How technology is helping Assam’s rural children learn better

Arifa, Afreen, and Shabana, class VIII students of Milan HS School in Banekutchi of Nalbari district, tied a plastic cover over a leaf of a small plant. The next day, observing the water droplets that had formed inside the cover, they learnt about the process of photosynthesis. Back in their classrooms, they found out from the internet how aquatic and desert plants survive and then prepared a multimedia presentation on photosynthesis of different types of plants. Kaveri Borthakur, their science teacher, says that project-based learning using technology has improved students’…

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Dear parents, take note. Cholera vaccines are less effective for children under 5

Vaccines are helping India wipe out several diseases. When it comes to cholera though, things may be different. A study has found that cholera vaccines provide significantly less protection for children under the age five, a population particularly at risk of dying from the diarrhoeal disease. A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the US conducted a review of literature, which considered seven clinical trials and six observational studies. They found that the standard two-dose vaccine regimen reduced the risk of getting cholera on average by 58% for adults but only…

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Why children of older fathers are smarter, more successful

Sons of older fathers are more intelligent, more focused on their interests and less concerned about fitting in, characteristics typically seen in “geeks’”, says a new study. While previous research has shown that children of older fathers are at a higher risk of some adverse outcomes, including autism and schizophrenia, the study published recently in Translational Psychiatry suggests that children of older fathers may also have certain advantages over their peers in educational and career settings. The researchers from King’s College London and The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine…

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Eyes set on sky, children display drone-flying skills in Lucknow

All eyes were set on the sky as young minds gave wings to their dreams and skills at La Martiniere College ground in Lucknow on Thursday. After learning how to make and control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during a 20-day summer camp, 30 children in the age group of 6-16 years demonstrated their drone-flying skills on the concluding day of the programme. “This is the first time in the country where a platform was provided to the children to ignite their young minds to draw them towards aviation and robotics,”…

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Childhood Cancer: Why Only 1 in 5 Indian Children Survives Cancer

A heavyweight in the category of dangerous diseases, cancer ranks high on the list. It is one of the major causes of death among adult, as well as children, and across the globe. It is alarming how the disease is growing and affecting more and more people every year. As per the National Cancer Registry programme of the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR), one out of eight men today has the possibility of developing cancer in his lifetime (0-74 years). Similarly, one out of nine women has…

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Is Litchi Poisonous? Here’s How Toxins in the Fruit Killed Children in Bihar

This juicy, lovely fruit is a favourite for many but some disturbing news about poisonous litchis has turned many fans away. The incident dates back to 2014 when a number of children died after consuming litchis. Three years later, scientists and experts may have an explanation to why this happened? It maybe a popular summer fruit, but litchis are not that simple in nature. Bihar, the largest producer of litchis in India. It became almost a mystery that why a humble fruit like litchi suddenly turned fatal. Health experts tried…

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