from Washington: MAGA supremo Donald Trump’s theological skirmish with Pope Leo — spiritual head of more than a billion Catholics — has triggered a backlash from his own conservative base, with Republican leaders, Christian activists and late-night comedians converging, for once, on the same punchline.What might once have been dismissed as another burst…
A US Navy destroyer on Tuesday intercepted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran, a day after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade aimed at pressuring Tehran, according to a US official cited by Reuters.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the vessels had departed Chabahar port in the Gulf of…
DHAKA: About 250 people, including children, were feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations said on Tuesday, reports Ahsan Tasnim . “The trawler, which departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was on its way to Malaysia, reportedly sank due to heavy winds,…
Quote of the day by Rosalind Franklin (Image source: Britannica) Some scientists stand out not only for their discoveries, but also for how clearly they saw responsibility and progress. One such person was Rosalind Franklin. She was famous for her groundbreaking work on DNA structure, and she also believed strongly that scientific work should have…
Former US President Joe Biden preferred Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer as his running mate in 2020 but ultimately “had to choose” Kamala Harris, according to a report cited by The Atlantic.The profile was published on Sunday and focused on Whitmer as a potential 2028 presidential contender. It claimed Biden “wanted it to be Whitmer” after…
