6000-year-old flatworm egg is the oldest confirmed case of schistosomiasis

Paleopathologists found a 6000-year-old schistosome egg, (which causes the dreaded disease schistosomiasis or bilharzia in developing countries today) in a child's remains in ancient Mesopotamia. They believe the find points to the major role agricultural technologies played in the spread of infectious diseases among humans.

http://news.sciencemag.org/archaeology/2014/06/modern-parasite-discovered-ancient-graveyard

Andhra's large-scale organic farming experiment

Agricultural scientists from universities aren't very convinced about the methods followed at the 30-lakh-acre pesticide-free farming experiment in Andhra.
http://forbesindia.com/article/real-issue/andhras-pesticidefree-farming-an-inconclusive-experiment/38018/1

On the chances of Sun turning around Ranbaxy

A short piece on Sun's chances with reviving Ranbaxy. Most analysts I spoke to thought the valuation was too high for a company with so many regulatory problems. http://forbesindia.com/article/big-bet/sun-has-a-better-shot-than-most-at-ranbaxy-turnaround/37664/1

Fund crunch follows talent crunch at OSDD

This month, Forbes India published my article on how a talent crunch is hampering progress for India's open source drug discovery program. Yet, this program is very valuable in the training and exposure it provides to pharmaceutical researchers and the expertise it will create for the drug development industry, going forward. Sadly, soon after my article was published, there were news reports on OSDD running out of funds, because the cabinet did not sanction the earmarked funds in time. Now, OSDD has to wait till the elections are over for the funding cycle to start again. See Business World's report here:  http://www.businessworld.in/news/economy/funds-crunch-hits-india-s-drug-development-project/1319301/page-1.html . A pathetic state of affairs.

My article here: http://forbesindia.com/article/big-bet/the-collateral-benefits-of-indias-open-source-drug-discovery-programme/37514/1

School for Politicians

A civic leadership incubator program attempts to train political aspirants. My story in Open.
http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/school-for-politicians

Remembering Paul Erdos

My story for The Caravan where I spoke to Indian mathematicians with an Erdos number of 1
http://caravanmagazine.in/lede/numbers

Changes in the ancient microbiome may be leading to more modern disease

My story in Open

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/living/our-basic-bug-instinct