Gadgets

Scientists are learning lessons of regeneration from tiny organism

Published

8 years ago

September 21, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Ratneshwar Thakur

In an ideal world, one would like to live with no deformities. How often do you think about being able to re-grow limbs after an amputation or any injury? Imagine being able to regenerate your spinal cord after an accident has left you paralyzed. Nature has many examples of some tiny organisms completely re-growing from their small pieces. Scientists are studying such organisms to learn important lessons in regeneration.

Researchers at the Bangalore-based Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine have reported that deformities in the epidermis (outer skin layer) of an organism called planaria cause the defect in their stem cell function and regeneration. This is significant because epidermal cells are not stem cells.

Dr. DasaradhiPalakodeti with his team members. Image:Dhiru Bansal

Planaria are flatworms that live in fresh water and have the ability to regenerate from almost any pieces to form a completely new animal with all functional organ systems. Researchers used planaria as a model organism to understand the mechanism behind its immense regenerative ability.

“Our study has shown how the organization of epidermal cells during planarian regeneration is crucial for regulating stem cell function,” said Dr. Dasaradhi Palakodeti, a scientist at the Bangalore based Institute, and a co-author of the study published in the journal Development.

Regeneration is often synonymous with stem cells and most of the studies focus on understanding factors essential for ‘stemness’. “Here, for the first time we show how planarian epidermis (non- stem cell) plays a critical role in wound healing and stem cell function,” said Dhiru Bansal, first author of this paper.

However, it is still unclear how the environment surrounding stem cells regulates their function. Researchers believe stem cells are instructed by surrounding cells to make right decisions to proliferate and differentiate for regeneration, to give rise to missing tissues. The team is working to understand the role of a specific protein called PABPC2 (cytoplasmic poly A binding protein) in regeneration.

“Our report about a crosstalk between stem cells and epidermis in planaria opens new possibilities that can be addressed in other systems as well,” said Jahnavi Kulkarni, one of the authors of this paper.

The study opens up a new possibility to discover the role of non-stem cells in the skin regeneration. Skin is often well-thought-out for its protective function but this new study highlights other potential roles of the skin.

The research team included Dhiru Bansal, Jahnavi Kulkarni, Kavana Nadahalli, Vairavan Lakshmanan, Srikar Krishna, Vidyanand Sasidharan, Shilpa Dilipkumar, Akash Gulyani, Srikala Raghavan and Dasaradhi Palakodeti (Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore); Jini Geo and Renu Pasricha (National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore). (India Science Wire)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Gadgets

OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 brings discounts on 15, 15R, 13, Nord 5 and tablets

OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 begins Jan 16 with discounts on phones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline stores.

Published

2 days ago

January 13, 2026

[email protected]

OnePlus has announced its Freedom Sale, offering discounts on smartphones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline platforms. The deals include the recently launched OnePlus 15 series, Nord lineup, Buds audio devices, and other gadgets.

When and where to shop

The OnePlus Freedom Sale starts on Jan. 16 and will run both online and offline. Shoppers can purchase smartphones through OnePlus.in, OnePlus Experience Stores, Amazon, as well as offline retailers including Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, and others. Tablets are available on Flipkart during the sale period.

Discounts on OnePlus smartphones

OnePlus 15: Launched at Rs 72,999, buyers can get an instant Rs 4,000 discount, lowering the effective price to Rs 68,999. Additional benefits include six months of no-cost EMI and a bundled OnePlus Nord Buds 3.
OnePlus 13: Originally priced at Rs 69,999, the phone receives an Rs 8,000 price drop, plus a bank discount of Rs 4,000, bringing the price down to Rs 57,999.
OnePlus 15R: Listed at Rs 47,999, buyers can avail Rs 3,000 off until Jan 26. After the date, the effective price is Rs 45,999.
OnePlus 13R: Launched at Rs 42,999, this device gets up to Rs 6,000 price cut and an additional Rs 1,000 bank discount.

Discounts on OnePlus tablets

OnePlus Pad 2: Rs 2,000 instant bank discount reduces the price to Rs 34,999.
OnePlus Pad 3: Eligible for a Rs 3,000 instant discount, making the price Rs 44,999. Purchases until Jan 26 include a free Stylo 2 stylus.
OnePlus Pad Go 2: Rs 1,000 price drop plus Rs 2,000 bank discount, now Rs 23,999.
OnePlus Pad Go: Price reduced to Rs 13,999 after Rs 3,000 cut and Rs 1,000 bank discount.
OnePlus Pad Lite: Available for Rs 11,999 after a Rs 2,000 price drop and Rs 2,000 bank discount.

Audio devices on offer

OnePlus Buds 4: Rs 700 price cut with Rs 300 bank discount, bringing the effective price to Rs 4,999.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Now Rs 9,999 after Rs 1,000 price drop and Rs 1,000 bank discount. No-cost EMI options are available for both Buds 4 and Buds Pro 3.

Additional discounts are also applicable to the Nord Buds series — including Nord Buds 3, Nord Buds 3 Pro, and Nord Buds 3R — and neckband devices such as Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC and Bullets Wireless Z3.

Gadgets

Oppo Reno 15 likely to launch in India soon with upgraded camera and performance features

Oppo is preparing to launch the Reno 15 series in India, focusing on camera improvements, performance stability and a refined design. Here’s what to expect from its pricing and features.

Published

1 month ago

December 8, 2025

[email protected]

Oppo is gearing up to introduce its Reno 15 lineup in India, with the series expected to focus heavily on enhanced imaging, performance stability and creator-friendly tools. The smartphone, which has already been launched in China, is anticipated to reach the Indian market in the coming weeks although the company has not yet shared an official date.

Expected price range in India

Industry estimates suggest the standard Oppo Reno 15 will fall in the upper-mid price bracket. While the Reno 15 Pro was launched in China at CNY 3,699 (roughly Rs 46,000), the Reno 15 base model is expected to be more affordable, likely between Rs 32,000 and Rs 38,000, depending on RAM and storage configurations.

Expected features and specifications

The Reno 15 series is expected to highlight Oppo’s improvements in sustained performance, camera capabilities and thermal management. Globally, the models run on ColorOS 16 and feature advanced cooling, particularly aimed at gaming and continuous live-streaming use.

For India, the upcoming Oppo Reno 15 is likely to offer:

A high-refresh-rate AMOLED display
Triple-camera setup with a primary sensor optimized for better low-light clarity
Secondary wide-angle and portrait cameras
Front camera with autofocus and AI-led enhancements for live streaming
Around 5,000mAh battery with fast wired charging support
AI-driven system optimization for smoother long-term performance

Design-wise, it is expected to follow the Reno 15 Pro’s flat-frame style, offering a slim profile, improved durability and brighter display output. With growing demand for creator-focused smartphones in the country, the Reno 15 is being positioned for users interested in mobile photography, vlogging and gaming.

Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India price leak suggests launch similar to S24 FE

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India price has surfaced online, hinting at a similar launch price as the S24 FE. The phone brings a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, Exynos 2400 chip, triple rear cameras, and a 4,900mAh battery.

Published

4 months ago

September 11, 2025

[email protected]

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, which was unveiled globally on September 4, is yet to receive official pricing for the Indian market. However, a fresh leak indicates that the handset could debut in India at the same price point as its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 FE.

Expected price and availability in India

According to tipster Yogesh Brar, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may be priced at ₹59,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant in India. This matches the launch price of last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, which started at ₹59,999 for the same configuration. The higher 8GB RAM + 256GB model of the S24 FE was earlier priced at ₹65,999.

Globally, the Galaxy S25 FE has been introduced at $650 (around ₹58,000) for the base variant and $710 (around ₹63,000) for the 8GB + 256GB version. In India, the smartphone is expected to go on sale in October, similar to last year’s rollout schedule for the S24 FE.

The phone is offered in Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White colour options.

Key specifications

Display: 6.7-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 1,900 nits peak brightness, Vision Booster, Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
Processor: Exynos 2400 SoC.
RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM standard, up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage.
Rear Cameras: 50MP wide-angle + 8MP telephoto + 12MP ultrawide; 8K video recording at 30fps.
Front Camera: 12MP selfie shooter.
Battery: 4,900mAh with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging.
Build: 7.4mm thick, 190g weight, IP68-rated water and dust resistance.
Cooling: 10% larger vapour chamber compared to the Galaxy S24 FE.