IndiaAsksWhy

Coming to the end of season 3, we have discussed so many questions that came to our minds. Listening to these questions, Utsuka and Jigyasa’s friends, Avishka and Tavi, from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad, ironically asked “why do we ask so many questions?”. This question made us all think about human nature and how we are always curious to know more!

In the last episode of season 03 of IndiaAsksWhy, we look at the importance of curiosity and the different types of curiosity. We learn that curiosity probably evolved as a survival mechanism in animals. The inquisitive group also spoke to a curiosity researcher, Prof. Jaison Manjaly, from the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN), to understand how one could study human curiosity and its nature in the lab!

We’re sure this conversation between the curious group would have made you curious, too. You can send your follow-up questions on our website, and we’ll pick them up :)

Please write to [email protected] if you'd like your school to be involved with IndiaAsksWhy.

References

• Byrne, Richard W. “Animal Curiosity.” Current Biology, vol. 23, no. 11, June 2013, pp. R469–R470, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.02.058. Accessed 9 Dec. 2019.
• Kidd, Celeste, and Benjamin Y. Hayden. “The Psychology and Neuroscience of Curiosity.” Neuron, vol. 88, no. 3, Nov. 2015, pp. 449–460, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635443/, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2015.09.010.
• Shin, Dajung Diane, and Sung-il Kim. “Homo Curious: Curious or Interested?” Educational Psychology Review, vol. 31, no. 4, 29 July 2019, pp. 853–874, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-019-09497-x.
• “The “Why” behind Asking Why: The Science of Curiosity.” Knowledge at Wharton, 27 Aug. 2017, knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/podcast/knowledge-at-wharton-podcast/makes-us-curious/.
• “Why Are We so Curious?” Wonder Newsroom, www.blog.askwonder.com/blog/why-are-humans-so-curious. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

Credits

• Hosts: Shweata N. Hegde and Ruchi Manglunia
• Guest scientist: Prof. Jaison Manjaly
• Students: Tanvi and Avishkaa from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad
• Audio Editor: Shweata N. Hegde
• Episode cover: Asif Khan
• Transcriber: Khushi Goel

“Why do flowers bloom?” Anushka and Hamsini from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad, ask. As the curious listeners joined Utsuka and Jigyasa in a garden one evening, they made an important observation about flowers. We all love the colorful petals of the flowers, but this curious group went a step ahead to question why they bloom at all!
In the fourth episode of season 03 of IndiaAsksWhy, we look at the mechanism of flowering and what are the causes for flowers to bloom. We learn that plants go through multiple steps to understand the right time to bloom. The curious group also spoke to a plant scientist, Prof. Mukesh Lodha, from Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), to understand how scientists study the molecules involved in blooming of flowers!
We’re sure this conversation between the curious group would have made you curious, too. You can send your follow-up questions on our website, and we’ll pick them up :)
Please write to [email protected] if you'd like your school to be involved with IndiaAsksWhy.
 References 1. “30.12: Plant Development - Genetic Control of Flowers.” Biology LibreTexts, 16 July 2018, bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/30%3A_Plant_Form_and_Physiology/30.12%3A_Plant_Development_-_Genetic_Control_of_Flowers.BioNinja. 2. “Photoperiodism | BioNinja.” Ib.bioninja.com.au, ib.bioninja.com.au/higher-level/topic-9-plant-biology/untitled-3/photoperiodism.html 3. “How Do Plants Know When to Flower? | Wonderopolis.” Wonderopolis.org, wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-plants-know-when-to-flower.Kirchoff, Bruce K., and Riva A. Bruenn. 4. “How Do Banana Flowers Develop?” Frontiers for Young Minds, vol. 6, 20 Nov. 2018, https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2018.00060.   Credits   - Hosts: Shweata N. Hegde and Ruchi Manglunia - Guest scientist: Prof. Mukesh Lodha - Students: Anushka and Hamsini from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad - Audio Editor: Shweata N. Hegde - Episode cover: Asif Khan - Transcriber: Khushi Goel    

“Why do people get paralyzed?” Kanishka and Myra from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad, ask. Check out our previous episode where the curious explorers along with Utsuka and Jigyasa explore this question. 
Both our curious explorers had so many more questions about brain diseases after they understood that paralysis can be a result of certain kinds of brain diseases. So, we have a bonus episode! Listen to find out what they learned.
## Credits - Hosts: Shweata N. Hegde and Ruchi Manglunia - Guest scientist: Prof. Sheeba Vasu - Students: Myra and Kanishka from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad - Audio Editor: Indulekha MS - Transcriber: Khushi Goel

“Why do people get paralyzed?” Kanishka and Myra from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad, ask. Utsuka and Jigyasa were chatting with their curious friends about how humans have this ability to physically move from one place to another. That’s when one of them asked why some people lose this wonderful ability to move and become paralysed.
In the third episode of season 03 of IndiaAsksWhy, we look at what causes paralysis. We learn that paralysis happens because of numerous kinds of problems in muscular and neural systems, and the “neuromuscular” junction – the place where the neurons meet muscles. The curious group also spoke to a brain scientist, Prof. Sheeba Vasu, from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), to understand how scientists study paralysis – or movements in general – in the lab using fruitflies!
We’re sure this conversation between the curious group would have made you curious, too. You can send your follow-up questions on our website, and we’ll pick them up :)
Please write to [email protected] if you'd like your school to be involved with IndiaAsksWhy. Credits

• Hosts: Shweata N. Hegde and Ruchi Manglunia
• Guest scientist: Prof. Sheeba Vasu
• Students: Karthik and Shree from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad
• Audio Editor: Indulekha MS
• Transcriber: Khushi Goel

“Why do babies kick in the womb?” ShreeKilambi and Karthik, from Delhi Public School Secunderabad, ask. Once when Utsuka and Jigyasa were chatting with their curious friends, they happened upon the topic of babies! That’s when one of them wondered why babies kick when they are still in their mother's womb.

In the second episode of season 03 of IndiaAsksWhy, we learn about the development of bones in the unborn baby. We take a deep dive into how the bone-to-brain connection is tested out in the developing baby. The curious group also spoke to the developmental biologist, Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, from IIT Kanpur, to understand how one could possibly study developing bones in a lab!

We’re sure this conversation between the curious group would have made you curious, too. You can send your follow-up questions on our website, and we’ll pick them up :)

Please write to [email protected] if you'd like your school to be involved with IndiaAsksWhy.

References

1. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/babies-move-womb-why-bones-joints-development-scientists-discovery-pregnancy-a8263351.html

2. https://teachmeanatomy.info/lower-limb/joints/knee-joint/ BIOMECHANICS OF FOETAL MOVEMENT. N C Nowlan. European Cells and Materials Vol. 29, 2015 (pages 1-21) DOI:10.22203/eCM.v029a01

3. Chapter 15 - Fetal movement patterns and behavioural states. Gerard H A Visser, Eduard J H Mulder. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. European Practice in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 2009, Pages 271-284. doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-51829-3.00015-5

Credits

• Hosts: Shweata N. Hegde and Ruchi Manglunia
• Guest scientist: Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay
• Students: Karthik and Shree from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad
• Audio Editor: Kaviranjana Antony
• Transcriber: Khushi Goel

  “Why do we dream? Satakshi, Fareeha and Navika from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad ask. One morning when Utsuka and Jigyasa visited their curious friends, they were chatting about their funny dream experiences! That’s when one of them wondered why we have dreams at all.
In the first episode of the brand new season of IndiaAsksWhy, we take a deep dive into the functioning of human brains. We learn about the different ideas behind dreams and what might be causing them. They also spoke to the sleep scientist, [Dr. Nitin Chouhan](tifr.res.in/~dbs/faculty/N_Chouhan.html), from TIFR Mumbai, to understand how one could possibly study sleep and dreams in a lab!
We’re sure this conversation between the curious group would have made you curious too. You can send your follow-up questions on our [website]( https://www.indiaaskswhy.org/contact/), and we’ll pick them up :)
## References 1. Pryor, Julie. “Why Do We Dream?” MIT McGovern Institute, 1 Aug. 2022, mcgovern.mit.edu/2022/08/01/why-do-we-dream/
1. Spencer, Rebecca M. C. “The Science of Dreams.” Frontiers for Young Minds, vol. 7, 18 Dec. 2019, https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2019.00140.
1. Suni, Eric. “Dreams: Why We Dream & How They Affect Sleep.” Sleep Foundation, 30 Oct. 2020, www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams.
## Credits - Hosts: Shweata N. Hegde and Ruchi Manglunia are the hosts of the podcast - Guest scientist: Nitin Chouhan - Students: Navika, Shatakshi, and Fareeha from Delhi Public School, Secunderabad - Audio Editor: Kaviranjana Antony - Transcriber: Khushi Goel  

Happy Teachers' day to all educators who inspires us to learn and grow.
And on this occasion we are dropping the trailer 2 for season 3! As before, we have with us scientists who will help as navigate through various mysteries of the universe🌌🌌.
So what are you waiting for? Check the full trailer out💫 Make sure you subscribe to our podcast on Spotify, Apple podcast and Google Podcast🎙️.
Also, check out our website at [www.indiaaskswhy.org](www.indiaaskswhy.org).
As always, stay curious💫

The much-awaited trailer for season 3 is here!

This time, we have our listeners, the school students, who will voice their questions!
⁉️ So what are you waiting for? Get set to wonder, learn, and unleash your inner scientist🔬🔭🧪🎤

Make sure you subscribe to our podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast🎙️. Also, check out our website at www.indiaaskswhy.org.

IndiaAsksWhy is a science podcast supported by the IndiaBioscience Extension Grant. 

Bonus Episode of season 2! 

Utsuka and Jigyasa have received a question from one of their curious listeners- Rythem Goyal! Rythem is a first-year graduate researcher at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad. Our listener wants to know why we have moles and birthmarks! Utsuka and Jigyasa have once again put on their detective hats to find the answer! 

They learned abnormal cellular behavior before birth can sometimes cause such harmless birthmarks and moles. 

They also spoke with Dr. Ramray Bhat who is a Cancer scientist at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He tells them how a delicate balance of signals keeps cells in the “right” state. He also shared about his journey from being a clinician to an interdisciplinary researcher.

We’re sure that Utuska and Jigyasa’s conversations would have made you ask questions. You can leave them on our website ( https://www.indiaaskswhy.org/contact/), and we’ll pick them up :)

Utsuka and Jigyasa spotted a snake charmer on the streets. Utsuka was mesmerized by its dance. But they both realized that the dancing snake had no legs or arms. That made them wonder: “Why snakes don’t have limbs?”

They learn about the story of the past snakes and how they might have lost limbs. They also discuss how present-day scientists study snake evolution.

In the interview segment, they talk with Dr. Megha Kumar, a scientist from CCMB who studies early forms of animals – embryos. Dr. Kumar talks about how researchers study snakes and other animals to answer questions about how their bodies develop. Dr. Kumar also shares her journey to becoming a scientist.

References

1. https://www.livescience.com/56573-mutation-caused-snakes-to-lose-legs.html#:~:text=Adult%20snakes%20don't%20have,mutations%20that%20prevented%20limb%20development.
2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/a-fossil-snake-with-four-legs
3. Leal F, Cohn MJ. Loss and Re-emergence of Legs in Snakes by Modular Evolution of Sonic hedgehog and HOXD Enhancers. Curr Biol. 2016 Nov 7;26(21):2966-2973. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.020. Epub 2016 Oct 20. PMID: 27773569.