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Some of those most active in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic are also the ones most vulnerable to its devastating consequences on mental well-being. In this article, Raddur, an undergraduate student who volunteered at the frontline during the pandemic, writes about the effect of this unprecedented crisis on our mental health and a few small steps we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

From RT-PCR to rapid antibody kits to sewage surveillance — It is easy to become confused by the variety of different tests currently available for COVID-19. In this article, Somdatta explains the different ways in which each of these tests work, the pros and cons of each method, and the nuances involved in interpreting the results obtained from each of these tests.

The pandemic and the consequent lockdown have disrupted classes and access to labs at educational institutions across the country. However, for the undergraduate students of the CUBE program, the lockdown has been a boon. Instead of losing hope, these students have set a precedent by finding creative ways to continue working and learning along with their peers by developing the CUBE home labs and the CUBE chatShaala

Uploading scientific studies to preprint servers before sending them off to journals for peer-review has become a standard practice in the physical and mathematical sciences. However, biologists have been slow in embracing the trend. In this article, Divya examines the advantages offered by as well as the risk associated with the widespread use of preprints during the time of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic, while affecting the lives and work of scientists all over the globe, has also enabled an outpouring of generosity and innovation when it comes to rapid and open sharing of research outputs. During the International Open Access Week 2020, we examine some of the initiatives taken by various national and international organisations to improve global access to COVID-19 research.

Some of the most pressing global concerns of today can only be addressed if disciplinary barriers are breached and a nurturing environment is created to enable free and open exchange of ideas. The echo network is an initiative that aims to facilitate this process by creating a network of like-minded thinkers and bringing them together on a common platform to brainstorm solutions to issues related to human-environment relationships in India.

In August 1817, Robert Tytler, a British surgeon, enters a hut in the Jessore bazaar and encounters a man with diarrhoea and vomiting. Tytler is shaken. This seems like cholera. Within days, dozens more die, and soon, the funeral pyres burn continuously in Calcutta. The cholera epidemic has begun.

Online education comes in shades of grey. In this article, educators, Prashanthi Karyala and Sarita Kamat, bring the voices of teachers, students and parents from across the country to the fore, as they highlight the good, the bad and the ugly faces of online education in India, and the need for inclusive education policies.

Seroprevalence Study in Mumbai: In Conversation with TIFR Scientists -- Part 4 Project Lead -- Ullas Kolthur and Sandeep Juneja Interviewers -- Uma Ramakrishnan (NCBS) and Meena Kharatmal (HBCSE-TIFR)

Seroprevalence Study in Mumbai: In Conversation with TIFR Scientists -- Part 3 Project Lead -- Ullas Kolthur and Sandeep Juneja Interviewers -- Uma Ramakrishnan (NCBS) and Meena Kharatmal (HBCSE-TIFR)